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The comfort of your seat can be a huge determining factor in how far, how long, or how often you ride your bike. If you're feeling aches and pains on short rides, an aftermarket comfort bike seat is a great way to give your behind a break. After researching more than 25 options to improve your ride, we selected ten saddles and two seat covers to compare side-by-side. While no bike seat will be as cushy as your favorite armchair, we found that shape, cushion, and airflow can make a huge difference in your saddle's overall comfort. Starting at a very reasonable price point and taking just a few minutes to install, a comfort bike seat will transform your riding experience.
While some of these seats share a similar profile to the ones you've seen on other types of bikes, they're generally considered best on a cruiser or commuter. If you're a single-track junkie, check our list of the top-ranked mountain bike saddles. For those that like to dawn the spandex and put some serious miles on the asphalt, head over to our best road bike saddle review. If you're in the market for other ways to upgrade your bike or your biking kit, we have you covered with the the best bike gear of 2023.
From the moment our team sat on the Wittkop 5-zone, we knew it would be a top contender. The touring model we tested has cushion that rivaled the coziest cruiser seats, yet we found the performance offered by this model exceeds that of the lightweight commuter models. As we pedaled the bike around the block, comfort persisted – this was certainly not the norm as we found many saddles to be initially comfortable yet quick to develop pain points and eventually become outright uncomfortable. For a reasonably affordable saddle that can be used on a cruiser, commuter, exercise bike, or whatever you ride, the Wittkop 5-zone is a fantastic addition to your bike.
In most of our testing, the Wittkop 5-zone performed well, but the seat construction leads us to question the longevity. The seat is rather sturdy, but with plastic channels for airflow, the long-term durability under heavy use is questionable. These channels would be a top bet for the first piece to break. We also found the surface material to be a little too grabby. We did not experience this when wearing casual cotton shorts and swim trunks during testing, but we can imagine an ultra-light athletic short snagging and sticking to the waterproof synthetic material used, which would be unpleasant, to say the least. These few gripes aside, this saddle is an all-around great option for most types of bikes.
The Wittkop 5-Zone has a nice size and shape, keeping it comfortable even during the longest commutes.
The Terry Cite X Gel Italia is our favorite comfort bike seat designed specifically for women. Not only is this model durable, but it also looks great. Our team found the Cite X Gel to offer an amount of padding that is not so stiff that you're losing energy when you're pedaling hard but not so hard that you're getting saddle-sore on longer rides. The shape is what we would consider to be a hybrid, right in between a mountain bike-specific saddle and a cushy cruiser seat. Its platform is a touch wider than most stock mountain bike models, making it ideal for people with wider hips. Our favorite element of this model is its versatility. Whether you're looking to add more padding to your commuter or something more ergonomic to your beach cruiser, we're confident that this is the best all-around seat for most women.
There are a couple of downsides to the Cite X Gel. First, we found that the wider platform can get a little hot compared to low-profile seats, and despite the integrated vent, there isn't anything in the design that helps to direct air upward into the seat. Second, it's not the least inexpensive option – if you are shopping on a budget, other options are available that cost a fraction of what this one does, such as the TONBUX Memory Foam. Price and ventilation aside, the Cite X Gel is our first pick for a mixed-use bike seat designed with women in mind.
The Terry Cite X Gel Italia is a women's specific model that provides you with extra comfort whether you're on the single track or on the bike path.
If you're looking for an affordable way to enhance a seat that you already own, the Zacro Gel Bike Seat Cover certainly made a number of saddles exponentially more comfortable during our tests. With the ability to move this cover onto any number of bikes in your quiver and at a price point that will hardly dent your bank account, this seat cover is a worthy upgrade if your number one goal is comfort. We found that the cover remains well-positioned on most seats and does not move around while riding. It also remains reasonably cool for a black nylon cover on top of a black leather saddle.
The main challenge with seat covers is achieving the right fit, and the Zacro Gel Bike Seat Cover was no exception. And yet, with ten saddles to try, the Zacro proved to be the most versatile — it fits several of the seats we tested. Since no fit was perfect and moderate “lumpiness” remained on every seat we tested due to the significant thickness of this cover, we wouldn't recommend it for longer rides. Even so, the cushion created by adding this seat cover was noticeably improved on nearly every seat and did not cause discomfort on shorter rides. Considering everything, this seat cover is a terrific option if you want the most cushion or a versatile addition to multiple bikes in your collection. If you desire even more padding than a seat cover provides, check out the Bikeroo Oversized Comfort Bike Seat, which practically turns your saddle into a barstool.
The Zacro Gel Cover fits nicely on a sleek commuter saddle, giving it added cushion for your distance ride.
If you are shopping on a tight budget, the TONBUX Memory Foam bike seat is a terrific upgrade to your beach cruiser or neighborhood bike. Its thick inner memory foam was the most cushy we tested, and its reflective backlight tape will keep you visible to headlights at night. From the nose of the seat to the rear, a sharp arc keeps the seat from rubbing on the inner thighs, and the center cutout provides airflow for your bottom to breathe. The Tonbux is an affordable upgrade sure to bring increased comfort compared to your stock seat.
The comfort of the Tonbux waned on longer-distance rides due to its thick construction. The cushion itself stays comfortable, but the shape begins to make you sore as the mileage adds up. We found this was a common theme among the thicker “cruiser-style” saddles. Furthermore, the plastic “dual shock absorption” features on the rear of the saddle do not seem to function as described. All gripes aside, this saddle performed similarly to many of the other thick cruiser-style saddles we reviewed, and yet, it comes in as the cheapest option in the lineup. This saddle is perfect for the budget-conscious buyer wanting to add comfort on short rides around town. If you want to add some comfort to your longer rides while still keeping it reasonably affordable, we recommend the Bontrager Sport Saddle.
If you're shopping for a comfort bike seat on a tight budget, it's hard to beat the TONBUX Memory Foam.
Bontrager's Commuter Comp Bike Saddle was a standout in shape and construction. A reputable brand, Bontrager produces quality saddles for nearly every type of bike, and their commuter line is thoughtfully designed. This particular model highlights Bontrager's quality standards and is sure to stand up to long-distance commutes and many miles in the saddle. Additionally, the anatomical shape was notably more precise than any other saddle in the test. While firm, this remained one of the more comfortable saddles tested due solely to its shape.
Even with the comfortable shape, “cushy” is not a word we think should be used to describe this bike seat. Immediately upon swinging a leg over and sitting down, we found the comfortable shape shadowed by the lack of cushion. The harder material and higher price are par for the course for a serious cyclist, but the higher cost and firm ride isn't for everyone. We think the Bontrager Commuter Comp is perfect for a road cyclist or a mountain biker who is used to a firm seat and is looking for long-lasting performance on the commute. If your behind is tough enough for a stiffer saddle and you want to shave as much weight off your rig as possible, the Prologo Dimension weighs about half as much as the Commuter Comp.
The sleek Bontrager Commuter Comp has a nice profile for your distance commuter or local cruiser.
Credit: Sam Kieckhefer
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We tested these seats on a classic-style beach cruiser to maximize relaxing vibes.
Credit: Sam Kieckhefer
How We Test Comfort Bike Seats
With hundreds, if not thousands, of bike seats on the market, finding the perfect fit is no easy task. Not only are there different styles and categories to choose from, but shapes and sizes also dictate comfort and performance. We've been reviewing different bike seats across many categories for more than ten years and have narrowed down what makes a good bike saddle. Regardless, when a new feature or function appears on the market, we always give it a fair shot. Every saddle in this test was extensively researched and purchased for thorough examination and testing. Our process entailed evaluating how their position affects comfort, determining how airflow and shock absorption impacted performance, and assessing their versatility for various styles of riding. Saddles were ridden side by side and scored in the following metrics:
Comfort (30% of overall score weighting)
Performance (20% weighting)
Durability (20% weighting)
Weight (20% weighting)
Versatility (10% weighting)
Why Trust GearLab
Sam Kieckhefer oversaw the testing of these products. Sam grew up at the foot of Mt. Tam in Marin County, the birthplace of mountain biking. He was riding two wheels starting at age three, and mountain biking was, and still is, a regular family activity. From mountain bikes to beach cruisers and the occasional gravel grind in between, Sam has spent countless miles in the saddle and has a pretty strong opinion on what is going to make for a good ride and what's going to leave you walking to the finish line.
Measuring the Zacro Gel Cover will be an important step in a proper fit.
We gave each model a subjective squeeze test in addition to pedaling for many miles with them.
The lightest seat in the lineup, the Bontrager Commuter Comp (393g).
Analysis and Test Results
In the end, the best bike seat is the one that you're happy sitting on. If your rear end is accustomed to a bike seat and is looking for something to stand up to hard-earned miles, your choice may be totally different than if your regular ride is a quarter mile to the beach for an evening dip. While comfort is certainly the key, that is not always just about cushion – shape and size play an equally important role in how long you can last on what's inherently not that comfortable.
What's the Best Value?
Bike seats come in a wide range of price brackets, and while a mountain or road bike saddle may fall in the top end of that range, that may not be what you're looking for. In the world of comfort bike seats, commuters sit at the higher end of the range (still below mountain bike and road bike saddles) and put a heavy emphasis on how shape and size lead to comfort during long rides. Cruisers, on the other hand, come in at a lower price point and focus their efforts on cushion, leading to comfort for much shorter distances.
The Wittkop 5-Zone is slender and sleek yet incredibly comfortable for distance rides.
Credit: Sam Kieckhefer
Our best overall saddle, the Wittkop 5-zone, split the middle of the range, with both comfort and quality that led the competition. If you're looking for a long-lasting seat to keep you comfortable during regular lengthy commutes, the Bontrager Commuter Comp is tough to beat. But, if cushion is the key for your short pedals around town, options like the Tonbux Memory Foam will keep you happy at nearly half the price. For those in the market for a seat cover, it's hard to beat the bargain offered by the Zacro Gel.
The Tonbux Memory Foam is a comfortable seat at a hard-to-beat price.
Credit: Sam Kieckhefer
Comfort
In the category of Comfort Bike Seats, actual comfort is undoubtedly the most important metric we tested. While we're not trying to convince you that any bike seat is as comfortable as your desk chair, an uncomfortable saddle will certainly prevent you from hopping on the bike. Saddle position is a major factor here, and determining the correct tilt and fore-aft positioning can dramatically change the overall comfort of the seat. A saddle's tilt can change the pressure points, while the fore-aft position can impact your pedal strokes and hip mobility.
To score comfort, we pedaled a mile with each seat, then stopped to record first impressions and the seats' “short ride comfort.” From the get-go, the Wittkop 5-zone was the leader in this assessment. Its cushion rivaled the thicker cushy seats, but we noticed immediately that the shape was slender yet supportive. For seat covers, the Zacro Gel led the field, giving added cushion that the other model could not match. Amongst the thicker cruiser-style seats, both the Bikeroo Women's Bike Seat and Tonbux Memory Foam provided an initial cushion that was quite comfy.
The “Bikeroo Most Comfortable Bike Seat for Women” and “TONBUX Memory Foam” have very similar profiles, and an almost identical feel.
Credit: Sam Kieckhefer
While first impressions and short ride comfort are notable, even towards the end of the one-mile loop, we would develop pain points and discomfort with some of the seats. In order to provide honest and realistic feedback, we proceeded to test each saddle on a longer ride. Thick cruiser-style saddles were tested on a 3-4 mile loop, while commuter-style saddles were taken on a longer 6-8 mile spin. During these longer rides, the true comfort of these saddles started to become apparent. Saddles like the Bontrager Commuter Comp were middle of the road in the first impressions test, but their comfort remained consistent across nearly 10 miles of spinning. On the contrary, some of the leaders from the initial test quickly became unbearable after just 3-4 miles due to pain points as a result of their size and shape.
The Bontrager Commuter Comp has a slender profile, making it a perfect addition to your long distance commute.
Credit: Sam Kieckhefer
Admittedly, towards the end of testing, after riding more than 50 miles, very few seats were feeling comfortable, so we decided to retest a few of the top contenders that had been tested early on. The Wittkop 5-zone, our pick for best overall, which was tested early on and received top scores in both the initial test and the longer ride, remained the most comfortable even during the retest. Its combination of cushion size and shape landed it as the leader in comfort overall. Although it wasn't super cushy on the short ride and wasn't as stiff as a road bike or mountain bike-specific saddle on the longer rides, we found that the Terry Cite X Gel did reasonably well regardless of distance. Our team agreed that this particular model is great for people with slightly wider hips.
The platform on the Terry Cite X Gel Italia Women's model has padding right where the seat contacts your bones.
Credit: Ross Patton
When selecting a saddle, it's important to consider how comfort will play into the most common use. For lasting comfort, gravitate towards a size and shape that feels right, and for shorter riding pleasure, focus on maximum cushion or even consider the added cushion of a seat cover.
The Bikeroo Padded Gel Seat Cover is difficult to fit, but adds serious cushion.
Credit: Sam Kieckhefer
Performance
Unlike other bike seat reviews, where the performance metric is often related to speed and responsiveness, comfort bike seats don't necessarily need to perform in these same ways. For this test, the performance metric was evaluated relative to the saddle's marketed features. Among all the saddles, there were two common features that nearly every saddle touted: airflow and shock absorption. Of the twelve options tested, eight of them claim to have a channel or anatomical cutout that increases airflow, and five claim to have some sort of shock absorption built into the mounting rails.
As far as increased airflow goes, all seats with an anatomical cutout were marginally cooler than those without. While this is worth acknowledging, we wouldn't say it was notable enough to suggest purchasing one over the other. That said, the Wittkop 5-zone and the Selle Royal Respiro Athletic have specially designed channels to increase airflow. We were skeptical of these channels during the research phase but were honestly blown away by their effectiveness during testing. This feature was tested in a fairly mild climate, with comfortable temperatures and dry air, but if you live in a hot or humid area, we think it would be wise to consider one of these saddles due to this effective feature alone.
The Selle Royal Respiro has an air-intake at the nose of the seat, providing cooling airflow to your rear end.
Credit: Sam Kieckhefer
Unfortunately, while airflow performance was notable, shock absorption seems to be ineffective across the entire product lineup. Of the five saddles that claim to have shock absorption built into the mounting rails, we found none to make a noticeable difference. While the plastic may flex a bit more than metal would, the cushion of the saddle and air pressure in the tires absorb any shock, and no added benefit was observed in the saddle construction itself.
The Wittkop's air channels really do keep you cool!
Credit: Sam Kieckhefer
Lastly, we expected the Bontrager Boulevard Fluid to perform slightly better than the Commuter Comp version due to its patented fluid technology, but we did not observe any benefits from this feature.
The Bontrager Boulevard Fluid is a comfortable saddle, but it's fluid technology did not impress.
Credit: Sam Kieckhefer
Durability
Having owned more bikes than we can count and even more saddles than bikes, durability is definitely an important factor to consider. While any saddle can and will break if it's run over by a car or you take a hard crash, the more important consideration is how each saddle will stand up to general wear and tear. Due to testing limitations, long-term testing of these products was not feasible, but we plan to continue evaluating the top contenders. That said, having seen quite a few bike seats in our years of experience riding bikes, our team has become very adept at gauging durability based on the quality of construction coupled with decades or bicycling experience.
For the purposes of this test, we evaluated the feel of the materials used, the quality and type of stitching, and both the amount of plastic and the plastic's potential exposure to the sun. We then handed each model around the lab and took a subjective survey to see which seats we agreed were built to take some abuse. The odds-on favorite in terms of durability was the Bontrager Commuter Comp. With a thick foam pad, dual-density synthetic shell, and stainless steel rails, we feel confident saying that this seat is built to last for years.
From rails to saddle, the Bontrager Commuter Comp has bomber construction.
Credit: Sam Kieckhefer
Other seats we found to be notably durable are the Wittkop 5-zone and the Terry Cite X Gel Italia Women's saddles. While the former employs memory foam, and the latter uses gel as padding, they each have thick synthetic covers, solid hardware, and stainless steel rails.
Credit: Ross Patton
If you're looking for a commuter saddle and plan to ride hundreds, if not thousands, of miles a year, you'll likely put more stock in quality of construction, and a higher price-point saddle may fit the bill. Similarly, how you plan to store your bike may influence your durability requirements. A more affordable option stored indoors will likely stand up just as well, if not better, than a more expensive, higher-quality option that's left out in the sun all year.
Weight
In many activities, our testers can be total gram counters, but it's hard to imagine the weight of a comfort bike seat will be much of a difference maker in overall performance, comfort, or general enjoyment. That said, we've precisely weighed each product to give you an accurate and honest measurement. Products were weighed without the seat post mount attached to the rails to give a comparable metric for you to evaluate.
Seat covers may appear to be the lightest models, but remember that their weights are in addition to your current seat
The highest-scoring model for this portion of our assessment was the Bontrager Commuter Comp. Weighing a mere 393 grams, this model is the lightest comfort bike seat that we have tested and is even light enough to qualify as an acceptable mountain bike saddle. When it comes to mixed-use models, the Terry Cite X Gel Italia weighs 447 grams, and the high-performance Wittkop impressed us with a weight of 469 grams. If you're looking for some extra padding, the Tonbux weighs 535 grams but has a price tag that might make the extra few ounces worth it. For those in the market for a seat cover, the Zacro will add 213 grams to your existing seat and costs substantially less than many covers on the market.
Versatility
The versatility of these products ultimately lies in the user's preferences. In general, we find a thick seat to be more suitable for the upright positioning of a cruiser bike and the smaller profile seats to be more suitable for a commuter bike that may be ridden for longer distances. Much of this opinion is rooted in the actual comfort of the seat, and if a thicker seat is more comfortable for a user looking to upgrade their commuter saddle, that remains the best option.
In a category where there's really no “right or wrong,” the versatility of a cover that can be moved from bike to bike is hard to argue against. If you're looking to add a bit of comfort to multiple bikes, the Zacro Gel Bike Seat Cover is a clear choice. While there are a number of covers on the market, the fit is key here. A poor-fitting cover is a non-starter when it comes to comfort, and a lack of comfort will dramatically limit versatility.
The Zacro Gel Cover has a cinch in the rear and a tie in the front to keep it solid on whatever saddle it fits.
Credit: Sam Kieckhefer
Another notable mention with regard to versatility is the Wittkop 5-zone. This saddle has cushion that is comparable to some of the top cruiser seats, yet its shape and size keep it comfortable as the miles add up, making it also comfortable for commuting. Although it wasn't our favorite for short rides, and you lose a little bit of energy to the padding when you're pedaling hard on longer rides, our female testers agreed that the Terry Cite X Gel Italia did reasonably well no matter what type of bike we were using to test with, making it a great all-in-one option.
The connection of the Zacro Gel Cover keeps it from slipping around on whatever saddle you pair it with.
Credit: Sam Kieckhefer
While versatility can be important in specific cases, most bike seats stay with the bike, so consider the primary use case of that bike and orient your purchase toward that.
The Selle Royal Respiro is a sleek saddle, but it's profile is less comfortable than other firmer seats.
Credit: Sam Kieckhefer
Conclusion
Our goal at GearLab is to increase your enjoyment in the saddle, and we strongly believe there's a direct correlation to comfort. During this review, we realized that comfort is not only about cushion but also shape and size. Remember that every rider has a different body type, shape, and preference, and no two riders are the same. We took the time to evaluate each saddle and how they stack up to each other. Given decades of experience riding bikes, we've shared our picks and hope you find an excellent fit to keep you in the saddle riding your bike!
