Fizik Antares Versus road saddle

Popular saddle gets tweaked

You can trust Cyclingnews Our experts spend countless hours testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

Fizik's latest Antares Versus road saddle retains the general shape of the popular flat-topped Antares but adds a full-length central channel that's designed to reduce pressure on soft tissue during longer rides.

However, while the channel is generously sized – about 4mm deep and differing in width from 2cm at the nose to 5cm at the tail – and does decrease soft tissue pressure, the effect isn't as pronounced as we'd hoped based on appearances. 

The culprit seems to be the density of the surrounding foam, which is notably lower than that of the standard Antares' very firm (yet very supportive) padding and quickly compresses under body weight, flattening out the profile.

As a result, the real-world gap between the two Antares versions is noticeable but surprisingly subtle. Still, the Versus remains an enticing option for riders seeking a high-end saddle. Total weight with k:ium rails is a respectable 214g, the quality of construction is superb, and the styling is sleek and stealthy.

If the standard Antares' non-cutout shape and rock-hard feel worries you the new Versus iteration may be just the ticket – but if you're already on a standard Antares we'd suggest staying put as you likely won't notice enough of a difference to warrant the change.

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1