Something to sit on is definitely required. This Brooks B17 is one of the nicer features of the Kona Sutra, as Kona tries to outfit the bike for long tours right out of the box.
The Brooks is a peculiar thing. 100% resistant to modernism, it’s a throwback to the earliest saddles. Some people swear by them, and some people swear they are just too uncomfortable to be of any use. I figured it’s just a personal anatomy and personal preference thing, so I would give it a shot. It does take some investment. I have been riding on this one for six months and for me personally it’s pretty comfortable.
When you get a new Brooks leather saddle it’s hard as a rock, and they are meant to be broken in over time. Depending on who you ask they soften, either just by riding and being treated with Brooks Proofide leather treatment, or by being beaten with a stick, or various other abuses.
One worry I have about it is that they don’t tolerate the rain very well and need to be kept fairly dry. I bought a shower cap for mine for times when I get caught in the rain.
10/10
The Pragmatic Cyclist 
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