Protecting (*not* softening) a Leather Saddle

[Jay]

I bought a new Brooks B17 today, the special edition with copper rivets.  The shop had them on sale, so I went in person and looked over 4 different ones (2 brown, 2 honey).  I was looking for the stiffest one, with everything looking aligned.  I have three B17 Standard saddles, and they all varied greatly in terms of flexibility/softness and how the skirt runs alongside the rails (one side touching, the other farther away) when new.  Given the inconsistencies, I figured better to go in person.  I ended up with the brown, which was noticeably stiffer than the two honey saddles (of my 3 existing, the brown is stiffer than the 2 honey saddles after close to a year of riding).

All that said, my question is how does one protect a saddle--mainly from sweat in the summer, as I don't ride in the rain, and have a cover if needed--but not intentionally soften it?

I have a lot of proofhide left, plus the little packet with the new saddle.  I was thinking of only using a thin coating on the underside, and nothing on the top.  If after weeks/months of riding, it's looking dry on top, I would apply just a bit to those sections.  Does that many any sense?  Any other recommendations with my goal in mind?

Cheers!

[Ron Mc]

Jay, 

My favorite product to use both on leather saddles and barwrap is NikWax waterproofing wax for leather.  

[Roberta]

Hi Jay. 

In the hot weather, I ride with the aardvark neoprene saddle cover. I can even get it over my b68 saddles, but it’s a tight  fit.   https://velo-orange.com/collections/saddles/products/aardvark-saddle-cover

Roberta

Philadelphia 

[Jason Fuller]

I agree with your logic about sparingly applying proofhide to the underside. The brown B17 I've had since 2007 which is still in great condition has been very minimally cared for, and I think that people who regularly apply products to their Brooks are probably doing more harm than good - kind of like over-watering a houseplant, caring too much can lead to premature death. 

[Ryan Fleming]

I used Vaseline Petroleum Jelly (unscented) in a pinch for the Ideale 90 saddle on my old PX10. When my son was a baby that's what I had around whn I had the bike stored in my apartment leaning against a (covered) radiator below the window in the bedroom of my downtown apartment...and that saddle needed something. Worked a treat, too....applied it generously, wiped off the excess, and voila! Saddle is still in fine shape, considering it's probably close to 50 years old. PX10s in the early 70s sometimes came with Brooks Pro, sometimes with the Ideales. 

Unorthodox, sure...but I thought that if it softens human skin, it should work on leather. 

[Jim M.]

Are you concerned that applying to the top will soften it? If you're sweating on the top, I don't think applying to the bottom will protect it.  I've been using Obenaufs since Grant recommended it long ago. It's definitely protective and I haven't noticed softening.

jim m

walnut creek

[Jay]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions!

Roberta - great idea, I ordered a waterproof saddle cover.  I did, however, put my C17 back on for now, and i'm thinking I'll just use that saddle with padded shorts for rest of the summer.  I'm an hour north of Toronto, 8 of 12 months of the year are relatively cool (I ride early) and I can go with my preferred chamois-less set up, which has been great until recent summer weather (last few years I was on C17; haven't used a leather saddle for many years, and back then I'm assuming the quality was very good.

Jim - I am concerned that applying anything to the top will soften it.  A thin layer underneath was more about rain protection, in the small chance I'm caught out in the rain and it doesn't have any treatment.  Question for you - you use Obenaufs, is that top and bottom?  If it's also to the top, does it somehow resist significant sagging in the sit bone area if it's sweltering outside and your sweating?  That's definitely not the case with proofide in my experience.

To be honest, I don't understand how anyone can ride a modern day Brooks on hot days and not prematurely destroy the saddle.  I rode this morning, it was 21C feels like 25C and did feel very humid (much better than 35C feels like 45C in the last week).  1.5hr ride and I was done, because the saddle took on a look like I had used it for the last 20 years, seriously, it was that bad.  And the craters in the sit bone areas mean the part in the middle is uncomfortable. I'm letting it dry out and then I'll concerning tightening it a 1/4 turn.  Sigh.

[Will Boericke]

My hot take: I don't think it matters what you use to protect your Brooks.  I do think it probably needs a coat of stuff on the top and on the bottom, but I ride every day in all weather.  My personal evidence of this is, admittedly, not a Brooks, but a nameless leather saddle that came to me on a Zeus from the late 70s with a dried out, crazed top surface.  I sanded it down to solid leather and have been riding it since then, probably at least 10K miles.  I use sno seal because it's what I have. 

I don't think a coat of Proofhide is somehow going to make your Brooks break in more quickly (God, I wish it would.  I have a Professional that I've been riding for 2 years and is still pretty damn stiff, especially at 20F). 

TL/DR: ride the saddle.  It will mostly take care of itself.

Will

[Kim H.]

@Will

From my experience using Obenauf's Leather Oil on my Brooks B67S saddle, I have to use it very sparingly, because it penetrates the leather exceptionally well, especially the bottom side. I did this upon first receiving it after I bought it used. The saddle leather was on the dry side. 

I don't use the Obenauf's Leather Oil that often. I mainly use as needed the Obenauf's HP Leather Conditioner about twice a year, top and bottom, leaving on overnight and wiping off the excess in the morning. Ot most definitely softens the leather. I use it for my leather shoes as well. Good stuff !

Kim Hetzel. 

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[Jim M.]

I use the conditioner, not the oil, which is what Grant recommended. I also apply only twice a year. I have not had the sagging issue you describe, even though I weigh 225. But humidity in Walnut Creek tends to be pretty low.

[Marc Irwin]

I've been riding Brooks'saddles since the 70's, each that I've had has been soaking wet several times and they've been fine.  I rub them down once or twice a year with Kiwi Mink Oil Paste and may tighten the adjustment 1/4 turn. People tend to overthink this, 

Marc

On Saturday, July 4, 2026 at 1:55:33 PM UTC-4 Jay wrote:

[Frank Brose]

I too have been riding brooks since the 70's never a cover or proofide, I'm not even sure if they had proofide in the 70's,  so Ive used just Neats foot oil or Obenaufs. Obenaufs being my first choice. I figured it worked on Grandpas logging boots in the Pacific Northwest it 's good enough for a bike saddle.

Frank
 

[Ron Mc]

Yes, I've used Obenauf's, Proofide (both work best with flow drier heat).  

But again, the best I've found for waterproofing is NikWax waterproofing for leather.  

Decades in S. Texas.