What is the difference between an open and a closed saddle?

In our workshop we manufacture two types of bicycle saddles:

1. "Open leather" or so-called open bike saddle (with a hole or slit in the middle).
2. A "full leather" or so-called closed (or full) bicycle saddle.

The choice between an open model (with a hole in the middle) and a closed model is always complex because it depends on many parameters. Each saddle has its advantages and disadvantages.

For people who are prone to this problem, open saddles will reduce crushing of the perineum.

In addition, open leather will be comfortable almost immediately but will probably have a shorter life span than closed leather. Indeed, the opening creates a fragility

Closed leather will take longer to break in but will ultimately be more durable (we recently changed a leather that had travelled 150,000 kilometres!). This is all theory.

In practice, it also depends on the weight of the person, the type of pedalling, the maintenance, the use: weather (rain with or without mudguards), perspiration...

Naturally, we would recommend a closed model on a travel bike for its longer life.