I've got a wtb pure v that I like pretty well. I like my Brooks b17 better though. Saddle preference is very personal though.

Leather or not, for me I ride the Specialized Milano, I own 3 of them, I got extras for replacements as they wear out...

I can't tell you what they are like to ride with, since I put them on my bikes, my butt forgets the seat is there,

I eat a nearly entirely plant-based diet and ride a leather B17 Brooks. For me, a stretched leather saddle is a saddle and everything else is a seat; the level of comfort, especially when the ride goes over ten miles, simply can't be compared. My bum may get sore but nothing goes numb; this matters.

We all have our reasons for eating and buying as we do, and I'm sure you can find something that fits your ethics and works for you. For me, a leather saddle, made by skilled industrialized workers paid a fair wage, that protects my arse and will last a lifetime, is worth a bit of compromise. It bothers me less than the metric tons of blood, bone, and feathers that are dumped on the soil used to grow my organic vegetables, which I'm also reasonably at peace with.

I personally know three other Brooks owning vegans; it's a bit of a trope. :-) Your mileage may vary!

I like the wtb pure saddles. The cover is synthetic.

Hi Brad! I'm a vegetarian, and my answer to your friend would be that I rather a cow gets killed for no purpose what so ever than for profit, shoes or meat doesn't matter. But I'm going to buy a Brooks sadel, and I'm not gonna eat it... maybe I should just stay quiet

serfas rx series mens road bike model.
i dont tour but have ridden up to 63 miles in a day on one in comfort. i also have a serfas gel hybrid seat, a cheaper model, on a folding bike and like it too.
rx model comes in choice of lycra or vinyl. i havent tried lots of new seats, i like this one. it was recommended to me.

Zombie thread!
fwiw I've a Selle Italia XO saddle. Perfect for me as well as synthetic and cheap

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mobile/MobileModels.aspx?ModelID=68747

Your saddle choice depends on your anatomy and your bike's anatomy, your ridding position and for that matter what shorts you wear. Brooks is suppose to be coming out with a vegetarian saddle sometime soon. You might want to look into the Selle SMP lineup of saddles. I tour on a SMP TRK saddle. It is not expensive but it works for me in conditions from steep single track descents in a very up right position to more a prone position on the aero bars. The "boys" particularly like it on heavily rutted dirt roads.

[QUOTE=Western Flyer;15642513]Your saddle choice depends on your anatomy and your bike's anatomy, your ridding position and for that matter what shorts you wear. Brooks is suppose to be coming out with a vegetarian saddle sometime soon. You might want to look into the Selle SMP lineup of saddles. I tour on a SMP TRK saddle. It is not expensive but it works for me in conditions from steep single track descents in a very up right position to more a prone position on the aero bars. The "boys" particularly like it on heavily rutted dirt roads.

"Zombien Thread"

I didn't see how old this thread is!

Ha! Thanks for the heads-up on the Brooks Cambium vegetarian saddle

+1 on the Pure V - I think the cheaper ones have synthetic covers, but the expensive ones are leather. I've used one for several years on different bikes and like it, though not as much as a Brooks. I've also been using an Ergon saddle for several months and it's very comfortable for MTB'ing. Maybe worth looking at for touring.