We Found the Best Bike Seats for Any Cycling Style After Over 72 Hours of Riding

Best Overall

Brooks England Cambium C17 All-weather Saddle

View On REI $140

Our Ratings

• Comfort
  5/5
• Stability
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

Brooks England’s Cambium C17 Carved All Weather-Saddle is a great all-purpose option for all types of riders, from performance cycling to commuting and touring. During our test, we found it very easy to set up and adjust—it only took us 10 minutes to remove the old seat from our bike and replace it with this new one. It’s also durable and can withstand harsh weather conditions. These features make this seat more versatile than most, which is why we recommend it as our best overall option.

The Cambium C17 is sleek and sturdy. When taking this bike seat on test rides, we found it very stable, even when using it for mountain biking. We also like that it’s lined with a breathable center cutout for comfort, pressure relief, and shock absorption. Since it’s not designed for just one style of cycling, it’s an ideal everyday option for exploring a new place, commuting to work, or logging an intense workout. But keep in mind that this seat has no cushioning, so some riders may need more support. However, we did find that the longer we rode in this saddle, the more comfortable it became. That's because Brooks saddles are designed to form to your butt over time.

The vulcanized rubber and cotton canvas bike seat is also remarkably resilient. Its waterproof cover holds up to rain and sweat. And since the back of the saddle is fiberglass-reinforced and lined with loops, it’s perfect for holding saddle bags, cargo, and anything else you want to take with you on your ride.

^{Key Specs:
Size: 12.3 x 14.1 inches | Weight: 15.7 ounces | Padding: None | Cycling Style: Performance cycling, commuting, touring}

Best Women's

Selle Italia Women's Diva Gel Superflow MTB Road Bike Saddle

View On REI $160 View On Target $143 View On Competitivecyclist.com $152

Our Ratings

• Comfort
  5/5
• Stability
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

What sets this bike saddle apart from others is that it's specifically designed to accommodate a woman's seat. We found it comfortable even on longer rides thanks to its strategically-placed cushioning that supports sit bones and a center cutout that cuts down on pressure.

When testing this bike seat, we found it had the perfect balance of cushioning and firmness, making it great for road and mountain biking. It features a thin layer of silicone gel padding that absorbs shock well on both flat and rougher terrain. We also like that it offers a stable ride, even when we frequently transition from sitting to being up and out of the saddle.

The sleek saddle was super easy to set up and proved to be quite durable. It's also easy to wipe clean with a cloth if needed. The saddle comes in two sizes, with the smaller size weighing only 9.7 ounces. We like that it's more lightweight than many saddles on our list but still offers a stable, secure ride.

Since the saddle features firmer cushioning, it's great for intermediate and advanced riders looking for a performance saddle, but it may not be the best option for casual beginner cyclists.

<sup>Key Specs:

Size: 10.5 x 5.3 x 1.5 inches (small), 10.5 x 6 x 1.5 inches (large) | Weight: 9.7 (small), 10.1 ounces (large) | Padding: Gel | Cycling Style: Performance cycling, Road cycling, and mountain biking</sup>

Best Men's

Ergon Men's SMC Core Bike Saddle

View On REI $150 View On Target $147

Our Ratings

• Comfort
  5/5
• Stability
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Value
  4/5

If you're looking for a men's-specific mountain bike saddle that's actually comfortable, we recommend this option from Ergon. We rode close to 100 miles and 10,000 feet of elevation in this saddle, and we can confidently say that we never felt a moment of discomfort, even on tougher terrain.

The saddle features foam cushioning that helps with shock absorption. Although it doesn't have a center cutout like other options on our list, it has an indented center for optimal pressure relief where you need it most. It comes in two size options and has a 308-pound maximum weight limit.

Although the seat is pricier than other options on our list, we found it sturdy and durable, and it held up well after a month of continued use. We think it's a great option for frequent mountain bikers ready to spend more on a high-quality saddle.

^{Size: Not specified: S/M fits sit-bone width of 3.54-4.72 inches, M/L fits sit-bone width of 4.72-6.29 inches | Weight: 12.1 ounces (S/M), 12.7 ounces (M/L) | Padding: Foam | Cycling Style: Mountain biking}

Best Budget

Tonbux Bike Seat

View On Amazon $19

Our Ratings

• Comfort
  4/5
• Stability
  5/5
• Durability
  3.5/5
• Value
  4/5

If you’re a recreational rider who cares more about comfort than performance, we recommend TONBUX’s Comfortable Bicycle Seat. When testing this bike seat, we found it to be a good cross between a stiff road bike seat and a cushy comfort seat. We found it performed best on casual rides on mostly flat roads.

The seat is made of a sturdy composite material and padded with a plush layer of gel memory foam. The cushioning is extra-thick—3.7 inches—making this the tallest bike seat on our list. All of that foam also makes the seat heavier and bulkier than some others we recommend, but we love that it’s designed with a center cutout, which promotes airflow even on your hottest, sweatiest rides. 

The underside of the bike seat is lined with shock-absorbing springs, designed to smooth out bumpy roads and paths. And the back of each colored option is lined with reflective tape, making you more visible when riding outside in low-light conditions.

This bike seat is very stable on rides, even when riding on inclines. It may not be as durable as other options, but we think it's a good value for the price. The seat comes with universal mounting hardware, so it’s easy to attach to most bikes. Choose from four different colors to customize your ride.

^{Key Specs:
Size: 9.6 x 7.8 inches | Weight: 25.4 ounces | Padding: Gel memory foam | Cycling Style: Recreational cycling, cruising}

Best Memory Foam

Giddy Up! Bike Seat

View On Walmart $60

Our Ratings

• Comfort
  5/5
• Stability
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

We recommend this memory foam padded bike seat if you want a plush, padded saddle for miles of road cycling. When testing it on paved roads and inclines, we found it very comfortable and shock-absorbing. We like that the back of the seat is wide, offering great support for our sit bones, and that it features a center cutout for breathability. We also like that the bike seat comes with a waterproof seat cover for rainy rides and features LED lights on the back for safe cycling in low-light conditions.

Setting up the bike seat is relatively easy if you follow the included instructions and have some experience setting up bike seats. However, we had to spend some time tightening the bike seat when first setting it up on our bike to ensure it didn't jiggle during rides. Due to all the extra cushioning, this bike seat is also heavier than other options on our list.

This seat is perfect for commuting thanks to its plush cushioning and safety features. In addition to the LED light, the bike seat also comes with a reflective foot band, allowing riders to remain visible even on late-night and winter commutes. Indoor cycling enthusiasts can get the version of this bike seat designed for your Peloton, ensuring a comfier spin session.

^{Key Specs:
Size: 11 x 8.35 x 4.3 inches | Weight: 33.6 ounces | Padding: Memory foam | Cycling Style: Commuting, recreational cycling, road cycling}

Best Value

Wittkop Bike Seat

View On Amazon $33 View On Walmart $39

Our Ratings

• Comfort
  5/5
• Stability
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

This seat from Wittkop is a great value bike seat that's also incredibly versatile—riders can get the seat in three different designs; one for touring, one for road cycling, and one for mountain biking. All three seat options are padded with memory foam, providing good shock absorption on flat roads and dirt and gravel trails.

We love that it's designed with a center cutout for airflow and pressure relief, which we found very useful on particularly sweaty rides in the heat. It's also water-repellent, so it'll withstand rides in the rain or in muddy conditions.

Although we love the foam layer of this seat for its added comfort, we did find the material a bit too grippy, which made it harder for us to glide on the seat when adjusting our position in the saddle. But this also gave us a very stable and secure grip on the seat when riding in a seated position.

All the plush comfort this seat provides makes it heavier compared to other options on our list, with its weight ranging from 12.8 to 22.4 ounces, depending on which style you choose. But it felt fairly lightweight during test rides and doesn't take too long to set up on your bike.

We like this seat option for intermediate riders looking for a comfortable seat that can be customized to fit your cycling style.

^{Key Specs:
Size: 11 x 5.4 x 2.7 inches (MTB), 10.8 x 6.7 x 3.5 inches (touring), 10.67 x 8.66 x 4.96 inches (city) | Weight: 12.8 (MTB), 20.8 (touring), 22.4 (city) | Padding: Memory foam | Cycling Style: Commuting, recreational cycling, touring, mountain biking (depending on which style you chose)}

Best for Trail Bikes

WTB Rocket Chromoly Saddle

View On Amazon $64 View On Walmart $80 View On REI $96

Our Ratings

• Comfort
  4/5
• Stability
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Value
  4/5

Durable and supportive, we recommend WTB’s Rocket Chromoly Saddle for trail bikes. We love that you can take this seat almost anywhere, whether you’re gravel cycling, cross-country cycling, or bikepacking. When we tested this saddle, it was super easy to set up—it took us less than three minutes to install after removing our old bike seat.

The sleek saddle is contoured to cradle your pelvis, supporting you in your go-to cycling position. And the tail is raised to give you something to push back on as you climb hills and tackle tough trails. This shape also makes the saddle ideal for bikepacking, giving you the support you need to bike long distances while carrying lots of weight. When using this seat for the first time, we found it a bit uncomfortable due to its unique design. But after adjusting the angle, it felt much better, so it may take some getting used to.

We find this seat comfortable enough for prolonged rides in the saddle, thanks to its gel padding that makes gravel rides much more enjoyable. The layers of gel are strategically placed to provide plenty of cushioning. The padding is squishy and shock-absorbing, but it doesn’t weigh down the saddle. This lightweight bike seat weighs just around 11 ounces without sacrificing comfort, which we also like.

This mountain bike saddle is unisex, which means it's not designed to specifically fit men's or women's bodies. So if you're used to a women's- or men's-specific design, this may not feel as comfortable and formed to your seat. However, the bike seat comes in three size options—narrow, medium, and wide—allowing for more customization.

^{Key Specs:
Size: 5.6 x 10.4 inches, 5.9 x 10.4 inches | Weight: 10.8 to 11.1 ounces | Padding: Gel | Cycling Style: Trail riding, gravel cycling, cross-country cycling, bikepacking}

Best Shock-Absorbing

Ergon Women's SM Sport Gel Bike Saddle

View On REI $100 View On Ergonbike.shop

Our Ratings

• Comfort
  5/5
• Stability
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

We recommend this bike saddle for mountain bikers or road cyclists looking for a women-specific design that offers great shock absorption. When testing this seat on our road bike on both flat and hilly pavement, we found that it reduced road vibration, a major plus for road cyclists and commuters.

We also found the bike seat incredibly stable and never felt like we were sliding around when using it. The women-specific design fits our sit bones perfectly. The seat has firm foam cushioning, which is ideal for a performance saddle but may not offer enough padding for casual riders.

The seat has a microfiber cover that helps to repel sweat and water. It also features a cutout design for ventilation and pressure relief. We felt comfortable riding in and out of the saddle with this seat and were impressed by its value—it comes at a budget-friendlier price compared to many performance saddles on our list. It also comes in two size options for a customized fit.

^{Key Specs:
Size: 13.78 x 7.48 x 3.94 inches (S/M), 13.78 x 7.48 x 3.94 inches (M/L) | Weight: 14.1 ounces | Padding: Gel, foam | Cycling Style: Commuting, recreational cycling, mountain biking, performance cycling}

Best Oversized

YLG Oversized Comfort Bike Seat

View On Amazon $40 View On Walmart $40

Our Ratings

• Comfort
  5/5
• Stability
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

YLG’s Oversized Comfort Bike Seat is one of the most comfortable bike seats we tested, making flat and rough surfaces feel virtually the same when riding. At 13.4 inches wide, it's the largest bike seat on our list. The saddle is about twice as large as most comfort seats we tested and three times as wide as the performance seats we tried. All that added width provides plenty of cushion while you ride.

Although this bike seat looks nothing like a classic performance saddle, we found it very stable and secure on varied terrain. It features two arcs that branch out for additional support. Lined with thick layers of gel and memory foam, it promotes a relaxed, upright posture that we recommend for cruising and recreational riding.

And, although the seat isn't built for performance, it's excellent for casual riders or commuters looking for optimal comfort. The seat looks and feels good, is well-made, and even features a light on the back for safer riding in low-light conditions. Lined with thick layers of gel and memory foam, it promotes a relaxed, upright posture that we recommend for cruising and recreational riding.

When riding with this seat, we particularly enjoy its sweat-friendly, waterproof cover. We even rode with it in the rain, and it held up perfectly. While the bike seat's universal adapter fits most bikes, this seat is best paired with recreational bikes and cruisers due to its large size and relaxed, comfortable shape.

^{Key Specs:
Size: 10.6 x 13.4 inches | Weight: 48.8 ounces | Padding: Gel, memory foam | Cycling Style: Recreational cycling, cruising}

Best Gel

Terry Liberator X Gel Saddle

View On Amazon $90 View On REI $90

Many gel bike seats are soft, squishy, and oversized—making them great for recreational riding but not ideal for performance cycling. Terry’s Liberator X Gel Saddle is just the opposite. The saddle is sleek and supportive, with a layer of comfortable gel cushioning. This combination is why we recommend it for performance cyclists who are looking to take their rides to the next level. 

The Liberator X Gel Saddle is designed to support you as you ride. Its center cutout relieves pressure while encouraging airflow. A wide rear keeps you comfortable even on long rides, while the ergonomic shape makes it easy to maintain a performance posture. 

This supportive silhouette is padded with a thin layer of gel. We love that the gel inserts line the bike seat, cushioning high-pressure areas where they can make the most difference. This less-is-more approach sets the Liberator X Gel Saddle apart from other bike seats, making it more performance-friendly than thicker, plusher saddles.

^{Key Specs:
Size: 6.4 x 9.8 inches | Weight: 14.5 ounces | Padding: Gel | Cycling Style: Touring}

Best for Road Bikes

Bontrager Aeolus Comp Bike Saddle

View On REI $100 View On Trekbikes.com $100 View On Scheels.com

When shopping for a road bike seat, we recommend looking for a sleek performance saddle that will help you cycle comfortably and efficiently, like Bontrager’s Aeolus Comp Bike Saddle.

The bike seat’s shell is sturdy but lightweight, and it’s lined with a huge center cutout—the biggest of any saddle on our list. This cutout does double duty, promoting airflow and reducing soft tissue pressure at the same time. It also makes it easier to rotate your pelvis, so you can comfortably maintain the aerodynamic position that’s key for fast, efficient road cycling. However, the thin padding may feel stiff to some riders at first.

Other features help this bike seat perform even better. For one thing, the saddle is shorter and wider than other road bike seats, which allows you to comfortably use more of the seat. We also like that this seat comes in two different sizes and is designed to support riders of all genders and body types.

^{Key Specs:
Size: 5.1 x 9.8 inches, 5.5 x 10.6 inches | Weight: 10.1 to 10.2 ounces | Padding: Foam | Cycling Style: Road cycling}

Best for Peloton

Bikeroo Cushion

View On Amazon $20

Bikeroo’s Bike Seat Cushion is designed to slide right over the seat of your Peloton or other standard spin bike. Setting up the seat cushion on your bike is super simple—just unpack it and attach it to your bike, no assembly required!

Filled with thick, plush gel, the cushion boasts a unique, contoured shape. In seats without a center cutout, soft materials like gel can pool in one spot, putting pressure on sensitive areas. But this cushion’s indented center mimics the feel of a cutout, reducing some of the pressure that can make you feel sore after a cycling workout.

When we use this seat cushion on our Peloton, it provides solid cushioning and padding and makes our rides a lot more enjoyable. Because the cushion will shift around during rides if not tightened properly, we make a point to tighten it onto the bike seat before each workout.

It’s also worth noting that bike seat cushions usually aren’t as breathable or durable as bike seats and that Bikeroo’s version can feel bulky. But we still think it's a great option for indoor exercise bikes and beginner to intermediate rides on your Peloton.

^{Key Specs:
Size: 10 x 11 inches | Weight: 12.3 ounces | Padding: Gel | Cycling Style: Indoor cycling}

Best with Minimal Padding

WTB Volt Saddle

View On Amazon View On Walmart $33 View On REI $48

Our Ratings

• Comfort
  4/5
• Stability
  5/5
• Durability
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

This is one of the most durable options out of the dozens of bike seats we tested. You can choose between four seat styles—cromoly, steel, titanium, and carbon—each option offers a sturdy, stable ride and is easy to clean.

This bike seat took us a while to get used to because its padding is much more minimal than other bike seats we've used in the past. But this also makes the seat incredibly lightweight and secure. The seat didn't wobble once, even when we rode uphill and occasionally had to stop abruptly. That said, most riders could benefit from padded bike shorts when riding in this seat for more comfort.

Good for mountain biking and road cycling, this seat isn't designed for the casual rider. But those looking for a performance bike saddle will appreciate that it's designed with a curved tail and a slightly lower nose, giving you something to push off on, especially when pedaling uphill. Plus, the gel inserts make the slim bike seat more supportive where you need it the most.

After testing this bike, we were impressed by its value—it offers some pretty advanced features at a budget-friendly price.

^{Key Specs:
Size: 10.43 x 5.31 x 2.36 inches (narrow), 10.43 x 5.59 x 2.36 inches (medium), 10.43 x 5.91 x 2.36 inches (wide) | Weight: 10.3-11.28 ounces (steel), 10.22-11.11 ounces (cromoly), 7.33-8.11 ounces (titanium), 5.82 ounces (carbon) | Padding: polyurethane | Cycling Style: Road cycling and mountain biking}

Best for Long Distance

fabric Scoop Shallow Race Saddle

View On Amazon $85 View On REI $15

For long bike rides outdoors that involve hard work, sweat, and changing weather conditions, we recommend fabric’s Scoop Shallow Race Saddle. This performance bike seat is slim and durable. It’s also lightly padded to keep you comfortable for hours. 

At 11.1 inches long and 5.9 inches wide, this bike seat is one of the sleekest on our list, and at 9 ounces, it’s also one of the lightest. This combination is ideal for long-distance rides: Since the bike seat is so aerodynamic, it doesn’t burden you with extra weight and work. We like its uniquely bonded shell and waterproof cover, which is sturdy enough to withstand sweat, rainstorms, and general wear and tear.

Cycling for hours can get uncomfortable. While the fabric of this bike seat isn’t as breathable as others on our list, it features an indented center to help cut down on soft tissue pressure.

^{Key Specs:
Size: 5.9 x 11.1 inches | Weight: 9 ounces | Padding: Foam | Cycling Style: Long-distance road cycling}