It’s not a marketing gimmick! If you’re a woman, you need a saddle that is different from whatever else is out there.
Otherwise, if you pick the wrong saddle, you’re probably going to regret it when you experience saddle sores, bruises and skin chafing. But it doesn’t have to be like that if you read this article.
We’ve done our homework, and we’re going to cover some of the best women’s road bike saddles in 2021. Let’s get down to it, shall we?
Fizik Luce R1 Saddle as One of The Best Women’s Road Bike Saddles
Quite impressive, this women’s saddle is built on a rail that is covered by a reinforced carbon fiber shell. The result is a lightweight saddle that is strong and flexible.
What’s more, it’s designed with a cut-out at the center to minimize pressure and enhance riding comfort. Better yet, you have two different sizes to choose from; the 144 mm and 155 mm wide saddle.
Unfortunately, this product is not suitable for women who are usually uncomfortable when riding a cut-out saddle
Manufacturer Specs:
- Outline: Teardrop
- Width: 144 mm, 155 mm
- Length: 281 mm
- Weight: 175 g, 185 g
What We Like
- Easy to install
- Lightweight
- It uses reinforced carbon fiber
- It’s durable
- Ideal for all types of bikes
What We Don’t Like
- Not suitable for all women
Summary A lightweight saddle with reinforced carbon fiber.
SDG Allure Womens Ti-Alloy Saddle also made to our Best Women’s Road Bike Saddles
This is a teardrop outline saddle with a central groove to improve blood flow on your perineum area. Since it’s designed for endurance on a road or mountain bike, it has minimal padding to support the sit bones.
The cover material is nylon fiber which is very easy to clean and doesn’t absorb sweat. Did I mention, it’s ultra-lightweight so it doesn’t slow you down while riding?
The downside? If you’re a beginner, you may find the seat a little bit too firm at first. However, if you keep riding it for a few days, you will adapt to the saddle.
Manufacturer Specs:
- Outline: Teardrop
- Width: 143 mm
- Length: 265 mm
- Weight: 260 g
What We Like
- Suitable for road and mountain bikes
- Lightweight
- It improves ride comfort
- Microfiber material
- Thin padded
What We Don’t Like
- It can be uncomfortable for newbies
Summary This is the best all rounder saddle for any bike.
Selle Italia Lady Gel Manganese Flow Bike Saddle is another good option for Best Women’s Road Bike Saddles
If you’re looking for a female saddle that is ideal for a casual ride in an upright position, you should consider this option. To begin with, it features a dense foam padding with gel to reduce shock and vibrations on a bumpy ride.
It also has a cutout gap that helps to relieve pressure on your sensitive tissues. Not to mention, the teardrop design minimizes thigh friction while you’re sitting in a forward position.
However, we don’t think this saddle would be suitable for long-distance endurance rides due to the extra padding. Also, 300 grams is a little bit high on the weight scale for a saddle.
Manufacturer Specs:
- Outline: Teardrop
- Width: 135 mm, 160 mm
- Length: 262 mm
- Weight: 300 g, 310 g
What We Like
- Narrow nose
- Shock absorber for a bumpy terrain
- Cut out design
- Firm grip on the seat post
- It’s durable
What We Don’t Like
- Not ideal for long-distance rides
Summary This would be suitable for an upright riding position.
Selle Italia SLR Lady Flow Saddle as one of the Best Women’s Road Bike Saddles
This is another Selle Italia women’s saddle but this one is lighter and more aggressive. Another big difference is the thin padding layer that makes it suitable for long-distance rides without compromising comfort.
Other than that, it has a central groove that is larger than what you would see on most bike seats. This is important to prevent saddle sores, chafing, and numbness on your soft tissues.
There is just one thing; it has pink stripes. For some ladies, that is not a big deal but not every woman likes pink; it would have been better if you had options to choose which color stripes you want.
Manufacturer Specs:
- Outline: Teardrop
- Width: 131 mm, 145 mm
- Length: 275 mm
- Weight: 185 g, 190 g
What We Like
- Ultra-lightweight
- Large cut out design
- It can fit all bikes
- Comfortable for long-distance
- Very durable
What We Don’t Like
- Pink stripes
Summary
An aggressive saddle for long distance rides.
ISM PN 1.0 Saddle is also one of the Best Women’s Road Bike Saddles
How about a linear outline saddle with less tapering on the nose? This bike seat is built for riders who are uncomfortable on a standard teardrop outline with a cut-out at the center.
Unlike most bike seats, the cut-out is designed at the edge of the saddle. This would be suitable for aggressive riders on road, time trial, and triathlon bikes who tend to move forward on the saddle.
On the flip side, it’s more expensive compared to most saddles on our guide. Then again, this is a unisex saddle that is performance-oriented.
Manufacturer Specs:
- Outline: Linear
- Width: 110
- Length: 270 mm
- Weight: 312 g
What We Like
- Suitable for aggressive riding
- Very durable
- Ideal for road, time trial, and triathlon bikes
- Comfortable on longer rides
- It’s unisex
What We Don’t Like
- It’s expensive
Summary
A linear designed saddle that improves aerodynamics.
Selle SMP Dynamic Black Bike Saddle – another option for Best Women’s Road Bike Saddles
In contrast with most saddles that are usually flat, this bike seat is designed with a raised rear and an eagle beak nose; it looks like ‘S’ from the side. The purpose of its unique design is to give it an aerodynamic touch.
Beyond that, it has minimum padding to avoid compressing your soft tissues on long-distance rides. However, it compensates that by using a genuine leather cover that doesn’t absorb sweat.
Despite its remarkable design, this bike saddle is not suitable for all body shapes. Sure, it’s unisex but you would need to get professional bike fitting before you decide if it will be the right saddle for your anatomy.
Manufacturer Specs:
- Outline: Teardrop
- Width: 138 mm
- Length: 274 mm
- Weight: 260 g
What We Like
- Real leather cover
- Minimal padding
- It can be used on road and mountain bikes
- Aerodynamic design
- Unisex saddle
What We Don’t Like
- It’s not suitable for all body types
Summary
It has a raised rear and minimum padding to make the rider more comfortable.
Fizik Luce R5 Women’s Bike Saddle – option for Best Women’s Road Bike Saddles
Thanks to its reinforced carbon fiber shell that is covered by thin nylon material, this women’s bike saddle is ultra-lightweight, durable, and flexible. As a matter of fact, those are the exact features that make this saddle perfect for racing and endurance rides.
Like most bike seats on our guide, it also includes a central groove to improve riding comfort for women. The best part is, you can choose two different sizes; the 144 mm or the 155 width saddle.
The only concern? Even though it’s a very comfy saddle, it could be uncomfortable for some ladies because of the cut-out gap.
Manufacturer Specs:
- Outline: Teardrop
- Width: 144 mm, 155 mm
- Length: 281 mm
- Weight: 230 g, 240 g
What We Like
- Lightweight
- Reduces thigh friction
- Easy to install
- Suitable for racing and endurance rides
- Flexible support
What We Don’t Like
- It’s not suitable for all body shapes
Summary
It’s ultra-lightweight, durable and flexible.
PROLOGO Scratch M5 Tirox Road Bike Saddle – next one on our picks for Best Women’s Road Bike Saddles
With a weight of just 189 grams, this is the lightest road bike saddle for women on our guide. Another trick under its sleeve is that it doesn’t have a cut-out like most saddles do.
But what does it use to relieve the pressure? It utilizes single-cell padding and interactive foams that mimic your riding position and reduces pressure in your sensitive tissues.
Its biggest strength is also its weakness; the fact that it doesn’t have a cutout gap doesn’t sit well with everybody. Pun intended!
Manufacturer Specs:
- Outline: Teardrop
- Width: 140 mm
- Length: 250 mm
- Weight: 189 g
What We Like
- It’s unisex
- It minimizes thigh rubbing
- Suitable for road bikes
- Durable carbon fiber material
- Ultra-lightweight
What We Don’t Like
- No cut-out
Summary This would be convenient for female riders who are uncomfortable on cut out saddles.
Terry Butterfly Carbon Bike Saddle – also one of the Best Women’s Road Bike Saddles
This saddle has a wider rear than most bike seats to accommodate an aerodynamic position when riding. No wonder, it’s called the ‘Terry Butterfly’.
To cut down the weight, the rails are made out of durable and flexible carbon material. What’s more, the cover is a soft leather material that won’t give you rashes or chafed skin when you sweat. Not to forget, it has a low profile design and a large cut-out gap to relieve pressure.
However, this saddle can’t be clamped on all types of seat posts. For that reason, make sure you confirm if your seat post clamp can fit the saddle before you purchase it.
Manufacturer Specs:
- Outline: Teardrop
- Width: 155 mm
- Length: 262 mm
- Weight: 218 g
What We Like
- Black leather cover
- Durable carbon rails
- Low profile design
- Suitable for aerodynamic angle
- Relieves pressure
What We Don’t Like
- It can’t be clamped on all bikes
Summary
This would be suitable for an aerodynamic riding position.
Do I Need a Women’s Saddle?
If you’re a woman, you will probably need a saddle that is wider and shorter; a stark contrast from men’s bike seats that are long and narrow. This is because most female riders have wider pelvic bones than men, hence the preference for wider seats. It’s important to figure out the Best Women’s Road Bike Saddles for you.
However, not all women have the same physique and you could choose the ideal saddle based on your body shape. For instance, most women would be more comfortable on a wider cut-out saddle but if you’re petite, you could consider a different design and still feel comfortable.
What about unisex? If you didn’t know, the unisex bike saddle was originally designed for women; but men liked it too.
Sure, you could try unisex saddles but they would only be suitable for a short casual ride. But once you start riding on your bike for hours, you will need a woman’s saddle to relieve your discomfort.
Things to Consider When Buying The Best Women’s Road Bike Saddles
Consider your Riding Position
Are you riding aggressively or casually? If you’re fond of riding aggressively in a leaned-over position while straining your soft tissue, you would feel more comfortable sitting on a large cut-out saddle.
In most cases, a noseless saddle would be perfect on a triathlon bike, time trial bike, or road bike; as long as you’re riding on the drops.
However, if you’re riding casually in a more upright position and exerting pressure on your sit bones, you should consider a woman’s bike seat with some extra padding at the rear. Most likely, this would be suitable for female cyclists who are riding mountain bikes, hybrid bikes, and Dutch bikes.
You can also use saddles designed with seat springs to absorb road vibrations and shock, especially on bumpy terrain.
Central Groove or Cutout (to accommodate forward sitting position)
Since women’s saddles have a shorter nose, you don’t have that upfront part of the seat that puts too much pressure on your genitals when you move forward. That means if you use the right women’s saddle, you shouldn’t experience numbness in a forward sitting position.
What’s more, a woman’s saddle is usually designed with a large cut out at the center to reduce pressure on the soft tissue, and improve blood flow. Despite that, a saddle with a cutout is not for everybody; some women swell on the nether regions if they sit on the cutout gap for too long.
If you’re one of the few women who are uncomfortable on a cutout or grooved saddle, you could try out a saddle with ‘mimic technology’. It doesn’t have a cutout, but it uses a sunken cushion that mimics the soft tissues to relieve pressure.
Alternatively, you could consider a saddle with a smaller central groove instead of riding with a large gap at the center.
It all comes down to what you’re comfortable with; a large cut-out saddle, a smaller cut-out saddle, or a bike seat with ‘mimic technology’.
Width
Remember, we’ve said women generally have wider sit bones than men? That means women require wider saddles than men to support the sit bones.
Of course, it’s easier to design a cut-out or a central groove on a wider saddle to relieve the pressure on the perineum area. But that’s not all; you have to carefully consider the width outline based on your riding preference.
What are we talking about?
1. Teardrop outline. As the name suggests, it looks like a teardrop; wide in the rear but narrow on the nose. It helps to minimize thigh friction.
2. Linear width. Unlike a teardrop outline, this design is shorter and doesn’t narrow too much on the nose. This would be ideal for aggressive riding but if you don’t have a perfect match, you could be uncomfortable on the thighs.
3. Straight outline: Just like linear outline, the tapering on a straight outline saddle has minimum tapering on the nose. It’s designed for female riders who sit on the edge of the saddle without worrying about thigh clearance.
Padding doesn’t mean comfort
Just because we’ve said extra padded saddles at the rear are suitable for an upright riding position, it doesn’t mean a cushier saddle is more comfortable. This is because most thick cushioned saddles will strain the soft tissue and cause all sorts of problems from chafing, saddle sores, and numbness.
A good idea would be to find a bike seat with a thin cushion to reduce the pressure on your perineum area, so you can align the sit bones to support your weight. But if you have to choose an extra padded saddle, make sure it’s made of a material that will compress to avoid obstructing your sit bones.
Get a professional fitting of your choice from the list of Best Women’s Road Bike Saddles
There is no better method to know the exact size of the saddle you need than getting a professional bike fitting. Most bike shops have a pressure pad that you can use to measure the distance between your sit bones so you can figure out the exact saddle width.
Besides that, getting a professional bike fitting will enable you to know the right height, angle, and shape of the saddle that will make you more comfortable.
Best Women’s Road Bike Saddles FAQs
Q. What is the most comfortable women’s saddle for a road bike
A. It depends on your sit bones measurement, but if we had to choose the most comfortable saddle for a road bike, we would pick the Selle SMP Dynamic Black Bike Saddle. It’s durable and comfortable with a unique aerodynamic design.However, if you often swell after riding a saddle with a cutout gap, we would recommend PROLOGO Scratch M5 Tirox Road Bike Saddle. It uses mimic technology to reduce pressure on your sensitive tissues
Conclusion on Best Women’s Road Bike Saddles
Now that you have a wide array of options when it comes to choosing the best women’s saddles, it’s important you visit the nearest bike shop to get a professional fitting of your size.
Any bike saddle on our guide would be appropriate as long as the width supports your sit bones.
Of course, if you want to make yourself more comfortable, you must wear padded bike shorts before riding.
