Bicycle saddles - which one do you recommend

[Just Joe]

I'm wearing out a squishy Bontrager comfort saddle and thinking I want to go with something more durable. I'm thinking touring, springs and leather cover. My bike is an ebike cobbled together from an older mtn bike.

Any touring riders here and what do you recommend?

I'm aware of Brooks seats via the internet but I have never sat on one. Are their off-brand alternatives that anyone can recommend for a lower price?

[eljefe-speaks]

I can only chip in to say my Brooks is the best saddle I have ever used. It's mustachian because I got it for Christmas. It looks good on my fixie, I don't think I could put it on my road bike simply for aesthetics (brown leather on black carbon fiber, yick).

The other thing with saddles is they are notoriously hard to recommend because everyone's shape and preference is so unique. It is kinda trial-and-error I'm afraid.

[Duchess of Stratosphear]

I wanted to like Brooks saddles, but they just didn't work for me. Selle Anatomica is the only thing I've been able to ride on for any length of time. I have many friends who love both, however, so it could be worth the money to try them out--sometimes bike shops will let you do that, I think, but it's hard to find one that will stock these saddles (at least my LBSs don't). I think Velo Orange may sell some leather saddles that are similar and slightly cheaper (but not that much cheaper). Selle Anatomica has sales pretty often, at least.

Good luck! Many have struggled to find butt comfort on long tours. This is one of those things where I say just go ahead and spend the money. Either saddle will last for years. I'm assuming the Velos probably would too, but I haven't tried them.

[Rubic]

I used to do long distance rides of 1200K+ (single, fixed, tandem bikes) and
Brooks saddles worked for me, even without the "break-in" period.

However, that said, it's really rider-specific if a leather saddle will work for
you.  Most people either love 'em or hate 'em.   Good luck!

[GuitarStv]

I can't recommend a saddle that's going fit your butt perfectly.  My experience has been that you just have to try out a variety of stuff until you find something that works for you.  Don't make assumptions.  A hard saddle might be more comfortable than a soft one, a narrow saddle might be better than a wide one.  Shape can change the way a saddle feels quite dramatically.  You kinda have to do the butt time on your own to figure it out.

Wider tires inflated to lower pressure will likely be more comfortable for your butt than a sprung saddle (and weigh less).  Leather requires extra care when you get caught out in the rain with it, and sometimes it feels like I'm only ever cycling in rain.  :P  The way that you sit on your saddle will change things too.  If you sit very upright you'll probably find that wider saddles are more comfortable, and if you're more forward and low then narrower saddles might work better for you.

I regularly do light touring (about 100 - 120 km a day) during each summer on a Prologo Kappa Evo PAS.  I also thought the Brooks C17 Cambrium saddle that I tried out on a friends bike for a few rides was very comfy.

[Just Joe]

Thank you everyone. I'll chase down all your recommendations and see if our LBS have some to test.

[frugaliknowit]

I can't recommend a saddle that's going fit your butt perfectly.  My experience has been that you just have to try out a variety of stuff until you find something that works for you.  Don't make assumptions.  A hard saddle might be more comfortable than a soft one, a narrow saddle might be better than a wide one.  Shape can change the way a saddle feels quite dramatically.  You kinda have to do the butt time on your own to figure it out.

Wider tires inflated to lower pressure will likely be more comfortable for your butt than a sprung saddle (and weigh less).  Leather requires extra care when you get caught out in the rain with it, and sometimes it feels like I'm only ever cycling in rain.  :P  The way that you sit on your saddle will change things too.  If you sit very upright you'll probably find that wider saddles are more comfortable, and if you're more forward and low then narrower saddles might work better for you.

I regularly do light touring (about 100 - 120 km a day) during each summer on a Prologo Kappa Evo PAS.  I also thought the Brooks C17 Cambrium saddle that I tried out on a friends bike for a few rides was very comfy.

+1
My $.02:  It might depend on whether you're male or female.  I am a male and find a split saddle (such as "Body Geometry" by Specialized) WAY more comfortable (if you ARE male, I definitely reccommend trying one...).

[tralfamadorian]

I can only chip in to say my Brooks is the best saddle I have ever used.

+1 on the Brooks. I love mine! But there is a breaking in period.