Brooks C15 Cambium Carved Saddle

Brooks is best known for its cult leather saddles, recommended by many cycle-tourers and bikepacking veterans. Today we're looking at their Cambium range, made from natural rubber. These saddles are completely maintenance-free and have a more modern appearance than the classic leather models.

🐄 Leather vs. Rubber

Leather saddles are traditional, and their comfort comes primarily from the fact that over time they mould to the shape of your sit bones — a kind of budget 3D printing. It takes a while to break them in, and they require some care, especially in wet weather, as well as occasional tensioning.

Cambium saddles are made from vulcanised natural rubber with a nylon top layer. There's no break-in period (although some degree of adaptation does occur, it won't be as pronounced as with leather) — the saddle is slightly elastic and dampens vibrations across its entire surface. It needs no maintenance and handles whatever the weather throws at it without complaint.

What both types share is excellent repairability — they're hand-assembled. If you lose a rivet or have trouble with the steel rails, they can be replaced. Spare parts are available, which is a great feature.

🪑 Choosing the Right Saddle

Brooks makes saddles with steel rails — C19, C17, and C15 — and the C13 with carbon rails. Some manufacturers recommend choosing a saddle based on the distance between your sit bones. For Cambium, you should choose according to your riding style. The C19 range is designed for upright city cycling, while the C15 is for a more aggressive, forward-leaning position. Everyone is different, though — riders with wider sit bones may prefer broader saddles.

The C13 is the only model with carbon rails and is available in two widths. It weighs 280 grams with a 100 kg weight limit. You'll also need to make sure your seat post clamp is compatible with oval carbon rails.

All saddles come in standard and Carved variants — the Carved has a central cutout that relieves pressure on soft tissue. With the cutout the saddle is also slightly more flexible, which suits lighter riders.

A great advantage is that many bike shops offer a trial period of around two weeks, letting you find out whether a saddle suits you before committing to a purchase.

In this review I tested the C15 Cambium Carved, which weighs 432 g.

🚴 Real-World Test

Every backside is unique and everyone has different preferences, so objectively reviewing a saddle can be tricky. The saddle itself is firm — there's no padding or gel cushion. In the article How to Prevent Saddle Sores on a Bike I explained why that's actually a good thing, especially for long rides. The saddle has a degree of flex that allows it to absorb vibrations, yet it's not so soft that it collapses. You can partly control the amount of flex by choosing the Carved or standard version.

Getting the saddle position right is key. During the trial period, feel free to experiment with fore-aft position and tilt — it should be level or very slightly nosed down.

Personally I've had a good experience with Brooks. I tried a few models over the winter and in spring I completed a 200 km gravel/road ride. I felt no discomfort during the ride, and the "day-after test" passed too — meaning when I sat back on the bike the next day, I had no soreness. I won't claim it will solve everyone's saddle issues, but its characteristics certainly put it in a strong position to do so.

🎣 Downsides

The first downside is obviously the weight — at 432 grams it's quite substantial. Another saddle in a similar price range can easily come in 200 grams lighter. The carbon-rail version improves things, but it still won't be among the lightest. On the other hand — if it genuinely suits you and makes your riding more comfortable, 200 grams isn't a big price to pay.

The second thing that doesn't work quite as well for me is the length. I'd been used to a short-nose saddle for a long time, and the C15 is quite long for my taste. Occasionally when mounting the bike it catches me in an uncomfortable spot. Part of it is habit, but I'd welcome a shorter option.

🛠️ Summary

The Brooks Cambium has everything it takes to be a comfortable saddle. It needs no padding because it dampens vibrations across its entire surface. No special care or break-in required — I rode 200 kilometres on my second outing with it. Thanks to trial saddles available at many bike shops, finding your match is easy. The only real downside is the weight, but it amounts to about four cereal bars, and if it brings you the comfort you've been after, it's worth it.

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