pakossa

Yes, I'm fully aware saddle choice is a "personal" thing, but having tried 60 - 65 saddles over the years, I know what I'm looking for, but still can't seem to find it. The main issue is that most "men's road" models (135 - 140 mm wide) are too narrow for me. (I can easily feel my sit bones hanging off the sides.) Yet, "woman's" and "comfort" saddles are too wide for me. Other thing is, apparently I have overly sensitive nerves, a low tolerance for pain, or something which requires me to have quite a bit more padding than would be recommended for someone who rides 6,000+ miles/10,000+ kms a year at a fairly quick pace. Basically, everything I've tried is too hard, soft, narrow, or wide, or some combination.
Recently, I tries the Terry Men's Fly. Of all the saddles I've tried, that had the padding I liked best. Unfortunately, it was too narrow. (Tried the woman's Butterfly . . . that was too wide.) Have been using a Blackburn Ciento most of the past year. Size (150 - 155 mm) is about right. But, padding is some kind of memory foam, which even I find to be a bit too soft and squishy. Tried Brooks c17 (sized about right -- similar to Ciento -- but definitely need some padding). Tried a few SMPs; considering I hated all the "cutout" saddles I've tried, they weren't nearly as bad as I expected. But, the one with enough padding was too wide, and vice-verse. Tried Adamo/ISM, but after a few months, my crotch was covered with 5 - 6 simultaneous saddle sores!!! Tried several Specialized, but too hard. I've returned -- or sold on e-bay -- all the one's I didn't like, but with what I paid for all the shipping, I probably could have bought decent saddles for all my bikes! (And I'm still waiting for biketiresdirect to ban me from buying from them!)
I guess I'm looking for something the size and shape of a Brooks C17 (or my Ciento), with the padding of a Terry Men's Fly, with a fairly flat profile (side and rear), and without a cutout/relief hole, etc. Anyone know if such a saddle exists? Or, am I just expecting too much from saddle . . . ?

Trailroaster

My saddle (on MTB and Hybrid bike) is the Selle Italia Max flite gel flow. First time I tested (a friend's loan for a couple days just for testing) fell in love and Monday morning I was ordering one just to switch my existing SDG.

Selle Italia :: MAX « Selle Italia

Previously to the Max model I was using SDG & Specialized 148mm wide saddles (¿Toupe SL? I dont remember) and in long outings ended with a sore bottom several times, saddle was mercyless with my bottom (using shorts with cushioned baggy liners was futile).

If investing in a new (and much probably quite expensive) saddle, make yourself a favor. Get your 'twins' and their bones measured. Did it when I got the Selle Italia and made a difference. Eyeballing the measurements is a recipe for disaster.

Shameless plug: I do not have anything with Selle Italia (rather than being a happy customer), but went to a local dealer to get measured and with the measurements, they offered me 'test units' (the same saddles but in yellow color with TEST text inscribed over the saddle). Check it out if you have a dealer near and get measured and if posible, test one, two or what you may need in order to find the correct one.

rmfnla

Once a leather Brooks breaks in it is more comfortable than anything with padding.

I traded my Terry Fly for a Brooks Flyer. About two weeks of short commuting (7 miles round trip) was all it took; now I ride it commando in unpadded shorts and love it!

Just a thought...