Best Ever Saddle

[ZeroDarkBivi]

I know the answer to this is 'whatever fits your own ass best', but, is there any concensus on what saddle is best for the long haul? I've tried a few, with mixed results, and still fear unbearable arse pain on long multi-day trips!

[slparsons]

I find SDG Bel Air to be comfortable for me. Specialized offer saddles in various widths to suit you and you can be measured up to suit. Lots of people recommend the Charge Spoon. Alternatively get a Brooks leather saddle and put up with the discomfort whilst you mould it to your shape.

Decent shorts help too.

[rudedog]

charge spoon for me

[voodoo_simon]

All my bikes have different saddles, is that normal? Have bontrager, fizik, wtb and charge, all seem comfortable to me. Everyone I know who has tried the new Brooks synthetic saddle has given it the thumbs up

[Fat tyre kicker]

I'm in the process of 'breaking' in a Brooks,though to be fair,so far,
It's been the comfiest thing ever......it's a B17

[whitestone]

All my bikes have different saddles, is that normal? Have bontrager, fizik, wtb and charge, all seem comfortable to me. Everyone I know who has tried the new Brooks synthetic saddle has given it the thumbs up

Me too: Bontrager on the MTB; On-One on the, err, On-one; Specialized on the road bike (Specialized).

My a**e seems to have enough padding to suit them all.

[benp1]

I had one ride on a Brooks B17 (when I demo'd my current bike) and hated it

I'm riding with a Madison Flux, which is a Charge Spoon in different clothes

[Wotsits]

Had a fair few saddles but for long rides nothing has come close to the WTB Laser V that i've got atm. I think that they're now discontiued so will probably try a Rocket next.

I'd also add that i've had a couple of Fizik Gobi's & could 'feel' the difference between the standard steel & kium rails..

[Ray Young]

I tried various then read about saddle width being important so bought a WTB Volt in the right size and it's great. My previous saddles were too wide which caused me to be pushed towards the nose of the saddle leading to discomfort and pain.

[Zippy]

Funny this should be brought up. I got a sore bum last weekend with a saddle that I have previously get on with. In fact the bike / saddle / short combo had all been tried before. I'm trying to work out what's happened, I don't think I've got fat or anything

[Brothersmith]

Funny this should be brought up. I got a sore bum last weekend with a saddle that I have previously get on with. In fact the bike / saddle / short combo had all been tried before. I'm trying to work out what's happened, I don't think I've got fat or anything

How old are the shorts/saddle Zippy? I normally find that when this starts to happened to me its the padding that has started to break down and I need to fork out some money. Usually shorts sort it but occasionally its new saddle time

[slarge]

My saddles have very little padding - selle San Marco aspide, and a selle Italia carbonia, both very light, but I do try to wear decent shorts with good padding. I guess it's personal preference, but I like padding in the shorts, not on the saddle.

[Scattamah]

+1 on the SDG Bel Air. I was pleasantly surprised by the Bel Air after riding a Fizik Aliante carbon twin-flex for many years prior, which is a brute on the longer rides.

Greetz

S.

[mountainbaker]

I've just ordered a Bel Air too, heard nothing but good things, and after a long weekend just been, my Selle C2 has torn me a new one, one last time.

[JohnClimber]

Brooks Cambium C17 fits my arse after many years of trying all of the above.



Got one for almost every bike now*

*not on the full susser but I only ride that once or twice a year so I swap over

[TheBrownDog]

Charge Spoon if I am buying something new but l quite like the OO Big Nose that came with my Fatty and the one on my Whyte 901 is ok, if a little wide for a trail bike. My touring saddle though is a different matter - Selle San Marco Rolls.

[Drillmaster1]

Brooks B17 once broken in and with fairly upright riding position (they work best for me with nose of the saddle tilted up a little) but I have to say though, for straight out of the box,all day and muti day comfort, Brooks Cambium

[Charliecres]

Used to rate WTB rocket V then Bel Air then got a Spoon. Now have Spoons on all bikes. They are more cfortable for me and last longer than anything else I've tried. Cheap too.

[pistonbroke]

I've also found the Bel Air comfortable on mountain bikes where my position is more upright and I move around more but I find narrower and minimalist saddles like Selle Italia Flites better on the road bikes where I'm in a much more aero position. I think there is a lot to be said for more flexible rails as well as the weight benefit but they are definitely less durable than chromo versions. I've got a little stockpile of Ti Bel Airs now they don't make them.

[wfbroddy]

Brooks Cambium is pretty dam good, but the best I've ever had and this included a well broken in B17 is a Specialized saddle that came with a 2nd hand bike that was from there custom size range and it happen to fit me perfect. 100 miles days without issue.

they may cost a bit extra but worth it, if the either of the Brooks ever failed/ broke I'd have a look at these

[Ben98]

I seem to have a bit of a saddle obsession atm, and my favourite so far is a Superstar Hex saddle, followed by a once bright pink Planet X (I made it black with leather dye) and then my charge spoon. But I'm sure that'll all change soon....

[AlasdairMc]

I've had a Bel Air for a couple of years but it's pretty worn, so I bought a Cambium C15 second hand, and it has been surprisingly good. I think the lack of padding makes it comfier as there is less to pinch and cause rubbing.

I wish I could afford to put a Cambium on each of my bikes but luckily they're almost all the same seatpost diameter so I can just swap them around easily enough.

[Firmo]

I use a ProLogo Kappa saddle. I've never had a saddle that fits the bill so well.

I need a new saddle for the new bike, so I might look at the Charge Spoon, seeing as though its reasonably priced!

[Bearbonesnorm]

Had a spoon for years, then it stopped working / fitting. Bought a reduced (expensive) Sella Italia in shiny gimp black and it's lovely and lives on my Inbred.

I haven't been able to find another one, so on my Stooge, I've tried a Knife (not bad) and some other Charge thing (not that good) ... I'll keep looking. BTW I don't wear any padding and like a narrow / firm(ish) saddle.

[jameso]

Depends on the bike for me - how upright I sit makes a big difference in what part of me contacts the saddle and what shape saddle suits. Also whether I want to adjust where I sit fore-aft, some scooped saddlles dfon't allow this whereas flatter side-profile ones do, though that's more useful on road than off-road. I swear by WTBs, faves are the Volt and Rocket but after a few days off-road they all get less comfortable. I think chammy pads are the cause of the multi-day scuffage once your saddle is day-ride comfy (cool and airy may beat warm/damp pads) but haven't done a long ride w/o one yet to be sure ..