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’ve tested and reviewed as many as we could 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.
(When you’re done choosing a great saddle, make sure to check out our lists of the best cycling shorts and chamois liners as well).
Key Takeaways
- Everybody’s anatomy is different. What works well for one woman may not work well for you.
- Measuring your sit bone width is crucial when choosing a saddle.
- More padding is not the answer. You need a saddle that supports your sit bones properly.
- The vast majority of women we’ve polled prefer the Specialized MIMIC, Ergon, or Terry saddles.
Table Of Contents
Our Top Picks
| Saddle | What We Like / Who It’s For | Price |
| Ergon SMC Sport Gel | Large cutout, flat rear, designed for off-road riding | $99 |
| Ergon SR Sport Gel | Large cutout, sit bone support, designed for road riding | $99 |
| Terry Butterfly | Wide rear, affordable, good for all types of riding | $79+ |
| Specialized MIMIC | Designed to reduce soft tissue swelling, good for all disciplines | $149 |
| SDG Allure | Good maneuverability, use on or off road | $89 |
| Selle Italia Diva Gel Superflow | Effective pressure relief, long distance road riding or touring | $139 |
| Terry Bicycles FLX Saddle | Aggressive road riding | $139 |
| Brooks C17 | Flexible and durable, gravel and road touring | $155 |
Ergon SMC or SR Women
Price: $99 List
Ergon makes great products that have been intelligently designed to be ergonomic. When you first see the Ergon SMC or Ergon SR saddle, you might do a double take. They don’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.
These are the two saddles that I personally use. The cut-out is larger than most and the nose is wider, both of which make them a good pick if you have a lot of soft tissue tenderness.
The SMC is designed for mountain biking (or a more upright position), while the SR is designed for road riding (or a more leaned over position).
The Sport Gel version of both saddles have gel inserts that provide a little extra (but not too much) cushion. The result is a supportive but comfortable platform.
Additionally, both saddles are offered in two sizes–S/M and M/L. The SR is slightly narrower than the SMC as it is intended for a more aggressive riding position.
Read Our Review: Ergon SMC Sport Gel
Terry Butterfly
Price: $79-$219 List
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 $79, and the carbon version is $219. 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 sit bones won’t love this one.
Read Our Review: Terry Butterfly
Specialized MIMIC
Price: $149
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
SDG Allure
Price: $89 List
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 (143mm), so if you have wider sit bones you’ll need to look elsewhere.
Read Our Review: SDG Allure
Selle Italia Diva Gel Superflow
Price: $139 List
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
Terry Bicycles FLX Saddle
Price: $139
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. With the tilted nose, this is a good choicee if you spend plenty of time riding in the drops.
If that doesn’t describe you, try the Terry Butterfly we listed above instead.
Full review coming soon!
Brooks C17 Carved
Price: $155 List
Brooks saddles are classics! The original Brooks are leather, but the C17 is made of a flexible rubber instead. This makes it well suited for bikepacking and gravel rides where durability and toughness are key. The flexibility of the saddle also helps absorb some of the vibration from rough roads.
If you are looking for cushion, the C17 is not your saddle. Many women are surprised to learn, however, that the flexibility of the saddle and the superb sitbone support, fixes many of the issues that they though a “comfier” saddle would provide.
It is heavier than many of the saddles on this list, so keep that in mind if you’re planning on racing, but for most, the weight will be a non-issue.
Full review coming soon!
How To Choose A 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 women’s 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.
Some of us have a narrow pelvis, others have a wider pelvis. To get a saddle that properly supports your weight on the bike, you need a saddle that fits your body.
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.
You can then use this information to start your search for a saddle. You’ll immediately the saddles that are too wide or too narrow. Each saddle manufacturer will list the width of their saddle, and some offer multiple sizes. We’ve also listed the widths of the saddles on this list in the comparison chart later on.
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. That’s why we see so many giant padded saddles–or even worse, saddle covers!
Unfortunately, more padding brings with it a host of problems, including saddle sores, chafing, and all-around discomfort. To properly support your weight, a saddle needs to be firm(ish). You shouldn’t be sinking into it.
Try A Couple Saddles
If you can, try a couple of saddles before you buy. The only way to truly know what saddle is the best one for YOU is by trying them out.
Some local bike shops have demo programs where they’ll let you try out a saddle before you make a purchase. Or, some brands (like Terry) have a return policy where you can test a saddle for 30 days, and if it doesn’t work for you, you can return it and try another.
Finally, 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, or you might be leaned over too far. When I interviewed Natalie Collins, who is a professional bike fitter, she shared that she’s worked with women who’ve tried ten different bike saddles, only to discover that the issue wasn’t the saddle at all.
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.
Comparison Chart
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 | Road | 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 | 240 mm | Everything | Chromoly Steel | |
| Terry FLX | 228 g | 142 mm | 260 mm | Road | 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 | 266 mm | MTB | Microfiber | CroMo |
| Ergon SR | 265 g / 275 g | 141 mm / 152 mm | 261 mm | Road | Microfiber | CroMo |
| Brooks C17 Curved | 446 g | 164 mm | 283 mm | Road/gravel | Rubber and nylon | CroMo |
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:
Has Ergon ever been reviewed here? I’m looking at the the Ergon SR Sport Gel saddle. I’m a novice cyclist and finding my problem is soft tissue chaffing, as I’m currently riding on a saddle w/o a cutout.
Hi Claudia,
The Ergon saddles are on my to-do list. So no written review, but yes, I think you would love the Ergon saddles. I have several girlfriends I ride with that rock their saddles, and they’ve said they’ll never switch.
Cheers,
KB
Love my Mimic saddle – absolutely CHANGED my ride! So comfortable!
Thank you so much for the tinfoil trick for measuring sit bones. Unfortunately, I came in at a 160-165 mm and there is only one saddle in your article that comes in that width. It doesn’t have a cut out for my lady parts, so I’m back to square one trying to find a review of a saddle wide enough for me. Any chance you could do another review specifically for us wide-hipped women?
My sit bones are 150 mm apart. Not one saddle reviewed here would be wide enough for me.
Hi Jennifer, The Specialized Power Comp MIMIC would fit you!
A brilliant set of reviews thank you. After never having had any issues, a new bike and saddle has given me appallingly painful inner thigh chafing and soft tissue damage and I currently feel as though I never want to get back on a bike again…
Two questions in my quest for a new saddle: given that statistically 1 in 3 women over 60 have some form of pelvic prolapse (eg prolapse of the uterus), any thoughts on appropriate saddles? And secondly, Terry Saddles suggest that sit-bone measurement is irrelevant and in fact make their iconic Butterfly Saddle in only one width, which seems to run counter to general research, and yet plenty of women obviously love their Terry saddles??
I think that sit bone width absolutely does matter, and only recommend the Terry Butterfly to women who fit it! My recommendation would be to find a professional bike fitter (and independent bike fitter not a free fit from a local bike shop) to help you out. I’m so sorry you’re dealing with what you are. I’d also recommend the same for any woman dealing with pelvic prolapse, as well as physical therapy. There are professionals who can help, and nobody should suffer on the bike!
Same here. None of these saddles look comfortable to me. The long nose pressurising my labia, urethra and scar tissue is terribly uncomfortable and conflicting information is just confusing me
My sit bone width is 12cm. So which seat width works best for that? I’m not sure if mine are narrow or medium..
Hi Beverly,
You’d want a saddle around 140mm. There are a couple listed above in the 141-143 range that would work well for you.
I have been riding the Specialized MIMIC bike seat for a few months and it has been a GODSEND. I am 71 and recently returned to riding my vintage Raleigh 3-speed as my main transportation in Chicago after getting a heart stent and completing cardiac rehab. I am about 60 lbs overweight and have a wide pelvis. I always thought I needed a wide, heavily cushioned seat, but my last one was leaving me with very sore labia. After reading this article, a smaller seat made a lot of sense and with the research behind it, I took a chance on it. It’s a LOT of money for a seat – and worth every penny to me. THANK YOU for showing how to measure sit bones – I need the widest seat they make. Now I am never sore and don’t even think about the seat while riding, no matter how long the ride or how rough the streets and sidewalks are. I even rode a bumpy root-filled dirt path in the forest preserve without discomfort. It is also easier to handle than the old mattress style seats when lifting the bike or guiding it down stairs – and it looks so cool for an old lady’s bike!
What about someone who is fit-ish and has had two hip replacements. After my first side was done I was cycling 43 kilometres and had to stop there for the discomfort. The second hip was done in January and I’m ready to go!