Best long distance saddle

[iandriver]

It's different for everyone, but I have found that a Charge Spoon is great for me (and also has the benefit of not being very expensive). Also once I discovered this, I made sure that I had them on all my bikes, so my bum doesn't get used to something else MTBing, then has to readjust for the tourer.

+1 for the Charge Spoon. The go to low cost saddle when trying this sort of experiment.

[Sweep]

Am a fan of gel selle royal saddles - pretty cheap - often available rebranded I think as the original company likes to sell more expensive things under the Fizik branding (I think they are now one and the same).
Decathlon sells a few things which I think are effectively theirs.
Measuring your sit bones gap isn't that hard - I don't think it really needs professional lazer gear or whatever.
Expanding on my other point about starting cheap I would personally avoid anything that makes particular spectacular claims/has any sort of avant garde design.
As stated above, hygiene is vital - I always wash well before any major ride.
If you have to stand on the pedals now and again for short periods on long long rides for a bit of reliefe I don't think that is too big a problem.
Just ensure of course that there's no pain/digging into sensitive bits - no such pain is acceptable.

[Jamesh]

It's different for everyone, but I have found that a Charge Spoon is great for me (and also has the benefit of not being very expensive). Also once I discovered this, I made sure that I had them on all my bikes, so my bum doesn't get used to something else MTBing, then has to readjust for the tourer.

+1 for the Charge Spoon. The go to low cost saddle when trying this sort of experiment.

I think charge saddles are now fabric saddles and the spoon is very much like the radius.

Cheers James

[ratherbeintobago]

Charge Spoons are still widely available, and cheap.

Funnily enough I’ve got one on the Hybrid of Doom; issue remains that saddles are very personal and what suits one person might not suit others.

[Jamesh]

Am a fan of gel selle royal saddles - pretty cheap - often available rebranded I think as the original company likes to sell more expensive things under the Fizik branding (I think they are now one and the same).
Decathlon sells a few things which I think are effectively theirs.
Measuring your sit bones gap isn't that hard - I don't think it really needs professional lazer gear or whatever.
Expanding on my other point about starting cheap I would personally avoid anything that makes particular spectacular claims/has any sort of avant garde design.
As stated above, hygiene is vital - I always wash well before any major ride.
If you have to stand on the pedals now and again for short periods on long long rides for a bit of reliefe I don't think that is too big a problem.
Just ensure of course that there's no pain/digging into sensitive bits - no such pain is acceptable.

I have a rule in longer rides that any decent above 20mph I stop peddling and lift myself off the saddle. Gives my backside a break. Same at traffic lights don't sit at the lights on your saddle come off and stand with a foot on the kerb.

[brianleach]

I am a fan of Specialized Body Geometry saddles particularly the Avatar although my limit now is about 75 km.

I got a Brooks Cambium to go on my gravel bike but never got on with it and put the Avatar back on sharpest.

[scottg]

One reason Brooks keeps showing up in these questions,
is they're one the few companies that produce the same
saddles for years at time. Might as learn to ride a Brooks,
you'll be able to get a new one in 20 years.

Check bike shops, some have a bin of saddles taken
off new bikes, for a much better price.
Brooks & Fizik distribute loaner saddles to shops,
so you can try before you buy.

[hoogerbooger]

Consider also saddle position. Small changes can sometimes make a big difference in my experience.

Not a fan of baggy sorts + liners. More likely to scrunch up and rub than single short.

[My B17 on my touring bike was originally wonderfully comfortable Did't't use it for 8 years...and then it was really uncomfortable. I presumed I'd just become bony buttocked [ translated from my original latin by the forum cyber police] with age..but now think I'd just moved it a bit at some point during some fettle. Realised I was sliding forward and weight moving onto the perineum. A 5mm shift forward of the saddle has made a massive improvement in comfort.... although not as comfortable as my (unnamed) gel saddle with a cut-out ]

[Jamesh]

One reason Brooks keeps showing up in these questions,
is they're one the few companies that produce the same
saddles for years at time. Might as learn to ride a Brooks,
you'll be able to get a new one in 20 years.

Check bike shops, some have a bin of saddles taken
off new bikes, for a much better price.
Brooks & Fizik distribute loaner saddles to shops,
so you can try before you buy.

We hope!

Although I think the older ones were better.

[Ray]

In the end(!) it's a matter of trial and error to match your bum to the right saddle. High price is no guarantee of suitability, so it does make sense to try a few at the lower end of the price range. I've tried umpteen over the years, and can certainly say that the Spa Navigator, which came as standard with my Spa Elan, is worth a try. No break-in period, slim but reasonably well-padded, not too heavy, and waterproof. And only £18. https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m18b0s81p25 ... tor-Saddle

[hamster]

There's no single right answer, but saddles that seem to work more often than not:
Charge Spoon
San Marco Regal
San Marco Rolls
San Marco Concor Lite
Selle Italia Flite
Brooks B17

They are sufficiently popular that you can get cheap scruffy used ones on ebay to see if the shape works - after that you can buy new. Personally I cannot bear a standard B17; although a B17 Narrow works OK but still doesn't beat the Regal. A Flite for me is torture but works for many.

Most important is to get the width right, too wide is probably worse than too narrow. However it also links to your pedalling style - riding at tempo has you sitting less heavily on the saddle. The only time I got saddle sores was riding a century escorting a slower rider.

[ratherbeintobago]

Worst saddle I ever had was (I think) a Selle Italia SLR XC - now that really was like sitting on a razor blade.

Think it got taken off and replaced with a Spoon.

[freiston]

In the end(!) it's a matter of trial and error to match your bum to the right saddle. High price is no guarantee of suitability, so it does make sense to try a few at the lower end of the price range. I've tried umpteen over the years, and can certainly say that the Spa Navigator, which came as standard with my Spa Elan, is worth a try. No break-in period, slim but reasonably well-padded, not too heavy, and waterproof. And only £18. https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m18b0s81p25 ... tor-Saddle

I have a couple of Navigator saddles - but with the original "Passport" branding. They are a Charge Spoon type (same factory, same moulding) with slightly different finish and name (I like the Navigator's seamless smooth faux leather finish with the anti-scuff kevlar patches). I agree that they are a good, cheap starting point for the search for the right saddle. Some users have reported discomfort at longer distances but as said many times already, it's very much an individual thing.

I was given a Selle Italia Epoca leather saddle and so I use that on my main bike now. I found it comfortable from the outset though it did improve with "breaking in" (about 200 miles I reckon). One thing I noticed about the Epoca is that it is crucial to experiment with position, making small changes to get it right. The other thing I noticed was that its unladen height is somewhat higher than when I'm sat on it - and so I had to raise it higher than I originally thought was right.

I don't do big distances nowadays but since getting the Epoca, I no longer wear padded shorts. I'm (more) comfortable with trousers (usually Endura Firefly or Humvees but also hiking trousers) and thin microfibre (silky type) pants. One of the biggest problems for me using pads was moisture retention and chafing at the top of the leg/crotch. Regular trousers with thin pants & no pad keeps me fresher and drier. I rarely go above 40 miles on a ride.

That might or might not be of some use/relevance to the OP.

[Vetus Ossa]

I’ve tried a lot of saddle’s over the last couple of years, all of the ones that most people consider comfortable. I’ve tried several different Brooks saddles, ergon, specialized San Marco and charge spoon amongst others I have been loaned or given, they all hurt my rear end in one place or another.
I ride an ebike now so am sitting on the damn things for most of my rides, that is a big factor in my discomfort I suspect.
I am currently using a Brooks C67 which is specifically aimed at upright riders like me, it’s 200 mm wide so my sit bones are supported aren’t they, so it should be comfortable, but is it flink
Only used it once so far so have made a few adjustments, hope it helps.
Bottom line, try as many as you can…good luck.

[Mick F]

Bottom line, try as many as you can…good luck.

Nicely put!


BTW, I remember meeting you on Gem Bridge some years back.