Finding the right saddle for your road bike can relieve you of pain and make your rides more enjoyable. Often the cause of saddle related pain is due to the width and shape of the saddle not matching the sit bones of the user.

No two people are built the same so it is impossible to recommend a saddle that will suit everyone.

The best we can do is explain everything that you need to think about when it comes to choosing a saddle and then give you a selection of the top road bike saddles available.

Best Road Bike Saddles

	Selle Italia Sport Gel Flow Saddle	Fabric Line Race Bike Saddle	Fizik Aliante Road Bicycle Saddle
Cover:	Breathable full-grain leather	Waterproof microfiber	Durable Microtex fabric
Weight:	12.6 Ounces	13.4 Ounces	9.6 Ounces
Shell:	Carbon reinforced nylon	PU Foam	Carbon reinforced nylon
For:	Unisex	Uni-Sex	Men's & Women's available

For more of my biking recommendations, have a look through these popular Outside Pursuits guide links: Bike Lights, Bike Racks, Bike Helmets.

Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated Bike Saddles For 2021

1. Selle Italia C2 Genuine Gel Saddle
2. Fizik Aliante Gamma K:ium Road Bicycle Saddle
3. Fabric Line Race Bike Seat
4. Selle Italia SLR Tekno Flow Bicycle Saddle
5. Prologo Dimension Road Bike Saddle

Our reviews of the top rated bike saddles with our guide and comparison table will help you choose the right seat for you.

Bike Seat Reviews

#1 Selle Italia C2 Genuine Gel Saddle

This high quality leather saddle is lightweight, sleek and flexible.

It is made with 7mm high strength manganese alloy rails, and is compatible with nearly any bike. The large central cut out improves blood flow and the width is also relatively wide. 

Increased padding ensures comfortable positioning even on the longest of rides, and offers some protection from skin chafing and inflammation.

The Selle Sport Gel Flow Saddle provides all round comfort for short and long rides, making it a great choice for all but very serious racers.

#2 Fizik Aliante Gamma K:ium Rails Road Bicycle Saddle

This saddle is intended for riders who ride with a low position and have narrow sit bones. Think Bradley Wiggins (he uses this saddle).

The Arione is quite long, allowing the user to shift their weight during a ride. Wingflex technology allows the saddle to flex for comfort while still ensuring maximum power gets transferred to the pedals.

The price is a bit higher compared to the Fabric Line reviewed above but this is offset by the quality of the construction and clip for saddle bags and lights. The “Kium” alloy of the rails is lighter than titanium while maintaining the same strength.

The seat has enough flex while providing stiffness to be among the most comfortable road bike seats you can buy.

Women’s model: Fi’zi:k Luce Manganese Saddle – Women’s

#3 Fabric Line Race Bike Seat

Comfort on long rides is the priority of this saddle. A deep groove for good blood flow, a slim profile and modest padding sit on top of a slightly flexible nylon shell.

The narrow nose allows you to pedal with your knees close together in an aerodynamic stance and by opting for a deep groove rather than a fully cut out section, Fabric ensure that there is no excess flex.

You do not have to be an endurance rider to enjoy the comfort of this saddle though. The rails are lightweight titanium alloy and the cover is durable waterproof microfiber. Overall I would say this is the best road bike saddle.

#4 Selle Italia SLR Tekno Flow Road Bike Saddle

The Tekno sits at the top end of the road bike seat spectrum and is designed for low, aerodynamic racing in the drops. A wide cut out through almost the length of the saddle.

A synthetic cover complements the carbon base and carbo-keramic oval rails (make sure your seat post clamps are compatible) to make this a seriously lightweight option.

The only place where it is not light is on your wallet but you are paying for a serious piece of equipment that will help you stay comfortable and fast. While not cheap, its certainly a top contender for the best road bike seat.

#5 Prologo Dimension Road Saddle

The Prologo Dimension is another great choice for endurance biking. The dropped nose is intended to reduce pressure while still providing support on long rides.

The carbon base has a slight flex and padding provides support where it is needed, while pressure is reduced by the groove.

It may feel firm, but the padding is quite sturdy.

There is even a clip system at the back that allows Prologo bags, bottle cages and lights to be attached.

This unique build makes it one of the most comfortable road bike saddles in its price range.

Road Bike Saddle Comparison Table

How to Choose the Best Road Bike Saddle

• Anatomy of a Bike Saddle
• Width
• Length
• Padding
• Cut Out
• Seat Cover
• Shell
• Rails
• FAQs For Bike Seats
• Tips For Picking Out a Bike Seat

Even twins do not have exactly the same butts. Bear this in mind when reading any saddle reviews because it is highly unlikely that the reviewer has a similar anatomy to yours.

Whether a saddle fits and is comfortable or not is a very personal assessment and no one can tell you that any one saddle is the one for you.

First it is important to understand each part of a saddle and what they are made of.

Anatomy of a Bike Saddle

Cover: The top of the bike saddle is a cover, commonly made of leather or synthetic leather.

Padding: In between the cover the internal support shell may be some padding to provide some support. Serious road saddles will have little or no padding. Saddles with thick padding are not any more comfortable over long distances as the padding eventually compresses and can no longer provide any support.

Width and Shape: This is determined by the shell. This is usually made of plastic or carbon fiber, the latter being lighter but more expensive.

Neither is necessarily more comfortable that the other but many people like the stylish look and feel of real leather. Avoid covers that have seams on top as these can be a point that will rub.

Rails: Holding the whole thing to the seat post are two rails. These are made of alloy or titanium to save weight.

Width

The further apart your sit bones are, the wider the saddle needs to be. Probably. This is not an absolute rule but following it can help get you on the right track.

To measure your sit bone width, sit on a piece of corrugated cardboard and measure the distance between the middle of each depression.

If you have a low riding position that stretches out your body, then a narrow saddle will be allow you to pedal efficiently because less weight will be on the saddle.

Length

The nose of a saddle also supports some weight, especially when climbing. Some saddles even have a lowered nose to reduce pressure but still provide support. A longer saddle will give you the ability to shift your position more than a shorter saddle.

Padding

There is usually very minimal padding in a road bike seat. Thick padding will not prevent soreness but some foam or gel in the right place can help reduce pressure or support your sit bones.

Cutout

You may have noticed the best road saddles have a groove or hole cut down the middle. This is to reduce pressure on sensitive areas and increase blood flow to prevent numbness. Look for this feature in a bike seat if you are experiencing numbness.

Seat Cover

Most modern-day saddles you’ll find use man-made materials, although you’ll occasionally find genuine leather on the more pricey models. The most important aspect here, is to make sure that all seams, panels, and more aren’t going to chafe. In addition, you need it to be extra durable. We’ll admit that we’re more partial to leather, due to the durability, smoothness, and ability to mold.

Some covers have perforations and Kevlar edges to make sure they can handle a good amount of wear-and-tear. Some saddles even add in some grippy material along the nose to make sure you’re not sliding all over the place.

Shell

This part of the saddle controls the essential shape of the model, as well as its springiness. You’re going to find quite a bit of variability throughout manufacturers. The width and length will differ, and the overall design will look different. All-carbon shells are ideal due to durability and their light weight, but they’re also the most expensive.

Rails

The rails are essentially a frame on the under part of the saddle, which is connected to your bike through the seat post. A huge factor in the price of a saddle is the rails, and they do vary widely, depending on the material they’re made out of. The lighter they are, generally the more they go up in price. Entry-level models are often made of steel. From there, you’ll go up to manganese, titanium, and on the top we have carbon.

In terms of comfort, titanium rails often provide additional flex which works to absorb a good amount of road vibrations that transfer through the frame and into the seat post. While they’re not on the higher-end, they are quite comfy.

FAQs For Bike Seats

Q: What causes saddle discomfort?

A: Of course this will vary between riders, but oftentimes, it has to do with riders using one that is either too wide or too narrow. The ischial tuberosities are the parts of us which were made to bear our weight when seated. You may experience saddle discomfort when this load is carried by our soft tissues between our sit bones instead of by the actual bones. In addition, it comes down to personal preference.

Q: How can I measure my sit bones?

A: Plenty of bike shops out there have a measuring device that you can sit on, and are made of memory foam. Once you sit, it will leave an impression in foam, which is then measured. Generally, you’ll want to have the saddle width be your sit bone width, plus 2 centimeters.

If you don’t have the ability to go to a shop and get measured, you can also do this with play-doh, however, we recommend the former if you can.

Q: What if I’m “in-between” sizes?

A: Typically, you can go bigger/wider than what is recommended and you’ll often still be comfortable. However, if you go thinner than what you should, you can start to experience pressure and/or discomfort. If in doubt, go wider!

Q: Shouldn’t I just get a gel-padded seat?

A: You definitely could. Maybe for the first few minutes it would feel nice and plush. However, it’s ultimately going to get compacted and feel just like non-padded seats would. If you really want to go for comfort (and who doesn’t?) then you should look into leather saddles, which will form to your personal weight and shape.

Tips For Picking Out A Bike Seat

Tip #1: If you’re experiencing discomfort, first check the height and angle

If you’ve bought a saddle with the correct width and everything else fits your needs but it’s still uncomfortable, check these two factors out. If the saddle is too high, it can cause you to shift your weight from side-to-side. This movement irritates your perineal area. You can usually adjust this with an Allen/Hex Key. Others feature a quick-release lever.

The angle can be adjusted through the seat clamp. Simply loosen it up, and tilt it accordingly. If it’s already flat and it’s not comfortable, give it a slightly forward tilt.

Tip #2: Women don’t have to just opt for WSDs (women-only design)

These were made for a good reason, though, and you may want to look into these models. As women, we typically have wider hips. With that, it’s often more comfortable to have a saddle which accommodates this factor.

The main difference between these is that they have wider and flatter top with a cutout. Padding will vary, but is typically more than you’d find on “regular” saddles. Again, don’t feel like you have to go with these, as they may not be more comfortable, and many models don’t come in women’s-specific versions.

Tip #3: If you can swing it, try out a leather saddle

Why? Because leather is eventually going to mold to the shape of your body after a while of you riding it. They’re not cheap by any means, but they do last exceptionally long, and the comfort is worth it to many.

#4: If you do have a leather saddle, make sure to use a leather protector

As you probably know, leather doesn’t do well in the elements. To help with this, use a leather protector specifically made for this purpose. They don’t often cost much, and you don’t have to apply it all the time, so it’s not even that time-consuming.

#5: Ride your bike as much as you can once you get your new saddle

First, because you probably already love doing it. Second, because many saddles have a break-in period and will become more comfortable after using it a bit.

How to Find the Perfect Bike Saddle

So we have already established that everyone is different. With that in mind and knowledge about your individual needs, you can find a saddle that matches your needs.

You may need to test several before you find the right one. Make sure to test a saddle for long enough as a new one requires several rides to break in. If you can, borrow one from a friend that is already broken in.

I hope this guide was helpful for finding the best road bike saddle to fit your needs. If you want to comment or recommend a bike seat I didn’t include, please use my contact form to get in touch.

Have fun and enjoy the ride!

How We Researched

To come up with the top road bike seats, we researched a variety of sources for reviews such as CompetitiveCyclist, JensenUSA, REI, EVO along with our own personal experience.

We also consulted online magazines for product research and reviews to get as much unbiased information as we could. To help weed out fake reviews we used Fakespot.com to make sure we only looked at genuine reviews.

With so much quality gear available, we had to narrow it down based on what we felt were the best options were for the price. The staff authors have a wide and varied background in road cycling, racing and bike packing.

The authors have decades of experience in cycling and eager to share their knowledge with readers.

To help narrow down the selection we used personal experiences along with recommendations from fellow cyclists, bloggers and bike shops.

After extensive research, we came up with our list to help you choose the right one for you.

Sources