TallRider

I live without a car and happily commute everywhere.
One cost of this is that my pants and shorts wear out in the butt, underneath the sit bones.

Obviously this issue is mainly a function of butt-sitting-on-saddle-while-pedaling, but I imagine some saddles are better than others for not-wearing-out-seat-of-pants-or-shorts. My synthetic-cover saddle is a sticky-ish vinyl and is ideal for a bike that I keep outside, but it probably has more friction with cloth material and maybe a smooth leather-covered saddle (like a Brooks) would exert less wear on the seat of pants or shorts. (But then, a Brooks leather saddle is not ideal to keep on a lives-outdoors commuting bike).

Have other people run into this problem? What types or characteristics of saddles are best for commuting bikes, balancing durability-of-the-saddle with durability-of-butt-clothing?

acidfast7

i find that i bust the crotches of denim jeans extremely quickly (and i don't even wear them on the bike.)

i've actually found that certain brands of jeans actually have 2-3 layers of denim in the crotch and I usually buy those for casual jeans.

although expensive I have much better luck with G-Star RAW than with Levi's, etc... in terms of durability.

and you should be able to get them in any metro area/high end shopping mall in the US.

Stryver

I blamed it on pants material. I've ridden a lot of miles in lycra, and before that, nylon baggies, with little crotchal wear. When I started commuting in cotton, I wore out nearly an entire wardrobe of crotches in 2 years commuting.

Not sure what your preferences are, but you might consider alternative riding pants.

dramiscram

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/leather.html

TallRider

I live in a university town and commute all around as part of my daily life, and so am not looking to built my wardrobe specifically around cycling durability. Yes, cotton wears through from friction (even Carrharts, although they last longer because they are thicker) whereas nylon does not.
My question is more around whether some types of saddles will wear less on the seat of pants or shorts (and particularly cotton pants or shorts).

As noted in my original post, I would guess that full-grain leather saddles (e.g., Brooks) are the easiest on cotton pants/shorts. But they are not ideal (in terms of expense or response to weather) for a commuting bike.

Are plastic+foam saddles with a real smooth leather cover easier on shorts/pants than a saddle with synthetic/vinyl cover? What about suede leather-covered saddles?

milkbaby

Maybe a leather covered saddle with leather protectant/conditioner applied regularly? I notice that leather is softer and slicker after freshly treated with that stuff. I put some on a leather covered saddle and it was a bit slippery for a while.

Leebo

Mt bike shorts work for me.

threecarjam

I would imagine that the less friction a saddle give you, the less impact on pants - and in my experience a suspended leather saddle (like a Brooks) will always be a little bit easier on clothes than anything with padding. Though I've heard of dyed leather saddles staining pants as well, I haven't had that experience using my brown and black Brooks B5Ns, which I have on bikes that do daily commuting/utility as well as touring duty and get ridden and left in all kinds of terrible weather and outside all the time (but never overnight). As far as cost, I've had good experience with cheaper Brooks knockoffs as well (Velo-Orange, Cardiff) but I've picked up many older Brooks and Wrights saddles in very good condition for $20-50 on ebay and craigslist - if you don't mind a slightly used saddle, you can find a good one for a reasonable price. A used Brooks and a saddle cover (or just a plastic bag or shower cap) should take care of you pretty well.

I will also say that while outlandishly expensive, the Outlier 4 Season pants I wear much of the year have had no issues with wear on the seat, or much wear at all - and I wear these things year round, all the time. Worth the $$$ for me.

TallRider

I think I'm convinced into a used leather saddle (have a nice Brooks B17 on my rebuilt Centurion) and just taking care of it with a plastic bag or something overtop for weather-safekeeping when the bike is sitting behind my house.

Also, those pants are expensive, but if I end up living where I'd have a longer commute (that is specifically a commute, beyond biking-here-and-there as part of my everyday life) I'll probably get some.

himespau 

Get a gyes brooks knockoff. They're $30-40 cheaper, have some sort of fabric on the bottom to protect from road spray (if you choose not to use fenders), and can be covered with a plastic bag in bad weather.


Edit: Looks like you already have a Brooks you can use, even cheaper. Just remember to proofide the bottom if you don't ride with fenders.

ratdog

You can always bike naked, but your butt may start forming hard callouses or you can just count your blessings that you are getting enough saddle time to wear out a pair of pants. Unlike some of us that don't get enough saddle time due to varying reasons.

TallRider

I'm averaging around 1500 commuting-bike miles per year over the past few years, which is part of the issue with worn-out pants or shorts...
my commuting bike does have full fenders, so the weather I'd worry about is from above.

I'll get another leather saddle. The Brooks B17 on my road bike is staying on that bike
I'm glad I bought that B17 in 2006, back when they could be had (new) for $60. I was lucky to be on the front end of that trend.

And all this time I've smirked at commuting bikes with Brooks saddles. Why put such a nice expensive saddle on a bike that has higher chance of being stolen and facing weather? Now I join the club.
(That said, most commuters-with-Brooks seem to be for hipster cred, not a group with significant worries of their pants wearing through)

dramiscram

Leather on leather ??? It will probably be squeaky!

mountaindave 

Why not go for the pleather saddle? I have one on my road bike and it works well, but I don't commute on it.

I have a saddle accurately described by you (sticky-ish vinyl) on my commuter and it wears through pants/shorts eventually (I blame cheap cotton) but I don't commute nearly that many miles.

Is it an option to wear bike shorts and take a change of clothes with you?

beebe

I ride a Serfas Tegu. The top is a slick pleathery material. My butt can slide around on it pretty easy, and I have no issues with garment wear doing about 1000 miles every 6 months. My WTB Rocket is a similar material, but I don't ride it because it's too skinny.

I got my Tegu for like 40-50 bucks at the LBS.

Shimagnolo

Anyone else miss the word "out" when first reading that title?

mountaindave 

Then apparently that suggestion was not needed...

What he really needs is a pair of these so that nobody will ever know for sure if he's worn a pair out...

fietsbob

I've gone over to Sweatpants.. they move where Denim will not give..
50% poly/cotton or 100% , slick outside fleeced inside..

I aint at hot sticky humid UNC though..

TallRider

I bought a Serfas Tegu for $20 at beebe's recommendation, and maybe it'd be fine but the pleather top feels slightly tacky (similar to my current commuting saddle) so I just went and bought a full-on leather saddle. One of the cheap RBR leather saddles (discussed here, just over $30 with shipping), made in India. Will be smooth surface at least, hopefully will be durable and break in comfortably as well.

kookaburra1701

Split the difference and wear leather pants.

beebe

Good luck.

jputnam

Cotton wears out from internal friction, thread rubbing against thread, so saddle surface won't make a huge difference.

rhm

A hard leather saddle, with a smooth surface, and the rivets pounded smooth, is the answer to OP's question. Natural color ("honey") is best because dyes will stain. The honey color will change to brown over time.

Your pants will still wear out eventually, but that can't be helped.

JPprivate

I bring new pants to the dry cleaner and ask them to add 'reinforcement' in the crotch area.

acidfast7

I own a pair of those, but they're longer. I've only worn them once, to Oktoberfest 2010.