Is there a way to find out without buying both types, several brands and then figure out the one that fits best? it would be very expensive...
I ride on the hoods 95% of the time so my riding position is not agressive, I've put 400 miles on my current saddle but Im still having some numbness, not pain, but numbness so I was wondering that may be I would need a slight larger saddle.

Any tips on how to figure out if a larger one would do?

You didn't say, so I'm running with you being a guy. If you're female you should say so.


Many LBS have some sort of ass sizer. I used one once, even though they assured me that everyone has the same width sit bones regardless of how many odd balls search the internet to say "huh uh, I'm special."

So you can go measure. 143 is pretty typical for road cyclists. If you're really upright on your bike you might go wide.


Also, some LBS now do saddle demos. I really recommend saddle demos where you can get them. I think competitive cyclist has one via mail order (you might have to pay for it, I'm not sure).

Go to a Specialized dealer and get on their sit meter. It'll tell you exactly what your sit bone width is. From there, you take into account your riding style. More upright on the hoods vs. down in the drops.

I measured for a 143 but opted to get a 155 Avatar saddle. I weigh 250 and have big thighs and glutes, although in theory that has little influence on correct saddle width. I've been happy for the past couple of years, but I'm beginning to wonder just out of curiosity how the 143 would feel?

It never ends.

I used to think I needed a very wide saddle. 160 mm or above. My wife measured my sitbones at 135 ( That's another story). I recently purchased a Specialized 143 or 144 mm wide Romin and found it very comfortable and not at all too narrow. I have been plagued by pain and numbness for decades and the Romin is the first saddle that has been comfortable and without numbness. I have also ridden Brooks Professionals and Swallows and liked them but the Specialized for me is the best. It's a very individual thing... you just have to keep looking until you find the saddle that matches your anatomy and riding style.

If the saddle is too narrow, like the 135mm Flites I used for years and hated, the sit bones will be bearing on the sloping sides of the saddle...not good. I was at a Trek shop, that had a butt-o-meter and 90 day no questions asked return policy on their Bontrager saddles...their BOM said to buy a 143 mm saddle...it was so comfortable I almost cried...I have since installed the same model of saddle on every bike I have. Once you find YOUR saddle...buy one or two extra.

We can't help you unless we see your ass. Please post pics and hold an extended measuring tape.

I fell for the "ass-meter" gimmick and wasted money on saddles with the "perfect width" for me. Total waste of money. You can't pick a saddle with a ruler. Unfortunately, it comes down to trial and error.

Ebay is your friend. I bought and sold about 8-10 different used (but virtually new) saddles on Ebay and tried them one by one. The bad ones got resold for virtually the same price as I had paid. I eventually narrowed it down to the saddle I have now used for 3 years comfortably. By the way, it was not the size that the "ass-meter" suggested.

Good Idea

it's a fat hairy ass, are you sure?