The Best Kayak Seats: Types, Benefits & Our Top 6 Picks
Is your kayak causing you back troubles? Is your neck wishing you'd paddle back home? It could be that your fancy new kayak's seat doesn't offer the best back support.
This is why we have put together a list of the best kayak seats on the market so you can paddle all day and all night without a patch of discomfort or worry in the world.
First of all, we need to establish types of kayak seats to find the best one for you and get you a kayak seat upgrade.
So let's dig in!
Types of Kayak Seat
There a few types of kayak seats you can choose from, such as the basic, deluxe, high back, and inflatable.
Basic
Basic kayak seats can be a sit-in or sit-on-top kayak seat. They are usually padded, giving extra support and comfort. If you are going on long paddles and need that extra bit of comfort, this might be the best seat type for you.
High Back Seat
If you are a keen angler and want to use your kayak for fishing, or you're looking for kayak seats for bad backs, this may be the seat type for you. These seats are comfortable elevated kayak seats, which are great for bad backs if you're paddling for a long time, and they grant better fishing positions to cast your line.
If you are an angler, a sit on top kayak tends to be a better option, but if you are into recreational kayaking, you can feel free to choose either.
This type is also suitable for tall paddlers offering a more comfortable position in the cockpit, giving better back support. Bear in mind that not all kayak seats are universal, so it's best to check your kayak can be fitted with your chosen kayak seat before purchase.
Deluxe Seat
An upgrade from the basic seat, the deluxe offers more padding and back support. This seat might help if you tend to get a sore back or neck while paddling and if you find that you aren't very secure in your cockpit. Like the high back, you have to make sure your kayak is compatible, considering the fit and the height of the seat back.
Inflatable
An inflatable kayak can be a handy way to get out on the water. They are transportable, easy to store, and pretty comfy! However, they often get the complaint that the seats don't offer enough support, luckily there are now a bunch of options on the market that can allow you to have the convenience of the inflatable kayak without the back pain.
But which kayak has the most comfortable seat? Well, it depends on your preferences, but generally, the higher the back, the more comfortable the kayak seat.
Benefits of Kayak Seats
There are a fair few benefits to having a kayak seat fitted, and they are also perfect examples of why you might want to replace or upgrade to a new one.
Comfort
If your kayak seat is not comfortable or is causing you back or neck pain, then it's time to upgrade. It can be overwhelming considering all the materials, sizes, seat back heights, and features that you can't possibly choose. You need to consider the type of kayaking you're doing, how long you're out on the water, and what features you want to have the most comfortable paddle.
How to make kayak seat more comfortable? Well, most seats, you can adjust the straps and clips to give you the perfect fit.
Stability
You use the torsion from your torso down to keep the kayak stable and can become quite uncomfortable to maneuver if you don't have a seat that aids the kayak's stability. A deluxe or high back seat will help your stability on the water. This is because you will benefit from the added back support and padding to enable easy maneuverability and stability in your kayak.
Storage
Everyone loves a bit of extra storage, whether it's to keep your phone, your lunch, or your tackle box, it can be a huge benefit, especially if your kayak lacks the storage you need. Extra storage is mainly seen on high back angling seats, as it's useful to have fishing gear easily accessible for quick fishing!
How To Choose Your Kayak Seat?
There are plenty of things one needs to consider when purchasing a new kayak seat. It can be things like comfort, support, height, or many more. Don't be overwhelmed, though! We are here to help you figure out what you need.
Comfort and Support
Padded seat, or cushion? Some seats are made with fluidized gel pads, which are kind of like those gel mousepad rests from the 90s covered in neoprene or some other fabric. These offer sufficient padding support and comfort. However, keep in mind that they can break down quickly.
Some seats are made with pressure molded foam, which acts as a dense padding seat, which can be molded to encourage blood flow and comfort if you're on a long paddle. They are not the softest padding for your derriere, but they are super durable, and therefore should last a long time.
Lastly, a lot of seats are thermo-molded, which has become the standard in this day and age, whereas they used to be a rarity. They use pressure molding techniques, ensuring their durability and comfort.
Seat Height
The height of the seat is essential to consider when kayaking. Low seat to no seat backrests are a pain in the neck... literally! There is nothing worse than paddling with an ache creeping up your spine. This is why we think high backrests with a tall back are the way to go. Realistically the most comfortable backrest is going to be one that's high enough for the support you need without the added irritability you could get from one interfering with your shoulder blades while paddling.
Materials and Durability
There are two main types of fabric you'll encounter on the water, well three if we count neoprene, but kayak seats don't usually incorporate it into their designs.
Polyester
This is a delicate fabric that has a fantastic wicking quality, which is useful on a boat where you will be dealing with moisture from sweat and the water around you. It is also soft and feels better against bare skin, which would be useful on hot days.
Nylon
Nylon is stronger than polyester; it is water repellent rather than moisture wicking. This means that a nylon seat might not make you feel as cool on hot, sweaty longer days. Nylon is much more durable than polyester which is a massive benefit in a kayak seat.
Stability
The best kayak seat will keep you stable inside the cockpit, making you feel secure on any kind of water. You want the kayak seat to make you feel like you fit the kayak perfectly.
Storage
Ideally, you always want additional storage, especially if you are a keen angler and even on short paddles. It can hold essential items, your lunch, a useful penknife, or an extra safety kit. If storage is important to you, it would be a good idea to consider a kayak seat designed to provide extra storage ability.
Features
There are some features you might want to consider, which are luxury qualities that make the boat more convenient.
Adjustable straps
You can adjust the angle of the backrest to provide maximum comfort to your paddle.
Mesh panel
Enables the back support to remain breathable and to dry quickly, especially on a hot day.
Extra pocket
Harking back to the aforementioned storage, an extra pocket can be a good idea for essential items you want to be able to reach in a hurry.
Attachment Methods
Generally, your kayak seat should be able to attach to your kayak with ease. At no point, you should have to modify or drill into your kayak to secure the seat. More often than not, the seat will simply fit in using the common metal D rings on your kayak. Alternatively, some kayak seats are designed to fit into popular kayak models. If you have a popular kayak model, it'll be easier to find a seat that fits in perfectly.
Sit-on-top kayak attachment is different from the sit-in models, which is why you should double-check the kayak seat compatibility. It is also surprisingly easy to attach D rings to your kayak should you be keen on DIY.
How To Upgrade My Kayak Seat?
You are going to be sitting in the kayak seat for a long time, so why not customize a little bit? There are additional accessories like lumbar support with extra foam padding or storage pockets you can purchase to add to the already existing seat if that floats your boat!
Our Top Picks
Are you ready to find the best kayak seat? Yes? Then let's get that boat in the water!
1. Ocean Kayak Comfort Tech
Ocean Kayak is a reliable company that makes lots of excellent kayaks and kayak accessories, so they are bound to have reliable ocean kayak seats to match, but is this the best sit on top kayak seat on the market?
Suppose you happen to already be deep in the Ocean Kayak tunnel and own one of their kayak designs, this seat will clip right in with no extra fuss and minimum effort. It's also adjustable, using a four-way adjusting system adding to its all-around convenience.
The bottom on the seat has sufficient padding to keep those buns comfortable and a UV resistant backrest. This backrest packs in some luxury features such as its soft molded nylon wings that aid support and form to the body by wrapping around your sides, and it provides sufficient support and height at the back even for people of the taller persuasion.
It's added ventilation offers a cool paddle in the heat, and the brass clips add a stylish flair to the whole seat. If you are looking for a reliable well-designed kayak seat replacement, this is a perfect option.
Wow! The Saturn Deluxe ticks all the boxes. It's comfortable, it's stable, and it has a fair amount of storage.
This seat is for sit-on-top kayaks and lends itself to a range of different types of kayaking. It is one of the high back kayak seats which offers the back support need for touring or recreational kayaking trips, it's got the stability needed for a whitewater enthusiast and plenty of storage for the anglers.
When we say comfortable seat, we mean comfort! However, if the comfort is too much for you to handle, it comes with a detachable cushion, but if you want to keep the cushion on, it is beneficial for smaller paddlers.
The seat back is tall, measuring at 18 inches giving excellent back support, especially when it's teaming up with the extra padding at the rear and back of the kayak seat.
The extra storage that comes with the Saturn Deluxe is great. It comes with a detachable bag that is complete with two fishing rod holders incorporated, which is excellent in comparison to a lot of fishing kayak seats and an angler's dream!
The Deluxe Molded Foam Seat is a great choice for any kayaker.
Are you looking for a kayak seat for inflatable kayak? The Sea Eagle Deluxe could be the seat for you.
It's challenging to fit a kayak seat with superior support into an inflatable kayak because of its rigid components threatening a puncture. However, the Sea Eagle Deluxe has a solution.
This seat is entirely inflatable and surprisingly packs a punch, managing to offer good back support, transportability, and increased comfort.
The seat back measures at 14 inches high, giving some significant back support, and you could say it's an elevated kayak seat as it holds you 5 inches off the floor. The raised kayak seat should help with any fishing or taller paddlers to benefit in comfort. It also includes a little pocket on the rear of the seat for extra storage.
This is the best kayak seat for transport. The best thing about this inflatable kayak seat is that when you are finished paddling, the seat can easily detach, deflate and pack up, or if you are camping, you can continue to use it as a chair!
Looking for sit-in kayak seats? Well, this one does both! Leader is by no means trying to present the best sit-in kayak seat, but it gives it a good universal go!
This sit-on-top or sit-in kayak seat cushion is made from durable molded foam with a polyester exterior making it breathable and ready for any watersports you throw at it.
It uses high-grade and super corrosion-resistant hooks to clip into your kayak, which elongates its lifespan and durability as well as being adjustable four ways with two straps at the front and two straps at the back. Easy to fit any kayak and kayaker, and with added comfort from its padding for your back and your butt, you'll be floating off into the distance with no aches and pains to worry about.
It also comes with a convenient waterproof detachable storage bag that you can use to keep all your immediate essentials in.
A good option for the sit-in kayakers.
YakGear has a talent for making aftermarket marine accessories, and they've brought their cunning, experience, and expertise to this foam seat.
This seat uses webbing straps to easily adjust the seat and corrosion-free brass clips for an easy install and longevity.
The molded foam seat back is a whopping 19 inches tall and 1 inch thick, offering excellent back support and the seat sports 15 inch long EVA foam non stick padding perfect for a tight cockpit squeeze. The bottom of the seat also includes water gutters to let any extra water drain away while kayaking.
It's compatible with canoes, sit-in kayaks, and sit-on-top kayaks. However, if you do want to install inside a sit-in kayak, you will have to purchase an extra kit, the YakGear five-piece pad eye kit.
This is an excellent choice for a universal foam kayak seat.
This surf to summit kayak seat is an excellent basic kayak seat that sufficiently meets basic needs.
The seat padding is compression molded, which bonds the fabric to the foam permanently, creating a durable padding material that should last a long time.
Although this seat doesn't offer the best back support, it makes off for it in comfort and stability, making it ideal for someone needed that extra stability.
This is an excellent option for a basic upgrade.
Our Top Kayak!
We've considered the basics, the materials, the comfort, and we have admired the best kayak seats on the market, and we've come to the conclusion that the best kayak seat is...
The Deluxe Molded Foam Kayak Seat by SATURN! This foam, kayak seat is fantastic. It can be used by all walks of kayakers paddling on all kinds of water and all while in superior comfort. The back support, padding, and cushioning prove to be well designed and ergonomic, and to have the extra storage is the cherry on the well-supported cake!
A great seat that'll have your pains sailing down the river.