The Brooks Cambium C17 Carved saddle is aimed at drop-bar bikes – gravel, road, commuter, tourer, adventure or whatever. The rubber construction helps absorb trail chatter and the channelled centre means it’s pretty comfortable generally, but I found the rivets annoying and the cover inconvenient, as it soaks up water and mud.
Brooks Cambium C17 Carved – Technical details
While Brooks will forever be associated with leather, the Cambium range keeps the look but uses vulcanised natural rubber instead. It’s better for wet and dirty applications, providing flexibility and absorbing vibration well. The Carved part of the name means there’s a central cutout, there to reduce pressure on the perineum and boost flex overall.
The plate beneath is fibreglass-reinforced nylon, and the rails are steel tubes with a powder-coated finish that’s stronger than paint. It’s finished with a nylon cover, and four anodised alloy rivets fasten it all together. It’s 283mm long, 164mm wide and 52mm high.
Brooks Cambium C17 Carved Saddle – Performance
I’ll admit my first thoughts were not positive; I thought it looked uncomfortable and hard, plus it felt heavy. Unlike Brooks’s leather saddles, at least, the C17 is ready to ride – their leather saddles need a lot of patience to break in before you reach their famous levels of comfort.
With all that said, on my first few rides – commutes – I didn’t really feel much benefit from that flexibility. I could also feel the rivets pressing into my rear quite noticeably. I’m not entirely convinced it’s suited to as many disciplines and Brooks claims.
It’s when I hit the gravel that I began to get it. Kitted up and wearing decent bib shorts, I soon felt the benefits of such a minimalist build. Pushing the pedals hard and getting out of the saddle to negotiate wet and wild winter conditions, the C17 allows for tons of movement thanks to its great shape.
On rough gravel sections – ones that would numb an ass into coffee-stop submission given a poor build – the C17 came into its own. I found I could power through the rough stuff seated, and the C17 added massively to my steel frame’s ability to cut out buzz. Hitting compressions in the trail, I could feel the C17 actively squish below my sit bones. I also never experienced any numbness, so I guess the channel was doing its thing. Yes, it’s quite heavy, but then so is my bike, so it’s something that didn’t concern me.
But it’s not perfect. I was always aware of the raised rivets, which I could still feel through padded bib shorts, and the ‘waterproof’ claim for cover does not feel right – mud and water gets ingrained, leaving it a bit moist, to say the least. Mud does wash out easily though, and the whole thing dries quickly. This cover is already starting to show signs of wear around the edges, and generally looks a bit grubby. I really like the worn-in look, but you may not.
Personally, I can’t decide if it’s a keeper or not. There’s no denying its vibration absorbing prowess over the rough stuff, and it’s properly pedal-friendly on the long haul, but as we’ve seen, it has a fair few downsides too. At £125, that may or may not work for you.
Brooks Cambium C17 Carved Saddle – Verdict
Your saddle is such an important contact point to get right, and its’ an extremely personal choice. The market is massive, but there isn’t much out there like the C17 that claims to cover so many disciplines
The WTB Gravelier Titanium saddle scored highly when we reviewed it back in 2023, but it now costs £175. Although it’s mooted as gravel-specific, it’s just at home on an XC bike and weighs 209g. The C17 is more than double that, but then it’s cheaper.
Recently I reviewed the Selle Royal Explore Athletic saddle, and at £60 it’s a good option if you’re after lots of comfort and vibration absorption. The shape doesn’t lend itself to longer days in the saddle or more dynamic riding, however, so it’s best suited to commuting and leisure riding.
In short, there isn’t much you can directly compare to the Brooks Cambium C17. Whilst it is expensive it’s also a bit different, and it has a traditional look than may appeal. If you want masses of shock absorption and deep levels of comfort in the rough stuff, it’s great, and it’s worth checking out if you’re into cycle touring and adventure riding, too. It’s not flawless though, and it’s not cheap.
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2 thoughts on “Brooks Cambium C17 Carved saddle”
I’ve had one of these for about 10 years now and love it. I’ve never noticed the rivets I must say, though the one issue I did have in early days was that the edge where the textured top ended was quite rough and damaged a pair of shorts. I solved this with a few coats of clear nail varnish followed by some fine sandpaper. I think this particular problem has been solved.
I’ve used it for long days in the saddle (audax), light gravel, and commuting and it’s never let me down. I’ll grant you it does attract water and mud though
My experience mirrors yours, though over a shorter period. Never noticed the rivets (though mine are pretty noticeable!), even when riding in normal shorts/merino boxers.