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Best women's bike saddles 2024 — get the right support for your ridingBest women's saddles

Best women's bike saddles 2024 — get the right support for your riding

If unisex saddles don't work for you, then we've rounded up the best women's bike saddles to help you find better comfort on your bike
by Suvi Loponen
Wed, Mar 08, 2023 14:35
0

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Out of all the touchpoints on your bike, the saddle is the one that bears perhaps the most burden for your overall cycling comfort. While there is not necessarily a need for a women-specific saddle, they might be a great option if you struggle to get comfortable on unisex saddles. To help you find one, our women testers have racked up thousands of hours of riding in pursuit of the best women's saddle - these are the best women's bike saddles you can buy.


It's not a necessity for women to get a women-specific saddle and in fact, it is well worth looking at our general best saddles guide because many of those will work well across genders. 

The saddles we've listed here have all been tested by women reviewers and thus, have deserved a spot as ones we would recommend for women cyclists. There is something for everyone as saddles come in all different price points, different widths and shapes, and some with cutouts - and the ones listed below have scored well in all - or most - aspects.

To find out more about choosing the best saddle for you, check out the frequently asked questions section at the bottom of this guide. 

Best women's bike saddles: our top picks

Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow saddle

Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow saddle

9
Best overall women's saddle
Buy now for £24.99 from Wiggle

The Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow saddle is one of the most widely rider-recommended women's saddles and has been for years. It features plenty of padding, making it comfortable to sit on long rides, and the long middle cutout helps to relieve pressure from the soft tissue. 

The top is made from full-grain leather and is finished with a little more feminine design that perhaps some other saddles out there. This saddle is 152mm wide, and those looking for a narrower option might want to investigate Selle Italia's SLR Lady Flow instead (also featured in this guide). 

Read our review:
Read our review of the Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow saddle
Specialized S-Works Power with Mimic Women’s saddle on a wooden background

Specialized S-Works Power with Mimic Women’s saddle

7
Best money-no-object women's saddle
Buy now for £255 from Sigma Sports
Light
Good quality
Groove isn't long enough for all
Rails limit what you can attach

The Specialized S-Works Power with Mimic women's saddle is a very comfortable saddle under the sit bones, and this S-Works model also features super lightweight construction with FACT carbon shell and rails. 

The Specialized Power Mimic is some of the most popular women's saddle models, and we've had a couple of reviews of the saddle since it launched in 2019. Rachael loved the 143mm model she tested, describing it as an 'epiphany' as she was very happy with the sit bone area and the Mimic foam on the nose, while Emma could see the potential in the slightly wider 155mm model. 

The feature making this saddle women-specific is the soft middle part that was designed to mimic women's soft tissue, supporting the rider and alleviating pressure, numbness and discomfort – specifically, the problem of pressure on the labia of women cyclists. While it might not work for all, and you don't necessarily need the carbon rails that this S-Works model has, this is a saddle to consider for all women cyclists. 

Read our review:
Read our review of the Specialized S-Works Power with Mimic Women’s saddle
Ergon SR Pro Carbon Women saddle against a background

Ergon SR Pro Carbon Women saddle

8
Best women's saddle for racing
Buy now for £90 from Sigma Sports

The Ergon SR Pro Carbon Women's Saddle provides plenty of comfort through its cutout channel that goes right into the nose of the saddle, but because of the minimal padding, it might not be the first choice for very long rides. However, if you're looking for a lightweight, flat-profile race saddle, this is one to check out. 

The padding, although minimal, is still there, in the form of 'Orthopedic AirCell Foam with OrthoCell Pads'. This specific model comes with a light and comfy carbon composite shell and rails, dropping the weight to a mere 166g on the road.cc scales.

Read our review:
Read our review of the Ergon SR Pro Carbon Women saddle
Brooks B17 S saddle on white background

Brooks B17 S saddle

9
Best old-school saddle
Buy now for £134.99 from Leisure Lakes Bikes

While the modern, super lightweight and fancy carbon shell saddles have their place, sometimes the best saddle for you is one that has been around for decades. The Brooks B17 S is the women’s version of one of the longest-running and best-selling Brooks designs, the B17. Designed for women and smaller riders, the B17 S comes with a shorter nose and is 7mm broader in the rear and 35mm shorter overall. 

In our review of the saddle, Lara found that the shiny leather upper of this saddle takes some getting used to, but does help to reduce friction where it matters, and the saddle is well crafted and shaped. It is a bit heavier than modern saddles but boasts some neat details, such as eyelets for attaching a traditional saddle bag, as well. 

Read our review:
Read our review of the Brooks B17 S saddle
Specialized Women’s Romin Evo Pro With MIMIC saddle on wooden background

Specialized Women’s Romin Evo Pro With MIMIC saddle

9
Best curved saddle
Buy now for £94.99 from Tredz
Excellent support and comfort from MIMIC in place of a cutout
Light
Might be too firm for some

We've for more than one saddle on this list with the MIMIC technology, and this Specialized's Women's Romin Evo Pro with MIMIC is a performance-orientated saddle. It's a great women-specific option for those that liked the Specialized Oura - and doesn't feature a short nose that is nowadays quite dominant on the best saddles out there. 

So, the Romin Evo Pro is the first women-specific long-nosed saddle to adopt the technology, and it features a curved profile meaning that the back of the saddle swoops up slightly. This can help when you are doing seated climbs and is also a little more forgiving for maintaining a good cycling position without super good core strength. 

Read our review:
Read our review of the Specialized Women’s Romin Evo Pro With MIMIC saddle
SDG Allure Women’s Ti-Rail saddle

SDG Allure Women’s Ti-Rail saddle

8
Good for long distance cycling
Buy now for £68.49 from Chain Reaction Cycles
Reasonably light
comfortable with well-placed cutout
good looking and well made
The minimal padding might feel a bit too firm for some

The SDG Allure scores very well in the comfort scales, is made from high-quality materials and is well put together. It sports a lightweight nylon fibre base and LPU foam padding – although some might find the padding a bit too minimal and compared to for example the Diva Gel Flow, it's a lot firmer. 

The Allure comes in two models: with titanium alloy or chromoly rails. The Ti-alloy version, as well as saving weight, is a little more forgiving because the titanium offers slightly more flex than chromoly, and helps absorb road vibrations. You pay for the privilege, though, as the chromoly model retails around £20 less, but then it weighs about 50g more.

Read our review:
Read our review of the SDG Allure Women’s Ti-Rail saddle
Selle Italia SLR Boost Lady Superflow

Selle Italia SLR Boost Lady Superflow

8
Best firm long distance women's saddle
Buy now for £189.99 from Wiggle
Lightweight
Sleek
Good pressure relief channel
On the firm side

At just 197g, the Selle Italia SLR Lady Superflow Saddle is a seriously lightweight option aimed at female riders looking for high performance, which it delivers alongside decent levels of comfort despite its overtly firm character.

The Selle Italia Lady has long been a go-to saddle for bike shops helping solve women's bike comfort problems and still represents arguably the best combination of features, though as you can see, it has considerably more competition than when it first appeared.

The key with Selle Italia's women's saddles is the large, pressure-relieving cut-out down the centre. The brand calls this the 'Flow' because the idea is it lets blood flow easily to the soft tissues that get squashed by most saddles. Under the synthetic leather cover, there's gel padding for support, and the Lady Gel Flow is available in two widths: 135mm (S2) and 160mm (L2) so using Selle Italia's ID-match system you should be able to get one that fits your sit-bone spacing.

Read our review:
Read our review of the Selle Italia SLR Boost Lady Superflow
Liv Alacra SL saddle Best mid-range priced women's saddle

Liv Alacra SL saddle

7
Best mid-range priced women's saddle
Buy now for £59.49 from Cycle Store
Lightweight
Ergonomic feel
Generous cutout
Might be too firm for some
Took some bedding in
Only available in one width
Cutout can get a bit grubby

Liv is a women-specific brand and the Alacra SL (superlight) is its performance saddle with a mid-range price tag, featuring trickle-down technology from Liv's premium option, the SLR. The Alacra SL is a firm yet comfortable ride, with a shape intended to suit a range of riding styles - including long distances. 

It has a gently curved shape, a proper cutout in the middle and quite firm padding, covered by a microfibre outer. Liv's 'rebound' foam, lightweight padding with high elasticity designed to provide a custom feel, and 'particle flow', which aims to distribute weight across the main area of contact, is claimed to reduce pressure points by more than a fifth. 

The Alacra SL is only available in one width - 155mm - so that might be a limiting aspect if it doesn't suit your sit bone width. 

Read our review:
Read our review of the Liv Alacra SL saddle

How to choose the best women's saddle?

faq-icon
Do I need a women-specific bike saddle?

The short answer to this is: no. Many saddle manufacturers are actually no longer offering "women-specific" saddles because of multiple reasons. Every individual's anatomy is different regardless of their gender, and what works for one doesn't for another. That is not the full story, though. Saddles that have used women testers and been developed specifically for women's anatomical needs tend to suit women riders better. 

Women have statistically wider sit bones - but again, this doesn't apply to all women. In general, saddles with wider cutout channels suit women cyclists best - but again, there is no one size or model that fits all - but looking at women's specific saddles is definitely an easier place to start with than going through the hundreds of unisex saddles out there. 

faq-icon
What is the right saddle width for me?

Saddles come in nearly as many widths as they come in shapes and colours. Determining the right width for your sit bones is crucial in order to get a saddle that supports your bum but doesn't cause chafing by being overly wide. 

A way to do this at home is to sit on a piece of cardboard - you do need to sit for a few minutes - and then measure the distance between the two dents. Many bike shops also have dedicated benches for this purpose, featuring a gel-like pad that you sit on to perform the procedure. Usually, no one is opposed to you using one without actually buying a saddle, so don't hesitate to utilise this option - and also it offers you a chance to look at the shop's saddle selection. 

faq-icon
What shape saddle should I get?

The saddle's shape is a little less complicated matter than the width. Generally, saddles can be split into two rough categories: flat and waved. The benefit of a waved saddle is the added support, making it an ideal choice if you are a beginner and might not have developed great stability - and core strength - yet. Pro riders prefer flat and stiff saddles with thin padding, as these offer a greater power transfer. Flat saddles require more core strength to maintain the right position, so if you do go for a flat design, make sure you keep up your core training. 

When looking from above, saddles can be called T or V-shaped. A T-shaped saddle has a more pronounced difference between the nose and the seating area of the saddle, giving more space for thighs. A V-shaped saddle has a gradual shift in the width towards the nose of the saddle, meaning you can shift sitting further back or front easily. 

And talking about saddle noses, there are many different lengths available - the common trend is to steer towards a short nose saddle but these really only came about because of UCI rules, so as long as the width and the shape of the saddle suit you, the length of the nose should not be much of an issue. 

faq-icon
Do I need a cutout saddle?

Not necessarily. Although cut-outs can help with issues to do with numbness and pressure, there are others who say it alters the way the rider's weight distributes around it. Cutouts are not all the same so if you don't get along with one, don't rule out them all. 

Specialized's MIMIC technology doesn't have a "hole in the middle of the saddle" kind of cutout but instead utilises a lot of softer material (which mimics the soft tissue) around the traditional cutout area and at the nose of the saddle. When we interviewed experts on women's saddles, they agreed that a cutout is not necessarily "better" by default. Many riders still prefer the more traditional, solid saddle. 

faq-icon
What material should the saddle rails be?

The saddle rails can be made out of a bunch of materials, including steel, Chromoly, titanium and carbon. Usually, this defines the price point of the saddle, but the different materials do offer certain benefits, as well. 

Carbon-railed saddles are the lightest and stiffest, and titanium rails provide medium flex while remaining lightweight and durable. Chromoly rails offer increased rail flex for added comfort and steel is known for its durability and wallet-friendly price point. 

faq-icon
What makes a saddle comfortable?

As mentioned multiple times before, a saddle that is comfortable for one doesn't fit another. And although it might take a little while for your bum to get used to a new saddle, you should never tolerate numbness or pain when cycling. If you do, try out another saddle and preferably, consult an expert for advice if the issues persist. 

The saddle alone is not fully responsible for your saddle comfort, but getting your saddle height right, wearing a comfortable pair of bib shorts and applying plenty of chamois creams are all nearly as important as the saddle itself. 

That said, saddle padding does impact how comfortable you are and the type of riding you do affects what works best for you. Fast racing is easier on a firmer saddle, but more relaxed rides are the comfiest on a padded saddle. How aggressive your riding position is and how strong your core is impacting how much weight you put on the different areas of the saddle which again affects which saddles suits you best. One with a soft nose, flat profile and a cutout is better for an aggressive position, whereas, on a hybrid bike that you use for commuting, something much softer overall can work great - especially if you don't wear padded cycling shorts. 

Related to women's saddle comfort is also grooming - the recommendation is to not shave down there. 

women's saddles
Suvi Loponen

Suvi joined F-At in 2022, first writing for off-road.cc. She's since joined the tech hub, and contributes to all of the sites covering tech news, features, reviews and women's cycling content. Lover of long-distance cycling, Suvi is easily convinced to join any rides and events that cover over 100km, and ideally, plenty of cake and coffee stops.