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A custom perch that might finally end your saddle search – if you’re willing to gamble.
Alex Hunt, Posedla
I'm fortunate to have never really suffered with saddle discomfort, so I have always been personally sceptical about the touted benefits a saddle with 3D-printed padding can bring. They can cost close to double the price of a standard foam alternative, with potentially limited benefits for most riders.
Much like any other saddle with 3D-printed padding, Posedla sits firmly in the premium bracket of saddles, even if some models undercut the direct competition. The range-topping Ultra costs £470 / €590 / $600, falling in line with Fizik’s carbon R1 One:One saddle, with the Posedla's entry level saddle retailing for £300 / €390 / $400. However, unlike the competition, Posedla’s approach offers a fully custom saddle.
Having already tried Fizik’s custom saddle programme and found more issues than solutions, I was curious to try Posedla’s option, which, on paper at least, looked to solve some of the issues I’ve had in the past with 3D padding.
The short of it: Posedla’s Joyseat 3.0 is an attractive option for riders seeking a bespoke saddle. The Smiling Butt Kit allows pressure mapping at home, and the base model is cheaper than even some stock 3D-printed alternatives. However, without saddles to try, it’s a gamble whether the saddle profile will suit you.Highs: Quick, DIY pressure mapping. The external surface of the saddle doesn’t eat away at bib shorts. Comfortable with support where it was needed, without sagging like other options. A genuine, fully custom saddle.
Lows: No try before you buy and no off-the-shelf models bring risk. Pressure mapping can be stressful to get right on your own.
Price: From £300 / €390 / $400 up to £470 / €590 / $600
From butt to bikePosedla’s approach is fully bespoke, built around the data each rider provides during the measurement phase. Every saddle uses a custom width (in 1 mm increments) to match the rider’s sit bones*, a step many brands skip, typically sticking to two or three stock widths.
*Whether the sit bone width is the best method for saddle fitting is open to debate amongst bike fitters, but it remains one of the more widely adopted methods to determine saddle fit.
Posedla's founder, Jiri Dužár, explained that the company's goal is “to change the way people choose their saddle," delivering something he claims is “completely tailor-made.” The process has three stages: measurement, modelling, and production.
Measurement begins when Posedla sends the rider what the brand calls a Smiling Butt Kit: a gridded foam block that crushes when you sit on it, preserving the uniqueness of your posterior for saddle construction. The customer provides nine photographs of a sitting imprint, which are processed via photogrammetry into a body imprint, from which sit bone width and geometry are extracted to form the basis of the saddle’s shape and design.
The Smiling Butt Kit arrives in the post and contains the foam block, instructions on how to use the kit, and links to submit the imprint ready for manufacture.
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