The Best Comfortable Bike Seats, Tested and Reviewed (2024)

• Our Picks

• Final Verdict

• How We Tested

• Other Bike Seats We Tested

• What to Look For

• FAQ

• Why Trust TripSavvy

If you’re an avid cyclist, trust us when we say you’ll want to invest in the Brooks England Cambium All-Weather Bike Seat. It may take a little time to break this saddle in, but once you do, you’ll recognize how it forms to fit your backside, ultimately making your cycling experience better. Our tester took this Brooks seat on one 13-mile and two 10-mile mountain bike rides and loved it so much that they got one for their road bike, too.

Riders can choose between a carved (cutout) or standard seat. If you go with a carved seat, the cutout will assist in relieving pressure on your perineum. Thanks to the waterproof and weatherproof nylon cover, it’s likely that this bike seat will last longer, no matter the conditions you ride. Bonus: You can add a saddlebag or other accessory to the loops on the back of the bike seat.

This saddle may be a bit pricey, but cycling fanatics will quickly see the value of the Brooks England Cambium All-Weather Bike Seat.

Materials: Fiberglass reinforced nylon, steel rails | Dimensions: 11.14 x 5.51 x 2.05 inches | Weight: 0.95 pounds

The WTB Volt Saddle is affordable and well-designed. In fact, our tester said, “I expected the seat to cost more. I think that the design and materials make it worth the investment.” This bike seat has gel inserts for medium padding, an upward curved tail, and a slightly downward curving nose to give a cyclist something to push against as they pedal. WTB offers three sizes and four rail options (cromoly, steel, titanium, and carbon). The steel and cromoly rail options are affordable, but once you choose titanium or carbon, expect a significant price jump.

It took our tester three road rides through New York and its boroughs to get comfortable on this bike seat, and even then, they found it most comfortable wearing padded bike shorts. That aside, they always felt secure and stable on the bike seat. Lastly, WTB notes that the Volt Saddle is the most popular mountain biking seat they have, but our tester used it on the road and suggests it for avid cyclists rather than those who cycle for their leisure.

Materials: Cromoly, steel, titanium, or carbon rail, microfiber cover, flex-tuned shell, helix, and gel padding | Dimensions: 10.43 x 5.59 x 2.36 inches | Weight: 0.9 pounds

The pelvic area of people assigned female at birth differs from those assigned male, which means it can be helpful for certain cyclists to buy women's-specific bike seats. Our top pick is the Ergon SM Sport Gel Saddle. After a 10-minute setup, our tester took this bike seat on three different one-hour rides full of flats and hills. Ergon may advertise this seat as best for mountain biking, but our tester used it on a road bike. From the first ride, our tester found that no matter their position in the saddle, they felt secure and stable and didn't slide. The thick side flanks of the design assist in reducing friction, and they even commented on how the bike seat reduced vibrations.

Our tester described the Ergon SM Sport Gel Saddle as "a firm, performance seat," but we should point out that it is equipped with orthopedic comfort foam with gel pads to offer a bit of padding. That said, it's not particularly "cushioned," as our tester noted, but best designed for performance. For instance, the cutout or the relief channel placed in the forward position of the bike seat is meant to alleviate and distribute pressure better.

The cover features synthetic material, which the company does not advertise as waterproof. However, it will likely hold up to certain wet weather elements. Overall, the Ergon SM Sport Gel Saddle will offer comfort from the first ride. As our reviewer said, they "didn't even think about it while riding, the true test of a good seat."

Materials: Steel, foam, synthetic fabric | Dimensions: 13.78 x 7.48 x 3.94 inches | Weight: 0.88 pounds

Our second favorite bike saddle in the ”Women’s Specific” category is the Selle Italia, Diva Gel Superflow MTB and Road Bike Saddle. The versatile bike seat has a sleek exterior and is wide enough to offer comfort without getting in the way. You don’t have to worry about added weight with lightweight titanium rails. However, titanium is an expensive material, hence the price. At least the bike seat comes with a 24-month warranty for defects related to the design and material.

Our reviewer tested this bike seat on three rides through Stowe’s Cady Hills mountain biking trail. Setting up this bike saddle only took 10 minutes, and our reviewer felt secure and stable once on the trail. The reviewer liked that the seat wasn’t overly padded, though we should note that it does have gel layers to provide some comfort. With the extra-large cutout, you’ll feel less pressure on your perineum during long rides.

Materials: Fibra-Tek, silicone gel | Dimensions: 12.5 x 7 x 1.5 inches | Weight: 0.6 pounds

Going to and from work on your bike? You’ll need a solid saddle like the Brooks England Cambian C-17 Saddle. This bike seat is designed for the angled riding position and features flexible vulcanized rubber. Our reviewer noted that getting used to the saddle might take some time, but once you do, you’ll love it—and find that the seat molds to your backside. In the meantime, you can enjoy the waterproof design and the ability to attach a saddlebag.

Even without a cutout in the design, our tester thoroughly enjoyed using this saddle on their 15-mile commute to and from work. Their commute route involved a trail and some side roads, and on both paths, the saddle held up thanks to a design that absorbs shock no matter the surface. We should also mention that our reviewer tested this saddle on a 28-mile trail ride, so while we chose it for commuting, it’ll work well on any kind of surface.

Materials: Cotton or nylon, steel, and rubber | Dimensions: 11 x 6 x 2 inches | Weight: 0.9 pounds

If you’re not a hard-core cyclist and are looking for something affordable for your cruiser, the Wittkop Bike Seat is the way to go. It doesn’t take long to get the Wittkop Bike Seat on your cruising bike thanks to a saddle adapter, which means you’ll be on the road in no time. The bike seat is waterproof and has an indentation to relieve pressure.

While our reviewer found it comfortable—most likely because of the memory foam—in looking through reviews, we should note that this seat isn’t particularly “plush” and is a little more solid than it looks in photos. Before you buy, you should decide which type of Wittkop Bike Seat to order. They come in three design options—the narrow racing/mountain bike design, a mid-range trekking/touring version, and a wide city option. The saddle width of the three design options ranges from 5.4 to 8.5 inches.

Materials: Memory foam | Dimensions: ‎11.18 x 7.28 x 4.13 inches | Weight: 1.5 pounds

We don’t want you to stop cycling simply because you don’t like how a narrow, firm bike seat feels. That’s why we’re highlighting the YLG Oversized Comfort Bike Seat. As the name implies, this is an oversized saddle with an extra-wide wing-like design. With memory foam and gel, you’ll get some cushioning too. Our reviewer found it easy to install this bike seat and claimed it was incredibly comfortable as they used it on their beach cruiser for hour-long and multi-hour-long rides. No matter the terrain they road on—flat pavement, gravel roads, or trails—it remained solid and absorbed the shock. They even took it out in the rain, and the PVC leather waterproof cover held up. While the reflective stripe on the back of the bike seat may be something others would overlook, our tester was happy with it and felt more visible riding at night.

There is a lot to like about this bike seat—the extra width, affordability, and a small indent for airflow. That said, we did look through the reviews and found that some people had issues with the springs over time. When we compared that number of people to the primarily positive 13,850 reviews, it didn’t seem too significant of a problem, but something to note.

Materials: PVC leather, gel, memory foam | Dimensions: ‎14.96 x 12.99 x 7.13 inches | Weight: Not listed

With a name like Giddy Up! Memory Foam Waterproof Bike Seat, you can imagine this seat is designed for you to go, go, go. This wide and incredibly thick bike saddle features extra padding and a cutout to prevent any aches and pains from your cycling adventures. An adapter and mounting tools are included in the purchase, allowing you to giddy up in no time.

Our tester took this bike to the streets of New York on rides that lasted between one and three hours. They were huge fans of the taillight integrated into the back of the seat, and we are too. Visibility is paramount; the easier a rider is to see, the better. While the tester liked that the seat included a waterproof cover to place on the seat when stored in a bike rack on rainy days, we have to point out that the seat itself does not claim to be waterproof. It has faux leather with some water resistance, but probably not significantly. Otherwise, why would you need an extra waterproof cover?

Materials: Memory foam, faux leather | Dimensions: 11 x 8.35 x 4.3 inches | Weight: Not listed

Not all bike seats are designed for all cyclists. In fact, the Ergon SM Enduro Comp Saddle is a better fit for two types of cyclists: those assigned male at birth and enduro mountain bike racers. The narrow shape, padded edges, and deep indentation provide comfort and stability as cyclists move between different riding positions.

The saddle was designed specifically for the male anatomy, though if it feels comfortable for you and you don't have male anatomy, then use it. The main thing to remember is that the bike saddle is best used for mountain bike enduro racing and was specifically tested during the Enduro World Series. While Ergon doesn't say it's specifically waterproof, the microfiber cover will hold up to a decent amount of moisture.

Materials: Microfiber, foam, nylon, CroMo saddle rails | Dimensions: 10.75 x 6.25 x 3 inches | Weight: 0.75 pounds

Frequently Asked Questions

• Are wider bike seats more comfortable?

  The width of a bike seat is important because it supports your sit bones. However, a wider bike seat doesn’t necessarily mean it's more comfortable. If it's too wide for your sit bones, it could cause rubbing and chafing. Technically, you could measure your sit bones and try to guess how wide your bike seat should be. This would involve sitting on corrugated cardboard on a flat chair and measuring the indentations left behind. Even if you do this, the best way to see if a wider bike seat would be more comfortable for you is to test the bike seat yourself. You’ll either need to visit a bike shop and sit on bike seats with different widths or order one online and ensure the return policy is favorable.

• What style of bike seat is best for me?

  Different types of bike seats are designed for different activities. Let’s start with performance and cushioned bike seats. Performance bike seats are longer and narrower, with little padding for those who want the utmost performance on a bike. These folks are typically avid cyclists who may or may not want to do bike touring, participate in races, or just want something with little chafing and the best power transfer. As the name implies, cushioned seats are more cushioned, wider, and shorter. They absorb shock better and are suitable for recreational cycling.

  The other thing to consider is whether you want a bike seat with a cutout. Bike seats with a cutout should relieve pressure on your perineum—the area between your sit bones. The cutouts offer some cyclists more airflow and perhaps more comfort, especially on long rides. Rather than a full cutout, you could find just as much comfort in a bike seat that has a small indentation or slot.

• How do I choose the best bike seat for me?

  Before buying a bike seat, determine your needs. Do you plan to cycle on roads or rugged trails? Bike seats designed for mountain biking will probably do just as well on the road as on the trail; however, saddles designed for the road may not hold up on the trails. Do you need something designed for performance because you want to enter races? A thinner bike seat with a cutout is probably ideal. Is comfort most important? Choose a bike seat with gel and foam cushioning and determine which bike seat width is more comfortable for your body.

  As with everything, testing different bike seats will help you make the right decision. We suggest visiting a local bike shop and discussing the options with the employees.

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