4 Best Fixie Saddles
Click one of the saddles below to jump directly to the respective review.
Saddle | Price |
1. Brooks Cambium All-Weather Saddle | $$ |
2. Brooks B17 Standard Fixie Saddle | $$ |
3. Selle Italia Turbo Fixie Saddle | $ |
4. Charge Spoon Fixie Saddle | $ |
If you’re still considering options you can compare the saddles on this list on Amazon.
How to Pick The Best Saddle For Your Fixie
Your saddle is the primary point of contact with the bike. It’s where most of your weight rests, so if it’s not the right fit your whole ride will be off.
The saddle is one of those features that you wouldn’t think twice about if it’s well fitted and comfortable. If you’ve got the wrong set up, though, it will be painfully clear.
It doesn’t just influence your comfort. The right saddle will also be functional and ergonomically accommodate the right body position for your physiology. A good position can improve your performance and enjoyment of bike riding.
Don’t fall for thinking that “you just have to get used to it.” Also avoid assuming that high-performance saddles aren’t comfortable because that’s just the way they are. They may be stiffer, sure, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get comfortable in that context.
Know What You’re Looking For In A New Saddle
Figure out what you don’t like about your current saddle and you’ll know what to look for in the new one.
Some people like their stock saddles just fine, but stock bike saddles are designed to work for most people and have a low enough to keep the bike profitable.
The issue is that our bodies have so many subtle differences you can’t count on a stock saddle being right for you without at least a few adjustments.
Before investing in an expensive new component for your bike, try adjusting the way your saddle is set up. Play with the height and depth to see if you can find a comfortable orientation. Also make sure that the problem is indeed the saddle and not an issue with the frame geometry or seat post.
Why Switch Your Saddle?
Professional cyclists – from bike messengers to Tour de France contestants – often transfer the same saddle from bike to bike when they upgrade.
That’s just how attached they are to a saddle when they find the right one. It’s tough to replace once you’ve found one that works, so think twice if you’re just “upgrading” for style or weight.
Eddy Merckx was famously obsessed with his saddle and how it was set up. One millimeter off just wouldn’t cut. He never trusting anyone but himself to get it set up correctly.
People that take cycling seriously take saddles seriously. For the demanding nature of fixie riding, the saddle is one of the most important components.
How Much Should I Spend On My Saddle?
Famous races like the Tour de France have been won on budget saddles.
Don’t think that just because something is good because it’s expensive it’s good. It’s quite possible to find a $30 saddle that works perfectly well.
Generally speaking, you’ll be paying more for materials. Carbon and leather are the two really expensive ones, but you’ll also find high-performance saddles with kevlar polymers and all sorts of other advanced materials developed in the age of material science.
Choosing the Right Saddle
When you need a new saddle, you’re faced with an almost sublime range of choices. The different combinations of materials, shape, & padding could cost you hours of evaluating your options.
What’s more, they make different saddles for all types of riding – touring, racing, commuting, etc.
The choices are a bit more narrow for a fixie, since fixies are generally used for more high-performance riding or general commuting. You can probably knock touring and cruising saddles out of the race straight away.
Although the more choices you have at your disposal the harder it is to make one, you can overcome that obstacle by knowing what to look for in a saddle. That narrows it down considerably from the start.
The upside is that with so many saddles to choose from, you can be pretty confident that there’s one out there that fits your bum perfectly.
To help you make the right call, we’ll go over the main differences between saddles.
Saddle Shape
Your primary concern will be getting an appropriately shaped saddle. It needs to fit your build and your riding style.
As a rule of thumb, the farther forward you lean down when riding your bike the narrower saddle you need. High-performance bikes have narrow saddles because an aggressive body position helps you ride faster.
Conversely, the more upright your position, the wider saddle you’ll need. Since more of your weight will be pressing into your sit bones you’ll need a wider saddle to feel comfortable.
Most track and fixie frames have aggressive geometry, so that gives you an idea of what type of saddle might suit you if you’re riding a fixie.
Bear in mind that your saddle should suit your sit bones, not your entire rear end. So long as those two points are well supported by the saddle, you can get comfortable.
Manufacturers often offer a few sizes of saddle, both in terms of length and width.
Just remember that just because you have a wider bum doesn’t mean you need a wider saddle. Your sit bones could still be relatively close together.
One final note about saddle shape. Consider your handlebars. If you have track drops that require you to lean over the bike to ride comfortably, you’ll definitely need a narrow saddle. Seated in that position, you actually put a lot less weight on the saddle than you might think. Therefore, it can be narrower.
However, if you have risers that accommodate more of an upright position you’ll have a bit of room to decide how wide you want your saddle to be.
Saddle Material (Saddle Shell / Cover)
Once you’ve account for your physiology, you can consider what materials you’d like your saddle to me made of.
These range from plastic saddles with steel rails to carbon fibre and kevlar. Better material doesn’t guarantee a better ride, but it does reduce weight. If that doesn’t matter to you, just choose whatever feels right.
Leather Fixie Saddles
You may be familiar with Brooks leather saddles, an iconic studded leather saddle which was THE quintessential fixie accessory in the late 2010 when hipsters were first taking over Williamsburg.
There’s a reason why they were so popular and still are, and it’s not because of how the exclusive street cred they provide.
Leather saddles are extremely durable and comfortable without sacrificing functionality. They look nice, too.
Some of the best leather fixie saddles are made of a strip of leather stretched over the saddle frame. This design suspends the rider slightly above the leather, absorbing some of the shocks of riding to provide a sublimely comfortable cycling experience, even on longer rides.
Leather Saddle Construction
That construction can come in especially handy on fixies because you can’t stand on the pedals as comfortably as you could on a bike that coasts.
Leather saddles do require care and maintenance. That’s especially true compared with plastic or metal saddles which require practically no upkeep.
You also need to be careful with them, with regard to both the weather and thieves. Leather saddles aren’t cheap. That makes them high profile targets for thieves. Too much water can deteriorate the leather, so leaving them in the rain is a no-no.
Get a quick release seatpost and you can overcome both of these issues. Simply slide the saddle out and take it with you out of harm’s way.
Plastic / Synthetic Saddles
The bulk of saddles will be made from either a cheaper synthetic or a more expensive synthetic. As mentioned above, more expensive isn’t necessarily better.
A carbon saddle could be torture while a typical plastic saddle could be a cushion of air. It just comes down to picking one that suits you and setting it up right.
Some of the other materials you might find include synthetic leather (Lorica), rubber, or regular plastic. The difference between these saddles is usually durability and not so much comfort.
Material should be secondary to function and comfort.
Saddle Rails
A saddle’s rails keep it fixed to the seatpost and can have a significant effect on the comfort of your ride.
The stiffer your rails, the less bumps your saddle will absorb. Softer materials like steel provide a bit of flex which absorbs the vibrations passing into the seat from the frame. Top-end saddles with titanium or carbon rails can make every bump feel more pronounced.
That’s just the price you have to pay for high performance.
Many saddles are specifically designed with this flex in mind to make for a more comfortable ride. You’ll find all sorts of unique designs to this end, like special holes or materials in key places to absorb the flexing of the rails.
Saddle Padding and Cutouts
Features like padding and cutouts come down to personal preference.
Although most saddles include padding, usually in the form of strategically placed foam, the question of where it’s placed and how much is there varies between models.
The more casual the saddle, the more padding it will have. Racing saddles have little to none.
Bear in mind that more padding doesn’t guarantee more comfort, especially on longer rides. It can shift your weight or even cause chaffing that would keep you off of the bike for a few days.
Dealing with a Stiffer Saddle
Stiffer saddles can be comfortable in their own way, especially once you get used to them or find the right riding position. If you want to go fast, you’ll do well to get used to one.
As a personal touch, add some gel inserts to customize the comfort of your saddle the way you like it.
Padding does wear out over time, so the external gel patches can be a good way to extend the life of your saddle. The longer you ride the more permanently compressed your saddle’s padding will become.
This issue abounds with high-performance saddles, which is why you’ll see people who take cycling seriously switch out the saddles every few years.
Saddle Height & Bike Fit
The perfect saddle won’t do you much good if it isn’t set up properly.
Factors like saddle height and distance from the handlebars are critical. A few centimeters can be the difference between comfortable bliss and strenuous pain.
Shifting and adjusting your weight to find the right position on your saddle is a good sign you need to adjust it.
Most bike shops provide bike fits to customize your ride. A professional will account for your level of fitness, flexibility, and the type of riding you do and set the bike up to accommodate you.
On the other hand, shop time is expensive and YouTube is free. There are tons of bike fitting tutorials available online.
Regardless of which path you pursue, be sure to fit the bike to your body and not the other way around.
The Best Fixie Saddle Reviews & Recommendations [2020 Update]
Now that we’ve covered the basics of what to look for in a fixie saddle, let’s look at some of the better options.
Pay attention to sizing when you’re picking a fixie saddle. Priority should go to functionality, not style.
I’ve included the most recommended fixie saddles, ranging from costly to affordable. If none of the saddles on this list seem to suit you, there are plenty more to choose from online.
One advantage of buying your saddle on Amazon and some other online retailers is that you can return your saddle if it doesn’t fit, then keep trying for the right one.
Brooks Cambium C17 All Weather Fixie Saddle
This saddle was designed for the rigours of riding in England, so you know it delivers on the waterproof promise. It stands up to rainy commutes, country touring, and even aggressive urban riding without any fuss.
That weather resistance comes courtesy of a vulcanized natural rubber top that’s also comfortably flexible. Unlike a leather saddle, the Cambium C17 doesn’t need to be broken in, so it’s ready to ride straight out of the box. It also requires zero maintenance.
The C17 in particular is designed for long rides in a more angled riding position, but Brooks offers a full range of all-weather saddles for different riding styles – with C15 being the most aggressive and the C19 being the widest.
Rain or shine, this saddle performs well thanks to the waterproof cover.
Brooks Cambium Fixie Saddle Features
Weather Resistance
Rain or shine, this saddle performs well thanks to the waterproof cover.
Organic Cotton Canvas
It’s not just practical but comfortable, too. An organic cotton canvas and thin layer of structural textile ensures comfort and performance.
Fiberglass Loop
An updated fibreglass back plate reinforces the saddle and doubles as a loop for saddlebags and other accessories.
If you like the classic look of a leather Brooks fixie saddle, check out the Standard Brooks Saddle. At just about the same price, you can trade off the weather-resistant material for that beautiful sheen of young leather.
Brooks B17 Standard Fixie Saddle
This is the saddle that started it all. Brooks’ flagship model, the B17 standard saddle is a simple solution to a universal cycling problem.
The longer you ride, the more comfortable the saddle will get as it takes on your unique shape. Perhaps the most ergonomic option, this saddle is a staple of the fixie community, and for good reason.
Don’t let the good looks fool you either, because this fixie saddle isn’t just for cruising. It’s suitable for everything short of track racing – from touring to mountain biking and everything in between.
Although you need to break it in and treat the leather once in a while, this is a saddle you can count on for years if not decades. As a matter of fact it comes with a 10-year warranty from the manufacturer.
Brooks B17 Saddle Features
Handmade Fixie Saddle
For over 100 years, Brooks has been crafting these iconic saddles using the finest materials around.
10-Year Warranty
10 years of comfortable riding backed up by a manufacturer’s guarantee is unparalleled when it comes to fixie saddles.
Iconic Style
This is THE saddle that started the leather saddle craze which carries on to this day with its timeless charm.
This saddle is also available in slick black leather.
Selle Italia Turbo Fixie Saddle
A landmark cycling brand any racing fan will remember, The Selle Italia Turbo 1980 is designed after the original saddle from 40 years ago.
Some of the world’s best cyclists rode this saddle across the finish line, and now you can too. If it can stand up to the demands of professional cycling, it’s a safe bet that it can handle touring and commuting in the city.
The saddle’s style may be a classic, but the construction is anything but. Lightweight yet durable materials make for a comfortable and dependable ride.
Selle Italia should know. They’ve been doing it since 1897. The Turbo 1980 is ideally suited for fixies, but there’s a whole range of models with different rails, suspension, shape, and padding.
Selle Italia Saddle Features
Proven Quality
Selle Italia has been manufacturing saddles for over 100 years and enjoy a reputation as one of the leading saddle companies.
Simple Design & Padding
The Turbo 1980 offers everything you need in a saddle and not much more. It has enough padding to be comfortable without adding too much weight.
Low Cost
A professional-quality product without the professional prices. This saddle serves commuters as well as the pros.
Charge Spoon Fixie Saddle (Classic)
Sometimes less is more. The Charge Spoon Fixie Saddle is a staple fixed gear saddle, prized by riders all around the world for it’s sleek modern design & affordable price.
It’s got the padding where it counts, but the real value comes from its shape. Many riders have reported better performance and more comfort on this saddle than on professional racing saddles that cost 5 times more.
Take note of the grippy texture of the Spoon’s surface. Unlike leather or other smooth padded saddles, this one will keep you locked down.
If you’re a casual fixie rider or commuter, it’s a terrific starting saddle.
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