Finding the Best Paddle Board Seat – Your Top 10 Questions Answered

A comfortable, easy to use paddle board seat can make the difference between an awesome day on the water and a harrowing day on the water. Paddle boarding provides that delightful mix of adrenaline, tranquility, and connection with nature that outdoor enthusiasts crave.

To make the most of this thrilling activity, securing the best paddle board seat tailored to your needs ensures supreme comfort and optimal performance. After all, an excellent paddleboarding experience is not just about a high-quality board, but also about the seat that keeps you comfortable throughout your adventure.

The challenge, however, appears when you dive into the marketplace teeming with diverse options for paddle board seats. Each product claims to be the best paddle board seat, offering various features and benefits. You come across a myriad of brands, innovative designs, durable materials, varying adjustability levels, and a spectrum of prices - all translating into a quest that might seem daunting at the outset.

However, once you are equipped with knowledge about what factors make for the best paddle board seat, discerning your perfect match becomes a breeze.

A basic folding chair that costs less than $20 makes a wonderful paddle board seat.

This introductory guide answers the top 10 questions people ask us at the same time it underscores the importance of understanding the specifics of paddle board seats in your quest to find the best one.

Here we delve into crucial factors such as comfort levels, adjustability, durability, user reviews, and entirely user-friendly, ease of installation configurations. With the mission to help navigate you to your best paddle board seat, this guide will serve as your beacon through your journey of selection.

Here's to many hours of satisfying paddle boarding with your ideal, personalized paddle board seat!

The Top 10 Questions Paddle Boarders ask about Seats for Paddle Boards

What is the most comfortable paddle board seat?
How do I attach a seat to my paddle board?
Does the seat come with adjustable straps to adjust to my size and comfort level?
Which paddle board seat is most durable for frequent use?
Can my paddle board seat be easily transported and stored?
How can I ensure that my paddle board seat will be stable while I am out on the water?
Is there a versatile seat that can be removed from the board when not needed?
Do paddle board seats have effective drainage systems?
How much should I expect to pay for a good quality paddle board seat?
Where can I find reviews or ratings for paddle board seats?

Now lets dive into each of these questions in detail and give you some answers!

#1 - What is the most comfortable paddle board seat?

Ah, comfort! Who doesn't want to glide through water with a comfy seat cushioning them? The trouble is that comfort levels are subjective and can vary. For many, seats with thick cushioning offer the best in terms of comfort, providing a soft support for your back and bottom. For other these thick seats that can absorb lots of water feel like a wet diaper.

If you talk to Julie’s 85 year old mom, she prefers a folding chair in an upright position since that gives her the stability she craves and allows her to spend the maximum amount of time paddling without straining her shoulders and neck. John on the other hand prefers a folding chair with a rigid frame for stability but likes the seat back reclined since that is more comfortable on his back and neck. Our daughter Maizie prefers a high back kayak seat since that gives her back plenty of support and she can pop up and down on her board without moving the seat, she just walks all over it.

Based on our experience, there are two seats that are most comfortable for paddle boarding.

Our favorite is a simple folding stadium style seat that can easily be adjusted for a more upright or more reclined paddling position.
The second is a high back kayak style seat that is easy to clip on to your paddle board and easy to adjust for yourself as well as others if you share your board.

We are going to answer the rest of the 10 questions with these two seat types in mind.

john grandie tandem paddle board with seats

John and Julie's 85-year old Mom seated comfortably for a day out on the water.

#2 - How do I attach a seat to my paddle board?

Most paddle board seats are straightforward to attach.

Simple folding style stadium seats can be simply opened and set down on top of your board. We like to at least put the leash around the seat so we don’t lose it if we should tip over. This really only applies when we are river kayaking and there are rapids or out on the ocean where we may encounter surf. Since we often don’t wear our leash when we are sit down paddle boarding, we often attach it to our seat to keep it out of the way while we are paddling and yet still accessible for if we want to tie up to something and have a nap. If you really want your seat attached, you can also use any type of strap or cord that fits thru d-rings and ties onto your seat to hold it. Our daughter once used an old shoestring when we were river paddle boarding thru some rapids.

Kayak style seats generally come with adjustable straps that secure tightly to D-rings on the paddle board. Every seat model may have slight variants so always read and follow the manufacturer's installation instructions. Also be aware that not all paddle boards come with d-rings to attach a kayak style seat to. If yours didn’t, then either use a folding chair or buy four aftermarket d-rings and attach them to your board.

#3 - Does the seat come with adjustable straps to adjust to my size and comfort level?

Most kayak style paddle board seats are designed with adjustable straps, allowing you to customize the fit and position according to your needs and preference. Check the product specifications to be sure.

All of the Best Seats for Paddle Boards that we recommend are adjustable to fit and provide plenty of support to your back to minimize strain.

For more information about the pros and cons as well as sizing and adjustment tips, read our Recommended Seats page

amazon abahub kayak sup seat w only model paddling

#4 - Which paddle board seat is most durable for frequent use?

The durability of a seat often depends on its materials. Marine-grade polyester or rugged nylon usually promise longevity.

Stadium seats made from aluminum will not rust like other metals will, especially if you plan to paddle board in salt water a lot. No seats should be left out on the elements if they are not being used since the sun will damage both the seat and your paddle board over time.

For tips to keep your paddle board seat in great condition as well as to see which ones we have found to be the most durable for the price read Best Seats for Paddle Boards.

#5 - Can my paddle board seat be easily transported and stored?

Most kayak-style paddle board seats are designed to be compact and lightweight for ease of transport and storage. However, kayak style seats have lots of straps and hooks that will catch on things, so we usually have a mesh carry bag for our kayak style seats so we can place the straps on hooks on the bottom of the seat and then fold the back down and put the whole thing into a mesh bag where it can dry if necessary AND the hooks and straps and such are all contained where they won’t catch on anything during transportation or storage.

Our folding chair style seats we simply fold up and carry with the included strap or by placing it over our shoulder. Since they are intended to be carried, albeit normally from a car to the beach or the stadium, they are normally light and easy to carry. They also don’t have a lot of extra straps and such that dangle loosely and can catch on things, so it is a simple matter to just fold the back down, carry it over the shoulder to the car and then toss it in.

Watch the video below to see how stable a folding chair is and how easy it is to transport and set it up.

#6 - How can I ensure that my paddle board seat will be stable while I am out on the water?

A stable kayak style paddle board seat usually latches securely onto the board, preventing any unnecessary movement while paddling. Seats with non-slip bottoms and adjustable straps that secure tightly to the board can offer enhanced stability.

The stadium style folding chairs we use have a wide horizontal bar under out legs that provide terrific stability as well as “corner-ability” on the water. All paddle boards with foam attached to prevent slippage and to make paddle boarding while kneeling bearable have a wonderful surface to simply plop your stadium style seat on. The only caveat is that some stadium style seats come with hooks to anchor the seat on to a stadium bench. The ones we recommend do not have these OR we remove them so as to not puncture our inflatable boards and ensure the horizontal bar is firmly and evenly distributing the paddler’s weight onto the board. Read our Seat Reviews for more specifics and the most stable seats.

#7 - Is there a versatile seat that can be removed from the board when not needed?

Yes, paddle board seats are meant to be removed when not in use and during storage. They simply have too many straps and things that will catch on things and scratch things when not in use. So the same way you should always remove the removable fins from underneath your board, you should also remove your chair as well as anything else you have stored underneath the bungees in between uses.

For kayak style seats, simply unclip the four corners from the d-rings attached to the board
For folding style seats, simply fold the back down and untie anything you may have attached to keep the seat from getting lost in the water should you flip your paddle board.

Watch the below video which shows how easy it is to transition between sitting and standing using a folding stadium-style seat.

#8 - Do paddle board seats have effective drainage systems?

Many kayak style seats indeed have quick-drying materials and feature special drainage designs to help wick away water. They usually have perforations to help drain out the water quickly.

Our folding chairs either have mesh or have space so the water never has anywhere to pool or sit. They are made of fast drying materials so they dry so quickly, we never worry about having to sit down on a soggy seat. One of the things that we especially like about our folding seats is the frame holds them slightly above the paddle board, so they are never sitting in water like kayak seats which rest of the board. They also do not have a lot of padding to soak up water like some of the kayak style seats have.

#9 - How much should I expect to pay for a good quality paddle board seat?

Prices can greatly vary depending on the brand, seat material, and design. You can find basic seat models as low as $20 to $30, while more premiums ones can cost over $100. It's important to balance cost with the features and quality that you require.

We have reviewed a variety of seats and typically recommend seats that are less than $50.00

For our favorite seats at a variety of price points and more information about the pros and cons read our review of the Best Seats for Paddle Boards page.

#10 - Where can I find reviews or ratings for paddle board seats?

Right here at www.SitDownPaddleBoard.com!

Since many of the best seats for paddle boarding were not originally intended for paddle boarding, we have created our own reviews. Read Best Seats for Paddle Boards.

You can find customer reviews and ratings on a variety of online platforms, including Amazon, REI, and the websites of companies that sell paddle board seats. These reviews can provide valuable firsthand insights into factors like comfort, durability, ease of installation, and overall value for money.

Last thoughts

Selecting the right paddle board seat can significantly enhance your paddleboarding experience. When you consider these commonly asked questions and factors, like comfort, durability, adjustability, and portability, you can make an informed purchasing decision that will meet your specific requirements.

Remember, getting the right paddle board seat is not just about adding an accessory to your board; it's about improving the quality of your ride, enhancing your comfort on the water, and ultimately maximizing your enjoyment of the sport.

Therefore, it's advisable to research thoroughly, read reviews, and even test a few options if possible before making your final decision.

Understand your needs, ask the right questions and seek the answers, and you'll be well on your way to finding your ideal paddle board seat. Here's to many fun and comfortable adventures on the water with your perfectly selected paddle board seat!

We hope to see you out on the water!