When it comes to indoor cycling, sometimes the challenge is not producing a huge amount of power and smashing personal bests. It’s about getting comfortable on the
When it comes to saddles, one size doesn’t fit all. We are all very different as far as shape and skin sensitivity levels. What works for you probably won’t work for many other cyclists. A solution for many people is a padded exercise
- Padded
Bike Seats, When To Use Them - What Do We Look For In A Padded Seat?
- Our Recommended Padded Seats
- Padded Seats Buyers Guide
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Padded Bike Seats, When To Use Them
Before speaking about what we look for in a padded seat, it’s important to understand when you should use a padded
When You Should Add A Padded Seat
- If you have a medical condition that requires a softer padded seat
- If you have discomfort or pain while riding and need a quick solution
- If you are new to cycling and getting used to
bike saddles - When your saddle shape is correct, but the seat doesn’t offer enough cushioning
- If you want to ride without padded shorts
When You Shouldn’t Add A Padded Seat
There are also times when you might want to use something other than a padded seat. Here’s when:
- If you’re getting used to a new saddle
- If you have had a professional
bike fit, including saddle fitment
What Do We Look For In A Padded Seat?
Padded
Design
The first thing we look at is design. Is it small and narrow to support the undercarriage, or is it wider to support the sit bones? You will also need the
Quality
When it comes to a padded
Related: My Favorite Exercise Bike Seats
Padding
Then we have padding, and this is what gives the cushion that you are using the
Attachment
Finally, we have the attachment, which is how it holds itself onto the
Our Recommended Padded Seats
Now for the exciting part, let’s start looking at some padded
Zarco Seat Cover
It fits perfectly on the Peloton seat and secures itself with a locking drawstring that makes certain that the seat padding does not move during your ride.
- Cost: $20
- Color: Black
- Size: Narrow
- Padding: Average
- Attachment: Straps And Cord
Pros
- Excellent for narrow saddles
- Good price
- Looks great in a stealthy black
- Solid attachment
Cons
- Not great on wide saddles
- Enough padding, not as thick as others
Let’s start with the Zarco seat cover. This is a very popular option for many indoor cyclists. Coming in at only $20, it’s good value for money. It has a very narrow design with a wide V insert, so it’s perfect if you have a more racing-style saddle or find discomfort on the undercarriage.
I found the padding to be more than adequate and was enough to make a very comfortable ride without being too much. It attaches in two ways; you have a cord attachment and also securing steps on the front. The grip underneath is also excellent, keeping it nice and secure even while using a high cadence.
I was very happy with the result when I tested this seat cover. It added a lot of comfort, stayed nice and secure, and didn’t stand out too much. It even came with a waterproof cover for riding outdoors. Would I recommend it? Yes!
Rating
9/10
Overall an excellent seat cover. I recommend it for indoor cyclists with a narrow saddle who are looking for a lot of padding and a solid fit.
Bikeroo Seat Cover
Built for both indoor and outdoor use, our bike seat cushion is adjustable with a drawstring and can fit any saddle - from oversized saddles to cruiser saddles, to senior saddles.
- Cost: $20
- Color: Multiple Colors
- Size: Wide
- Padding: Thick
- Attachment: Straps And Cord
Pros
- Excellent for wide saddles
- Good value for money
- It comes in many different colors
- Great for sit-bone support
Cons
- It doesn’t work well on thin saddles
Next, we have the Bikeroo, which was recommended to us as the go-to seat cover for wider saddles. It offers a narrow central indent making this ideal for heavy support on the sit bones. So perfect if you struggle with too much pressure on the sides of your behind.
It has very thick padding and is probably one of the thickest saddle cushions we have encountered. Like the Zarco, it attaches with both a cord and also straps on the front. We have seen online feedback saying it doesn’t stay on well, but we didn’t have a problem, and we think other users may have too narrow a saddle.
When testing with a wider saddle on our spin
Rating
8/10
The Bikeroo is a great cover if you want maximum padding and have a wide
X Wing Seat Cover
It is compatible with seats that have a width of up to 8.0 inches and is a perfect fit for a seat with a thickness of less than 1.5 inches.
Note: This bike seat cover will not fit on wide bike seats.
- Cost: $15
- Color: Black And Grey
- Size: Medium
- Padding: Thick
- Attachment: Strap System
Pros
- Works for both wide and narrow
bike seats - Feels high quality
- It sits very snugly with a velcro system
- Good all round support
- Price is great
Cons
- It can be tight to fit some
bike seats
Finally, we have the X Wing
It’s got a black and gray design which looks ok, but I feel it would have been fine without the detailing. It has a very interesting support system which can be challenging to get on, but with oversized straps fit tight and secures great with a lot of seat grip.
When testing this
Rating
9/10
My personal favorite is the X-Wing seat cover. It works for lots of saddle sizes, offers plenty of padding and support, and the strap system is great.
Padded Seats Buyers Guide
When it comes to finding the right
What Size Is The Bike Seat?
We recommend using a
What’s Your Budget?
Bike seat cushions are as little as $9 and as much as $70. When looking for the right
Does It Come Recommended?
Whenever buying a
A Final Note
A