Bontrager Aeolus Saddle vs Shimano Pro Stealth Saddle | Dimensions, Comparison, Review

In this video I compare two of the most popular short nosed saddles, the Bontrager Aeolus and the Shimano Pro Stealth. We will cover the 3 different models for each saddle, then we will break down the dimensions from Saddle width, cut out length, to width of the nose, and length of the saddle rails. I will then share my opinion of which saddle I prefer and why.
Aeolus Pro - www.trekbikes....
Aeolus Elite - www.trekbikes....
Aeolus Comp - www.trekbikes....
Pro Stealth Saddle 142mm - amzn.to/2L9CXUF
Pro Stealth Saddle 152mm - amzn.to/3lPFZu2
Pro Stealth Carbon - amzn.to/2JxrnT6
Pro Stealth Limited Chrome - amzn.to/2IiZNIo
Pro Stealth Off-Road Saddle - amzn.to/3mJ2G3f
If you are new to my channel, I put up weekly videos on anything cycling related from tech/bike reviews, build tips, fitness, hacks, and race reviews. If you enjoy the content, consider subscribing to support the channel.
Be sure to visit my website at www.blackwatercyclist.com
Subscribe: www.youtube.co...
Follow me on:
Instagram: / blackwatercyclist
Facebook: / blackwatercyclist1
Strava: / strava

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

Be sure to vist my website at www.blackwatercyclist.com Subscribe: kzbin.info Follow me on: Instagram: instagram.com/blackwatercyclist Facebook: facebook.com/BlackWaterCyclist1 Strava: www.strava.com/athletes/179615

[@danielattias1525]

Bought the Bontrager Aeolus Saddle comp two weeks ago, it is absolutely beyond amazing, stiff, extremely comfortable, no pain, pleasure to ride on, highly recommended. D

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

Glad to hear it is working out so well for you. I keep going back and forth between both saddles. They are very close for me so I dont mind switching between the two. Right now I am preferring the Stealth. For some reason the Bontrager has been giving me hotspots and that could be due to bibs or saddle height or something else.

[@binshuo]

Thank you. That's very helpful information to know the padding difference between the pro and elite model.

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

Glad it was helpful!

[@TheCdM1981]

So after reading your responses on this review you determined in the end the Bontrager gave you hot spots and you preferred the pro stealth? Is that the final verdict?

[@liryco8795]

Hi, thanks for the great review! Do you know if there's a difference in flex between the Comp and Elite models ? (or is the difference between the 2 is just the rails material?) Cheers ! (I'm thinking of this saddle for comuting + touring on my gravel Kona Rove ST) Thanks ;)

[@xuchenglin6256]

Every saddle video should be like this one, really good stuff! 👍

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

Thank you Xucheng Lin!

[@sj6656]

I totally agree that the wider nose is what set these saddles apart. Im currently running the specialized power saddle and everytime im forward the narrow nose is horrible. Im curious if you've had any experience with something like an ISM split nose saddle and how it would compare to the Stealth or the Aeolus?

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

I have tried an ISM in the past but it wasn't for very long. I only did a few rides and immediately took it off. While these short saddles like the Aeolus and Stealth limit your positions, I felt the ISM was even more limiting. I will admit it was comfortable on the nose over the front but when trying to slide back on the saddle to engage some other muscles, it was not comfortable to me.

[@51gelson]

I had both and loved the Pro Stealth

[@lethargic_cow]

I have the Aeolus 155 mm (which I think is a tad wide for me). Probably should've gone for smaller. Now I'm hoping to try the Prologo Dimension 143, which I heard lots of good stuff about!

[@mikebrown600]

I have the Aeolus Pro on my Emonda and it’s way more comfortable than you’d imagine.

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

I found it great while on pavement but when I started hitting some rough gravel, I really liked the extra give of the comp and elite. Thanks for the input.

[@saavirov]

Just a one correction 243mm and 253mm, great review.

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

Yeah I messed up there but thank you for the correction :)

[@tonymammone1653]

I just picked up the Aeolus Elite. There’s something to be aware of and I’ve seen it mentioned on other reviews. The first version I picked up had a nasty squeak/creak to it when riding. It was something I noticed right away when going for the first ride. It was coming from the left side of the saddle. Fortunately the bike shop had another that I swapped it out for. The new one (crossing fingers) doesn’t developed the sound over time. Very comfortable so far though. It takes a bit of time to tweak the set up to be just right but once it’s dialed in, it should work very well.

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

Yes you do have to take some time to dial in the fit. I found the tilt is very important to make it comfy. Thanks for the heads up on the creak. I did not experience that myself but it is good for those looking into it to be aware that it can be an issue.

[@tmp1k]

good tips, cheers. i'm still working to dial it in just right. getting close. i tend to stick within the limit bounds when adjust fore and aft. i might try going outside the limits myself (but ya maybe not with the carbon rails one).

[@CreamyBone]

Shimano Pro used to make an offroad saddle called the Vulture. It was very close to the Stealth but with a wider nose and a little more padding. I wish I could find something similar that's currently produced. The Stealth offroad model doesn't cut it for me 😉

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

I just searched that saddle and it looks amazing! I wonder if I could find an old one somewhere to try.

[@CreamyBone]

@@BlackWaterCyclist I've bought 3 on ebay in the last 6 months 😋👍

[@peteraidan]

I had both and loved the Pro Stealth. Aoleus really seems designed for aero position which is not for gravel riding. (You might not want all your weight on the front of the bike) The Stealth seemed more versatile for different types of riding. What am I riding now? Bontrager Verse, but I’d hop back on the Pro Stealth anytime.

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

That Bontrager Verse looks great, especially for something like gravel! I may have to check that one out. Thanks for the suggestion. I still go back and forth between the stealth and the aeolus. Did you have any issue with your bib shorts getting caught inside the nose of the aeolus? It doesnt matter which bibs I am wearing, they get wedged in there. Not a huge issue but more annoying.

[@intox43]

@@BlackWaterCyclist i have Aeolus saddle and that wedging sometimes happening... tighter the bibs ... less often it happens... its my 7th saddle .. cheapest but best ... now im focused to try verse... looks fine too...

[@do-ineedtosay723]

Thanks for posting this. The Shimano has two bridges where the cutout is. I guess it's for mechanical rigidity?? Anyway, did you find your man parts contacting those bridges when riding on bumpy roads?

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

I did not feel those bridges when riding on the rough roads. I think the bibs have enough padding that even if I did hit them, I wouldn't have noticed the difference. Great question!

[@mehmd1913]

Very nice review. Do you think the Aeolus is the better option for people with prostate issues? Do you recommend a different saddle in general for those riders?

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

It is one of the better cut out saddles that is on the market. I know the Selle Italia has some Super Flow saddles that probably have even larger cut outs. Also the BiSaddle is adjustable but I have not tried one myself. Another you can look into is the Selle SMP saddles. I have used them before and actually liked them ok but would lean towards one of the more padded models. Those are a few I can think of off the top of my head. I hope that was somewhat helpful. What have you tried so far?

[@mehmd1913]

@@BlackWaterCyclist I have tried many saddles like the SMP, Italia, ISM. I am leaning towards trying the BiSaddle and maybe SQlabs. However, I am interested in the Aeolus and the Versus! Thank you for responding!

[@Fabiomiguelseverino]

HI! Great review and content on the page! :) I hope someone can help me with my doubt. I am undecided between Bontrager Aeolus Pro and Pro Stealth team carbon. The use would be mostly on the road but also sometimes in mtb too, which would be the most comfortable to use? Thank you

[@amritv6889]

can you recommend a rear tail light for the pro stealth and how do I mount that rear tail light ?

[@jeffdixon321]

Dr. Steven Schrader from NIOSH: “When you sit on a bike the pressure on the perineum increases sevenfold. Riders using a classic saddle place 1/4 of their body weight on the perineum. The amount of oxygen reaching the *** typically falls 70% to 80% in 3 minutes. A guy can have his oxygen levels drop 100% but he doesn’t know it. After half an hour he goes numb. Saddles with splits or holes may make matters worse because they have smaller surface areas, and hence the rider’s weight presses harder on less saddle. The arteries in the perineum run laterally and therefore they come under more pressure when they come into contact with the cutouts’ edges. It is no longer a question of whether or not traditional bike saddles causes ED, but what are you going to do about it?” Your own history confirms that you are not designed to sit on something resembling a 2 x 4 up on edge. The damage is by accumulation. So one day all the symptoms will present themselves but by that time significant damage is done. People 'trash' me for adding these comments but I have sold 42,000 seats and have talked directly to at least 6000 people and have heard every urological condition there is as caused by saddles. The common factor: they all trusted people like this and used saddles EXACTLY like these: the same old same old. Stop the damage and use a Spongy Wonder

[@lothianhealthperformance8423]

Did you find that the Pro Stealth rubbed on the bib shorts at all? I'm a 100kg + rider, and heard that if you've got thick thighs the Pro Stealth can eat bib shorts.

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

I have not had that issue. I could see if you pedal with your knees in then it could cause excessive rubbing. Also if you set farther back on the saddle it could cause some rubbing. The further forward you sit on the saddle, the less likely you will have the rubbing you mentioned.

[@adamkubiak1933]

This usually happens when fore-aft position is not set properly.

[@samuraioodon]

Hi does the cutout cause more pressure points inside legs? Reason I ask is I always feel pain with cutout saddles. I have about 60mm drop from saddle to handlebar and ride semi-aggressive to aggressive position, pelvis tilted forward. Sitbones 12.5cm I’m 58kg pretty slim build. Do you think the nose will be way too wide? I’d be riding gravel and road. Thanks!

[@chrisj5443]

Are you sure about those length dims? Maybe 248 (10") on the Bontrager? 348 is almost 14", which it clearly isn't. BTW, I have the Elite model on order.

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

Oooof! Yeah that is a major typo and I apologize for that. Trying to get all the details in there and many times I make a mistake. Great catch and I appreciate you letting me know. The Elite model in my opinion is the best. If you think about it, report back and let me know what you think.

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

Hi Chris, did you get your Elite saddle in yet? If so, what do you think?

[@chrisj5443]

@@BlackWaterCyclist Yeah, and it's on the bike, which I'm riding on my indoor trainer for the winter. So far so good. I went to this saddle figuring it would work better with the more aero riding position I have after lowering my handlebars and adding clip-on aero-bars as well. The full test will have to wait until I'm back out on the road.

[@HennieBours]

Great review. Thanks.

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

Glad it was helpful!

[@kimwalton2873]

Looking for a saddle for gravel, maybe the Bontrager Aeolus would be a good choice.

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

Hi Kim, I really think it is a great gravel saddle, at least the Comp or the Elite. I would not use the Pro Carbon as a gravel saddle. Both the Comp and Elite have more padding and more flex in the shell.

[@bootsauce47]

I have Aeolus comp on my Giant ADV 2 gravel bike. It has been holding up great. The only down side ( or upside ) is that when it’s rainy, wet or muddy you get a nice bum wash. Despite it being smaller than usual I feel it covers more area as far as seating area. And it doesn’t ad pressure to my bits. I love this saddle. I bought a Fizik Alpaca Terra X5. I haven’t installed it yet. Side by side they look similar. Probably doesn’t flex as much.

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

@@bootsauce47 Great input and yes you are right. I had that experience of a muddy bum in my last gravel race. I guess you could add a little fender under it to keep mud at bay. Not cool looking like you soiled your shorts lol. The fizik looks similar in shape. For my personal preference, I would want a little more of a cut out but I am sure it will work well for a lot of people.

[@dreycastro]

I bought the pro stealth but when I’m riding there’s creaking sound from the rail?

[@wolfk1]

The length of the saddles can`t be correct. That should be around 250mm, not 350mm.

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

Yeah man, I screwed up on that one. KZbin won't let me fix it and upload a new video with proper lengths so thanks to guys like you we can make sure everyone knows. I appreciate it. 👍👍👍

[@xelseartheonlyone1267]

I bought a new saddle and the Pro stealth felt a bit too wide for me. I took a Selle Italia Novus Boost Evo. Still getting used to it. Finding that one pefect saddle is extrmely difficult. Each person needs a different one.

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

You are exactly right. Not one saddle will work for everyone and even a small 2 or 3mm difference can be felt. I liked the Shimano Pro Falcon before, it has a little narrower nose as well as the Specialized power. Where did it feel too wide? In the nose or the rear of the saddle?

[@xelseartheonlyone1267]

@@BlackWaterCyclist In the rear of the saddle. Also not as comfortable as the Selle Italia one. I did a bike fitting from Shimano called saddle search and the lbs fitter brought me these 2. I immediately felt the joy when i sat on the Selle Italia one. I found many people trying like 20 different saddles and still not be able to find even a good one... Although some have gone for the TT ones like ISM Adamo for example. I guess they work on road bikes too.

[@nathancouse3596]

Does the elite vs comp of the bontrager saddle have the same padding? Or does the comp have softer padding

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

The Comp has softer/more padding than the Elite.

[@andreashjalmarsson9886]

Just want to double check on the padding, so each model have different padding? I thought the two lower end versions Comp and Elite had the same padding.

[@rhysashpole]

Did you find that you needed to run the Aelous somewhat nose up using their suggested fit? (2 degree down over the saddle)

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

Great question. I found that I would have the front half level when looking at it and then the rear whould have a slight forward pitch to it. When sitting on it, the middle would flex down making the front somewhat upward but not much. So I did not find that I needed to tilt it up, the flex kinda did that for me. Hope that helps.

[@rhysashpole]

@@BlackWaterCyclist thanks mate. That’s how I was originally setting it up as well, and then tried using their recommendation (i went 3 degrees down instead of 2). I run a very aggressive position with approx 15cm bar drop to saddle height, I was surprised it didn’t impact at all, it kind of cradles you in a similar way to an SMP. I’m still testing it to see if it will stay, but am interesting experiment if your still running it. I had to drop the saddle height by a few mm to compensate

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

@@rhysashpole Interestingly, I have actually moved to the Bontrager Verse. I like the longer saddle to be able to move forward and back better when on dirt and the longer rails for more adjustment. I still have an Aeolus on a back up bike and find it comfy but for some reason I get pressure points on longer rides. Not sure what it is but that has caused me not to like it as much as before. I need to do another video honestly.

[@rhysashpole]

@@BlackWaterCyclist if you’re getting pressure towards the back of your IT, I was getting similar as I was pushing into the curve section and sliding down. Basically leading to shearing and discomfort. Although still in trial mode, moving the saddle to what seems to be there suggested setup has eliminated this. Definitely recommend giving it a crack before doing the next video, would be good to hear your experience and feedback on that. Especially as many seem to be confused with the instructions

[@Zwiftsushi]

@@rhysashpole omg I’m forever struggling to find a sweetspot with this saddle. Based off this video and this conversation I’m going to level it completely front to back and do -2.5 down overall. Bontragers instructions are not clear it’s so confusing. I’ll have to drop my saddle as you are right it’s similar to a baby smp. Itll have almost a ramp and cradle. I want this thing to work so badly for me

[@andreashjalmarsson9886]

Which has the widest nose?

[@MitchYouts]

Does the Bontrager play nice with a Giant D-fuse seatpost?

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

Hi Mitch, yes it does. I have been using it on the D-Fuse Seatpost for all 3 months and it has worked flawless. No slipping or anything.

[@MitchYouts]

@@BlackWaterCyclist Hey there, was able to purchase an Aeolus Elite a few weeks ago. So far I really love it. Took a few adjustments to get it right, but it's awesome.

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

@@MitchYouts Great to hear Mitch! Did you have to tilt yours down a little to get it to be more comfortable? I had to play with the tilt a little. Bontrager recommends a 2 degree downward tilt.

[@MitchYouts]

@@BlackWaterCyclist exactly

[@justinaugustine7234]

Dumb question : Are these two saddles considered as a V-shaped saddle ?

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

Hi Justin, yes I would say they are similar to a V shape saddle.

[@ponylerway5373]

Hi mate, we sell mtb accessories on Amazon, such as height adjusters, stem, pedals, gloves and etc, hope to get your test and feedback, thanks.

[@BlackWaterCyclist]

Hi, send me a DM on instagram.

[@amritv6889]

can you recommend a rear tail light for the pro stealth and how do I mount that rear tail light ?