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

Nothing can ruin a ride faster than an uncomfortable saddle. The wrong saddle can cause chafing, saddle sores, bruising, and a bad attitude about biking.

The good news is that you don’t have to continue to suffer. A good bike saddle can make all the difference in terms of your enjoyment and comfort on the bicycle.

In a quest to find the BEST women’s bike saddles, we researched, tested, and polled every female cyclist we know. In this article we’ll share the ones that came out on top–including women’s mountain bike saddles, road bike saddles, and a few saddles that are great for everything.

Also, it’s important to note that while one saddle might be awesome for one woman, it might be terrible for another. To help you pick the right saddle for YOUR body, we’ve also included tips on 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.

There are several methods you can use to measure your sit bone width (sit on corrugated cardboard, sit on playdough), but my favorite uses tin foil. I show how to do it in this video.

In case you’re wondering how accurate it this is, I’d say very! I’ve had my sit bones measured at a shop, by a professional bike fitter, and at home. In all three instances, I’ve ended up with the same measurement.

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 fit.  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.

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Best Bike Saddles For Women

We’ve divided these saddles up into three categories.

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

The next category are womens’ mountain bike saddles. These 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.

The final category are road bike saddles. Whether you are racing, tackling your first century, or just chatting with the ladies on your local group ride, one of these will be a good bet.

“GOOD FOR EVERYTHING” SADDLES
1	Terry Butterfly
2	Specialized MIMIC
3	SDG Allure
MTB / OFF-ROAD SADDLES
4	Ergon SM or SMC Women’s
5	Fizik Luna
6	WTB Deva
ROAD SADDLES
7	Selle Italia Diva Gel Superflow
8	Fizik Luce
9	Terry Bicycles FLX Saddle

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.

The downside is that it only comes in one width, so if you have wider sitbones you’ll need to look elsewhere.

Read Our Review: SDG Allure

Price & Where To Buy:

• $89.99 List
• Check price at SDGComponents.com**
• Check price at JensonUSA.com**
• Check price at Amazon.com**

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 $80, 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.

It also only comes in one width (155mm), so women with narrower sitbones won’t love this one.

Read Our Review: Terry Butterfly

• $175 List (titanium version)
• Buy at TerryBicycles.com**
• Buy at REI.com**
• Buy at Amazon.com**

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 THREE 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 that are perfect for serious riders and racers. 

This saddle is so popular that sometimes your preferred width/size may be out of stock, which is the only con we can come up with.

Read Our Review: Specialized Power Comp MIMIC

Price & Where To Buy:

• $140 List
• Buy at Specialized.com
• Buy at JensonUSA.com*

Ergon SMC Women

Ergon makes great products that have been intelligently designed to be ergonomic. When you first see the Ergon SMC 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 SMC Women version has minimal padding and the SMC 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.

Read Our Review: Ergon SMC Sport Gel

Price & Where To Buy:

• $99.95 List (SMC Sport Gel)
• Buy at ErgonBike.shop
• Buy at REI.com*

Fi’zi:k Luna

We highly recommend the Fizik Luna for female mountain bikers seeking a comfortable and supportive seat. Designed specifically for the female body, it addresses common complaints such as chafing, saddle sores, and back pain.

The saddle’s center cut-out provides relief for sensitive areas, reducing uncomfortable pressure and chafing during long rides. Additionally, it is designed to accommodate the wider sit-bones of women, with two size options available.

It boasts a sleek appearance and is made with lightweight and durable carbon materials. The company also offers a user-friendly return policy and a detailed survey on their website to help riders choose the best saddle for their needs. Moreover, the packaging is environmentally conscious, using recyclable materials.

The only big drawback of this saddle is that the mesh material on the sides of the seat makes it difficult to keep clean, as dirt and mud tend to accumulate and are hard to remove.

Read Our Review: Fizik Luna

Price and Where to Buy:

• $99.99 List
• Buy at Fizik.com
• Buy at Amazon.com**

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 & Where To Buy:

• $95.95 List (chromoly version)
• Buy at REI.com*
• Buy at WTB.com

Selle Italia Diva Gel Superflow

The Selle Italia Diva Gel Superflow saddle is a highly recommended choice for women seeking a comfortable and supportive saddle for long-distance road riding and touring. It features a women-specific design, soft (but not too soft) gel cushioning, and durable materials.

During rigorous test rides, including a seven-day road biking event, the saddle proved its worth. It provided a perfect fit, even weight distribution, and effective pressure relief. The lightweight gel cushioning offered comfort and vibration absorption.

While popular among men as well, the saddle retains its recognition as a design focused on women’s anatomy. It is lightweight (275g-285g) with two different size options available.

Read Our Review: Selle Italia Diva Gel Superflow

Price & Where To Buy:

• $159.90 List
• Check price at SelleItalia.com
• Check price at REI.com*
• $115.99 at Amazon.com* **

** (Last updated: 2023-10-23 at 17:00 – More Info

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 alloy 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.

Unfortunately, this won’t be the saddle for everyone. (Though none are). It has a smaller cut-out which not all women will love, but it does have to width options (145mm and 155mm).

Price & Where To Buy: 

• $99.99 List
• Buy at Fizik.com

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.

It only comes in one width–142mm–and is definitely aimed toward riders with narrower sit bones and a more aggressive riding position. If that doesn’t describe you, try the Terry Butterfly we listed above instead.

Price & Where To Buy:

•  $139.95 List
• Buy at TerryBicycles.com*
• Buy at Amazon.com*

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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.

Saddle	Weight	Seat Width	Seat Length	Recommended Use	Cover	Rails
Terry Butterfly Carbon	218 g	155 mm	262 mm	Recreational road cycling, racing	Leather	Carbon
Terry Butterfly	335 g	155 mm	262 mm	Everything	Vinyl	Chromoly Steel
Selle Italia Diva Gel Superflow	275/285g	135 mm / 152 mm	270 mm	Road	Lorica	Titatnium
Specialized Power Comp MIMIC	223 g	143 mm /155mm/ 168 mm		Everything		Chromoly Steel
Fiz:ik Luce Manganese	231 g	144 mm	281 mm	Road	IschialFlex	Manganese
Fiz:ik Luce Carbon	175 g	143 mm	281 mm	Recreational road cycling, racing	IschialFlex	Carbon
Terry FLX	228 g	142 mm	260 mm	Recreational road cycling, racing	Leather	Manganese
SDG Allure	260 g	143 mm	265 mm	Everything		Ti-Alloy
Ergon SM / SMC Women	265 g / 270 g	143 mm / 155 mm		MTB	Microfiber	CroMo
Fi’zi:k Luna	255 g / 260 g	145 mm / 155 mm	281 mm	MTB	Microtex	Alloy
WTB Deva	275 g	145 mm	259 mm	MTB		Steel

About The Reviewers & How We Tested The Saddles

We had all hands on board to test these saddles. Our saddle review team included Femme Cyclist founder, Kristen Bonkoski, long-distance road cyclist, Darlene Bonkoski, women’s group ride leader, Stacy Smith, and passionate mountain biker, Jane Gerritsen.

We’re all avid cyclists, from different cycling disciplines, who LOVE to ride our bikes. This made testing saddles easy.

We just went about our lives riding our bikes, and trying different saddles as we go. The awful ones, we throw in the trash. The good ones we share here with you.

In addition to riding hundreds (or thousands) of miles on these saddles, we also look from feedback from our community. Just because we like a saddle, doesn’t mean it’s going to be great for everyone. Instead, we look to recommend saddles that we hear y’all raving about time and time again.

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.

• 9 Best Bike Shorts For Women
• How To Prevent And Treat Saddle Sores
• Don’t Wear Underwear With Your Bike Shorts & Other Things You Should Know