The well-worn saying, “It’s like riding a bike,” has a second meaning when it comes to kayaking. Like the saddle of our two-wheeled counterpart, the seating area in a kayak is not always the most comfortable. Like a bike, stretching and putting in time could improve the situation, but at the end of the day, if your kayak isn’t comfortable, you aren’t going to want to spend time paddling it.
One of the tough parts about kayak seats, especially for sit-insides, is that the seats are generally factory-produced to fit inside of the kayak they were designed for. This doesn’t mean you are out of luck. Depending on whether you have a sit-on-top or sit-inside kayak, there are aftermarket options. To bring some relief and make your kayaking experience an enjoyable one, here are some of the best solutions available.
Best kayak seats: Our top picks
- Best for sit-inside kayaks: Cascade Creek Yakpads Paddle Saddle
- Best sit-on-top kayak seat: Skwoosh Expedition Seat
- Best budget sit-on-top kayak seat: Harmony Gear Standard Seat
- Best seat cushion for fishing kayaks and raised sit-on-top seats: Kayak Kushion
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Best for sit inside kayaks
Cascade Creek Yakpads Paddle Saddle
$47.95 | cascadecreek.com
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Why I love it
Sit-inside kayaks are rather limited in the manufactured upgrades you can make to the seat. Custom building your own additional padding is an option using closed-cell foam or other items like pool noodles, but that is time-consuming. The Yakpads Paddle Saddle from Cascade Creek is a more convenient and pretty affordable choice for comfort in your recreational or touring kayak.
The pad will fit just about any bucket seat. It isn’t extremely thick, however, it is filled with silicone elastomer gel—the same stuff that is in those squishy, comfy bike seats. The Paddle Saddle also has a non-skid bottom to keep it in place, and two small loops so you can connect it to the rest of your outfitting. It is just a bottom, so it isn’t providing back support, but the small footprint makes it a convenient upgrade for most kayakers who just need a little extra cushion.
Reasons to buy
- Low cost
- Small footprint compatible for most sit-inside kayak seats
- Cushy gel seat
Consider another if
- You need additional back support
- You need thicker padding
Bottom line
The Cascade Creek Yakpads Paddle Saddle is a quick solution to make your sit-inside kayak more comfortable.
Best seat for sit-on-top kayaks
Skwoosh Expedition Seat
$136.49 | skwoosh.com
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Why I love it
Sit-on-top kayaks often come without a seat or include a very cheap one, instead relying on paddlers to spend hours sitting on the molded in shape of the rotomolded plastic. If there is a kayak seat out there that turns bare plastic into an executive’s chair, it is the Skwoosh Expedition Kayak Seat.
Sit-on-tops are easier to accommodate with aftermarket chairs because they generally follow a similar shaped scoop and have multiple eyelets around the cockpit to clip a seat into. The Skwoosh has liquid gel padding under your tush. It also provides a backrest for support. The Expedition seat doesn’t stop there however, it also has an adjustable lumbar pad and fiberglass rods to provide structure to the seat system overall. With the name expedition in mind, it also doesn’t overlook the need for gear storage, and includes water bottle holders and a bungee pocket on the back.
Reasons to buy
- Gel seat cushion
- Bolstered back support with adjustable lumbar padding
- Small storage area
- A kayak seat upgrade to most sit-ons
Consider another if
- You are looking for a cheap option
Bottom line
The Skwoosh Expedition is the closest you’ll find to a luxury kayak seat for a low seat position sit-on-top kayak.
Best budget seat
Harmony Gear Standard Sit-On-Top Seat
$29.99 | confluenceoutdoor.com
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Why I Love It
If your sit-on-top kayak didn’t come with a seat, or you need a replacement, the Harmony Gear Standard Sit-On-Top Seat is a well-constructed, to-the-point seat that will fit just about any sit-on-top kayak.
Sit-on-tops often have a scooped-out bucket seat molded into the plastic design. They also generally have four eyelets around the cockpit of the paddler. One of the reasons these are here is to attach a seat. The seat from Harmony features corrosion-resistant clips and webbing straps to attach to these points. It has 14 inches of back support and adjusts to help you sit forward or lean back. It’s nothing fancy, but it provides what you need: padding, support and trusty hardware.
Reasons to buy
- Cost-effective seat
- Compatible with most sit-on-top kayaks
Consider another if
- You want thicker padding
- You want more elaborate adjustments and support
Bottom line
The Harmony Gear Standard Sit-On-Top Seat is all you need to outfit a sit-on-top kayak with a seat.
Best cushion for fishing kayaks and raised sit-on-top kayak seats
Kayak Kushion
$69.99 | kayakkushion.com
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KAYAK KUSHION ECO FISHING SHOP
Why I love it
The high-position, frame seats that come standard on many of the most popular fishing kayaks and some sit-on-tops have brought comfort a long way for casual paddling and angling. Even with the raised position though, these seats are just fabric stretched over a metal frame. The square Kayak Kushion provides up to two inches of padding to provide the comfort needed for a long day of fishing or sightseeing
The Kayak Kushion is a breathable pad, with ventilation to help avoid perspiration on the seat. The cover is also removable so you can wash it. And the Kayak Kushion’s Tactical Straps and cam buckles secure it to your raised kayak seat. The Kushion is stitched together to handle the rigors of fishing, but anyone with a high-seated sit-on-top will enjoy adding this plush little kayak pillow underneath them.
Reasons to buy
- Up to two inches thick
- Breathable material
- Removable cover
- Constructed for heavy use
Consider another if
- You have a molded-in sit-on-top kayak seat
- Need a one-piece bottom and back
Bottom line
Whether you are spending the day fishing or paddling around the pond, the Kayak Kushion provides padding to spend the day in your raised sit-on-top seat.
Education: Get Some!
Kayak seat buying advice
The number one aspect to consider when shopping for a kayak seat is whether it will fit in your boat. Most sit-inside kayak seats are built by the manufacturers specifically for the dimensions of the kayak, so in that case, adding padding is the best bet. You can make your own with foam or pool noodles, but you can also find manufactured options with gel or foam padding that have a small footprint to slide under your bottom.
Sit-on-tops tend to fall into two categories: low, molded-in seats or raised, frame seats. Molded-in seats will take an aftermarket clip-in kayak seat pretty universally. The trick here, when you see a long list of seats on Amazon, read the reviews from others or, better yet, trust a brand that also manufactures kayaks or is carried by kayak shops. People have low-seated sit-on-tops with a raised from seat, but I generally wouldn’t recommend this unless the manufacturer has approved it because it significantly raises the center of balance of the paddler on a kayak that wasn’t designed for that position.
Stadium seats are interesting. There are some aftermarket options, but since these are designed for the kayak lineup, I would generally recommend sticking with the seat that is there and adding cushioning to it.
You want your kayak to be comfortable, and what I can’t stress enough is to sit inside a kayak before you even buy it. Even if you are putting it down in a store aisle. Climb in and sit in it for a few minutes. If you are aching right away, that isn’t a good sign, and you aren’t going to enjoy it. First, check the outfitting either yourself or with knowledgeable staff. If that doesn’t fix it, a kayak seat may help, but if it doesn’t, then that kayak may not be a good fit for you.
Best kayak seat brands
How we tested
To decide on the best kayak seats, we used experience with various products and researched the options currently available as well as listened to the opinions of our fellow paddlers.
Why trust us
My early early days of kayaking included cramming myself into small whitewater kayaks with painfully tight outfitting. Once I figured out the sport is actually much more fun, and safe, when you are comfortable I’ve become much more picky about ensuring my seat and outfitting are right. I’d like for everyone who kayaks to be comfortable so they too can enjoy the experience of being on the water.
Image: Scott MacGregor
