For many cyclists, Specialized’s Power series is where the saddle search finally ends. Now the line gains a new flagship: the S-Works Power EVO with Mirror. How has it evolved from the previous Power with Mirror — a saddle I once called the “finished form”? And why did it need to evolve (= EVO) at all? Let’s dig into the details by putting the two saddles side by side.
text / Tats（@tats_lovecyclist）
*The saddle in this review was provided by Specialized Japan. All editorial content is original to LOVE CYCLIST.
Two Mirror Saddles
The saddle that brought 3D printing to the mainstream: Power with Mirror (¥55,000)
In 2020, Specialized launched its first 3D-printed saddle, the S-Works Power with Mirror. Its liquid-polymer honeycomb lattice achieved a level of support and pressure distribution that foam simply couldn’t reach — and in doing so, set a new benchmark for the saddle world.
The new reigning flagship: Power EVO with Mirror (¥69,300)
Five years on comes the new S-Works Power EVO with Mirror (hereafter “EVO Mirror”) — a saddle reworked from shape to size to structure, positioned as the next evolution of the Mirror concept.
With its arrival, the original S-Works Power with Mirror (hereafter “standard Mirror”) remains in the lineup, but slides into a second-tier role at its lower price point.
Spec Comparison
| EVO Mirror | Standard Mirror | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ¥69,300 | ¥55,000 |
| Saddle Length | 24cm | 24cm |
| Position Flexibility | Allows flexible position adjustment | Designed to lock you into a chosen position |
| Center Cutout | No step; forms a hammock-like support in the center | Distinct center cutout that firmly supports the body |
| Weight (reference size) | 221g (143mm) | 190g (143mm) |
| Rail Clamp Length | 70mm | 50mm |
| Sit Bone Support | 28.8% pressure reduction vs. conventional foam saddles | 23% pressure reduction vs. conventional foam saddles |
| Technology | Mirror (3D-printed liquid polymer) | Mirror (3D-printed liquid polymer) |
| Mirror Lattice Density | 47,000 struts + 21,000 nodes | 14,000 struts + 7,799 nodes |
| Shell / Rail Material | Carbon fiber | Carbon fiber |
| Shape Details | Nose widened by 1cm Wings trimmed back to reduce interference | Faithful to the original Power shape |
| Size Range | 130mm / 143mm / 155mm / 168mm | 143mm / 155mm |
| Intended Rider | Riders who want the freedom to push into aggressive positions | Riders who prefer to stay locked in one spot on the saddle |
What the spec sheet really tells us is that the EVO Mirror is built around optimizing fit for individual body types and riding styles.
With a wider size range of 130/143/155/168mm, a denser Mirror lattice, and finely retuned shapes across the board, the EVO Mirror isn’t simply a tweak of the standard Mirror — it’s been engineered from a fundamentally new perspective.
Differences in Nose Shape
← Standard Mirror | EVO Mirror →
The biggest difference is in nose width. The standard Mirror’s nose was relatively narrow, which limited how far forward you could comfortably sit. The EVO Mirror widens that nose by roughly 1cm — a deliberate move to deliver stability and comfort when riding on the rivet.
Rail Structure and Weight Difference
← Standard Mirror | EVO Mirror →
The extended tail opens up even more aggressive position options
The rails have been extended as well — 20mm longer than before, expanding the setback adjustment range. This gives you more positioning latitude and the ability to dial in a more aggressive setup.
On the scale, the EVO Mirror (143mm) comes in at a measured 220g against the standard Mirror’s 190g (143mm) — roughly 30g heavier. The reshaped profile and the denser lattice structure are likely behind that increase.
Invisible Cutout and pad zoning
The EVO Mirror adopts what Specialized calls the “Invisible Cutout” — a central relief channel hidden inside the saddle rather than carved out of the surface. It looks flat from above, but the internal void absorbs pressure where it matters, reducing central load by roughly 18% compared with the standard Mirror (according to Specialized’s figures). The result is a more natural seating feel, free of the abrupt step you sense at the edges of a traditional cutout.
The Mirror lattice itself has been re-tuned. On the EVO, density is mapped zone by zone — firm and supportive under the sit bones, softer through the centre and outer edges. The denser construction also promises better long-term durability.
＊ ＊ ＊
It’s been five years since the original EVO arrived, and in that time the “forward, aero position” trend has only accelerated. The EVO Mirror is Specialized’s response: a saddle whose shape, working range, and size adaptability have all been expanded to ride that trend head-on.
The question is how all of this translates once you actually put it under you.
On the road
Having spent five years on the standard Mirror, I’d grown used to the way it lets you plant yourself firmly into one spot. So the first impression of the EVO was almost the opposite — a sense of being slightly afloat.
The 1cm wider nose makes its presence felt right away. It doesn’t restrict the legs, but you notice a faint, unfamiliar contact along the inner thighs as they sweep past.
That’s the first impression. But the further you ride, the more those sensations fade from awareness, and a different character begins to surface.
What stands out most is that the EVO Mirror never tells you where to sit. The tolerance for forward positions has grown noticeably, and the support shifts with you as you move. Wherever you land, the saddle treats it as the right place to be — it follows the rider rather than fixing the rider in place. The “static fit” of the standard Mirror has become a “dynamic fit” on the EVO.
This comes not just from the wider nose making forward riding easier, but also from the Invisible Cutout and the rework of the Mirror zoning.
Specialized describes a firm rebound under the sit bones, gradually softening as you move outward — and that’s exactly what it feels like in practice. There’s no awkward spot no matter where the load falls. The disappearance of the step around the central cutout is unmistakable: the whole seat feels as if it’s cradling you, softly and continuously.
The standard Mirror and the EVO Mirror differ in the texture of their support
Surface grip remains as good as ever — shift your position and you still stay put. With the foam-padded Power, the slippery cover was a constant low-level annoyance, but the EVO Mirror, like the standard Mirror, strikes the right balance of grip.
The EVO Mirror is 30g heavier than the standard Mirror, but there’s never a moment on the ride when that difference registers. What matters far more is the comfort the EVO delivers — an affinity with the body that grows the longer you stay in the saddle.
A difference in direction, not in rank
I still consider the standard Mirror a complete saddle in its own right. But its structure locks you into a position, the nose is narrow, and riders who spend a lot of time forward on the saddle have voiced their reservations. As good as it was as a product, there was clearly room to accommodate a wider variety of positions — and that’s why the EVO Mirror exists.
After spending real time on it, it no longer feels right to file the EVO Mirror and the standard Mirror as a top tier and a second tier. What separates them is simply a difference in direction.
Do you want a saddle that adapts freely across different positions, or one that anchors you firmly in a single posture?
Personally, I have nothing to complain about either way when it comes to comfort. But with the EVO Mirror, the riding experience has become more enjoyable.
Part of the reason is that I switched to a Polymer handlebar (*reference: Polymer Workshop “Sculpture Handlebar” Review).
Flexibly adapts to any position
The Polymer handlebar lets me take a more aggressive position and makes the transition between the hoods and the drops easier. As a result, I now shift my position to match the situation far more often than before. And in those moments, the EVO Mirror lets every transition flow seamlessly. No matter which position I settle into, nothing feels off.
For the way my bike is set up right now, the EVO Mirror feels like the saddle that fits best.
Not being tied down to one position. Being supported through movement.
The EVO Mirror reminds us that a saddle isn’t just a component — it can be something that moves with the rider’s intent.
Buy the S-Works Power EVO with Mirror (Official Site)
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About the Author
 | Tats Shimizu (@tats_lovecyclist) Editor-in-chief and photographer. 12 years on sport bikes. Maintains broad connections with overseas brands and uses media to propose a range of cycling styles. At the same time, works as a photographer on numerous shoots for domestic and international bicycle brands. Main bikes: Standert (road) and Factor (gravel). |
text / Tats (@tats_lovecyclist)
