Selle SMPGlider Saddle(Return to Product Page)

After trying a half dozen other saddles for a few days each, I kept coming back to this one. Have it on two of my bikes now, and will use it on all road and gravel bikes in the future. I have narrow sit bones, and most saddles are two wide for me. This Selle SMP glider is perfect. Additionally, while many other saddles flair out suddenly (pear or T-shaped) preventing me from sliding fore and aft, the glider's V-shape is great, allowing me to adjust my position on the saddle depending upon the terrain. I slide back on the saddle while going up steep hills, which is much more comfortable. It is also more powerful if I also move my hands in to the center of the bars, rather than out on the boots or drops. I also have the saddle tilted down about 4 degrees when measuring across the top of the entire saddle. In this position, the middle of the saddle is relatively flat, with the rear of the saddle noticeably higher. So when I slide back on the saddle, I effectively have a higher saddle as well - again, great for going up hills.

I found there was no break-in period with this saddle. That said, I am glad it is leather, so it is only going to get more comfortable with time.

btw, I tried this saddle about 2 years ago during COVID and had an issue with the metal rails protruding near the nose. My inner thigh would rub these rails and it was super uncomfortable. I returned that saddle at the time and bought a different one. But apparently Selle SMP corrected this issue on the newer versions. I have subsequently bought two of these and the rails are tucked underneath as they should be. Not sure if it was a design change or a quality issue back then, but the new ones are great and this is now a non-issue.

My previous go-to saddle was a narrow Fizik Arione, but during a bike fit the SMP Glider was recommended. I will readily admit the saddle is not the most aesthetically pleasing, but it does provide a small almost concave sit area where one can perch, get into an aggressive riding position with the hips open and power through the pedal stroke. The dropped saddle nose eliminates pressure where one wants it the least. Cannot speak to saddle longevity, but the break-in period is rather short compared to my Arione. If you like narrow saddles and get numb junk, give it a go.

I read all the great reviews and had to get one. My first impression was positive, very comfortable for an hour long ride. Amazing relief in the crotch area. My subsequent rides were longer, and I found that after an hour the pain in my inner pelvic bones and sit bones was worse than any crotch pain I had previously. The saddle is too wide in the middle for me, and has zero flex or padding to absorb shock. The rear of the seat is rounded down on the sides, so my sit bones are perched on top with no support - also very painful. Sorry to say I had to return the saddle, but kudos to BTD for a hassle-free return process and immediate credit to my account. Still searching...

Once you find the right saddle you stick with it.

Expensive. I like this saddle and have not used it a lot - yet. No problems so far. I don't know if I would rate any saddle a 5, unless you did not know it was there. This one comes close. It is a well constructed saddle, and does not catch my pants when I am moving back into the saddle. It is expensive. Is it worth it? Maybe.

I had the earlier version of the Glider years ago after riding a century and standing up the last 15 miles because of the pain in butt!

The glider carried me through the next 5 years of long rides beautifully, never an issue.

I buy a new Pinarello road bike with a nice Italian saddle but not the Selle Glider.

Back to the perfect road saddle!

I bought this seat for my mountain bike because I sit on the front of the seat on steep climbs and I thought the shape would be more comfortable. It is, and I'm going to buy one for my road bike as well.

I was looking for a saddle that would not create discomfort. I read some of the reviews on the SMP Glider and was skeptical about the reviews. I went to two local bike shops, but neither had any in stock, although they gave mixed recommendations. I went on the Selle SMP WEB site and followed their size recommendations. According to the fit chart, the Glider was best suited for my weight and waist size. So, I took a chance and ordered the saddle from BTD. I received it and installed it right away. It took a few rides and some adjustments, but once I got it right, I have found that it is really comfortable, and I really forget it is there. I was having issues with discomfort with my previous saddle, especially when I was on the drops. This saddle is great. I just ordered another bicycle and I am installing the same saddle on that one. It is very comfortable and it also look great.

I have Selle SMP's on all my bikes. Gliders on my Road and Gravel bikes. Obviously saddles are very personal and what is perfect for me may not be for you. That being said, I think there's a Selle SMP for every butt.

I am using my second Gilder, and the next one (in some years) will be the same...

Yes, this saddle is expensive but it is also very comfortable for those of us dealing with numb crotch syndrome! I am somewhat concerned about what the rain will do to the hand wrapped leather but will try treating it with the right stuff. For a classy, lightweight cut-away saddle, this is an excellent choice.

This saddle is amazing I felt the difference almost immediately. This is a great saddle and really does relieve pressure on soft tissue and provides a comfortable saddle.

Finding the right saddle for your bike can be frustrating and confusing. Although its commonly said that you should buy from your LBS so you can try the seats out, good luck. Most shops have very few test saddles and even fewer in the more expensive brands. Even if they carry a premium brand they probably only have one of the dozen or so different models. Also, it really takes several rides to decide on how the saddle fits. Here's why I went for the Selle SMP Glider.

When I ride I want the best protection (down there) that I can get. After weeks of searching web reviews I decided the Selle SMP Glider sounded perfect for me. It has slightly more high density foam than average, but it's not a sofa. It's narrow and relatively light, and looks great. My sit-bones (measured scientifically by sitting on corrugated cardboard and measuring the distance between the impressions) is a little over 100mm. The Glider is 136mm which should be about perfect. But I was worried since my cheap old saddle was 150mm, very firm, but very comfortable. The only reason I bought a new saddle was that my old seat had NO cut-away for protection from sensitive part injury.

I mounted my new seat using carpenters level to make sure it was flat (plenty of directions online), put it in the same relative position (nose to handlebars) as my previous seat and went for a 40-mile ride. Immediately I felt like I had made a mistake. I was very aware of weight on my sit bones after a few minutes. But after about 20 miles I barely noticed the saddle. A couple of days later I went out for a 51-mile ride. After another 20 miles or so I realized that I hadn't thought about the seat at all-it was incredibly comfortable and really helped my seated climbs due to the firm high density foam and the support it offered.

My old seat had been distributing my 195 pound 6'3 frame across my entire rear end, including a fair amount of weight on my crouch. An ergonomically-correct saddle like the Selle SMP Glider puts the weight mostly on your sit bones. You adjust quickly but it's quite different at first. You really realize how much of your ride had been supported in the WRONG place with a low quality saddle.

The SMP Glider is simply the most comfortable saddle I've ever used. And the prices and service at BTD are outstanding. The only downside of this seat is that you may get tired of other riders seeking you out to tell you this was the saddle they wish they could get.

So the big take-away for me is-you have to put some miles on a quality saddle before you can tell if it fits. One test ride won't do it. If you're a guy, spend some money on a saddle that protects your sensitive areas.

If you want to take the sensitive pressure issue off the table, this is the one to do it with. This is my second SMP and now have it on my good bike, as well as my rain bike..

The SMP Glider is installed on both my bikes. It treats my nether region with care and respect.

Also the most expensive but I think it's well worth the money.

I originally purchased the SMP Pro saddle but it turned out too big for me. So I ordered SMP Glider instead and I've loved it pretty much from the beginning. It's a bit harder (and smaller and lighter) than the Pro but with better pants and longer rides, I got used to that fairly quickly. Just 2 days ago I did a 60-mile ride with absolutely no issues on my bottom parts (previously, my private parts would be numb). Of course the most important part is that this saddle does not push the soft tissue but rather my sit bones. What a wonderful change!

Oh, did I mention that it looks really cool?

I'd recommend Selle SMP saddle to anybody and everybody. Just make sure that the sizing is right (use Selle's size info to get close, and try couple different sizes). In my case, I felt a significant difference between Glider and Pro even though they are fairly close in size. Also, make sure that you position the saddle correctly - you have to get the angles just right so that you don't slide from the saddle and the saddle does not push at the front. I have no problem doing it myself but needed a few tries to get it right.

Everyone is different, but I didn't like the shape. Tried it on the indoor trainer for 20 minutes and then put it back in the box. I found that it curves down around the sit bones quite rapidly and didn't like that feel. It seemed like there was too little pressure on the sit bones. I have an average width tush, but maybe one of the other Selle SMP models would feel wider.

I'm not sure this saddle would allow a lot of fore-aft movement of your butt during different kinds of riding. The front goes down and the back goes up. But some folks may not care about that.

I was a little turned off by the large number of models offered by Selle SMP. Seems like marketing tricks. I tried to sift through their documentation before my purchase, but in the end I may not have purchased the correct model for me.

I am a long time user of SMP Saddle this one was for a new Bike and as always great!

This seat has a firm padding as well as an ergonomically designed cut out to relief pain on sensative areas. Excellent for anyone serious about riding a saddle without creating numbness. Weather riding 10 miles or 100 plus, I have found this to be the most comfortable saddle I have ridden. The saddle is the best up grade I have made to my bike.

I ride 2000 to 3000 miles a year. The saddle fit is very important. Iam a 60 year old guy who has been riding a lot of years. From the first time I sat on this saddle I knew this was it. After about five miles I forgot that I had a new saddle.To me it is well worth the money.I will probably get one for my mountain bike.