I have a sheep skin, and an "Air Hawk" pad. It really depends on the weather. The sheep skin is warmer in the cold, but gathers moisture easily.
The Air Hawk is cooler for summer rides. Both seem to offer a nice ride, but the sheep skin does need some grooming from time to time. The Air Hawk is softer, but works best with very low air. Just enough to keep your butt from touching the seat much.
I even tried both at once, too much pad there !
Worthwhile mentioning also is a bead cover for the seat. Great if you want a firm seat that lets air circulate. Kinda get a message while riding. I have one of those also but don't use it much.
I have both. Prefer the Alaska leather sheep skin over the air hawk. The down side the sheep skin is rain. I don't strap mine down so if it does rain it gets tucked in the saddle bag.
I tried to love the Air Hawk but no matter how much I played with the air it never felt right. You are supposed to run them with only enough air to keep you suspended but I didn't like the sliding around feel. I still got the butt burn with it where I don't with the sheep skin.
I have the Sheepskin and like it. I live outside of Phoenix and it gets DAMN HOT and the sheepskin keeps you butt from sweating and sticking to the seat, it is comfortable for the long ride too. The only downside to me is you can't slide around on the seat you have to pick yourself up to move to change positions.
An airhawk turns a 250 mile ride a day into a possible 500. It is for long distance comfort. It does this by equalizing pressure on your ***, no hot spots or pressure points.
A sheepskin places a comfy layer between you and the virgin vinyl. Sheepskin is warm in winter and cooler in summer. It is a great for any length ride.
Both are seat covers and not as comfy when wet. Sheepskin takes longer to dry. I have a waterproof cover that slips over the seats and backrest. (Harley brand). It works and has kept both our sheepskins and airhawk dry even when riding in days of pouring rain and when parked at night and it rains.
Both add comfort, even to a good seat. The airhawk is especially good for multiple long days. Before the airhawk, I'd get up the next morning not really looking forward to another 350-400 miles. Now, how much time I ride is dependent on other factors, not my ***.
The sheepskin, I have two, an Alaskan brand sheared and a Wyoming farm unsheared. Both remove the effects of temperature and the sun. Both place a comfy layer over unbreathable vinyl or even leather.
You don't want one if you have a show bike. They are for touring, distance, and serious riders whose main concern is the view over the handlebars.
My sheepskin kin is still new looking and it is over 25 years old. My airhawk I bought in 2005 after riding all day, 732 miles to West Yellowstone. My *** was so sore I rode the last hour in the dark standing on the floor boards. The next day, my *** was still sore. I parked next to another rider at the Towers inside the park. The Harley rider saw me and we talked. He had an airhawk. He let me sit on his bike. That night, I ordered one two day air to be delivered to a motel. I've not worried about distance since. I have used both on multiple bikes. Unless I'm just horsing around close to home, I always have the sheepskin. If I'm going more that a few hours, I tuck the airhawk under the sheepskin.
For me, there is no bad seats with these two seat covers.
I have the Alaska sheepskin in both solo and full cover. Wife love the sheepskin, keeps her from sliding forward and having to pushback into the backrest. I like the solo for the convenience of it, both work very well.
also have a propad that’s a gel seat cushion, it doesn’t get hot either...works very well.
on long trips I’ll take both sheepskin and gel pad...
I have both a sheepskin and airhawk. They are both helpful, but I got the best relief when I tried some bicycle shorts like these. They have the padding exactly where I am the most sore after long rides. It's actually the cheapest and most effective solution out of all three I tried. Just wear them over your underwear and under your jeans. Amazon has many different types to choose from.
07-07-2020 | 12:05 AM
