10 Best

Comfortable Bike Seats

of September 2023

If you use your bike for commuting, touring, or racing, you’ll notice that each activity demands a slightly different posture. For commuting, you’ll typically sit upright, whereas you’ll try to bend down closer to the handlebars when racing. The differences in riding styles get more pronounced, as you ride for longer distances. Long rides can put strain on your sit bones and perineal area, and having a seat with extra padding, a cutout, or other comfort features can help reduce discomfort and fatigue, making your journey more enjoyable. It’s wise to get a bike seat that maximizes your comfort, both in terms of providing support, as well as giving the proper ventilation and not causing chafing.

We’ll look through some of the offerings in the Best Reviews Guide list of comfortable bike seats. The different shapes, sizes, and materials of these seats will allow you to experiment and find the one that best suits your body and riding preferences. You can even try changing seats according to whether you’re engaging in road biking, mountain biking, or touring. And you can even decide to use them on indoor bikes, such as a Peloton bike when exercising!

Why do some bike seats have a cutout in the middle?

Some bike seats have a cutout or groove in the middle, often referred to as a "saddle cutout." The primary purpose of this design feature is to relieve pressure and reduce discomfort in the perineal area, which is the region between the genitals and the anus. The perineal area can become compressed during long or intense rides, causing numbness, pain, or discomfort. By providing a space for the perineal area to be relieved from direct pressure, the cutout design aims to improve blood flow and reduce the risk of numbness or even erectile dysfunction in male riders. One comfortable bike seat for women with a very pronounced cut-out is the Selle Italia Diva Gel Superflow MTB and Road Bike Saddle.

Selle Italia Diva Gel Superflow MTB and Road Bike Saddle

What are the saddle rails on a bike seat?

Many bike seats have two parallel rails under the seat that run from the noise to the back. You can see them in this image on the right, of the Wittkop Bike Seat. The rails will affect the shock absorption of the bike seat.