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We sat in the saddle for hours, riding bike seats from Giddy Up!, Fabric, WTB, and more to determine which ones top the charts in everything from comfort to versatility
We tested saddles made for beach cruisers to road racing, commuters to enduros, and everything in between for our all-encompassing bike seat review.
We bought and tested over 50 of the top bike seats on the market for a thorough side-by-side analysis to determine your best options. The right bike seat is crucial for any ride, whether on a cruise around town or a quest up the side of the mountain, so it's important to find the seat that best fits you and your needs. We've spent several years conducting in-depth testing for every single seat in our line-up using the metrics of comfort, performance, durability, weight, and versatility to score each product and ease your decision-making objectively. After spending thousands of hours testing bike seats, we've found incredible options for various needs and price points.
From our first ride on the Wittkop 5-zone, we were confident it would top the charts in our best comfort bike seat review. This genre-bending seat rivaled our favorite cruiser saddles in cushion and even outperformed our lightweight commuter options for pedaling performance on those more demanding rides. Where other products became less comfortable as the testing rides grew longer, the Wittkop kept our sit bones happy throughout the entirety of our testing process. We'd recommend this option for anyone looking for an affordable seat that works on a commuter, cruiser, exercise bike, or hybrid.
The Wittkop 5-zone is less durable, in just one aspect, than other models we tested in this review. The plastic channels designed for airflow are the least sturdy part of this otherwise well-constructed saddle and might show wear and tear more quickly depending on how hard you are on your bike saddles. These airflow channels are not structurally crucial to the seat, but we loved this feature and would hate to see it compromised. If you want a little more durability in a lighter package, check out the Bontrager Commuter Comp Bike Saddle. But overall, the Wittkop scored the highest by a pretty big margin and is an excellent all-around option for various bikes in the commuter and cruiser categories.
Showing the cushy saddle and ventilation of the Wittkop 5-zone.
The Terry Cite X Gel Italia is a comfort bike seat built with the female bone structure and anatomy in mind. The synthetic top is built to last, and our team loves the print options. While the gel gives enough to have a cushier feel than most stock saddles, it isn't so soft that you can feel the platform on the insides of your legs when you're really cranking on the pedals. We found the shape of this model to be comfortable whether we had it installed on a cruiser or a mountain bike. The top of the seat, specifically, was an area where our testers noticed substantially improved comfort as opposed to the seats that come standard with most bikes. One of our favorite aspects of the Cite X Gel Italia is its versatility – while it may not be the squishiest on a cruiser or the stiff, aggressive build that many dirt junkies and road bikers prefer, we found it to be an outstanding all-around bike seat.
While we didn't find much to complain about while testing the Terry Cite X Gel Italia, it has its flaws. The main problem we encountered during our review process was that it doesn't offer much in terms of airflow. It has an integrated vent that opens to the bottom of the seat body, so it is definitely better than seats that are devoid of this feature, but it still lacks a bit in the venting department. Probably the biggest downside to this seat is the price. For the cost of this model, you could afford a budget-friendly model and have more than enough cash left over to cover post-ride beverages and snacks. For example, the Bikeroo Most Comfortable Bike Seat for Women scored higher for comfort (but lower in other metrics) and is much less expensive. Price and airflow aside, this seat is the way to go if you're looking for a women's specific bike seat that will add comfort to any of your rides.
The Terry Cite C Gel Italia has an amount of padding that is not too stiff but not too soft; it's just right.
The WTB Volt Chromoly is a classic mountain bike saddle design that suits a wide range of body types. It's a hugely popular model that is often included on complete bikes from reputable manufacturers. WTB offers four different price points depending on which rail material you prefer, but the Chromoly version is a great value for those looking for a workhorse for their mountain, gravel, or cyclocross bike. We appreciated the customization options of price and rail material. As one of WTB's medium-width saddles, the Volt suits a range of riding positions but works best for a mild forward lean. In testing, we liked the raised tail section that held our sit bones in the sweet spot and provided something to push against when the time came to lay down the power. This seat is mounted with a traditional double rail clamp that allows you to adjust the tilt and slide forward and rearwards to suit your fit preference.
We were hard-pressed to find anything negative about the Volt in testing. It's slightly heavy compared to other performance mountain biking seats, but at such an impressively low price, it's hard to complain about a few extra grams. Additionally, since the Volt's shape and fit are so versatile, it won't be as comfortable for some people as the more anatomically specific models. Those seats typically cost more than three times as much as the Volt, though. If you're seeking an inexpensive performance mountain seat that you're confident will keep you comfortable, look no further than the Volt. If you want a heavier and even better value seat, check out the steel version of this seat: the WTB Volt Steel. If comfort is a top priority, also check out the Ergon SM Pro Men.
Dimensions: L 265 mm, W 142 mm | Measured weight: 257 g
REASONS TO BUY
Great support
Solid value
Comfy padding
REASONS TO AVOID
Rounded Racers may not like rounded profile
The Fizik Aliante Gamma Kium has a comfortable, rounded design that fits many riders and was one of the most comfortable saddles we tested. It has just the balance of padding and firmness to balance comfort and performance. This is the saddle many of the best road bikes come standard with. It scored well across nearly every metric, and we were impressed with the quality of the materials and craftsmanship.
Every saddle is a personal fit, and it might work fine for you for the longer rides. However, the design can put some pressure in areas that you start to notice on the longer rides. If comfort is the top concern, check out the Prologo Dimension, which scored just behind and is a tremendous value. The Bontrager Sport Saddle was also very comfortable at a very attractive price (it's just heavy).
If you're looking for a quick and simple way to improve your comfort in the saddle without purchasing a whole new seat, check out the Zacro Gel Bike Seat Cover. We installed this cover on various seat shapes and sizes and found that it improved the feel of most. The gel padding is soft and well-placed if installed properly, providing a comfortable buffer for overly hard or poorly shaped seats. Installation is fast and easy using a drawstring at the cover's rear and two tie straps around the seat's midsection. It's not overly bulky, but you'll need to adjust the seat height after installing it to compensate for the added height.
Although this is a quick and easy comfort solution, it has some issues. The fit of the Zacro is limited mainly to narrower, longer seats. We installed it on a seat as wide as 8 inches, but the fit became less secure with larger seats. Seats around 7 inches wide are the sweet spot for a secure fit. Anything much larger or smaller results in the cover moving around on the seat while riding, necessitating occasional adjustment. The tie-down attachment system isn't ideal, and we spent a bit of time trying to figure out the most secure tying method for each seat. If you're looking for a quick fix for your bike's seat, this cover should do the trick, but if you want a more robust long-term solution, we would recommend replacing it with one of the others we tested.
A quick and easy way to upgrade the comfort of your existing bike seat.
Bikeroo's TONBUX Memory Foam is a great, affordable choice for recreational cycling on a cruiser or hybrid bike. This model was one of the most comfortable seats we tested for short to mid-length rides. The profile features a wide tail with thick, soft cushioning and a narrow nose that allows space for a comfortable pedaling motion. The wide, short body is well suited to bikes with an upright riding position, and the thick foam padding combines with the stainless steel shock-absorbing spring to soak up bumps and chatter. The TONBUX includes a mounting wrench, so those who don't have tools handy have no need to fret. Installation was quick, and within a few minutes, we had our preferred seat angle all set and ready to go.
One drawback to consider is that with its extra-wide body and vibration-absorbing dual suspension balls, the TONBUX is pretty hefty. It tips the scales at a whopping 535 grams (1.2 pounds), and the thick memory foam cushioning reduces the efficiency of your pedaling power supply. This isn't the model we recommend to riders hoping to improve their bike's weight or riding efficiency or more aggressive riders or racers. However, for shorter rides on a cruiser or hybrid bike where weight isn't a big concern, we think this model's comfort compensates for the extra weight. If you're looking to cruise in comfort and aren't in a race to the finish line, this seat is definitely worth a second look, especially if shopping on a budget.
It's hard to get more comfort for less money than with the Tonbux Memory Foam seat.
Bontrager's Commuter Comp Bike Saddle offers an excellent bike saddle for commuters due to its quality construction and user-specific design. Bontrager maintains their excellent reputation with a saddle that utilizes an ergonomic shape rather than cushion to achieve comfort even on a long commute. Excessive cushion on a bike saddle frequently causes a decrease in pedal performance and can even lead to discomfort on longer rides if the appropriate sit bones aren't supported correctly. The Commuter Comp strikes that delicate balance in comfort and pedaling performance so you can get to work on time and not have to sacrifice your sit bones in the process. Bontrager also built an incredibly durable design with minimal wear and tear observed even after all of our rigorous tests.
Achieving comfort on a bike saddle using shape instead of cushion can be an acquired taste and may not work for all bike commuters. Road or mountain bikers are implicitly used to a firmer saddle due to the needs of those types of rides, but many bike commuters are exclusively on a bike to get to work or to their next social engagement, so a firmer saddle might not feel comfortable. The Bontrager Commuter Comp is an excellent option for cyclists who are seeking a firm commuter saddle that focuses on both performance and comfort.
The Bontrager Commuter Comp does not have much cushion, but its slender profile and downturned wings keep it comfortable.
Weight without pads: 178g | Rail material: Hollow Chromoly
REASONS TO BUY
One of the lightest tested
Unique design
Suspended feel
Surprisingly comfortable
REASONS TO AVOID
Only available in narrow width
The Tioga Spyder Outland offers a unique aesthetic in an incredibly lightweight package that stood out in our mountain bike saddles lineup. The web-shaped design kept weight to a minimum while still distributing a rider's weight well enough to be comfortable. This saddle's weight checks in at 178 grams without pads and 202 grams with pads, making this the lightest mountain bike saddle we tested. Our testers were skeptical that the Tioga would support the sit bones, but the carbonite web performed surprisingly well. The lower profile of the saddle also gave us freedom of movement for all of the various performance demands of mountain biking.
The Spyder Outland is only offered in one size, so it may not fit many riders' sit bones. At 125mm, it's actually the narrowest saddle we tested in the mountain biking category, so if you have wider sit bones, this will likely be less comfortable than other options. The Tioga Spyder Outland is an excellent, narrow saddle for riders seeking the lightest option for mountain biking.
The Spyder Outland is one of the lightest mountain bike saddles that we've ever tested.
Credit: Jeremy Benson
Why Trust GearLab
Our bike saddle testing process has been ongoing for several years, and we've spent hundreds of hours sitting in different saddles across the various bike categories. We continuously conduct research on the best bike saddles available and revisit bike saddles we've already tested if our old favorites receive an update. To get a feel for each saddle's performance, comfort, and durability, we took each option on several rides in various conditions, from dusty trails to wet pavement. Our testing involved lots of back-to-back seat swapping to get a feel for how the models stacked up against one another. Despite the wide-ranging styles and purposes of the seats we tested, we tried each seat on multiple bikes, body positions, and various terrain types.
Our bike saddle testers are highly experienced cyclists and gear testers who are gifted with detail-oriented minds and a passion for the outdoors. Jeremy Benson is a former Senior Mountain Bik Review Editor at Gearlab and is a published author in the world of mountain biking. Jeremy has been biking for over 25 years, most of which have been spent in the Lake Tahoe area of CA, and heads testing for our mountain bike saddle review. Sam Kieckhefer is based in Lake Tahoe, CA, and is an avid mountain biker in Northern California, soaking up the region's unparalleled single-track trails. Nick Bruckauer heads testing on road bike saddles. Many evenings, he can be found grinding away on two wheels in the hills above his Santa Barbara, CA home, but he has a wide rotation of outdoor pursuits. From trail running, to climbing, to skiing, Nick has used a LOT of gear and knows the importance of being properly equipped. He skillfully applies his eye for detail and a civil engineering background to bike saddle analysis. In addition to these three, our gear testers include a host of bike-obsessed riders at all levels, who contribute different perspectives to our bike seat recommendations.
Bike Seats 101
Bike seats, more commonly referred to as bike saddles, are one of the few points on a bicycle that make direct contact with your body and are a crucial part of any ride. A bike saddle has to walk a fine line between supporting your sit bones and allowing freedom of movement so you can pedal. In order to walk this line, saddle designers have to examine each type of biking and each type's typical rider position from more forward/aggressive positions (towards the handlebars) to more upright positions (away from the handlebars). Some designs will allow for multiple positions, whereas other options will make the rider feel like they are locked into place. These design basics are merely a starting point from which every cyclist needs to determine personal preferences and priorities. Comfort is at the top of most riders' lists, but the dilemma becomes how the other elements of a saddle come into balance, including weight, performance, versatility, and durability.
Intended Use
One of the primary factors to consider when choosing a new bike seat is your intended use. Just as there are many different bikes and bicycle riding styles, there are seats made to match. Casual, recreational riders, for example, will have different needs and wants than a high-performance road cyclist. In general, we can break down bike seats into three basic categories: comfort/recreational, road cycling, and mountain biking.
Casual riders may appreciate the benefits of a comfort seat. A relaxed, upright body position benefits from the extra width, support, and padding.
Credit: Laura Casner
Comfort/Recreational
These types of seats are focused more on rider comfort than performance. More often than not, comfort seats have generous amounts of padding and wider supportive platforms that work best with an upright seated pedaling position. Due to the larger size, padding, and construction of these seats, they typically weigh significantly more than seats made with performance in mind. Comfort seats are commonly found on beach cruisers, townies, and hybrid-style bikes.
Comfort/recreational biking typically involves a more casual outing on paved bike paths and roads.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Mountain Biking
Seats made for performance mountain biking are quite similar to those used by road cyclists. In fact, some saddles are interchangeable between the two disciplines. That said, mountain bikers typically have a moderately aggressive seated body position with less forward lean than on a road bike but far more than on a cruiser bike. For this reason, many mountain bike saddles have a slightly cradled shape that keeps the rider in the sweet spot and provides a little extra support. Mountain bike saddles also generally have streamlined designs intended to allow good power transfer and freedom of mobility while riding. Weight is a concern for many mountain bikers, and mountain bike seats are made from various lightweight materials and are often available in a range of constructions, price points, and widths.
Mountain bike seats are typically designed with mobility in mind. It is important to be able to move around on the bike.
Credit: Laura Casner
Road Cycling
Seats or saddles made for road cycling have more of an emphasis on performance, which is reflected in their streamlined designs, lighter weights, and features. Road bikers usually have a more aggressive, forward-leaning body position, with most of their weight resting on their sit bones. For this reason, saddles are much narrower and streamlined to allow for a natural and unencumbered pedal stroke. Road bike saddles typically have stiffer shells and thinner, denser padding. Many models are designed with ergonomic pressure relief cutouts or channels to reduce pressure on the rider's sensitive undersides. These seats are usually made from lightweight materials and often come in several widths to accommodate varying body shapes and sizes.
Seats for road biking have more of an emphasis on weight and performance.
Credit: Andrew Ellis
Comfort
Comfort should be first and foremost on the vast majority of cyclists' minds when deciding on a new seat. Saddle choice can make or break a ride and could mean the difference between getting out on your bike frequently and letting it sit in the garage for months at a time. Because each body has different mechanics and moves in different ways, not everyone will find the same seats comfortable. There are a few things you can look for, though, to ensure you have a comfortable ride.
No matter what type of riding you do, a comfortable saddle can improve your experience and keep you out there longer.
Knowing your body is possibly the most important factor in finding what's comfortable for you. It's possible to measure your sit bones' width to find the best fit for you. We highly recommend this for anyone who plans to spend considerable time in the saddle.
A medium width body and ample firm cushioning makes the Volt Steel one of the most versatile seats available.
Credit: Zach Wick
Recreational Bike Seat Comfort
Recreational or comfort bike seats, as their category name implies, focus on comfort above all else within commuter and cruiser bikes. This includes generally upright positions and less intense rides than road or mountain biking, so the design allows for more cushion and (sometimes) more surface area.
Comfort bike seats excel at offering comfort to riders in more casual settings.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Mountain Bike Saddle Comfort
Mountain bike saddles need to provide comfort while in challenging and variable terrain. The design of the saddle must strike a balance between cushion and shape to offer the rider comfort. Counterintuitively, more cushion can sometimes be more painful for long pedals if the sit bones aren't supported.
SQLab has some incredible designs that offer excellent comfort for mountain biking.
Credit: Zach Joseph Lovell
Road Bike Saddle Comfort
Road bike saddles must provide comfort for the cyclist engaging in a high level of pedaling. Riders will find the most comfort in these saddles by understanding the type of riding that they generally prefer. Some saddles favor a more forward/aggressive position for faster and/or shorter rides, while others will seek saddles that lock them in a more upright position for more casual and/or slower outings.
Road bike saddles offer more comfort than some expect. The comfy EVA foam in the S-Works Power Arc saddle offers comfort in a profile several times slimmer than the comfort bike seats.
Credit: Ryan Baker
Versatility
While many of the seats we tested are highly purpose-specific, there are some that can span a variety of disciplines. When looking for a new seat, it's important to consider your riding needs. If you don't plan to do much more than a cruise through the park a couple of times a week, then you don't need a seat designed for anything more than that, but if you plan to occasionally branch out and endeavor on some longer bike tours or off-road riding, you'll want a seat that can handle it all.
Some seats are best for cruising around town, while others only feel at home in a race.
Credit: Zach Wick
Comfort Bike Seat Versatility
These bike seats are most commonly used on cruisers or commuter bikes. Cruisers favor more casual rides, while commuters serve up a full variety of shorter or longer rides to get from your home to work or your next social outing. Versatility in this category investigates whether a bike seat can handle a casual ride or a lengthy cross-town excursion to the office.
Some comfort bike seats offer enough versatility for long or short rides.
Credit: Sam Kieckhefer
Mountain Bike Saddle Versatility
Mountain biking involves a spread of sub-category riding, so versatility looks at how many ride types a saddle can handle. Cross-country biking includes more pedaling and less technical riding, whereas downhill biking is more technical riding and less pedaling. We also address whether a mountain bike saddle could be used for gravel or commuting.
Mountain bike saddles can frequently offer enough versatility to allow for anything from gravel biking to short, technical downhill laps.
Credit: Joshua Hutchens
Road Bike Saddle Versatility
In this biking category, we investigate how many different types of rides a road bike saddle can be used for, including short, fast rides and longer, slower rides. We also looked at the potential of a saddle to be used for around-town cruises and gravel/mountain biking.
Road bike saddles have many options that can be used in other types of biking.
Credit: Ryan Baker
Durability
No matter what style of biking you prefer, your seat will be out in all kinds of weather, and it must be built to last. Despite the considerable time we spent testing these seats, we could not squeeze years of use into our testing period. For this reason, our durability assessments are largely based on a close examination of each seat's construction and the materials with which it's made. We paid close attention to exposed seams, flimsily attached components, and thin cover materials.
We closely examined each seat's construction to find potential failure points.
Credit: Zach Wick
Comfort Bike Seat Durability
The urban/street life can be hard on seats. We investigate how much city and street abuse these seats can handle to help you make an informed decision.
Most comfort bike seats will have their durability tested in a more urban environment with asphalt and metal bike locks challenging their construction.
Credit: Sam Kieckhefer
Mountain Bike Saddle Durability
Typically, mountain bike saddles receive the most wear and tear in a bike crash or being transported from home to the trailhead.
Mountain bike saddles typically have their durability tested in a crash or traveling to/from the trailhead.
Credit: Zach Joseph Lovell
Road Bike Saddle Durability
Similar to mountain bikes, the most substantial wear and tear road bike saddles experience is in crashes, in transit on a vehicle, or for riders putting in long hours.
Many road bike saddles offer quality, durable construction in a lightweight package.
Credit: Ryan Baker
Weight
We had to adjust the importance of this metric considerably from the recreational to the performance models. It's relatively important for a performance seat to be lightweight. When you're spending hours on your bike or trying to be the first to the top of the hill, you want to cut weight anywhere you can. A heavy seat can both dramatically increase your bike's weight and raise its center of gravity, making it sluggish and difficult to maneuver. However, for recreational riding, your seat's weight will likely not be noticeable unless you're in hilly terrain, and you may value the comfort a heavier seat can offer.
Performance-oriented seats tend to have a minimalist construction with high-quality lightweight materials to shed the grams.
Credit: Zach Wick
Comfort Bike Seat Weight
Weight is less crucial for this category, as the bikes are typically much heavier than others. Commuter bikes will feel the weight of these seats the most as those rides are typically longer and more involved.
Even the lightest of comfort bike seats would be considered extremely heavy in road bikes or mountain bikes.
Credit: Sam Kieckhefer
Mountain Bike Saddle Weight
Mountain bikes have gotten impressively light over the years- saddles are no different. Many riders will be seeking an option that's comfortable but keeps their riding setup light for those long uphills or for racing. Others have weight low on their priorities when compared to metrics such as comfort.
Mountain bike saddles offer some impressive designs that are rich in features but keep the weight reasonable.
Credit: Jeremy Benson
Road Bike Saddle Weight
Road bikes are arguably the category of biking where weight has more emphasis. With road bikes typically being the lightest type of bike, a heavier saddle is more easily noticed and can make a more immediate impact on performance.
Whether you're just pedaling down to the beach or embarking on an all day epic, we hope this comprehensive review helped you find the right bike seat for you.
Credit: Zach Wick
Conclusion
As you might be able to tell, there's plenty to consider when seeking out a new bike seat. From body shape to intended use, there's a lot of information and specs to sift through, and the perfect seat will be different for every individual. However, if you're able to find the right seat, it will pay dividends, allowing you to ride further and more comfortably in the long run. We did the leg work by putting in hours of riding and comparative testing in order to help you make a decision. We hope that this comprehensive review makes your next ride the best one yet.
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Sam Kieckhefer, Nick Bruckbauer, and Jeremy Benson
