We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Apparel and Gear Workout Gear Fitness Accessories The 7 Best Bike Seats for Outdoor Riding, Tested and Reviewed Say goodbye to sore buns. By Madeline Diamond Madeline Diamond Madeline Diamond is a former associate e-commerce editor at Dotdash Meredith, where she primarily worked on the Travel + Leisure brand. She brings a lifelong passion for travel to the role and covers all things travel gear, including luggage, fashion, and tech. She also often writes profiles, features, and trend pieces about the culture of travel. She currently is a staff editor at BuySide from WSJ. Originally from California, she now lives in Brooklyn and can often be found in her favorite park with a cappuccino in hand. Shape's editorial guidelines and Kristen Geil, NASM-CPT Kristen Geil, NASM-CPT As the Senior Fitness Editor at Shape, Kristen oversees the Fitness category and covers workout trends, exercise tips, recovery, and more. Previously, Kristen was the Chief Content Officer at aSweatLife.com, where she led content and editorial strategy. She has experience in copywriting and digital marketing, and she's an award-winning freelancer who works with B2C clients in health and wellness. Shape's editorial guidelines Updated on February 26, 2024 Reviewed by Kristen Geil, NASM-CPT Reviewed by Kristen Geil, NASM-CPT As the Senior Fitness Editor at Shape, Kristen oversees the Fitness category and covers workout trends, exercise tips, recovery, and more. Previously, Kristen was the Chief Content Officer at aSweatLife.com, where she led content and editorial strategy. She has experience in copywriting and digital marketing, and she's an award-winning freelancer who works with B2C clients in health and wellness. learn more In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews What to Know Why Trust Shape Shape / Marcus Millan While almost every bicycle comes with its own bike seat, not every saddle is made the same. A poorly-shaped or cushion-less seat could make for an uncomfortable ride, whether you're hitting the trail, city bike path, or even your stationary bike at home. "Shopping for the right bike seat isn't just about finding the softest, widest, or most cushioned," says Kevin Lau, an REI retail sales specialist. "It's important to consider how the rider will be positioned on the bike and their riding style or type of riding." If you're traversing bumpy trails, for example, you'll want more shock absorption, while riders weaving through city streets will want a flatter seat with more support to provide stability. Lau also suggests measuring your sit bones in order to find a saddle that's the right size for you. Over four weeks of intense testing and analysis, we rated several bike seats for comfort, durability, stability, and overall value. From mountain biking to casual commuting, these are the seven best bike seats for your warm-weather biking adventures. Our Top Picks Best Bike Seat Overall : Brooks England Cambium C17 All-weather Saddle at Amazon ($106) Jump to Review Best Bike Seat for Women: Ergon Women's SM Sport Gel Bike Saddle at REI ($100) Jump to Review Best Budget Bike Seat: Giddy Up! Bike Seat at Walmart ($60) Jump to Review Best Bike Seat for Beginners: Wittkop Bike Seat at Amazon ($40) Jump to Review Most Comfortable Bike Seat: YLG Oversized Comfort Bike Seat at Amazon ($40) Jump to Review Best Firm Bike Seat: WTB Volt Saddle at Amazon ($37) Jump to Review Best Bike Seat for Mountain Biking: Selle Italia Women's Diva Gel Superflow MTB Road Bike Saddle at Amazon ($70) Jump to Review Best Bike Seat Overall Brooks England Cambium C17 All-weather Saddle Amazon View On Amazon $106 View On REI $140 View On Chainreactioncycles.com $109 Our Ratings Comfort 5/5 Stability 5/5 Durability 5/5 Value 5/5 Why We Like It: It forms to your butt over time and is versatile enough for any type of cyclist.It’s Worth Noting: The “carved” option includes a cutout to relieve pressure, while the “standard” option does not. Dimensions: 11.14 x 6.38 x 2.5 inches | Weight: 15.9 ounces | Inner Material: Fiberglass reinforced nylon | Outer Material: Rubber Our best bike seat overall was the Brooks England Cambium All-Weather Bike Seat, which earned a perfect score across every category. While other options we tested proved just as durable and comfortable as this one, the Cambium bike seat won out for being truly weatherproof, thanks to a waterproof nylon cover that can stand up to the elements. During testing, we noted that this bike seat would work well on any kind of bike, from mountain biking to road bikes. We also appreciated that it took us less than 10 minutes to install on our bikes — all the better for hitting the road faster. Brooks England boasts that this bike seat doesn’t require a “breaking in” period, thanks to a vulcanized natural rubber top that’s supple and conforms to the shape of your body. We found that to be true, but we also noticed that our rides got better and better over time as the seat molded to our specific shapes. Best Bike Seat for Women Ergon Women's SM Sport Gel Bike Saddle REI View On REI $100 View On Ergonbike.shop Our Ratings Comfort 5/5 Stability 5/5 Durability 5/5 Value 5/5 Why We Like It: It was designed based on long-term studies on anatomic characteristics of the female pelvis. It’s Worth Noting: The seat is more firm than padded. Dimensions: 13.78 x 7.48 x 3.94 inches | Weight: 14.1 ounces | Inner Material: Gel | Outer Material: Microfiber We were highly impressed with the thought that went into the design and engineering of the Ergon Women’s SM Sport Gel Saddle. The flat profile eliminates uncomfy pressure between the legs and helps distribute weight on the sit bones in a way that’s better suited to women. There’s a carved-out “relief channel” that helps reduce pressure, numbness, and pain — all of which can cause bike sores, FYI. The cherry on top? Anatomic gel pads for even more comfort. Thanks to the intentional design of this bike seat, we were incredibly satisfied with how this bike seat performed on both hills and flat roads. We also thought it reduced road vibrations a bit, so plus one for shock absorption. However, heads up that this seat is on the firmer side; you might want padded bike shorts to wear with it, and we’d recommend it for performance riding over casual cruising or short bike commutes. Best Budget Bike Seat Giddy Up! Bike Seat Amazon View On Walmart $60 Our Ratings Comfort 5/5 Stability 5/5 Durability 5/5 Value 5/5 Why We Like It: It's designed to relieve pressure on the tailbone and back.It's Worth Noting: The on/off button for the LED light can be pushed accidentally when moving your bike. Dimensions: 11 x 8.35 x 4.3 inches | Weight: Not listed | Inner Material: Memory Foam | Outer Material: Foam, faux leather For under $50, the Giddy Up! bike seat impressed us, especially in terms of how comfortable it remained over 19 hours of testing. It offers plenty of cushioning, thanks to its memory foam material, and the waterproof coating added durability. We also appreciated the extra safety features — an LED light in the rear alerts other riders or cars to your presence. The bike seat comes with a waterproof cover to protect your purchase from the elements, which will ultimately make your seat more durable and long-lasting, too. We did notice that it’s easy to accidentally press the on/off button for the safety light when moving the bike. To preserve battery life, make a habit of checking your light when getting on and off the seat. Best Bike Seat for Beginners Wittkop Bike Seat Amazon View On Amazon $40 View On Walmart $39 Our Ratings Comfort 5/5 Stability 5/5 Durability 5/5 Value 5/5 Why We Like It: The bike seat is comfort-forward, thanks to five individually designed ergonomic zones.It’s Worth Noting: While mountain biking seats and racing seats are available, the city bike seat will be best for beginners. Dimensions: 10 x 8.5 x 3.2 in | Weight: 1.4 pounds | Inner Material: Memory Foam | Outer Material: Foam We found the Wittkop Bike Seat to be most accessible to beginner cyclists, especially the City model, which supports a more upright position with a wider seat (read; more comfortable). Plus, the design features five ergonomic zones, each individually engineered to support a specific part of your seat (sans bike sores, thanks to an advanced airflow system that increases ventilation). The materials are a combination of supportive memory foam and a waterproof exterior, making it great for all-weather rides. Most Comfortable Bike Seat YLG Oversized Comfort Bike Seat Amazon View On Amazon $40 View On Walmart $40 Our Ratings Comfort 5/5 Stability 5/5 Durability 5/5 Value 5/5 Why We Like It: The wide seat features soft padding that’s both comfy and stable.It’s Worth Noting: This bike seat is meant for more casual rides. Dimensions: 13.38‘’x10.63'' x 7.67” | Weight: 3.85 pounds | Inner Material: Memory foam and gel | Outer Material: PVC leather For days when you’re craving a leisurely bike ride, we recommend the YLG Oversized Comfort Bike Seat. At 13.4 inches, it’s the widest seat we tested, and that extra space means more cushion for the pedal pushing. Beyond the width, the comfort comes from the combination of memory foam and gel material, both of which naturally shape around your backside (instead of forcing you into strained positions). We also thought this bike seat felt durable and stable on the variety of surfaces we tested it on — pavement, sand, gravel, and packed dirt. Plus, it was easy to install. Best Firm Bike Seat WTB Volt Saddle Amazon View On Amazon $37 View On Walmart $33 View On REI $48 Our Ratings Comfort 4/5 Stability 5/5 Durability 5/5 Value 5/5 Why We Like It: It’s both stable and lightweight.It’s Worth Noting: You might need to add padded bike shorts for comfort. Dimensions: 10.43 x 5.91 x 2.36 inches | Weight: 11.3 ounces | Inner Material: DNAx Padding | Outer Material: Microfiber For advanced cyclists who prefer a firm, streamlined seat, we recommend the WTB Volt Steel Saddle. The barely-there profile is shaped for speed and weighs just 11 ounces, and ventilation holes provide much-needed airflow to any delicate areas. We tested this on longer bike rides of 16 and 25 miles, and each time, we felt super stable (even during hilly moments). We were also surprised that this bike seat wasn’t more expensive; the materials and shape made it feel super premium. That said, the design of this bike seat and firm cushion makes the WTB Volt Steel Saddle a better choice for advanced cyclists used to riding at a forward angle. Also, while WTB calls this a mountain biking seat, we tested it on pavement and thought it performed just as well. Best Bike Seat for Mountain Biking Selle Italia Women's Diva Gel Superflow MTB Road Bike Saddle Amazon View On Amazon $70 View On Target $143 View On Competitivecyclist.com $152 Our Ratings Comfort 5/5 Stability 5/5 Durability 5/5 Value 5/5 Why We Like It: Whether climbing out of the saddle or flying downhill, we felt totally stable in this seat.It’s Worth Noting: You do you, but this was designed with women in mind. Dimensions: 12.5 x 7 x 1.5 inches | Weight: 10 ounces | Inner Material: Gel padding | Outer Material: Fibra-Tek If the mountains are calling you, we found the Diva Gel Superflow from Selle Italia to be the best bike seat for mountain bikes. We tested it over three trail rides with rolling hills, and each time, we felt super secure both in and out of the saddle. The seat is easy to wipe down if you happen to get mud splattered on it, and the seat felt firm with a hint of padding for comfort. Like the Ergon Sport Gel Saddle, this bike seat was designed for women’s anatomy (specifically, the center cutout is designed to relieve pressure on sensitive areas and there’s more flexibility in the front of the seat). While this seat would work fine as a road bike seat, we think you get the most performance from using it for a mountain bike. What to Know About Bike Seats Riding position: "Although some manufacturers may label or brand their seats by bike category, such as road, mountain, hybrid, or cruiser style, the rider's position on the bike and how they ride the bike will be more important in determining the shape of the saddle," explains Lau. Casual, everyday riders (think: beach cruisers or low-key commuters) might prefer wider seats with more cushioning that support an upright, relaxed posture. Meanwhile, people traversing the mountains or racing for speed will want a seat with a slim profile and less padding that lets them lean forward at an angle for a more aerodynamic position. Cushioning: The type of cushioning will affect the bike seat's comfort. "Gel cushioning molds to your body and provides the plushest comfort," says Lau. "Most recreational riders prefer [gel] for its superior comfort on casual rides." You'll also find saddles with foam cushioning, which "offers a pliable feel that springs back to shape," adds Lau. Road bike riders often opt for foam because it provides more support than gel while remaining comfortable for long rides; gel is a great option for recreational riders. Some saddles have no cushioning, and instead, just have a leather or cotton cover. These seats, admittedly, can be uncomfortable for many riders, although there are some upsides. A cushion-less saddle "will break in with frequent riding and eventually mold to your weight and shape," explains Lau. Shape: "People who are less flexible tend to shift more on their saddle, so a more rounded seat could be better for them," notes Lau. However, "someone who's fairly flexible will typically be in a more stable position on the bike and can be more comfortable on a flat saddle." For riders looking for "maximum performance," Lau suggests that a "longer, narrow, curved saddle" would be the way to go. Why Trust Shape Madeline Diamond is a former associate e-commerce editor at Dotdash Meredith, where she primarily worked on the Travel + Leisure brand. She brings a lifelong passion for travel to the role and covers all things travel gear, including luggage, fashion, and tech. She also often writes profiles, features, and trend pieces about the culture of travel. She currently is a staff editor at BuySide from WSJ. Originally from California, she now lives in Brooklyn and can often be found in her favorite park with a cappuccino in hand. Kristen Geil is a senior commerce editor at Shape who primarily focuses on fitness equipment and activewear. She reviewed the methodology and insights for this article, compiling hundreds of hours of testing into the results you see here. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit