Depends. I think they work really well on saddles that aren't designed for comfort. The compression also helps the legs (from what I'm told). On my commute, I run a Brooks B17 saddle and I don't use bike shorts either. I'm not trying to set any speed records and am mainly looking to be comfortable. On the weekend rides, I wear bike shorts, but I'm usually doing between 50-100 miles so the extra padding is desired. Use what's comfortable to you.