Developed with the Lidl-Trek athletes, the Trek RSL is a lightweight saddle designed for comfort even in the toughest races. This is part of Trek’s Race Shop Limited lineup which makes this the top performance saddle Trek currently offers. Retail price for the saddle is a premium $324.99 and includes a Blendr mount for attaching Trek taillights or radars directly to the saddle. As an RSL product, the saddle is constructed with a OCLV carbon fiber shell and features Trek’s oversized 7x10mm carbon rails. The saddle features a full center cutout and minimally bonded padding for comfort and performance.
The Trek RSL carbon bike saddle combines lightweight carbon fiber shell and rails with a performance riding position.
| Rating | 9.4 / 10 |
| Retail Price | $324.95 |
| Measured Weight (in g) | 184 (250x155mm version) |
| Likes | + Lightweight design with carbon rails and shell + Trek offers the saddle in multiple widths + Performance fit with center cutout and slight curvature that keeps you stable |
| Dislikes | – Premium price with RSL version – Oversized 7x10mm rails require Trek-specific side clamps |
| Where to Buy (US) | Trek |
UNBOXING
The Trek RSL saddle comes in a sleek black box with shiny silver RSL branding on the exterior. When you open up the box you see cycling racing photos along the interior and the saddle held in place in a small cardboard holder. Trek includes the Blendr mount pre-bolted onto the saddle which means you can quickly mount the saddle up and start using it.
FIT & FINISH
The Trek RSL bike saddle is Trek’s lightweight performance bike saddle that was developed for racers and roadies. The saddle has a short-nose design with 250mm length and full center cutout. Trek offers the saddle in three widths: 135, 145 and 155 mm to accommodate different riders. This saddle is designed for a performance posture for riders who prioritize speed and distance. It’s a fairly flat saddle side-to-side but it has a subtle concave curve that helps you stay in place. As you would expect, the saddle has an OCLV Carbon shell along with carbon rails. Unlike most carbon rail saddles which are 7x9mm, this saddle has a 7×10 oval rail design which means you’ll need special adapters if your seatpost clamps it from the sides.
Branding on the saddle is limited to a subtle RSL printed on the right side and in a gold RSL on the base. Otherwise the cover has a black finish with perforations to help with grip. Trek also advertises the saddle as having a minimally bonded padding which helps reduce weight. The outer cover tucks underneath the sides with some exposed glue at the edges. The RSL Saddle is also Blendr compatible with the two screw slots at the rear of the saddle. Trek includes the Blendr mount with the saddle which is a nice perk as you normally have to buy the mounts separately. The simple plastic mount lets you attach a Trek Flare taillight or Trek CarBack radar directly onto the saddle for a sleek look.
RIDING IMPRESSIONS
Before we could get some miles on the bike and install it on our Trek Madone, we had to purchase the 7x10mm carbon clamps. It’s an unusual size that seems to be only used by Trek, so if you have side clamps (i.e. top clamping seatposts work without an issue) which can be frustrating. We swapped out the Bontrager Comp saddle that came with our SL5 bike which has a similar overall shape but lacks the carbon fiber features. From the first ride, the saddle felt comfortable with no pressure points. Obviously, saddles are very anatomically specific so we’d recommend trying it out for yourself but we can say the wide 250x155mm version felt great on long climbs and fast rides.
We used the Blendr mount to put on our Trek CarBack on the rear of the saddle for optimal visibility. It’s a sleek setup but it does mean you can’t fit a saddle bag as it rubs against the bottom of the mount. While it’s hard to compare saddles, we would say the Trek RSL is a nice upgrade and on par with the Ergon SR Pro Carbon and Fizik Vento Argo with its short nose and performance posture. We found it easy to switch between aero and upright positions with the perforated cover providing a nice non-slip surface to hold use in place. The slight curvature also helped keep us centered and stable on the saddle even during steep climbs and fast sprints.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the Trek RSL carbon saddle to be comfortable and lightweight. Trek has collaborated with athletes to fine tune the design and fit of the saddle to optimize the performance. The last thing you want is discomfort on a saddle, so Trek has added optimized padding and a center cutout for pressure relief. We found it to be a stable and comfortable saddle for long climbs and fast descents. While the saddle doesn’t have any flashy features, the subtle RSL logo and oversized carbon rails are subtle indicators that you’ve got the top-of-the-line saddle. As far as negatives, the saddle is quite expensive and uses Trek’s oversized 7x10mm rails which require special side clamps. That said, the Trek RSL Bike Saddle is a lightweight and high performance saddle for road cyclists.
Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by Trek. The views expressed on this website are solely those of the authors and are here to help people make an informed choice before a purchase. The authors or the blog itself does not get any monetary compensation from the product manufacturer or third-party websites/vendor links that are posted here.