To many, the idea of a gravel bike saddle will sound like a marketing department somewhere jumped onto the gravel bandwagon in order to sell a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. However, a saddle is one of the most personal things on a bike, and the right saddle for you will come down to a multitude of things, including the type of riding you are doing, which is why the best gravel bike saddle will differ from the best road bike saddles.
It will also depend on how flexible you are, your levels of core strength, your sit bone width, and your unique soft tissue. Even once you've taken all that into consideration, and found your perfect saddle, it will change. It will change as you age and it will change as you take part in different types of cycling.
It's important to continue your quest for the perfect saddle because you can have any of the best gravel bikes and wear the best cycling shorts available, but pair them with an ill-fitting saddle and your ride could be reduced to discomfort, pain, and worst of all, walking.
However, if you're the sort of person whose backside seems to agree with every saddle shape and size available, the best gravel saddles can offer something for you too. In the same way that neither your road wheels nor your mountain bike wheels are quite right for the job of gravel riding, the best gravel bike saddles are designed to offer that 'goldilocks' balance between weight, comfort, durability and comfort.
The needs of a road cyclist or a mountain biker are different than the needs of a gravel cyclist. Unlike a road bike saddle, mud, dirt, trees, traction, hard impacts and branches come into play for gravel saddles. A mountain bike saddle will be a better fit than a road saddle for gravel cyclists, but even these aren't perfect for the job. These can be heavier, built to withstand much harder impacts and incidents than a gravel cyclist is ever likely to need.
And even within the gravel cycling umbrella, there is a huge range of different types of riding. If you are a gravel racer your needs are going to be a lot different than that of a bikepacker. If you like to take on the most technical trails a drop-bar bike can handle, that warrants a different type of saddle again.
Whatever your needs there are some general ideas to consider, which we run through at the bottom of this page, but first, we've gathered our pick of the best gravel bike saddles to help you find something that will work for you.
The Tundra M1 is the premier cross-country race saddle from Fizik. It includes a tough Microtex upper that's smooth at the back. There are no seams and it's a flat profile.
This kind of saddle is going to be best for those who are flexible and have pretty narrow hips. The smooth back makes it easy to slide on and off the saddle and get your weight over the rear on descents. The long front helps with controlling the bike but limits the amount of forward pelvis tilt that is possible. You'll need to be able to bend at the waist without needing to tilt your pelvis a lot.
There's a certain mystique about Brooks saddles. It's just one of those brands that seem to show up on the bikes of the coolest people. Unfortunately, the traditional leather construction of Brooks saddles isn't suited to off-road riding. The Cambium C13 is an answer to that need.
The construction of the Brook Cambium C13 is different from most of what's out there. Instead of a shell with padding and a cover, there's a carbon fibre frame covered with a thick piece of rubber. The unsupported nature of the rubber provides all the necessary shock absorption with more durability.
The Cambium C13 is so durable we can't imagine it ever wearing out, even after a crash.
The SR Pro Carbon uses a design targeted for men who ride in an aggressive position. Most companies who use a relief channel use a deep channel that splits the shell from the nose to the rear of the saddle. With the Ergon SR Pro the channel is shallow with a rearward bias. Ergon claims this better reflects male pelvis tilt but it also maintains the integrity of the saddle. With only a small spot for water to drain the saddle is stronger and mud and dirt don't have a way to get through from below.
A carbon composite shell and carbon rails can make for an expensive saddle. The Ergon SR Pro Carbon is a rare offering at just over $100 for top of the line materials and low weight.
Weighing in at 209g the Prologo Dimension AGX is not what you would call heavy but the concept hinges more around comfort than outright performance. As a dedicated gravel saddle, the Dimension AGX is all about comfort and the Italian company has made a concerted effort to improve foam density by tuning the padding structure which is 10mm thick - all of which help negate high-frequency gravel-road vibrations.
As a visual package, the Prologo Dimension AGX gravel saddle looks rather refined and should complement your bike's aesthetic pretty easily. The only thing missing from the recipe, however, is the paucity of saddlebag integration which has almost become a prerequisite on rival gravel-specific perches from Fizik.
For more information, check out our Prologo Dimension AGX gravel saddle first look review.
Fabric saddles offer three profiles for different types of riders and riding. The shallow profile represents what it considers a medium-aggressive, all around, option. It has a rounded rear section and medium padding that should work well for a setup similar to most endurance-focussed gravel bikes. There is a slight wave but it's not aggressive and strikes a nice balance between locking the rider in and allowing movement.
The real strength in the Fabric Race Shallow saddle is the design of the base. Fabric has gone for a flexible nylon base that provides plenty of shock absorption as it moves. There's enough strength that it won't break down but the movement adds a suspension effect that's great for gravel.
A saddle for everyone runs the risk of being a saddle for no one. The Verse line of saddles from Bontrager targets men and women and all surfaces and it works. Trek, and its accessory company Bontrager, is a company with a culture of data. An extensive dealer network helped Bontrager hone what was working for people.
Sales, returns, and fitment data from the dealer network showed the way forward. The most popular sizes and configurations of previous saddles have come together in a saddle designed for everyone. There's a wide nose paired with a wide midsection and a generous central cutout. To further broaden potential users the Bontrager Verse saddle has four sizes available and an extra-long usable mount area on the rails.
Selle Italia has a reputation for some of the lightest saddles on the market. Weight is rarely the best lens through which to view components and that's especially true of gravel saddles. Still, if you can have your cake and eat it there's no reason not to choose a lightweight saddle. The Selle Italia X-LR Kit Carbonio Superflow is so light it makes offerings from other brands seem unreasonable.
While creating a lightweight masterpiece, Sella Italia didn't skimp on gravel-specific features. The sides, and front tip, of the saddle have downward angles so it's easy to move on and off without catching the edges. There's also protection on both sides to protect from scrapes.
Specialized has released a multitude of saddle innovations over the years. The short-nose shape of the Power saddle, the grippy-yet-comfortable Elaston, the soft-tissue-supporting Mimic tech are just three, and they all feature here.
The Mimic variation of the Power saddle line-up replaces the cut-out with a depression, paired with a much softer padding at the front. For gravel riding, this kind of saddle is going to work best for riding that falls into the all-road umbrella as opposed to drop-bar mountain biking. Gravel races with long hours of hard riding, where aerodynamics matter, is an ideal use case.
Check out our Specialized Power Pro Elaston Mimic Saddle review for more information.
Velo Saddles is the manufacturer behind many of the saddles from other brands on the market. It produces over 15 million saddles a year and is the largest manufacturer of bike saddles in the world. Despite that, until recently, they were almost unheard of and actually purchasing one was near impossible. New distribution avenues hope to change all that and if you haven't taken a look now is a good time.
The Angel series of saddles is the highest performance saddles that Velo offers. The Angel TT starts with the Velo Angel Glide and shortens it. The two saddles are exactly the same, except that the Angel TT is wider and shorter. That means the same stiff padding and the same Y shaped cut-out that lets the shell flex with your hips.
Selle San Marco's AllRoad Carbon FX saddle is better suited to those whose gravel rides are more 'all-road' than drop-bar mountain biking. It's lightweight at 160g, and comes with a waved profile to provide a locked in feel. There's a wide cut-out, medium padding and a carbon-reinforced nylon shell paired with carbon fibre rails. That all combines to create a saddle that's good at taking the sting out of the rougher roads, without causing undue soft-tissue damage.
San Marco has also given this saddle reinforced cordura edges which shrugged off all of our untimely falls during testing. It's only available in one size: 146mm wide, which means if you have particularly narrow or wide sit bones, then this won't be for you, but for those it will fit, the AllRoad Carbon FX saddle is a great option.
Read our review of the Selle San Marco AllRoad Open Fit CFX to find out more.
When it comes to saddles there are few brands with the name recognition of Fizik. Like most brands though, it has made a real push to meet the needs of modern drop bar riders who are looking to push beyond paved roads. With the Terra Argo X3, Fizik understands that the requirements of traction on loose surfaces calls for a more planted stance. There's a centre cut out and it's a short nose design that's 5mm longer than the short nose design of the road version. The design keeps you planted but keeps the saddle out of your way. When you need the nose for control there's just enough.
How to choose the best gravel bike saddle
Do I need a new saddle at all?
Most people assume that because they have pain in the saddle area, they need a new saddle. Many experienced cyclists have been through a lot of saddles and have built a kind of religion around what works for them. Be careful though, it's easy to fall into a correlation without causation hole of never-ending saddle purchases. Just because a particular saddle worked at a particular time does not necessarily mean that it is the only saddle that will ever work. By the same token, when you have pain in your saddle area that doesn't always mean the saddle is the issue.
Kevin Schmidt, the owner of Pedal PT, and an expert in bike fit has three primary considerations for saddle fitment. The most important attribute when purchasing a saddle is the width. You can't change the width of a saddle after the fact so make sure you have an understanding of the width of your sit bones and choose a saddle to match. Once you've got the saddle, make sure it's level. That doesn't always mean level with a bubble level. Instead, it means level in a way that keeps you feeling stable and not sliding forward or backwards when pedalling.
The last point Kevin brings up is height. Saddle height is a part of the bike fit not typically considered for saddle choice but an incorrect height can cause unexpected saddle pain. For example, if your saddle is too high it can cause you to rock slightly as you reach for the bottom of the pedal stroke. This rocking can cause chafing even though you might have a perfect saddle.
Do I need a curved or a flat saddle?
Another point of considerable discussion in the saddle world is flat vs waved/curved. Most brands have recommendations for one or the other based on pelvis tilt. Instead of thinking about pelvis tilt consider how much you like to move around on your saddle.
If you like to move around a lot on your saddle then a flat saddle is the way to go. If you want a more locked-in feeling then a waved profile, as viewed from the side, will help keep you in a single position. There's not really a right or wrong choice here unless it's an aspirational one.
If you like to move around a lot, don't buy a waved saddle because you think you shouldn't move around. The waved saddle might keep you more locked in sometimes but it's likely you'll still move around. As you move around with a waved saddle your fit will change. Move forward onto the central peak and you've effectively raised your saddle height.
How to buy a gravel-specific saddle?
Although a discussion about saddles applies somewhat to all bikes this is a discussion specific to gravel cycling, so here are some considerations that are unique to that discipline. Of course, 'gravel cycling' covers a broad spectrum. Depending on how race vs adventure and all-road vs off-road your gravel cycling is, some features will be more, or less, important to you.
Many gravel bikes use a more relaxed endurance position that makes the rider more upright. As you sit upright your pelvis widens out and the necessary saddle width will change. Make sure you keep an eye on your position when measuring your sit bones.
Compared to a road bike, gravel cycling might have you moving around on your saddle more. Traction and balance are much more of an issue on uneven dirt, mud, and gravel. Seasoned mountain bikers have experience shifting to the rear of a saddle, or the nose, as terrain requires it. It's one reason mountain bike saddles are a popular choice for gravel cyclists and it might have you choosing a different saddle for a gravel bike.
Along with moving around on the bike for traction, you might find yourself staying seated more often. On a road bike, a steep gradient will often have the rider up and out of the saddle which also gives a break from the sitting position, but it's not always possible on loose terrain. When you need to keep your weight over the rear wheel to hold traction on a steep hill you can't stand to climb. That means more time planted on your saddle, and more need for a comfortable, shock-absorbing one.
