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Recent Reviews
I've had the Brooks Swift saddle since 2015. My initial impression wasn't good at all. A lot of cyclists would rave about it so I paid dearly for a new one. However, when I first started using it, it was extremely hard and even with a short ride, I would tell myself, I will just throw it out as it was terrible (at least at the time). Then fast forward several years later, I took it out and started to admire its beauty again and thinking maybe I was all wrong about it. Then one day, I saw a Youtube video of someone treating it with Obenauf's leather conditioner. I said what the heck, what I have I got to lose. So I followed suit. Then after treating it couple of times, then started using it during my routine rides. At first, other than leather feeling somewhat supple, it felt similar as before. So I loosened it a bit and kept it on my road bike. Then, after several hundred miles, I noticed I did not feel anything about the saddle, like it was invisible. Then as I started to enjoy more, the curves around my contour started taking place. Comfort now is just insane and out of this world. It is still beautiful and elegant, but the comfort is just indescribable. I don't use any other saddle now, not even B17 Special which I thought it was very comfortable. The Swift takes it up a couple of notches over the B17 Special.
I have been biking for over 40 years. Of course, during that time, I've had countless number of saddles, tried pretty much all of them. One of the best one I remember is the O2 Gel Saddle, it was very comfortable for those long rides. But it did not last. Either the top give ways or the rail and underneath.
Then here came the Brooks. I have several. B17, Special, Imperial, and Swift. Each one has its unique personality. But they all share one thing. Comfort and durability. But be warned, it takes relentless break in first couple of months. And you need to train the saddle. Yep, you need to train it to make it your own. Like training a horse and bonding with him/her. Once the bonding forms, get ready for shear bliss.
I put this saddle on my steel Bianchi which I use for exploring back roads and the occasional gravel around NE CT. I liked it immediately but the more I use it the more I appreciate its virtues. The material has just enough flex to soak up some of the road roughness. I like the narrow shape as I have experienced no inner thigh chafing as I have on some other saddles. It feels secure, is waterproof and looks fantastic. What's not to like?!
I have two C17s for my fat bikes, and two C15s for my gravel bikes. I have found them to be very comfortable in those applications. They are far more flexible than their leather counterparts, and they are weather proof. They also have cut outs, so maybe a little less pressure in sensitive areas. My journey to the C17 has taken my through a number of different saddles, many far more expensive, but none as comfortable for me as the C17 and C15. Not light, by any means, but I value comfort over saving a few grams any day.