Tri saddles, similar to road saddles, are going to depend on preference...different people fit better on different saddles. The main reason tri saddles are usually a bit softer, especially in the nose, is that with the hips rotated more forward, you're pressing softer bits into the saddle with more force. You will find stiff tri saddles though.

Right now, I'm on a Profile Design Tri-Stryke...it seems pretty good, but I'm not 100% sold on it yet(I've only got about 100 miles on the road on it so far). It's got about the cushy-est nose I've seen...other popular ones I hear about are the ISM Adamo (with the cutout nose, takes getting used to but some people swear by them), and the Fizik Arione series (more firm overall). I know a lot of women use the Terry Butterfly, but no little about that one.

I'm sure there are other solid ones out there, but you're probably going to have to go for one and test it out to decide for yourself. Finding a good, comfortable saddle for an individual seems more like an art than a science

I love my San Marco Azoto saddle. They also make an Aspide model that is a little more narrow. Neither are dirt cheap. I tried the ISM and couldnt do it, too wide for my sit bones, but the Arione is too narrow :) It really is a personal thing. Try to find a shop that will let you try them out before you buy or has an exchange program.

+1 to jsk85.

I have used the Profile Design Tri-Stryke for a year now. First, I used it on my road bike, but when i got my tri bike I replaced the stock Felt saddle and it has been really comfortable in both applications. For comarison sake the stock Felt tri saddle was very iuncomfortable on the very first ride.

I used to ride a Tristryke, until Florida 70.3 left me numb for about a week. I have switched to the ISM Adamo racing saddle, and spent the time to get used to it, and now, no numbness.

It really is a personal choice. I have friends who ride the TryStryke with no issues, who cannot stand the Adamo, others who swear by them. It all comes down to personal choice, but definately try some of them out. I found a cheap ISM at a local bike swap for $10 before I bought race version.

I'm still looking for something similar to this
[img]http://failblog.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/fail-owned-barstool-win.jpg?...

I'm also looking for a good seat for my tri bike, and i'm thinking to try ISM ADAMO race seat, i have a couple friends that use them and they really love them.

I ride on the Adamo saddle now and absolutely love it. Certainly put it on the list to try.

I bought mine, tried a small test ride on my trainer and then took it out for a 30 mile ride. I was stunned - I had very little adjustment to get used to it, and it relieved all kinds of numbness I was putting up with from my old saddle. A few people have noted that its width can be a drawback - which I certainly can see, but for me, it fit really great.

One of the things I really like about it that I haven't too many mentions of, is that in order to be forward on my bike I don't have to sit way out on the end of the saddle. With my fitter, I was able to simply move the saddle up a bit, in a good forward position, and the saddle was fully supportive.

Certainly get it on the list to try and compare!

I would suggest finding a saddle with the widest range of useful positions (based on a proper fit). After 2 or 3 hours, a soft saddle is no longer soft. I used the cushiony tri stryke on my roadie for quite a while and now I'm back on my concrete BG saddle because the cushion only masked the real riding contour (which obviously didn't agree with my anatomy). While not perfect, my hard saddle has more consistent fore and aft positions so that I can move anywhere between the aero and climb positions comfortably. I've got a demo Fizik Arione on its way, and I'm sure I'll be commenting on it in the next week or so.

i have a fizik arione, and it has been pretty good for me, not perfect, but better than my stock saddle was