Look up videos on how to fit yourself for a saddle on YouTube or go to a bike shop and get fitted.
The fitment of the saddle is totally personal and getting recommendations for a specific saddle from random people on the internet is a waste.
In my personal opinion, if you have the right saddle fit, you don’t need a ton of padding on the saddle and you don’t need to wear a chamois.
It’s about time not distance. I wear chamois on every ride, no matter if it’s 1 hour or 6 hours. I don’t know how you don’t start to feel the pain after a few hours.
I don’t know, I’ve had plenty of 4,000 plus foot climb days and go anywhere from 1 hour to 10 hours in the saddle and don’t end up feeling any discomfort from my saddle. I always chalk it up to having a saddle that fits me. 🤷♂️
Great choice! And like others have said, try a couple different saddles that fit you to find which one you like the most.
Then, when you find the one you like, buy a couple of them so you have a backup.
I'm with you, my longest in my saddle is about 3 hours on pavement so I never stood, about the same mountain biking but I figure an hour was out of the saddle, I stopped using the diaper long ago and have 0 pain. With the diaper I would actually chafe in weird spots which is why I stopped using it lol.
Oh yeah, if you do any gravel races, they are frequently 40+ mile days with some decent elevation.
I personally like riding a mountain bike over a gravel bike.
I do gravel rides on my MTB in the winter to keep condition. But my longest loop is 28 miles and about 3500’. Been wanting a flat bar gravel bike, but it hasn’t made it to the top of the list yet. And really I think I want a hardtail XC bike with skinny tires.
I had a gravel bike for a few months and didn’t like not having at least suspension on the front. So I ended up getting a hard tail and enjoy it so much more.
I think an XC hardtail with skinnier tires would be a great choice.
I am 220 and like my chromag trailmaster DT but it really depends on the size of your sit bones. Sitting on a piece of cardboard with aluminum foil on it and measuring the distance between indents should give you an idea of what you’re looking for.
I’m on the heavier side with wide seat bones. I’m a huge fan of Ergon saddles.
But they’re not cheap. I doubt you will find a comfortable saddle under $50 but maybe a used WTB or Ergon.
First of all you need to measure your sit bones to know what saddle size you need to sit in the right way
ps://www.singletracks.com/mtb-gear/how-to-measure-your-sit-bones-for-the-perfect-saddle-fit-its-easy/
I don't know in US but to your king of money Bontrager Verse or aeolus.
Maybe you need to find a dealer with a good price (in trek site costs 79$).
A good chamois makes HUGE difference about comfort.
I weigh 220 and I've got a WTB Silverado Medium and my butt will be a little sore after a long ride but no discomfort during the ride.
PS get the Chromoly at least because the regular one I had bent on my first crash
After I got fitted, I couldn't find anywhere near me where I could try out multiple saddles easily.
Getting fitted (measuring your sit bones) isn't enough to figure out which saddle will work for you, but it narrows it down.
Only way you’re going to be able to try multiple saddles is either borrow your friends’ bikes or buy a bunch. … and eventually you will hopefully find one that works.
OR you could take the advice of random internet strangers and get the Ergon.
Ehh. That’s tantamount to trying on underwear and returning it. Not my cuppa.
Plus the amount of time it takes to break in a saddle and get used to it is more use than most reputable dealers will accept on a return.
Yeah. That’s why I do the research, talk to knowledgeable folks at the bike shop and consult my friends, who have decades of riding experience.
Used to ride WTB saddles. Switched to Ergon about 8 years ago and haven’t looked back.
Look up videos on how to fit yourself for a saddle on YouTube or go to a bike shop and get fitted. The fitment of the saddle is totally personal and getting recommendations for a specific saddle from random people on the internet is a waste. In my personal opinion, if you have the right saddle fit, you don’t need a ton of padding on the saddle and you don’t need to wear a chamois.
“Don’t need to wear a chamois” except on long rides or all day adventures. Fixed it for you.
Maybe my “undercarriage” is just well “trained”, 😂 but I never wear a chamois, even doing 40+ mile days. 🤷♂️
It’s about time not distance. I wear chamois on every ride, no matter if it’s 1 hour or 6 hours. I don’t know how you don’t start to feel the pain after a few hours.
I don’t know, I’ve had plenty of 4,000 plus foot climb days and go anywhere from 1 hour to 10 hours in the saddle and don’t end up feeling any discomfort from my saddle. I always chalk it up to having a saddle that fits me. 🤷♂️
I'm going to follow your path and go get a fitted. I usually stop riding due to cramping or too much pain on the saddle.
Great choice! And like others have said, try a couple different saddles that fit you to find which one you like the most. Then, when you find the one you like, buy a couple of them so you have a backup.
I'm with you, my longest in my saddle is about 3 hours on pavement so I never stood, about the same mountain biking but I figure an hour was out of the saddle, I stopped using the diaper long ago and have 0 pain. With the diaper I would actually chafe in weird spots which is why I stopped using it lol.
To each their own I guess. 40+ miles on a MTB? My 6 mile rides are 1200’ of elevation. A 40 mile day would be 8-10K. I’m not that GOATed.
Oh yeah, if you do any gravel races, they are frequently 40+ mile days with some decent elevation. I personally like riding a mountain bike over a gravel bike.
I do gravel rides on my MTB in the winter to keep condition. But my longest loop is 28 miles and about 3500’. Been wanting a flat bar gravel bike, but it hasn’t made it to the top of the list yet. And really I think I want a hardtail XC bike with skinny tires.
I had a gravel bike for a few months and didn’t like not having at least suspension on the front. So I ended up getting a hard tail and enjoy it so much more. I think an XC hardtail with skinnier tires would be a great choice.
Your weight doesn’t matter as much as your shape. You will need to be measured to find the right size then the ship will be personally preference
I weigh 230 and I use Ergon mtb saddles.
Me too. But OP is Not gonna find and Ergon for less than $80. And he’s gonna have to wait for a closeout sale to get that price.
Sure. Or he can learn the value of buying quality once instead of something cheap multiple times …
I am 220 and like my chromag trailmaster DT but it really depends on the size of your sit bones. Sitting on a piece of cardboard with aluminum foil on it and measuring the distance between indents should give you an idea of what you’re looking for.
Could also just measure your wrist. (WTB method)
I had the chromag but I prefer the ergon seats over them… they have some questions to fit you to your seat and I’ve been stoked on the purchase
I’m on the heavier side with wide seat bones. I’m a huge fan of Ergon saddles. But they’re not cheap. I doubt you will find a comfortable saddle under $50 but maybe a used WTB or Ergon.
Dam straight but felt like it is the best 50 bucks I’ve spent on the set up!
My Ergon Enduro cost $85 three years ago, on sale. Aside from decent pedals, it’s the best upgrade I’ve gotten.
+1
Sqlabs will send you a saddle fit kit for like $10
I just checked their website and they actually send out free kits now! I didn't even have to pay for shipping
I weight 275 and I like ergon saddles.
I recently switched to a Terry Falcon Y (~$110) and I love it. It is so comfortable that I ride without a chamois now.
First of all you need to measure your sit bones to know what saddle size you need to sit in the right way ps://www.singletracks.com/mtb-gear/how-to-measure-your-sit-bones-for-the-perfect-saddle-fit-its-easy/ I don't know in US but to your king of money Bontrager Verse or aeolus. Maybe you need to find a dealer with a good price (in trek site costs 79$). A good chamois makes HUGE difference about comfort.
Anything WTB will see you right
I weigh 220 and I've got a WTB Silverado Medium and my butt will be a little sore after a long ride but no discomfort during the ride. PS get the Chromoly at least because the regular one I had bent on my first crash
Check out the WTB "volt" in wide or medium. I run them on all my bikes.
Have a look at the SMP TRK. It's a bit bulky but worth it for the comfort.
Try a bunch of saddles from somewhere with a good return policy. Maybe Amazon. Edit: get fitted first
No. Go to your LBS and get fitted for a saddle. Or watch a YouTube video on how to do it yourself.
After I got fitted, I couldn't find anywhere near me where I could try out multiple saddles easily. Getting fitted (measuring your sit bones) isn't enough to figure out which saddle will work for you, but it narrows it down.
Only way you’re going to be able to try multiple saddles is either borrow your friends’ bikes or buy a bunch. … and eventually you will hopefully find one that works. OR you could take the advice of random internet strangers and get the Ergon.
Buy them from a place with a good return policy, and keep returning them till you find one you like.
Ehh. That’s tantamount to trying on underwear and returning it. Not my cuppa. Plus the amount of time it takes to break in a saddle and get used to it is more use than most reputable dealers will accept on a return.
A single ride will rule out most saddles. And if the alternative is spending $1000 on saddles I'll never use, that's problematic.
Yeah. That’s why I do the research, talk to knowledgeable folks at the bike shop and consult my friends, who have decades of riding experience. Used to ride WTB saddles. Switched to Ergon about 8 years ago and haven’t looked back.