At Eurobike this week, Elastic Interface and Endura each unveiled new products that push chamois pad innovation into a new (third) dimension by introducing 3D printing into the process.

In recent years, 3D printing has become increasingly popular in the cycling industry. While there has been some negative press, such as broken handlebars on Olympic Pursuit bikes and ugly computer mounts, overall it has had a significant effect on frame lugs, components, and perhaps most commonly, saddles.

Specialized, Fizik, Cadex, and most recently Serre Italia have adopted 3D printing technology, most using California-based Carbon.

With the popularity and success of this technology in saddles, it is natural that it would be applied to chamois pads, the surface that the saddle comes in contact with.

Elastic Interface, one of the world's largest chamois pad suppliers, and Endura, a UK-based cycling apparel manufacturer, have done just that. [Elastic Interface's N3X is the first 3D printed chamois pad on the market, replacing extruded polyester foam with a 3D printed honeycomb-style insert that attaches under each seat bone.

According to the brand, it offers various improvements over traditional chamois pads. The cell structure of traditional foam pads does not allow for localized control of density; 3D printing makes this possible, and the elastic interface can be adjusted to various degrees of squeezing in different areas with millimeter precision.

Furthermore, with traditional chamois pads, the cellular structure of the foam compresses and collapses over time, causing uncomfortable wear and fraying of the shorts. In this regard, Elastic Interface claims that 3D printing is more durable.

In addition, the material is hydrophobic, with thousands of tiny holes throughout, so it does not hold water like traditional foam, allowing for better breathability and reducing heat and sweat buildup.

Finally, the brand says the 3D printing manufacturing process is less wasteful because it can be set up to print specific shapes without producing scrap material. This allows each chamois pad to be recycled into new filament, it says, but there is no information on whether and how this is done for used products at the end of their life cycle. According to the brand, N3X is expected to be available in early 2023.

Using technology well known in the cycling industry, Endura turned to California-based Carbon, which is working with Fizik and Specialized on the Adaptive and Mirror saddles, respectively. These two saddles are featured in our ranking of the best 3D printed saddles.

The result is the Endura Matrix seat pad, which will first be used in the Pro SL EGM Matrix bib shorts. The seat pad is the result of a collaboration with physiotherapist and bike fit specialist Phil Burt, who was behind much of Team GB's Olympic success.

It benefits from the same claims as the elastic interface above, including durability, localized density, improved breathability, and hydrophobicity. Also added are support panels in the lumbar and buttocks to improve rider performance.

No release date has been announced by Endura for the Pro SL EGM Matrix shorts, but since they are part of the brand's 2023 product line, it is expected that they will be available prior to summer 2023 (shorts season).