So, what are your best tips for making a leather saddle truly waterproof, instead of merely water resistant?

Got any great, tried-and-true products that have withstood the tests of time and weather? Any downsides to those products?

Am interested in what folks have experience with that excels above the rest. Will be using a saddle cover in between stops, but want to ensure what water does get to the leather doesn't harm it.


Brooks B-series City/HD leather saddle. Would be new.

Ride naked. Natural oils will lubricate the leather. Better if you can get a trainer and spends three hours a night in your living room with it.

Otherwise I am not sure. I would suggest whatever I have always oiled my hiking boots with. Bees wax or mink oil. But people will probably nix that idea, well both actually.

I love my brooks saddles dearly, but the lack of an approved way to water proof them has always bugged me. I follow the recommendations and only use proof hide a couple times a year to condition the leather, and apply a thick unrubbed coat on the bottom. I also try to keep a hotel shower cap in my saddle bag to throw on if if I have to park it in heavy rain which is very seldom. Were in Minnie we don't get rain everyday like some places. If we did I probably would not be on a Brooks for my daily rider.

Sorry that's not much help. If I had to choose a product to apply to the brooks I'd probably go with Sno Seal. It works great on my leather boots and shoes.

Simply not possible, leather is a natural material that will get soaked if exposed long enough despite the best efforts in manufacture and whatever potions the assiduous owner applies. Full mudguards and the installation of a well fitted waterproof saddle cover are your best bet when it's sheeting down.

BROOKS ENGLAND LTD. | MAINTENANCE+PRODUCTS | RAIN+COVER

-Bandera

I use Obenauf's Leather Paste on my Brooks, shoes, other leather goods.

https://www.obenaufs.com/index.php?r...&product_id=30

Best thing I have found. And it leaves everything, including hands, smelling like honey. I rub down our 5 Brooks and other leather saddles maybe once or twice per year, as needed.
Also, I tuck a saddle cover, shower cap, or plastic bag up under the rails.
Really only use them if I leave my bike out in the rain, camping, locked up, etc….
When I ride, my butt is covering the saddle for me.
Also, don't really worry about it that much.
Brooks saddles are a lot less maintenance and worry than many make them out to be.
Mine are used in all conditions. Touring on/off road, commuting, and on my pedicab.
Fenders or some coverage from the underside definitely help as well.

Ardvaark saddle covers are another option. Light, inexpensive, look fine on the bike, made in USA. You can put it on the saddle and leave it on until the weather clears up.

What exactly is the big whoop about leather seats? Someone please explain????

As for water-proofing leather..... only way to do it is to let some viscous water repellant material completely saturate the whole thing. Pressure treated lumber process does this with wood preservatives, i'm sure a process for leather could be fashioned, but it would likely not be DIY. Short of that you could use a mix of casein & bee wax.

- Andy

Buy a C17 you get the looks , but its Rubber slung between the nose and tail.

Portland design works has a saddle made with the plastics that Crocs shoes are made of. zero care ..


.. but if you are locked into Leather Heat it to a 100 F upside down with a beeswax compound dolloped in it it will melt and the hide will soak it up

snow seal is a ready made ..

down sides ? what breathability leather offered is now wax.



there is those guys, who were cut open and plasticized you can see the bones and tissues indefinately
visible men from real cadavers.

My tip is don't bother; your saddle cover in between stops and while parked outside is all you need for Brooks Leather Saddles. At least that is all my B66, B72, and B73's have needed over the last 40 years.

The shape of a couple models of the Brooks saddles fit me to a "T". Couldn't care less that they're leather, per se. But, being leather, it presents a bit of a problem if exposed to the elements.




Thanks, everyone. So, a couple folks simply cover them; a couple might use a "wax" product like SnoSeal or similar; and some recommend just sticking with the Proofide method Brooks recommends. Much appreciated.

They're the most comfortable type of saddle for many of us. Also, given adequate care, they last long enough to provide a very good value for the money. They often last 40 years. Padded saddles built on plastic shells don't last as long.

A leather saddle also breathes better so, for me, it is much more comfortable, especially on a hot day. The way it flexes makes it very comfortable, for me.