Hobson Pro Hub X2 Saddle – Ultimate Long-Distance Comfort with Magnesium Alloy, Gel Foam Padding, and Water-Resistant Cover for On & Off-Road Cycling

I am in love with this seat, and I have been for over eight years. Nevertheless, you should read the negative reviews, too, because they make good points. If you are uncertain, then you really should try the saddle in person rather than ordering online. The trouble is: where? Bike stores don't carry these! So if you are mostly convinced that this seat is what you need, but you are just a little skittish due to the mixed reviews, hopefully my notes can help. ******************************************************** Briefly: In my experience, you *can* commute on this saddle, you *can* do long-distance, you *can* use it with both "slow, upright stance" bikes as well as "fast, tucked-down" road bikes. ******************************************************** [Also: it ain't just men that want bike seats to stop poking them between the legs. This review is by a female (me), and while I have no way to know how unpleasant it is to be male and sit on harsh saddles, I can say that as a *female* on a traditional saddle I was *miserable*.] I do think the negative reviews are thoughtful, honest, and well-written. However, for me, this saddle is pure bliss. This is the second Hobson "two cheek" saddle I have owned. The first is still sturdy and usable after countless miles, but it has been moved onto a stationary exercise bike, and I ordered this new "pro x2" for my current bicycle. I have never ever had a single complaint about these Hobson saddles. About me: I used this saddle on a mountain bike (for both city riding and "beginner" trail riding) for 2-3 years. On the mountain bike I had this seat nearly level, and I could still ride with no hands when I wanted to, just supported and balanced entirely on the seat. Currently I only own a road (touring) cycle, and now I use the Hobson with this touring bike (a 12-speed, with drop handlebars). I keep the saddle tilted forward. This means slightly more of my weight is supported by my upper body strength, but it keeps the seat comfortable for the more "tucked" stance of a street cyclist. (also, i vastly prefer to have this weight supported by my push-up strength instead of just by a thin seat-nose wedged right up you-know-where). On this bike, I can no longer ride no-handed, but that was never a requirement for me. I can still easily ride one-handed if I need to fiddle with my bike accessories or my water bottle with one hand. Some of the feats of cycling I have done since becoming a Hobson user: ~ the 50-mile Rosarito-to-Ensenada ride; ~ a four day 200-mile trek with friends; ~ a weekend trip of 140 miles round-trip; ~ one "century" (a 100-mile event); ~ and also just my 12 mile commute to work on most days. ******************************************************** So why do some people LOVE this seat and some people HATE it? I think a big factor is how much you *hate* the "normal" saddle. If you have decided that you positively cannot *ever* spend one more minute on a normal saddle -- even if it means you just give up cycling altogether, then you should take a chance on alternative saddles before abandoning the sport. (That was me. Trying the Hobson restored all my joy for cycling.) If, however, you continue to be able to "tolerate" your current saddle but you are mildly uncomfortable and waiting to see if something better comes along, then you might find annoyances on the Hobson, too. If you tolerate your current saddle, then you might not have the motivation to get past the initial unfamiliarity of this Hobson. If you still cannot decide, then maybe you will call some local brick-and-mortar stores and give them some hints that they should stock these! That would help *everyone* -- both the people who will love these, and those other people that will be spared from difficult online return policies after *not* liking these. Final note: two other cyclists I ride with swear by another alternative, Ergo The Seat Ultimate Bicycle Saddle

For me, this is the perfect bike saddle in terms of both comfort and function. As a gentleman of a certain age, I’ve had (successful) radiation treatment for prostate cancer, so it’s been vital to avoid pressure Down There: my bike-riding days seemed numbered. This saddle, though, provides a comfortable ride that’s also free of pressure where I need it to be free of pressure. I’ve tried other split saddles, but they weren’t as comfortable as this one. The shape of the pads mimics traditional saddles enough to distribute weight across my “sit bones” as well as slightly down my upper thigh, so it feels like a more secure perch. And that means I can ride my bike more often and more confidently that I’m not doing damage downstairs. Sure, the feel is different from a standard saddle, and it takes a little getting used to, but it’s well worth the effort. I should also note that it was necessary for me to contact Hobson with an installation question (it’s really a very simple process) and their response was quick, useful, and personal. I couldn’t be a more satisfied customer.

I'm 100% convinced now that conventional saddles, with noses, are a terrible idea. Don't think that your saddle isn't hurting you, just because you don't feel totally numb down there, or you can still perform at some level in the bedroom. There are probably millions of men and women who have reduced sensation down there and (in the case of men) moderately *reduced* performance, not necessarily full-blown ED. But because the damage isn't total, it can be hard to say for sure whether there even is a problem - maybe you're just getting older? - let alone whether biking has something to do with it. I've been off conventional saddles for almost half a year now, and it makes a big difference. For most people I don't think the nose on the saddle performs much function at all, and it is harmful. Even moderate pressure on your perineum causes problems, and even with a "cutout" saddle you're still putting some weight on it. You need to have ZERO pressure on it, and with noseless saddles only touch your posterior, which is as it should be. I'm a pretty skilled mountain biker and I've found I don't miss the nose - I can still hip-steer the bike with my bum, which is mostly what I did before. Really, it didn't make any difference at all in terms of the experience on the bike, except now I'm not catching my shorts on the nose all the time. As far as this particular saddle goes, it's a clever design. The two sides pivot independently - not a lot, just a little - to match the motion of your legs and glutes. You can also easily adjust the width with a thumbwheel underneath to center your sit bones on each side, anywhere from the two halves being right against each other to a gap of about 1/2" between them. Installation and fit are different than regular saddles: you'll lower your seatpost quite a bit, and you need to angle it to slope downward towards the front of the bike. It takes a few attempts to dial in the angle just right (tilted enough that the back part of the saddle supports your weight, but not so much that you slide down towards the front), so plan on taking some time for that. One problem I have is that I like my saddle further back than most people, and I couldn't get this back quite as far as I'd like. This saddle may look really wide, but with this type of saddle you need more width to fully use your posterior, and not just your perineum, to support your weight. The bigger problem I had is that after an hour or two on the bike my right hip would start to hurt internally, a sensation that I've never experienced while biking before. I tried several different adjustments to height, slope and width, and couldn't make it stop. I suspect the gentle pivoting motion of this saddle may actually be causing joints and/or hip muscles to do weird things to compensate. At least for me it works better to not have my saddle move at all. I also have a noseless saddle from ISM (their Sport model) and have found it to be much more comfortable, despite being much firmer. I'm keeping the Hobson, but it will go on the cargo bike that my wife and I share. I'm still giving it 4 stars because it's a big step up from nosey saddles. Padding-wise, this saddle is a little on the soft side but still about the middle of the scale as far as bike seats go. It's not super-plush like the wide "comfort" saddles you'll see at the bike shop, but about the same as the softer standard-width saddles. If you're used to a WTB Speed V saddle or the softer versions of most of their saddles you'll find it to be comfortable. Definitely not a racing saddle, especially with the weight. It's not outrageously heavy though, probably about the same as a Brooks leather saddle, and I'd gladly live with the weight if it were comfortable for me on long rides. But since the ISM (ismseat.com) weighs barely half as much (despite being in their "comfort" range, not their "performance" range), costs about the same, can sit further back, and is way more comfortable for me personally, I'm going with it. Their popular Touring model is probably the most comparable to the Hobson in terms of width and padding, but they have narrower, wider, softer and harder models too.

I received the seat in a timely manner. I used it for a short time but never felt "secure" or "safe" on the seat. The ride was "sloppy" and frustrating. I made arrangements to return the item. This was the first time I received an item without return information and return stickers to mail back. I had to pay to return this inferior product AND a 20% restocking fee. My fault for not looking at the fine print. The gentleman I talked to at the company said he would "let the guys" know that there were probably no scratches on the item to be returned". Sorry, but that doesn't give me any confidence that they will remove the restocking FEE. VERY DISAPPOINTING. If BIKEWORLD USA removes the 20% restocking fee, I'll amend this review. As of now, I'll not purchase from this seller, or any seller charging restocking fees. Update: 8/7/2013 I'm amending this review as I said I would after a refund was received. I received a full refund for the product in a very timely manner however a refund for the postage was not to be. I will look very carefully at all further purchases through Amazon. If the return policy is even minutely unclear, I will not purchase the product. Expensive lesson learned.

Update: 2016-04-04 Something I don't think others have mentioned. It stands tall. If you look at the pictures other reviewers posted you'll see the mounting hardware is around 1.5 to 2 ". If your previous seat post is already down all the way, this will cause you to sit higher. So make sure you have a couple inches to spare to lower your seat post. And it started creaking when I ride it. Now the undercarriage is mostly plastic and creaking with plastic doesn't seem good. How soon before stress cracks develop? I love the idea, and it absolutely is the easiest on your siting parts of any seat I've tried. But wobbliness, creaking, and difficulty getting it to hold still are too much for me. Maybe I just got a dud, but I'll try another brand or model next. FIRST POST I intended it for my MTB, where I spend 30% of my time hill-climbing on rough trails. This is a lot of on and off-seat maneuvering and standing and leaning. You can do that on this seat if you try, but it's weird. To be fair it DOES do as it says. The instant I sat on it - zero pressure on my privates - exactly what is claimed. In fact the best of my two low-pressure seats, the other seat being an old Serfas that has hardened from exposure. As other posters have mentioned, this seat moves as you peddle. My biggest "Con" is that it is hard to get to stop moving. I'm a 200lb 6' 2" male with a long inseam. I took it off the mountain bike and put it on a beach cruiser. Still, it moves more than I would prefer. Especially if you lean back just a little, it tips back a bit unexpectedly and I could imagine an inexperienced rider falling backward it they don't hold on to the bars tightly. This is a bit unnerving, trying to find the spot on the seat where it "holds still" and there is little rocking. After all, on a beach cruiser you want to relax, not be on the ball about seat tilting. I put my old Serfas seat back on the MTB and got a jock strap for keeping things away from the seat and you know, the old seat was not so bad after all, with the proper adjustments and appropriate clothing. I'll probably keep the "Pro Hub x2" on the beach cruiser and remember not to lean back too much. As others have said, it really does reduce pressure and numbness to zero.

I purchased the seat and found the following three 3 problems with it: 1. NO SEAT CLAMP: The seat is sent WITHOUT the needed seat clamp. You will need to buy one. The seat clamp connects the seat to the tube. On Amazon they go for about $8. But, the biggest problem is that a regular seat clamp will NOT fit the rails of this seat. I am fairly handy, and it took me 45 minutes to just install the seat clamp to the seat using tools to make the seat clamp narrower to fit inside the rails. If you're not handy you'll need to pay a bike shop. For the price of this seat, a seat clamp should have been provided and should be installed on the seat. 2. THE TWO CUSHIONS ARE EXTREMELY HARD: Because of the structure of the seat, most of the weight is on the bony back part of the butt. With extremely hard cushions the ride is very uncomfortable. Why the padding is not softer is hard to understand. Others have complained as well about this problem. To find soft gel seat covers for the two seats is difficult as they are small. I'm going to try a child's gel seat cover to see if that works. 3. POOR MATERIALS: The seat could be stronger. It feels flimsy. The seat vinyl is thin and not flexible. It is ok upon purchase but I don't know if it will last. I gave this seat a 3 as the positive thing about this seat is that it can open up the gap between the two seats to adjust for the positioning of the perineum. But without a comfortable seat, as mentioned above, it is not a pleasant ride at all.

Male, 51 yo, 6'3" and 198 lbs. I ride 1.5 to 3 hours a day, 6 days a week for the past 6 weeks to stay sane during quarantine. This is my fourth saddle. Started with a Brooks leather, then a padded with the middle cut out, then a hard carbon fiber with the middle cut out. None of them worked for me. I was getting severe numbness and restricted blood flow due to perineal compression. It was very uncomfortable while riding and would last for hours afterward. Not only did it make riding less fun, but medically it is a very bad thing to have happen. I was ready to almost give up but gave this saddle a try as a hail mary. After install I took it for a quick spin around the block (without padded shorts) and thought it was going to be another flop. But I just finished a 3.5 hour ride (with padded shorts) and all I can say is wow! Pros -Highly Adjustable -NO COMPRESSION ON YOUR PERINEUM -Relatively Comfortable (not perfect but good enough) -No "break in" Needed (at least for me) Cons -Relatively Expensive (but who cares it works) -Not comfortable without shorts (at least for me) A few things to note. -Bring a hex key with you on your first ride as you need to find a happy place with this saddle, I made at least a half dozen adjustments on my ride to find the goldilocks zone. -The two pads flex up and down as you ride so when you set it up, take into account that the pads move slightly. -Yes the ends may dig into the back of your legs, but as mentioned, adjust adjust adjust. I found the digging to be mild at worst and actually felt more like a massage action that discomfort. -Try different sitting positions along with the physical adjustments and don't get frustrated. -Don't make multiple adjustments at the same time, adjust one thing and see if it feels better or worse. -If you use the position of your current seat as a starting point, don't be afraid to adjust seat post height. I had to actually lower mine about an inch. Overall I feel like this is one of the best purchases I have made in a long time. So happy I cannot describe it.

I bought this seat with a little hesitation after reading other reviews and watching video reviews. I am extremely glad I did buy it though. It has worked out perfectly for me. Like a lot of people, the seat is the biggest hurdle to comfortably riding a bike. Traditional saddles are just so difficult to use. They fit in strange places that you are not used to sitting on. Enter the Hobson seat. This seat is an excellent mix between performance and comfort. The seat is very soft yet supportive. The parts that stick out forward do an excellent job of holding you in place like a traditional seat. If you ware having trouble with the comfort of the seat, I can offer some suggestions. A lot of reviews said that their thighs start to hurt like crazy with this seat. Most likely due to the protrusions out the front. To me, these are not meant to be sat on, they are meant to go between your thighs to act like a grip. The way I fixed this issue, first, I put the 2 seats closer together. I'm a pretty large dude and I initially thought, oh boy, these need to be spread wayyyy out, thank goodness they are adjustable! But after riding a little, I discovered it was way more comfortable if they were closer together. The second thing I had to do was move the seat back. I originally put it in the same location as my traditional saddle. This was a mistake. I had to move the seat back slightly. Once I did this and moved those pegs to my inner thigh, the seat has functioned perfectly. My butt doesn't hurt at all anymore and this seat doesn't look that goofy. Sometimes I get double takes, but most people don't even notice that it is a different seat.