9 Best Women’s Bike Saddles & How To Choose!

How To Choose A Women’s Bike Saddle

When it comes to bike saddles there’s no one best pick for all. Each of us have different body shapes and riding styles, which means that a saddle that one woman loves, her best friend might hate. Here are a few tips for choosing the right saddle for YOU.

Unisex vs Women’s-Specific Saddles

Is a women’s-specific saddle always the best choice?

Not necessarily.  I’ve had women-specific saddles that I’ve hated, ones that I’ve loved, and a couple of unisex saddles that rocked my world.  

That said, women-specific saddles do generally fit women better than a men’s saddle.  A lot of the time in the bike world when we talk about something that’s “women’s-specific” it’s a marketing ploy. A women’s-specific saddle is not one of those times.

Women typically have wider sit-bones than men and more pelvic rotation and therefore need a wider saddle.  Women-specific saddles usually also have a cut-out to relieve soft tissue pressure (something I personally appreciate).

While many women may find a unisex saddle that they are comfortable with, I’d really urge every woman to try a couple saddles designed specifically for female anatomy. Oftentimes, I hear women say that they didn’t even realized how uncomfortable they were until they discovered what a truly comfortable saddle felt like.

Examine your Personal Anatomy

Knowing what style of womens bike seat might fit your body best is a little tricky. A good place to start is to think about what you don’t like about your current saddle.  If your sit bones hurt, you might need a wider saddle. 

If your genitals hurt, you might need a larger cut-out.  If your inner thighs are getting chafed, you might need a narrower saddle.

Are You an Innie or an Outtie?

Are your lady parts an “innie or an outtie.” Just like your belly button, some women have more pronounced lady parts than others.

For outties, you’re going to have more trouble finding a comfortable saddle than women with an innie. Innies are much more likely to do okay with a unisex saddle, especially if you have narrower sit bones as well.

If you often have soft tissue soreness after a ride, consider a saddle with a larger cut-out. It will make a world of difference.

Get Yourself Measured

You know how you get measured for a bra, and it’s 1,000% better than the bra you picked out for yourself? That’s how a bike saddle is too.

To pick the right saddle, you should know how wide your sit bones are. A good bike shop will have a special seat you can sit on that will measure your sit bones. Alternatively, you can measure yourself at home.

This video provides a good overview of how to measure your sit bones.

Once you know how wide your sit bones are, it is easier to narrow down which saddle is best for you.

Consider your Riding Position and Style

The type of bike you have, and the way that you ride it, can determine the type of saddle that will suit you best. 

If you ride in a more leaned over position, down in the drops, you will put more pressure on your soft tissue.  In this case, you need a saddle with a wider cut-out. 

Alternatively, if you have a more upright bike with a less aggressive reach, then you might need a saddle with a wider saddle or slightly more padding for your sit bones.

Don’t Equate Padding with Comfort

One of the biggest mistakes I see women make when buying a bike seat is thinking the cushier it is the more comfortable it will be.  Unfortunately, more padding brings with it a host of problems including saddle sores, chafing, and all around discomfort.

Try a Couple Saddles

If you can, try a couple of saddles before you buy. Some local bike shops have demo programs where they’ll let you try out a saddle before you make a purchase. Or, if you have other ladies you ride with, you might ask to borrow their saddle for a spin as well.

Get a Professional Bike Fitting

If you continue to have saddle discomfort, even after trying a few different saddles, you might consider getting a professional bike fitting.  A professional will be able to evaluate issues that aren’t related to the design of your saddle at all. 

For instance, your saddle might be too far forward, too far back, tilted at a strange angle, you might be leaned over too far, etc, etc, etc.

Price

When it comes to bike saddles, the higher the price the lighter and more performance oriented it is.  The extra cost is probably worth it if you are racing or putting in a LOT of miles.  For more casual riders, a mid-price saddle will work just fine.

There are a couple things that can drive up the cost of a saddle.  The first is the material of the covering on the seat.  Real leather for instance will drive up the price significantly compared to a synthetic material. 

The core material of the saddle can also drive up the price; higher end saddles usually have a carbon inner that makes it lighter and helps absorb vibration.  Finally the material that the saddle rails are made from can drive up the price; again, the lighter the material the more expensive the saddle.

“Good For Everything” Bike Saddles

These saddles are good all-around saddles. Put them on your mountain bike, road bike, city bike, whatever. They’re at home everywhere.

SDG Allure

When we started polling our friends on their favorite bike saddle, the SDG Allure was the winner over and over and over again. Seriously, there are a lot of women that are passionately IN LOVE with the SDG Allure.

What’s so great about it? It has a well-placed cutout that keeps your lady parts from getting squashed; a downturned nose for when the trail turns steep; and a comfortable seat that refrains from being squishy.

All that, and it’s moderately priced as well.

Read Our Review: SDG Allure

Price: $80

Terry Butterfly

Almost every serious female cyclist I know has owned and loved the Terry Butterfly at one point or another.  It has a wide rear, a narrow nose, and a good-sized cutout making it suitable for a wide range of bodies.  It also comes in fun prints which we appreciate. 

For women at any range of the budget spectrum, the Terry is a good pick.  The basic version is $78, and the carbon version is $194.  All have the same great design, the price just goes up with the material of the core and rails.

Read Our Review: Terry Butterfly

Best For: Just about everybody

Price: $79+

Specialized MIMIC

Forget a big cutout. In fact, the Specialized MIMIC doesn’t have a cutout at all.

Instead, it uses multiple layers of foam to minimize soft tissue swelling, and the ladies we know swear by this unique design. To further ensure you’re comfortable, the saddle comes in several different widths to match your sitbones.

The saddle also comes in several different pricepoints. For most, we’d recommend the Specialized Power Comp MIMIC. It hits that sweet spot between comfort and price.

There are more expensive versions are perfect for serious riders and racers. 

Best For: Women who like to ride hard

Price: $140

Read Our Review: Specialized Power Comp MIMIC

Women’s Mountain Bike Saddles & Off-Road Saddles

These womens’ mountain bike saddles are designed to take you off the beaten path. Whether you’re hitting up singletrack, racing cyclocross, or gravel griniding, these saddles will help make it a smoother ride.

Ergon SM Women

Ergon makes great products that have been intelligently designed to be ergonomic. When you first see the Ergon SM saddle, you might do a double take. It doesn’t look quite as sleek as other saddles, but that’s because it’s been designed to actually fit your body, not just look a certain way.

The cut-out is larger than most which makes it a good pick if you have a lot of soft tissue tenderness, and the nose is shorter than most saddles.

It also comes with several options. The SM Women version has minimal padding and the SM Sport Gel has gel inserts if you prefer a little extra cushion. Additionally, both versions are offered in two sizes. The S/M is 143 mm wide, and the M/L is 155mm.

Price: $79.95
(Last updated: 2022-08-31 at 17:03 – More Info)

Fi’zi:k Luna

The Fizik Luna is a women’s-specific, mountain bike-specific saddle that’s been designed with longer rides in mind. The saddle is stiff (it has a carbon inside) but is soft and flexible on the outside to form to your body.

It comes in both 145mm and 155mm widths. The only complaint we’ve heard from some is that the material on the cover can snag shorts when trying to get out of the saddle on technical terrain.

Price: $99

WTB Deva

If you don’t suffer from a lot of soft tissue soreness, the WTB Deva may be a good pick for you. It doesn’t have a cut-out and provides a lot of support for your sitbones. The nose is short-ish and the profile is pretty flat making it good for maneuvering around the saddle.

It’s a medium width saddle (145mm) and only comes with one size, so obviously it’s a no-go if you need a wider or narrower saddle. The Deva comes in several models, however, depending on your budget and preferences–titanium, cromoly, or steel rails.

Price: $85

Women’s Road Bike Saddles

Whether you are racing, tackling your first century, or just chatting with the ladies on your local group ride, you’ll find a saddle that meets your needs here.

Selle Italia SLR Lady Flow

The Selle Italia SLR Lady Flow is the brand’s reworked version of their most popular saddle.  Compared to the male version, it has a wider rear and adds a cutout.  

This saddle is super lightweight and boasts a sleek, fast looking design.

Best for: Women who like a large cutout

Price: $199

Fi’zi:k Luce

We like the Fizik Luce for women that suffer from thigh chafing. It has a dramatic taper toward the nose that allows for plenty of leg clearance. 

This manganese saddle is also super affordable, proving that you don’t have to spend a fortune to get more comfort.  If you want something lighter, they also offer the same design in a carbon version.

Best For: Women experiencing thigh rub

Price: $99

Terry Bicycles FLX Saddle

The Terry FLX saddle is a lightweight, minimally padded saddle that doesn’t sacrifice comfort for performance.  If you prefer a more minimalist saddle, the FLX is worth a look.

Best For: Serious riders

Price: $139

Comparison Chart: Bike Saddles For Women

Still not sure how all these saddles stack up or which one is best for you?  Use this comparison chart to help you choose.

More Stuff To Help Your Bum

A great saddle is the best first step toward making your ride more comfortable, but it’s not the only thing you can do to help. These things can help as well.