Standup paddleboards continue to be one of the fastest-growing activities on the water, and for good reason. They’re easy to transport, they’re not particularly expensive to purchase, and they give you an elevated view of the water unlike that of a kayak or canoe. Take a paddleboard out to a clear lake or river on a calm, sunny day and the views below the surface can be spectacular. In over a decade of paddleboarding, my single-most treasured experience remains paddling with manatees in Florida, where I had amazing views of these gentle giants gracefully moving around me.
However, for those with balance issues or who just find spending long paddles standing up on a board too taxing, simply adding a paddleboard seat and switching to a kayak paddle can be a game-changer, and creates one of the most versatile human-powered watercrafts imaginable. Here are a few options that will transform your standup paddleboard into a kayak-style watercraft with versatility and stability.
Best paddleboard seats for 2025: Our top picks
- Best Inflatable: Thurso Surf Inflatable SUP Kayak Seat
- Best kayak-style cushion seat: Atoll Boards Universal SUP Seat
- Best for paddleboard camping: Therm-a-Rest Trekker Chair
- Most creative DIY seat: Yeti Roadie 15 Hard Cooler
Wear The Appropriate Leash When Stand Up Paddleboarding
Best Inflatable Paddleboard Seat
Thurso Surf Inflatable SUP Kayak Seat
$79.99 | thursosurf.com
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Why I love it
Stability is everything when it comes to paddleboard seats. The Thurso Surf SUP Kayak Seat is designed top to bottom to make you feel secure and stable on the board.
I love the four-inch thick cushion which gives you the flexibility of going as rigid or soft as you’d like depending on how much air you pump into it. The back has a wraparound-style design that provides good ergonomic support while paddling. And just like a quality inflatable SUP itself, the inflatable seat is made from a high-quality PVC and drop-stick material, meaning that it can handle the abuse paddleboards sometimes go through.
The four adjustable D-ring straps will make securing the Thurso Surf seat to your inflatable board easy, as long as your board comes with D-rings installed. There’s also a rear mesh storage pocket with enough room for snacks, water bottles or even a small jacket.
Reasons to buy
- Uses the same standard inflator valve size as your SUP
- Easy to install
- 4” of seat cushion gets you off the board
Consider another if
- The 4” seat doesn’t elevate you off the board enough
- You don’t have an inflatable SUP, and don’t want to carry a pump just for your seat
- You want to quickly add a seat to your board without the hassle of pumping
Bottom Line
The Thurso Surf combines the best of inflatable seats with the best of kayak seats, giving you the versatility to keep you on the paddleboard longer.
Best cushioned kayak-style paddleboard seat
Atoll Board Universal Sup-Kayak Seat
$89.99 | atollboards.com
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Why I love it
If you simply want to add a seat to your paddleboard with no fuss and little setup time, a clip-on foam-padded seat is the way to go. You won’t get the added cushion of an inflatable, but the back stability is key.
If you’ve spent any time in a kayak, you will understand the importance of getting the angle of the seat pack just right. Similarly, if you’re adding a seat to a paddleboard, you’re going to want to get the angle exactly where you prefer. With four adjustable upper straps and two down low, the Atoll Board Universal SUP-Kayak Seat gives you the customization you want.
Adjustability is the keyword on this seat, with plenty of straps and four marine-grade brass D-ring clips to secure it in place on your board.
The seatback itself—while looking like a king cobra—gives you a wide surface to lean against while paddling, which is exactly what you need. The back features reinforced nylon backing for lumbar support and an extra layer of durable mesh on the front to allow for quicker drying. The base of the seat is minimalistic, which makes it convenient and light when not in use.
Reasons to buy
- Customizable seat back
- Fantastic lumbar support
- Easy to install and remove
- Lots of straps to attach backpacks or waterproof bags to
Consider another if
- Extra thick cushion is important to you
- You want built-in storage without having to add your own
Bottom Line
The Atoll gives you the back support needed for long days on the board.
Best Paddleboard Seat for Camping
Therm-a-Rest Trekker Chair
$64.95-69.95 | cascadedesigns.com
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Why I love it
Many people think that overnight paddling trips require a canoe and large kayak with water-tight storage. However, standup paddleboards with lots of tie-downs, combined with waterproof storage bags, can make for an epic paddling adventure option. Space on the board comes at a premium however, so adding a seat that can double as a sleeping pad is a no-brainer.
Rather than a seat specifically, the Trekker Chair is more of a tool to turn your Therm-a-Rest sleeping pad into a seat. The idea here is that you can use this super lightweight sleeve to fold your inflatable sleeping pad into a comfortable seat for on or off the paddleboard.
It has adjustable straps to change the angle of the seat back. The soft-cushioning features that make the Therm-a-Rest sleeping pads so comfortable at night also make this an extremely comfortable paddling seat.
Reasons to buy
- You’re a camper who already owns a Therm-a-Rest sleeping pad
- You want a minimalistic seat option
- Cushion for your backside is more important than lumbar support for your back
Consider another if
- You’re not a paddling camper
- You want a seat you secure to your board’s D-rings
- You’ve got a bad back and need lumbar support
Bottom Line
The Therm-a-Rest Trekker Chair is the perfect solution for a particular segment for the multi-day paddleboarding crowd.
Best DIY Paddleboard Seat
Yeti Roadie 15
$200 | yeti.com
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Why I love it
Sometimes the simplest solution is also the most versatile and useful. If back support is not particularly important to you, but having a cold seltzer and food on hand for the day is, then using a hardshell cooler as a seat is a simple and useful option. Yeti has long established itself as the best in the cooler business, and the Yeti Roadie 15 hard cooler is the best option for sitting on a paddleboard.
At 14” tall, the Roadie is the easiest option on the knees of any paddling seat because it allows your legs to be in a natural seated position. Although it doesn’t have buckles to attach the cooler to your paddleboard, it does have slots for cam straps, and strapping the cooler to your SUP will do the trick. When you need to transport the seat/cooler when not on the board, the Roadie 15 has a padded shoulder strap.
Reasons to buy
- The most natural seating position of any option
- Enough cold storage for lots of drinks and snacks
- Useful for much more than just paddling
Consider another if
- You want any sort of back support
- You’re looking for a cheap option
- You want something designed specifically as a seat that clips to the board
Bottom Line
This is a surprisingly simple solution many paddleboarders turn to for sitting down and simply packing lunch.
Wear A Life Jacket
Standup Paddleboard Seat Buying Advice
Buying a paddleboard seat really comes down to a personal choice on what’s important to you. The first question to ask yourself is what is the biggest issue you’re trying to solve by sitting down, instead of standing, on a paddleboard? For some, it’s back pain. For others, it’s leg or foot discomfort. Some find sitting to be more stable than standing. For each of these priorities, there is a best option.
Those with bad backs should be looking first and foremost at a paddleboard seat that offers lumbar support and lots of adjustability in the seat back angle. You may need to compromise some seat cushion support or storage, but if your back is the biggest hindrance to being able to stay on the paddleboard for any length of time, then something like the Atoll seat or others like it will solve your problem.
For those who need more support for their backside than their back, an inflatable seat or another with robust back support may be the best option.
And from the creative category comes the idea of sitting atop a hardshell cooler while paddling. Plenty of people who like to SUP fish love this option because it gives them a secure place to stow their catch while also having a place to sit down. For others, the idea of lunch on the board or at a remote spot on the river is incredibly appealing. This is where the cooler concept shines.
Best Paddleboard Seat Brands
How we tested
The products included in this article were hand-picked through more than a decade of both paddling and product review experience.
Why trust us
Writer Dan Dakin has been a paddleboard racer and adventurer for more than a decade. He was the first person to paddle on all five Great Lakes in a single day, and has paddled or raced down rivers as long as 225 kilometers. These days, he gets as much enjoyment spending hours on lakes and rivers with his kids as he does crossing a finish line.
Feature Image: Joe Potoczak
