We buy all the products we test — no freebies from companies. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission, which helps support our testing.
Investing in a quality bike seat can improve your rides by enhancing comfort, reducing pain, and boosting your performance.
Over the course of several years, our bike experts have clocked hundreds of hours testing over 50 of the best bike seats on the market. We've spent several years conducting formal testing for every single seat in our line-up, in addition to a lifetime's worth of experience on single-track trails in the Sierra Nevada, long road routes through the Colorado front range, and beachy cruises in southern California.
Our top pick overall is the Wittkop 5-zone, which offers a comfortable ride with a comfortable price, too. If you're looking to save even more money, the TONBUX Memory Foam is great for a cruiser or hybrid bike. It offers thick, cushy padding and an ergonomic shape at a very low price.
With a sport as vast as biking, we needed to conduct testing in several sub-categories to cover the sport's bases. We offer deep-dive reviews on electric bikes for more comfy town cruises to top-ranked mountain bikes for the more adventurous cyclist. See our bike helmet review for our top picks for protecting your noggin.
Editor's Note: We updated this article on June 5, 2025, to include our favorite road bike saddle.
Who is this best for: From our first ride on the Wittkop 5-zone, we were confident it would top the charts in our best comfort bike seat review. This genre-bending seat is great for riders who take their bike out for everything from an evening cruise to a daily commute.
Why we love it: The Wittkop seems to straddle the line between comfort and performance that we didn't think was possible. Although it's not the lightest saddle, it outperforms options designed for commuter rides in pedaling performance, yet still manages to keep things as comfy as some of the cruiser saddles we tested. “I noticed other seats became less comfortable as the testing rides grew longer, but not the Wittkop,” our lead reviewer remarked. “It kept my sit bones happy throughout the testing process.”
Should you buy it? The 5-zone is pretty affordable, but it's not as durable as some of the other models in this list. It has plastic channels that provide airflow while riding, which are particularly prone to wear. However, while we love this feature, it is not structurally essential to the seat, and is the only downside to an otherwise well-constructed saddle. Overall, the Wittkop earned one of the highest scores by a pretty big margin and is an excellent all-around option for various bikes in the commuter and cruiser categories.
Showing the cushy saddle and ventilation of the Wittkop 5-zone.
Who is this best for: The Terry Cite X Gel Italia is a comfort-forward saddle that is built to support female anatomy. It uses a dense gel cushion that is comfortable on a variety of rides, but it is firm enough that it doesn't get in the way when you're really cranking the pedals.
Why we love it: It's truly a multi-use saddle, as one of our testers noted, “I tried this seat on a cruiser and on my mountain bike, and its shape was comfortable on both.” Those on our testing team specifically love the top of the seat, where the cushion offers a substantial improvement over saddles that come standard on most bikes. The synthetic outer material also feels more durable than average and comes in fun print options.
Should you buy it? A single vent in the bottom of the seat body provides the only airflow in the Cite X Gel Italia, and it isn't the most breathable, but depending on how you ride, this might not be an issue for you. The bigger deterrent is likely the price. It costs more than many other models in the comfort seat category, and is not even as cushy as some, but the tradeoff is versatility. It's not a squishy dream to sit on, nor is it sleek and aggressive like a mountain or road-specific saddle, but it straddles the line in between the two, claiming its spot as a versatile women's bike seat.
The Terry Cite X Gel Italia has an amount of padding that is not too stiff but not too soft; it's just right.
Who this is best for: The WTB Volt Chromoly is a classic mountain bike saddle that works for riders who want a reliable and affordable saddle for mountain, gravel, or cyclocross setups. As a medium-width saddle, it fits a wide range of body types and riding positions, though riders with a mild forward lean will like it best. The double rail clamp makes it easy to dial in tilt and fore-aft adjustments, and one tester explained, “I really appreciate not just the price point but also the fact that WTB gives you rail material customization options, which is rare for something that feels like a dependable, everyday workhorse.”
Why we love it: This saddle balances performance and affordability in a way few others manage. The Chromoly delivers solid value while offering supportive padding and a shape that feels natural for long rides. Testers like how the Volt holds the sit bones in the right place, and the raised tail section provides extra leverage for laying down serious power. Another rider shared, “I liked how the raised tail kept me anchored in the sweet spot—I could feel that little push when I needed to put down power, and it really made a difference on climbs and sprints.”
Should you buy it? While the Volt is slightly heavier than some high-end performance saddles, the cost savings more than make up for the extra grams. Additionally, the shape is so versatile that it borders on generic. As the saying goes: Jack of all trades, master of none. The Chromoly will not feel as perfectly fitted for everyone as saddles with specialized ergonomics. However, these alternatives typically cost more than three times as much. If you're after an inexpensive, performance-focused saddle you can trust for comfort, the WTB Volt Chromoly is a smart buy.
Dimensions: L 260 mm, W 150 mm | Measured weight: 204 g
REASONS TO BUY
Astoundingly light
Designed for fast rides without forgoing comfort
Deep center channel cut for promoting health
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
More difficult to install and set up
Not as versatile as an all-rounder saddle
Who this is best for: If you're hunting for a rocket of a road bike saddle, the Fizik Tempo Argo R1 is made for serious road cyclists who thrive on long weekend rides and pushing their limits on the parcours. The short-nose design rotates your hips forward without stressing your back, making time in the drops more manageable. In particular, riders with a forward, aggressive position will like it. One tester put it simply: “It looks fast, because the Fizik Tempo Argo R1 is fast! I could stay low in the drops longer without that annoying back ache creeping in, which is exactly what I want on a saddle built for speed.”
Why we love it: At just over 200 grams (thanks to carbon rails), it's impressively light, but it doesn't sacrifice support. A wide, deep relief channel is designed to keep pressure off sensitive areas over extended mileage, and one rider explained, “I was surprised at how much happier my body felt after big rides — the relief channel really did its job while still letting me hammer without distraction.”
Should you buy it? The Fizik Tempo Argo R1 is a road-specific option, and would best serve those who live for long road rides. Some testers admitted it felt too specialized for mixed riding styles. It also has ovalized rails, so we'd recommend checking seatpost compatibility. That said, if you want an ultralight, aggressive road saddle, this is a winner.
We love the Fizik Tempo Argo R1 for supporting us when we ride our favorite routes on bluebird days!
Who this is best for: The Zacro Gel Bike Seat Cover is ideal for riders who want a quick, tool-free way to make their current saddle more comfortable. Installation is straightforward, with a drawstring at the rear and tie straps around the midsection, and it's slim enough not to overwhelm the bike's profile. As one tester said, “It felt like a quick win—slipped it on in seconds, no tools, and the seat immediately had that extra cushion I wanted.”
Why we love it: This cover is a simple but effective way to buffer against hard or awkwardly shaped seats without committing to a new saddle. The gel padding is soft yet supportive, and when installed correctly, it doesn't require too many adjustments later on. We installed it on multiple seats and found that it improved the feel on almost all of them, although it works best on longer, narrower saddles; about 7 inches was the sweet spot for us. Another rider shared, “I liked that it wasn't overly bulky. There is just enough gel in the right spots to take the sting out of longer rides.”
Should you buy it? As mentioned above, the Zacro has a somewhat limited size range. On seats that are too big or too small, it tends to shift and need adjustment mid-ride. The tie-down system isn't the most secure, and it may require some trial and error to get it right. Still, if you're after a budget-friendly, fast comfort fix, this cover delivers. For a more durable, long-term option, we recommend replacing your saddle entirely with one of the dedicated models we tested.
The Zacro Gel Cover adds significant thickness to it's platform seat.
Who this is best for: The TONBUX Memory Foam saddle is an affordable option for recreational riders looking to improve the comfort of their cruiser or hybrid bike. With its wide tail, thick cushioning, and stainless steel springs, it's designed for upright riding positions and shorter rides where plush support matters more than efficiency. It's also pretty easy to install; one tester noted, “I love that this seat comes with a mounting wrench, so you don't have to fret if you don't have tools handy — installation was a breeze, and within minutes I had it set up exactly how I liked.”
Why we love it: During testing, this was one of the most comfortable saddles for short to mid-length casual rides. The memory foam padding absorbed bumps and chatter like a cloud, and the dual suspension balls and ergonomic shape kept vibrations at bay. Another tester said, “I instantly felt how soft and cushioned it was, and the springs really did smooth out rough patches on the road.”
Should you buy it? The TONBUX isn't light — it weighs 535 grams — and the shape of the thick foam padding cuts into pedaling efficiency. That makes it a poor choice for racers or anyone looking to improve performance. But if your goal is relaxed cruising in comfort, especially on a budget, this seat is worth considering. For everyday recreational cyclers who aren't as concerned about weight, it delivers excellent value and a plush ride.
It's hard to get more comfort for less money than with the Tonbux Memory Foam seat.
Who this is best for: As advertised, Bontrager's Commuter Comp Bike Saddle offers a blend of performance and long-lasting durability that is well-suited for those who bike-commute to the office every day, especially if you have a longer ride. Instead of relying on heavy cushioning, it uses an ergonomic shape to support sit bones and maintain pedaling efficiency. One tester described it: “I could tell right away this was built with daily rides in mind—it felt supportive, didn't squish out like padded seats do, and held up beautifully through weeks of heavy use.”
Why we love it: This saddle hits a rare sweet spot between comfort and efficiency. Excessive cushion on a bike saddle can cause a decrease in pedal performance and can even lead to discomfort on longer rides if the appropriate sit bones aren't supported correctly. The firmer padding of the Commuter Comp ensures riders stay properly supported. Another rider explained, “At first I thought it was too firm, but after a few commutes, I realized I was actually more comfortable because I wasn't constantly sinking into padding and shifting around.”
Should you buy it? The firmness of the Commuter Comp won't be for everyone. If you're used to plush cushioning rather than performance-focused styles, the firmness can be a “hard” adjustment. The higher price tag can also be a bit difficult to swallow, but we feel it is reflected in its build quality, and if you're a commuter who wants a reliable, efficient, and comfortable saddle that will last, this is an excellent investment.
The Bontrager Commuter Comp does not have much cushion, but its slender profile and downturned wings keep it comfortable.
Weight without pads: 178g | Rail material: Hollow Chromoly
REASONS TO BUY
One of the lightest tested
Unique design
Suspended feel
Surprisingly comfortable
REASONS TO AVOID
Only available in narrow width
Who this is best for: If you're the type of rider to chase the lightest possible mountain bike setup without giving up comfort, the Tioga Spyder Outland has your name on it. Its unique web-shaped carbonite makeup keeps the weight down to just 178 grams (202 with pads), yet the thoughtfully designed shape distributes pressure effectively. The lower profile allows more freedom of movement for aggressive riding. One reviewer said, “I was skeptical about this seat supporting my sit bones, but the carbonite web performed surprisingly well, and I still had a decent sense of support on rougher rides.”
Why we love it: The Spyder Outland isn't just lightweight—it's cleverly engineered to be comfortable despite its toy-ish look. The open webbing reduces bulk while still providing stability, and testers were impressed by how comfortable it felt in real mountain biking conditions. Another rider said, “Right away, I liked its unconventional look, but it rode better than expected. The mobility was a big plus; I could move around easily without feeling restricted at all.”
Should you buy it? As you may have noticed, the Outland has no cushion. The webbed construction is surprisingly shock absorbent, but don't expect much beyond that. It also only comes in one size (125mm), and is actually the narrowest mountain bike saddle we tested. It might not work for riders with wider sit bones, but if that's not an issue for you, it's a standout choice for weight-conscious riders focused on performance.
Despite being skeptical of the unusual design at first, we were happy with the Spyder Outland by the end of our testing.
Credit: Jeremy Benson
How We Tested
Our bike saddle testing process has been ongoing for several years, and we've spent hundreds of hours sitting in different saddles across the various bike categories. We continuously conduct research on the best bike saddles available and revisit bike saddles we've already tested if our old favorites receive an update. To get a feel for each saddle's performance, comfort, and durability, we took each option on several rides in various conditions, from dusty trails to wet pavement. Our testing involved lots of back-to-back seat swapping to get a feel for how the models stacked up against one another. Despite the wide-ranging styles and purposes of the seats we tested, we tried each seat on multiple bikes, body positions, and various terrain types.
Why Trust GearLab
Our bike saddle testers are highly experienced cyclists and gear testers who are gifted with detail-oriented minds and a passion for the outdoors. Sam Kieckhefer is based in Lake Tahoe, CA, and is an avid mountain biker in Northern California. He alternates soaking up the region's unparalleled single-track trails in the summer, with ski guiding and leading avalanche training in the winter. Based in Boulder, Colorado, Justin Simoni takes on ultra-endurance missions through the mountains both on foot and by bike. He has raced the Tour Divide twice (a 2,700-mile self-supported journey from Canada to Mexico), and after 5,000+ miles, he knows exactly what it takes to stay comfortable and efficient in the saddle. In addition to these two, our gear testers include a host of bike-obsessed riders at all levels, who contribute different perspectives to our bike seat recommendations.
Bike Seats 101
Bike seats, more commonly referred to as bike saddles, are one of the few points on a bicycle that make direct contact with your body and are a crucial part of any ride. A bike saddle has to walk a fine line between supporting your sit bones and allowing freedom of movement so you can pedal. In order to walk this line, saddle designers have to examine each type of biking and each type's typical rider position from more forward/aggressive positions (towards the handlebars) to more upright positions (away from the handlebars). Some designs will allow for multiple positions, whereas other options will make the rider feel like they are locked into place. These design basics are merely a starting point from which every cyclist needs to determine personal preferences and priorities. Comfort is at the top of most riders' lists, but the dilemma becomes how the other elements of a saddle come into balance, including weight, performance, versatility, and durability.
Intended Use
One of the primary factors to consider when choosing a new bike seat is your intended use. Just as there are many different bikes and bicycle riding styles, there are seats made to match. Casual, recreational riders, for example, will have different needs and wants than a high-performance road cyclist. In general, we can break down bike seats into three basic categories: comfort/recreational, road cycling, and mountain biking.
If you are riding more for pleasure than for performance, a comfort bike seat will give you a wider, cushier, and more supportive seat for casual rides.
Credit: Joshua Hutchens
Comfort/Recreational
These types of seats are focused more on rider comfort than performance. More often than not, comfort seats have generous amounts of padding and wider supportive platforms that work best with an upright seated pedaling position. Due to the larger size, padding, and construction of these seats, they typically weigh significantly more than seats made with performance in mind. Comfort seats are commonly found on beach cruisers, townies, and hybrid-style bikes.
Comfort/recreational biking typically involves a more casual outing on paved bike paths and roads.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Mountain Biking
Seats made for performance mountain biking are quite similar to those used by road cyclists. In fact, some saddles are interchangeable between the two disciplines. That said, mountain bikers typically have a moderately aggressive seated body position with less forward lean than on a road bike but far more than on a cruiser bike. For this reason, many mountain bike saddles have a slightly cradled shape that keeps the rider in the sweet spot and provides a little extra support. Mountain bike saddles also generally have streamlined designs intended to allow good power transfer and freedom of mobility while riding. Weight is a concern for many mountain bikers, and mountain bike seats are made from various lightweight materials and are often available in a range of constructions, price points, and widths.
Mountain bike seats usually offer a smaller perch that won't get in the way, prioritizing mobility over comfort.
Credit: Kolby Anderson
Road Cycling
Seats or saddles made for road cycling have more of an emphasis on performance, which is reflected in their streamlined designs, lighter weights, and features. Road bikers usually have a more aggressive, forward-leaning body position, with most of their weight resting on their sit bones. For this reason, saddles are much narrower and streamlined to allow for a natural and unencumbered pedal stroke. Road bike saddles typically have stiffer shells and thinner, denser padding. Many models are designed with ergonomic pressure relief cutouts or channels to reduce pressure on the rider's sensitive undersides. These seats are usually made from lightweight materials and often come in several widths to accommodate varying body shapes and sizes.
Taking it a step further, road bike saddles prioritize performance and lighter weights.
Credit: Justin Simoni
Comfort
Comfort should be first and foremost on the vast majority of cyclists' minds when deciding on a new seat. Saddle choice can make or break a ride and could mean the difference between getting out on your bike frequently and letting it sit in the garage for months at a time. Because each body has different mechanics and moves in different ways, not everyone will find the same seats comfortable. There are a few things you can look for, though, to ensure you have a comfortable ride.
Having the right seat for your riding style can make your experience out on the road or trail that much better.
Credit: Kolby Anderson
Knowing your body is possibly the most important factor in finding what's comfortable for you. It's possible to measure your sit bones' width to find the best fit for you. We highly recommend this for anyone who plans to spend considerable time in the saddle.
Because recreational riders are not typically focused on cutting weight, comfort bike seats often have a wider perch with plenty of cushioning.
Credit: Joshua Hutchens
Recreational Bike Seat Comfort
Recreational or comfort bike seats, as their category name implies, focus on comfort above all else within commuter and cruiser bikes. This includes generally upright positions and less intense rides than road or mountain biking, so the design allows for more cushion and (sometimes) more surface area.
Comfort bike seats excel at offering comfort to riders in more casual settings.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Mountain Bike Saddle Comfort
Mountain bike saddles need to provide comfort while in challenging and variable terrain. The design of the saddle must strike a balance between cushion and shape to offer the rider comfort. Counterintuitively, more cushion can sometimes be more painful for long pedals if the sit bones aren't supported.
SQLab has some incredible designs that offer excellent comfort for mountain biking.
Credit: Zach Joseph Lovell
Road Bike Saddle Comfort
Road bike saddles must provide comfort for the cyclist engaging in a high level of pedaling. Riders will find the most comfort in these saddles by understanding the type of riding that they generally prefer. Some saddles favor a more forward/aggressive position for faster and/or shorter rides, while others will seek saddles that lock them in a more upright position for more casual and/or slower outings.
Road bike saddles offer more comfort than some expect. The comfy EVA foam in the S-Works Power Arc saddle offers comfort in a profile several times slimmer than the comfort bike seats.
Credit: Ryan Baker
Versatility
While many of the seats we tested are highly purpose-specific, there are some that can span a variety of disciplines. When looking for a new seat, it's important to consider your riding needs. If you don't plan to do much more than a cruise through the park a couple of times a week, then you don't need a seat designed for anything more than that, but if you plan to occasionally branch out and endeavor on some longer bike tours or off-road riding, you'll want a seat that can handle it all.
Some seats are best for cruising around town, while others only feel at home in a race.
Credit: Zach Wick
Comfort Bike Seat Versatility
These bike seats are most commonly used on cruisers or commuter bikes. Cruisers favor more casual rides, while commuters serve up a full variety of shorter or longer rides to get from your home to work or your next social outing. Versatility in this category investigates whether a bike seat can handle a casual ride or a lengthy cross-town excursion to the office.
Some comfort bike seats offer enough versatility for long or short rides.
Credit: Sam Kieckhefer
Mountain Bike Saddle Versatility
Mountain biking involves a spread of sub-category riding, so versatility looks at how many ride types a saddle can handle. Cross-country biking includes more pedaling and less technical riding, whereas downhill biking is more technical riding and less pedaling. We also address whether a mountain bike saddle could be used for gravel or commuting.
Mountain bike saddles can frequently offer enough versatility to allow for anything from gravel biking to short, technical downhill laps.
Credit: Joshua Hutchens
Road Bike Saddle Versatility
In this biking category, we investigate how many different types of rides a road bike saddle can be used for, including short, fast rides and longer, slower rides. We also looked at the potential of a saddle to be used for around-town cruises and gravel/mountain biking.
Just because a bike saddle is labeled as road-specific doesn't mean you can use it for other types of rides.
Credit: Justin Simoni
Durability
No matter what style of biking you prefer, your seat will be out in all kinds of weather, and it must be built to last. Despite the considerable time we spent testing these seats, we could not squeeze years of use into our testing period. For this reason, our durability assessments are largely based on a close examination of each seat's construction and the materials with which it's made. We paid close attention to exposed seams, flimsily attached components, and thin cover materials.
We take a close look at these saddles from all angles to judge their durability.
Credit: Justin Simoni
Comfort Bike Seat Durability
The urban/street life can be hard on seats. We investigate how much city and street abuse these seats can handle to help you make an informed decision.
Most comfort bike seats will have their durability tested in a more urban environment with asphalt and metal bike locks challenging their construction.
Credit: Sam Kieckhefer
Mountain Bike Saddle Durability
Typically, mountain bike saddles receive the most wear and tear in a bike crash or being transported from home to the trailhead.
Mountain bike saddles typically have their durability tested in a crash or traveling to/from the trailhead.
Credit: Zach Joseph Lovell
Road Bike Saddle Durability
Similar to mountain bikes, the most substantial wear and tear road bike saddles experience is in crashes, in transit on a vehicle, or for riders putting in long hours.
Many road bike saddles offer quality, durable construction in a lightweight package.
Credit: Ryan Baker
Weight
We had to adjust the importance of this metric considerably from the recreational to the performance models. It's relatively important for a performance seat to be lightweight. When you're spending hours on your bike or trying to be the first to the top of the hill, you want to cut weight anywhere you can. A heavy seat can both dramatically increase your bike's weight and raise its center of gravity, making it sluggish and difficult to maneuver. However, for recreational riding, your seat's weight will likely not be noticeable unless you're in hilly terrain, and you may value the comfort a heavier seat can offer.
Performance-focused riders often prefer minimalist designs made with lightweight yet sturdy materials.
Credit: Justin Simoni
Comfort Bike Seat Weight
Weight is less crucial for this category, as the bikes are typically much heavier than others. Commuter bikes will feel the weight of these seats the most as those rides are typically longer and more involved.
Even the lightest of comfort bike seats would be considered extremely heavy in road bikes or mountain bikes.
Credit: Sam Kieckhefer
Mountain Bike Saddle Weight
Mountain bikes have gotten impressively light over the years- saddles are no different. Many riders will be seeking an option that's comfortable but keeps their riding setup light for those long uphills or for racing. Others have weight low on their priorities when compared to metrics such as comfort.
Road bike saddles like the Specialized Power Expert cut their designs back to a minimum in order to drop a few grams.
Credit: Justin Simoni
Road Bike Saddle Weight
Road bikes are arguably the category of biking where weight has more emphasis. With road bikes typically being the lightest type of bike, a heavier saddle is more easily noticed and can make a more immediate impact on performance.
Whether you're cruising to a coffee shop, hitting the trails, or heading out for an all-day road epic, a good saddle makes all the difference in your ride.
Credit: Justin Simoni
Conclusion
As you might be able to tell, there's plenty to consider when seeking out a new bike seat. From body shape to intended use, there's a lot of information and specs to sift through, and the perfect seat will be different for every individual. However, if you're able to find the right seat, it will pay dividends, allowing you to ride further and more comfortably in the long run. We did the leg work by putting in hours of riding and comparative testing in order to help you make a decision. We hope that this comprehensive review makes your next ride the best one yet.
