Ok my new bike came with a saddle that isn't great. I have to admit that after riding on it the discomfort is lessening yet the logging roads are rough. Tomorrow I am looking to get my wife a bike so I was hoping to get us each nice saddles. Yet I really have no idea how to pick out a good one.

any input would be great! Thanks Rick

It's trial and error, ever person's butt is different.

Bontrager has a generous return policy so if you don't like it, you can try another.

There's no science to it, except if you identify specific objections, ie. too wide or narrow. Otherwise it's pure trial and error. Also some people are fairly lucky and can sit comfortably on just about anything, while others are like The Princess and the Pea.

In a perfect world, bike shops would have a variety of loaners, so you could experiment at low cost before deciding and shelling out dough. But unfortunately very few shops do this.

Meanwhile, I gather you've been riding a while. If so, use your trusty saddle from an older bike as a guide to what's more or less likely to be comfortable.

For a road bike saddle, you might make a list of the saddles in this thread:
https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycli...le-choice.html

There's a good variety there. Plus these are saddles that at least worked for someone other than the manufacturer's marketer. MTB saddles are similar but usually have a dropped nose. The most important thing to get right is width. Your LBS can help with that.

Selle SMP. If you want one person's opinion, who has gone through a lot of saddles over the years.

Just to follow up this thread. I got an Adamo and love it! I do wish it was a bit softer but it fixed the main issue that I was having!

It's not just the saddle but how you position it. My bike came with a soft, sprung, 'comfort' saddle. Very uncomfortable for anything longer than a half hour.
After much research I bought a Selle Anatomica T series...big improvement but not "just right" I called SA and spoke to their fitter
who listened to my issues, asked some questions, and made recommendations. So I dropped the seat height a little and pointed the saddle off center a few degrees right.
It's now very comfortable and I am working on increasing my distance.
Good luck.

Get measured for width at your LBS. The most common mistake in picking a saddle is getting one that is too wide and too cushy. Time in the saddle is important, you will need to build up your sit muscles.

Maybe You are a Candidate for a Suspension seat Post Under that saddle..


Our LBS has Take Off saddles.. people that By the bike, they want some other saddle than stock, so the stock saddle is taken off and sold cheap.

so a trying a variety of those is a straight trade across .. for the new bike Buyer .. the other ones they swap for bought ones of similar cost.


It really is a decision between your Butt and the saddle , not subject to what I put under Mine .. NB: there are thousands of different saddles made ..



Generally the more upright the riding Posture the wider the back of the saddle..

100 mile test rides work for my testing.

When you finally find one that you like get 2 because, when you wear out the first one, that exact model won't be available anymore.

That is my rule for running shoes and various other clothing items, as well.

You're best bet is find a store with an experienced fitter. They can take a look and provide good recommendations.

Edit: Also someone's recommendation on forums has no bearing to your situation. Saddles are purely personal.

my Local Bike Shop sells SERFAS which come with a 90 day trial. I got one of these and really like it: https://www.serfas.com/products/view...rmance-saddles - about $55.
Done a small bit of touring on it.
I picked up a BROOKS B17 via some classifieds. Not many miles on it yet, but very comfortable so far.
I JUST ordered a Selle Anatomica NSX for $100 on sale - looking forward to trying it - suppose to be a leather you don't have to work hard to maintain.
This threads going if you want to confuse the issue even more: https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/98...mfortable.html
Enjoy!

There are computerized mapping programs that will help but you have to find a shop that has one. Forget those sitting on a pad things. However, even given the mapping program much of what you discover about saddle comfort will ultimately be trial and error. The mapping program is a good place to start. Especially if the shop also has saddles that offer free trials.

Cervelo has an article on it that some find very helpful:

The Four and a Half Rules of Road Saddles - Cervélo

The saddle mapping described in the cite is exactly what I had done. FWIW 137 mm is shown as the 95th percentile for men and yet the sit on a pad method said mine are 143 mm apart. I am a pretty average guy and this is in no way accurate. What I've discovered is that something in the 130-135 mm range is much more comfortable for me.

Will this work with spouses too? Inquiring minds want to know.

+1

Find out the width of your sit bones at LBS. Then try out a few saddles at the LBS on a bike similar to yours. You may like a flatter seat or a curved one. It is as others have put it a trial and error period to find the right one. I picked up a Koobi saddle (on line retailer) for my cyclocross bike and I love it. I went with the Au Enduro. koobi.com

Product Pro Help you Find Saddles, Brake Pads, Handlebars, Computers

ALL ABOUT SMP?S » Bike Fit » Pelvic » Steve Hogg's Bike Fitting Website

Sure, it's a lot of trial and error but there's a lot of good info out there. Also, the best (always the best) advice to saddle comfort is - ride more. If comfort is getting better as opposed to worse with more riding, you probably just need more miles.

+1 Learned the hard way.

agreed that nobody's recommendation for what is good for them means anything to you. also agreed that you need to find a place with a good return policy so you ride several times with the same saddle. Even then it's impossible to know for sure till you have a lot of miles on it. Good luck.

Hey guys, have you ever considered a saddle swap thread? Had one on anther forum and it was a great way to try different ones.

https://www.bikeforums.net/sale/164168-saddle-swap.html