The Fizik Aliante has a classic shape, similar to the Best Buy Winner WTB Speed. With a slight rise in the rear and a width of 141mm, it has a definite sweet spot that we were always able to settle into. The padding is firm and more substantial than the other saddles we reviewed from Fizik — the Arione and Antares. Some of our testers experienced chaffing when their thighs rubbed the nose of the saddle where the lateral aspect is covered with a more suede-like material. We found the saddle to be comfortable but more sensitive to proper fore aft angle adjustment than most saddles. With too much negative drop we were constantly shifting our weight back, too little drop and we experienced pressure and numbness. With a -1.5 degree saddle angle it is very comfortable, and lets the rider find the sweet spot. If you like to move around a lot on the saddle, look elsewhere. If you are the kind of rider who likes to get into one position and stay there, this saddle is worth a look.
The Aliante is marketed as a performance road saddle for the less flexible rider. It has more padding than the Top Pick Fabric Scoop, and does leave the rider with the sensation that a bit of power is being lost. Riding on the nose when down in the drops does not feel as natural as it does with a higher performance saddle such as the Phenom. Overall the performance is good, just not as stellar as more specialized racing saddles.
The Aliante is very versatile. We like it on the mountain bike, road bike, and it performs well for cyclocross and commuting duties. If you like it on one bike, you may find yourself purchasing another for your other ride. We would even recommend it for road racing if you maintain a more upright riding position.
With rubberized plastic scuff guards, and the same tough Microtex cover found on our Top Pick Fizik Monte, the Aliante can take some abuse. We did abrade the cover at the rear of the saddle during a particularly spectacular crash that also cracked a set of handlebars. The shell and Kium rails are strong, durable and no worse for wear despite our abuse.
At 245g, the Aliante is competitively lightweight. The weight is impressive considering the substantial amount of padding and high level of comfort it provides.
