RJMurphy

Can someone school me ELI5 style on road saddles? They all look and feel close to the same, but one is $25-$40 (Nashbar R2, CR2, etc) and others are RIDICULOUS at like $251 (Fizik Kurve Snake). They seriously look and feel close to the same, unless I'm just a complete dunce. It can't possibly be weight. No saddle is that much lighter than another. What's the deal with the price difference?

Bunyanderman

Nearly 300g compared to 150g, the tech in the fizik saddles is pretty mind blowing. Much better materials (feel) on the fizik, and will last longer. Very comfortable as heard from some local riders. Much better customer support.

Some people are pretty crazy with going light weight, I know I have a certain bug in me but I would never dip into that range. Saving 150g for $250 is pretty common with those that are sub 6.8kg. Some people hold to a $5/g weight savings, but $0.75/g is about what I would do. Still weight weenies enough to ride a full carbon saddle though. Came in at 110g, got it down to 95g comfortably, only cost me $30.

colnago62

What have found, any saddle can feel good for a couple of hours. I had a solid plastic saddle on my track bike for a while. It ended up dying in a garage incident. If you average ride is not that long, saddle shape and comfort matters less. If you are riding for 4 plus hours, the differences in saddle feel get amplified.

StephenH

The best saddle is the one you like. If that's a $10 saddle from Walmart, great, use it and be pleased that your butt is happy for so cheap. And if it takes $250 to keep your backside comfy, well, that's money well spent, too.

Raiden

Hah, a Fizik Kurve is only kinda expensive, their 00 line is even more (~450), and you can blow over 500 on some Selle Italia and Selle SMP models.

(Selle is French for 'saddle', in case you were wondering why every brand has it in their name )

A lot of saddles may be almost exact in geometry, but often there is a difference in the materials used. It's possible they can feel the same when you squeeze them when they're brand new, but when you've got somewhere over 100 pounds of human sitting on it for hours at a time, cheap padding or a cheap shell (the plate at the bottom that everything is wrapped over) will begin to break down and flex, becoming unsupportive. That said, I can't remember the last time I felt a $50 msrp saddle that held a candle to a $150 msrp (for instance) Selle Italia, the padding is just such a huge step up. Not saying there isn't a knockoff out there that does the job as good for less, I just haven't met it.

The Kurve you mentioned is unique- Fizik has three basic saddle shapes (Snake, Chamelon, and Bull are the Arione, Antares, and Aliante respectively), but the Kurve has an adjustable nut under the nose to increase or decrease stiffness, like a Brooks saddle.

Machka 

If your bicycle is set up correctly, and you're in reasonable shape, you should be able to ride just about any saddle for short distances.

It's when your rides get up and over 100K that having the right saddle for you starts to matter.

zonatandem

Well if you think saddles are 'all the same' that's like saying all bikes are the same.
Go to a local bike swap meet and you'll likely be able to pick up several good/used/quality saddles for around 10 bucks each.

hueyhoolihan

the price range of saddles, IMO, is no worse or better than frames, or wheels. there is a large discrepancy in price and often little in performance. i buy the lightest least expensive saddles these days, and can ride 50-60 miles with no discomfort at all. it was not always the case though.

long touring days of 10 hours, day after day is another story, and i am more particular about what saddle i put on the bike before heading out on multi-day tours.

so, no, you are not a complete dunce.

79pmooney

There are real differences in saddles as prices go up but not all of those differences matter. (Cover quality, plastic or leather, quality of the leather. Rails, steel of various qualities, titanium and carbon fiber. Different plastics. Quality and amount of foam padding. Therefore weights, stiffness etc.) But the key element of any seat is how well if fits YOUR BUTT. Good fit - you can put up with a lot of less than perfect. Poor fit - that saddle will never be comfortable to anything but your ego (if you paid enough for it).

I have seats from $60 to $120. All work. The expensive ones are for me my best ones for long riders because they fit the best. The real leather covers are nice. The ti rails are a blessing for this light rider on a relatively stiff bike. I can do a long ride on that $60 seat. But there are many seats that are for me, torture. Now it's any seat with no cutout or groove. I used to love the traditional (long before grooves) Selle Italia seats. My body changed and I would pay for rides on those seats days after.

Many bike shops now allow you to buy a seat, ride it long enough to know if it works and take it back for another if it doesn't. I know of one shop that has a "library" where you can pay $25 and try any seat of their selection of something like 25. Doesn't work? Bring it back and try another. No limit. Find one you like? Your $25 goes toward it.

Ben

UnfilteredDregs

The Kurve is my favorite by far, trampoline effect...I have an excellent Selle Italia as well. I'd like to try a Brooks Cambium, I've heard good things.

GENESTARWIND

stuff doesn't matter, its your ass. find your sit bone measurement and test saddles at an lbs. it avoids trial and error.

or use aluminum foil on a stair, measure that and use the formula to get you in the ball park

bruce19

Also Italian for "saddle" which is why there is Selle Italia and Selle San Marco.

bruce19

FWIW 100g=3.5 oz. Just for us weight weenies. It's a lot cheaper to just lose 1/4 lb of body weight.

Shuffleman

LOL. I prefer the Italian version as well.

I too have marveled at the price on some seats. I used to stick with what came on the bike as I have never had any problems with discomfort. I like to build out my bikes now so I doubt that I will ever buy a complete bike again. I was going to go with the Fizik for my current bike but had to cut back because I went over budget on the frame. I bought a Prologo on sale for $69 based on nothing but the look and reviews. I love the seat and am glad that I spent less for it as I am not sure that it matters for me.
I think that when it comes to seats you simply buy what it comfortable for you. I have friends that have problems finding comfortable ones so I guess that I am just thankful that I can ride on whatever seat that I have and be fine.

TrojanHorse

You sit on them. With your butt. If one's uncomfortable, you buy another one till the discomfort goes away. Lather, rinse, repeat.

If you think they look and feel close to the same then you need to ride further.

thehammerdog

Fizik is a great saddle I love mine came stock on bike. They do differ and body type and saddle design do infact impact howit feels......Tough call.

etw

If I remember correctly, you had a complaint about the Kurve cracking, which I also heard from others. Have their been modifications to the new ones that make it better?

Marcus_Ti

The Ass-o-meter is a gimmick. Went shopping for a saddle they "fitted" me with one. And my god it was the worst instrument of torture I ever purchased. Fortunately I didn't sink much money in it.

It is still trial-and-error.

gabedad

My favorite - Selle anatomica Titanico X

StanSeven

Yeah about the only way to find what works is trying each out. But weight variances are significant - at the extreme ends, a pound is the difference.

RJMurphy

I had NO idea there was a need for measurement for that, or saddles built and sized for different sitbone measurements. But, that makes sense now that it's pointed out. Cool!

RJMurphy

Cool. Thanks a ton all! This is pretty great that everyone threw in a bit.

Machka 

If you get a saddle that is too narrow for your sitbones, your cycling experience will be extremely painful. I've been there. It feels like you're being pulled apart because one sitbone can sit on the saddle nicely, but the other slides off.

If you get a saddle that is too wide, your cycling experience probably won't be as painful as a too-narrow saddle, but you'll still have lots of extra friction and your pedal style may be compromised leading to hip pain, knee pain, etc.

It's all about finding something that is just right.


Also, there's the flatness and curve of the saddle to consider. Some people (people who are a bit more flexible, perhaps) like flat saddles. Others of us like saddles that curve up in the back. I have ridden both, and find that flat saddles give me a lot of lower back pain on long rides. I need a saddle that curves up in the back.


Now, a good bicycle shop will let you test ride a saddle for at least a week ... a better shop will let you ride the saddle for at least a month ... the best let you ride the saddle for 6 months.

So as you start test riding saddles, keep in mind the width and curve.

wallrat

I must have an iron ass. I've just ridden stock saddles and they've been different brands; Fizik, Spec, WTB, and Cannondale. I wear multiple brands of bibs or mountain bike shorts and for rides longer than 4 hours I'll apply chamois cream. Sure my butt is sore the first couple of rides on a new saddle but it figures it out (yes, my ass has a mind of its own). This strategy has gotten me through 5,000 miles last year, multiple hilly centuries and multi day mountain bike epics. My theory is that your butt adjusts to whatever it's on and hardens accordingly.

Bunyanderman

Go full carbon...