Most Comfortable Bike Seats to Ease the Pain

Riding a bike again is a lot of fun but it only takes about 10 minutes to realize that the seats are not quite as comfortable as you remember them.  Thankfully, there are a lot of replacement bike seats out there to solve just this issue.

The most comfortable bike seat depends on your usage of the bike.  The best mountain bike seat depends on your use and whether you’re an active or casual biker.  I give my recommendations below to match these usages.

These are my favorite seats and seat covers that will make your bike seat a bit more comfortable on your ride.

1.  Zacro Gel Bike Seat Cover

 

I thought I’d start off this list with a bike seat cover since for many it is just what they need.  This Zacro seat cover has a lot of gel inserts in the seat so it will smooth out the ride a ton and it makes a significant distance.  I have a Bell gel seat cover on my bike and it made a huge difference in the ride and how I felt and no longer ached after the ride.

This seat cover is actually quite a bit better than my cover and it’ll help quite a bit in making the rider much more comfortable.  You just slide it over the seat and then squeeze the little plastic cylinder and tighten it and release.  Nice and simple.

The Zacro bike seat cover works on mountain bikes, road bikes, xc bikes, fat bikes, and exercise bikes.  Both regular and narrow bike seats.  So it’ll pretty much work on any seat and at an amazing price.

I should note that this seat cover on Amazon has over 32,000 ratings which is amazing for any product, but it shows just how well received this seat cover is.

2.  Velmia Bike Seat with Memory Foam

 

 

The Velmia Bike Seat is one of those little-noticed gems I’ve come across. It’s very highly rated and priced below average.

The seat itself is made of memory foam. It compresses in just the right spots so it fits you like it was custom made. Pretty much standard for memory foam that is used in many places such as a shoes and pillows, and it works amazingly on this bike seat.

The air ventilation is the interesting part that is what makes it a bit different. Well, really the ventilation combined with the memory foam. Foam can be get warm, but the vents that are built in keep the seat cool and less likely to get sweaty and slippery and less comfortable. Plus when you get off the bike you have a dry rear. The fresh air helps to keep other areas nice and dry which is a nice welcome.

Naturally when you’re talking foam and such, the seat is also waterproof. Not only from sweat, but you can be out and get caught in the rain, etc. Every bike seat really needs to be waterproof so you can always go biking on a dry seat. Not really a surprise, but with memory foam I wanted to point that out.

They do make this seat in 3 different styles to cover bmx, mtb, or just normal riding. Take your pick, they’re all made the same.

So if you’re looking for a seat that is a mix or sport and comfort, this is a good one to check out. Definitely one of my top choices.

3.  Giddy Up Bike Seat

 

 

The Giddy Up bike seat is perfect for those that are more concerned with a comfortable seat than bike maneuvers.  This is a complete seat replacement that give you a new saddle that is all memory foam and has a built-in tail light so you are more noticeable when it’s dark.

This seat is perfect for the casual biker looking for a bit more comfort and support while biking.

If you’re looking to do jumps and stuff like that, then you’ll want the BlueWind seat above. If you are just out for casual riding and just want the most amount of padding in a bike seat that’s possible, then you’ll want this seat.

One thing I do see on this bike seat I don’t see on others is the built-in tail light.  It’ll really help you to stand out more when it gets dark and with how dangerous roads can be, it’s a really great feature!

This seat does have memory foam which is tried and true on bike seats.  Th seat is actually a gel foam layer over top of the memory foam layer. So it’s really a double amount of padding compared to many bike seats.  It’s waterproof as you’d expect as well.

What makes a bike seat comfortable?

A bike seat can make or break a ride. There are many factors that go into creating a comfortable bike seat including the type of material, shape and design, and the angle of the seat. Memory foam is often used in bike seats because it’s soft and conforms to your body’s natural shape. Gel-filled seats offer a slight cushion for those who prefer a softer ride.

A bike seat is an essential piece of equipment for any cyclist. Depending on the type of cycling you are planning to do, there are different considerations. For road biking, a narrow saddle with a well-cushioned nose can be ideal because it prevents any friction in the sensitive areas that may occur when you are in the “aero” position. Mountain bikers often prefer wider saddles with more padding.

Are All Bike Seats Universal?

No, bike seats cannot be universal. Each bike seat is designed to fit a specific type of bike.

The most common types of bikes are road bikes, mountain bikes and hybrid bikes. These three types of bikes necessitate different types of seats for use on them. Road bike seats are specially designed to prevent riders from slipping off the back while riding on bumpy terrain while mountain bike seats are designed with extra cushioning in order to make the ride more comfortable for uphill or downhill rides. Hybrid bike seats are built with a combination of features from both the road and mountain seat design which makes for a seat that is versatile across different biking terrains.

Bike seats are not universal, and the size of your bike seat is determined by the size of your bike post.

Be sure to check your seat post diameter and the description of the bike to ensure fit.  The replacement bike seats I put above are adjustable so they will fit nearly all existing bike posts and work as suitable replacements.

Conclusion

So there are lots of bike seats and seat covers that can help to make your bike ride a bit more comfortable.  If it makes the ride more comfortable, it’s a great idea for the few bucks that it takes to buy some relief from the aches.

If you are a casual biker and just looking for more comfort, then I’d suggest either the Zacro gel seat cover or the Giddy up bike seat.  Both of these are amazingly comfortable and will make riding 10x more enjoyable.

If you’re more of an enthusiast, then I recommend the BlueWind seat.  It’s the perfect balance of support and support while not hindering active riding.