Let’s talk about cushions for your kayak—bet you’re on the edge of your seat, right? It’s a subject you don’t hear people talking about too much, but if you spend hour upon hour sitting in a kayak taking cast after cast for everything from bluegill to bluefish, you’ll know what I’m talking about. I’m not sure how to put this, but it’s a true pain in the butt. The good news is that there’s a solution to relieve the pain in your posterior.
Wait a sec—do you really need a cushion for the seat in a high-end kayak? Well, first and foremost, the extra comfort will pay off on those extra-long days spent on the water. Aside from that many of us have back pain, sciatica, leg pain, and/or numbness from sitting for long periods of time. Kayak cushions provide comfort, additional support, and enhance our endurance and performance by preventing pain during those long days on the water. And fortunately, there are various options to meet your needs.
There are round cushions, square cushions, lumbar cushions, etc. So where do you begin? Start with the manufacturer of the kayak that you own. Search their websites for options that they may offer or recommend. You’ll find that many of the manufacturers sell cushions and back support items specifically for the models they produce. For example, it will run you $69.99 to get a Native Watercraft kayak cushion and $92.99 for those of you who own a Hobie. There are companies that make generic cushions too, usually round or square ones. YakAttack makes a cushion for $60 that fits most name brand kayaks. By flipping it over you get more or less firmness to meet your needs. Kayak Kushion makes cushions from $64 up to $69, and they also make a lumbar support for $45. Home Depot has them as well, their offer is for two cushions for $38.95. Most cushions have covers that are removable so that you can wash them or replace the cover as needed. Or, of course, you may be able to find a cushion designed for other uses that happens to fit the bill.
As for me, I didn’t need a cushion for years, then one day I did. So, I checked around and did some research. Then one day while at a local department store, I noticed a year-end closeout on patio furniture seat cushions on sale for an additional 10 percent off, so $5. It works, and I’ll use it until the next sale comes around and just pitch the old one at that time.
That said, take your time and do your research before you settle on a cushion. We all have different needs for comfort and performance while out on the water. And remember to take that cast in comfort, because a comfortable day on the water can only mean more casts and more fish in the box.
-By Eric Packard