10 best car seat cushions for long drives
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Writer’s note: The following listicle was originally published on July 13, 2020 at the now-defunct website Ram Research. There were originally 15 options, nine of which are no longer available. The listicle has been lightly edited for technical details and readability. (If you’re interested in reading more top 10-, 15- and 20 lists for your home upgrades, click here.)
Due to the popularity of this post, four more have been added (total of 10). For holiday vacation planners and road trippers, safe travels.
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There are three groups of people when it comes to road trips — those who love to hang out in the passenger and backseat to enjoy the view, those who can’t wait to get behind the wheel, and those who want to stay as far away from long trips as possible. Chances are high that if you’re looking at this post about the best car seat cushion for long drives, you fall into the first two groups. But maybe if you’re in the third group, it’s because you have not found the best car seat comfort cushions to make you comfortable during your commute.
Granted, there are health concerns with being a long-term commuter, including obesity, feeling psychologically distressed, sleeping poorly and being less likely to get eight hours of sleep. But feeling comfortable during the ride, exploring new places, meeting new people and de-stressing away from your workplace are all reasons why road trippers thrive. While these recommendations for the best seat cushion can’t promise you won’t deal with an occasional road rage driver or traffic jam, it will help you find ways to have a more comfortable ride.
1. FORTEM
The ergonomic car seat cushions are designed for comfort and to relieve pain. While proper posture should be a priority regardless, people with back issues should be especially concerned with putting extra pressure on their coccyx (tailbones). The FORTEM lumbar support pillow has lower back support in mind. And because the two are separate, they can be adjusted for size and height.
Key Features
5 inches x 13.5 inches x 3 inches
Non-skid bottom on seat cushion
Strap for support pillow to fit on larger seats
These 100%, premium-quality, thick memory foam car seats have velour, mesh covers that are both fashionable for your car and comfortable to lean on. The support pillow helps to hold up your lower back’s natural curve; stop you from slouching; and prevents pressure on the tailbone, spine, hips and thighs.
The U-shaped design with a cut-out relieves pressure, and is ideal for passengers with sore backs, inflamed hemorrhoids, a herniated disc, tailbone injuries and sciatica nerve damage. The shape of the cushion also may be particularly helpful for pregnant women and wheelchair riders.
Cons
Several users complained that dye stained their car seats
If/when you clean/vacuum your car interior, remember to take off the 3D ventilated mesh cover and wash with your next load. Cool enough to avoid excess body heat and is easy to clean off when need be, these seat cushions are compatible with cars, vans, trucks and SUVs. Use the carrying handle to transport to multiple vehicles. And if your next vacation is on a train, bus or plane, you can use this cushion to prevent discomfort too. Just make sure the flight attendant is OK with the cushion once the seat belt click signs are on.
2. Xtreme Comforts
The Global Coalition of Aging reports that traveling “challenges the brain with new and different experiences and environments.” Besides the networking opportunities and promoting brain health, it’s a way to enjoy the spontaneous and optimistic side of your personality. But that still leaves physical health issues that must be conquered. Without quality, comfortable seats, prolonged seating can result in back pain, horrible posture and numb buttocks.
Key Features
19 inches x 17.5 inches x 3.5 inches
Carry handle for portability
Machine-washable mesh cover
With air circulation and breathability, this durable seat cushion should stay cooler on long rides. With a two-layer foam system, the cushion reportedly will never permanently flatten down. The anti-slip bottom should also stay in place.
The cushion is intended for large seating. (Car seats are guesstimated to be about 18 inches, but the “large” size depends heavily on the car make and model.) If/when the mesh cover needs to be cleaned, simply unzip it and wash in cold water. The cover can also go in an electric dryer.
Cons
Various seat cushion reviewers complained that material was itchy on bare legs
While this seat is intended for cars, SUVs and trucks, it can also come in handy as a kneeling pad cushion for yoga classes and make those hard benches at sporting events a little easier on the butt and back.
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3. Big Ant
If the inside of your car screams “I have kids,” these are the best car seat comfort cushions for you.
Key Features
6 inches x 25.39 inches
Four-seasons design protects against dirt, scratches, indentations, wearing
Non-slip, rubber-soled cover
This waterproof seat, which is available in black or grey, stays in place with the help of two plastic chucks (for the back of the seat), two metal hooks (for the hitch underneath the seat) and elastic (for adjusting). Its anti-scratch material makes it sturdy to sit on. And with heat-insulated cloth, it is ideally comfortable on the hips.
Cons
Car seat cushions (6.5 inches) may not cover all smartphones, wallets or larger items
The two pockets on the front of the seat cushion won’t get much use if someone is sitting in the seat. However, if you’re riding solo (or with kids in the back), you can use the two pockets to keep thinner items in an upright position.
4. Bod
The ergonomic design intends to support your legs, back and rear end. With lumbar support, this cushion is made to support healthy posture.
Key Features
14 inches x 17.5 inches x 6.5 inches
Removable velour cover
Medium-density memory foam
With anti-slip bottom beads and straps, a durable zipper, high-quality buckles and durable stitching, this cushion set intends to be best friends with your entire body. The pillow’s soft exterior ideally helps you snuggle into the seat, regardless of any physical ailments.
Cons
Back buckle may slide down the seat
Machine washable and lightweight, this cushion is as easy to carry as it is to clean. And even with its posture perks and comfort, if this seat still isn’t for you, it has a lifetime warranty.
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5. ComfiLife
With a name like “ComfiLife” printed right on the cushion, there’s a lot of pressure on the manufacturers to make sure that this premium, high-density memory foam has noticeable comfort. ComfiLife also promises to be a stress reliever, energy booster and relief for back pain.
Key Features
6 inches x 13.8 inches x 2.8 inches
Built-in handle
Machine washable, zippered velour cover
The non-slip rubber bottom keeps the cushion in place. With gel memory foam, the inner material is designed to provide cooling comfort for your tailbone and back. And unlike traditional foam, the shape can easily change depending on who sits on it. (With traditional foam that is not of good quality, it may take longer times — or not at all — to reshape to fit each body.)
Ergonomically designed for maximum support, this may be an ideal cushion for those with spinal issues, pregnancy pain, tailbone injuries and back problems.
Cons
Several users thought the gel seat was too hard
If this car seat cushion does not meet your expectations, there is a money-back guarantee. But before you get the idea to return it, take advantage of its portability with the built-in handle. Use it in your office, chair, plane seat and anywhere else where you may find yourself having physical problems while sitting.
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6. Purple
This hyper-elastic polymer seat cushion may look like a strange toy, but it is intended to relieve the same back, leg, hip and rear problems as all the other seat cushions for long drives.
Key Features
18 inches x 16 inches x 1.25 inches
Carry-on handle
Temperature-neutral material
The royal purple cushion has a polyester design with seat technology that comes in multiple designs, including Ultimate Seat Cushion, Double Seat Cushion, Royal Seat Cushion, Simply Seat Cushion and Portable Seat Cushion. All shaped differently with innovative science and technology to back up each car seat cushion’s focus area, the other cushion pads can be washed in cold water. Tumble dry on low heat. The Purple cushion specifically should be washed with warm water and mild detergent.
Cons
Do not put in electric dryer
If you’re worried about a hot seat after long travel, no worries with this pad. The Simply perfect cushion has built-in, free flowing air channels to keep temperature neutral for short and long rides.
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7. MYFAMIREA
With quality air circulation and breathable material, this seat cushion prevents sweating and keeps your body cool.
Key Features
Mesh material
Thickness of 1.18 inches
Pad measures 19.3 inches in length and 18.1 inches in width
The bottom pad is made with anti-slip rubber to avoid the car cushion seat shifting all over the place as you get in and out of the car. Additionally, the rubber will prevent the seat from ending up on the floor.
Cons
Rubber doesn’t keep it in place as much as the seat buckles, which may be complicated to add in the gap of your car seat the first time. (One user chose to just push the clips as far into the driver’s seat as possible.)
This is also a lightweight seat in case you want to move it from one car to the next, or even from your home office to your corporate desk seat.
8. Lofty Aim
The car seat foam encourages support to the tail area and can relieve lower back pain from sciatica.
Key Features
Available in eight color variations
Ergonomic “w” shape for legs
High-density memory foam
Wrapped in a hybrid premium leather and breathable mesh, this seat is stain resistant and is easy to clean. It also allows for increased vision from the front of the car with an additional 2.5 inches in height. The non-slip base should stay firmly in place.
Cons
Mixed opinions about whether it actually helped pain
Increased discomfort under one user’s legs
The portable hand strap makes it convenient to travel with from car to car or office to home.
9. ZIKEE
Yes, it looks sorta like a butt, and that makes it that much more comfortable to sit on. It conforms to your body, and (ideally) helps to reduce lower back pain and discomfort in the buttocks by softening bumps in the road.
Key Features
Available in black and grey
Honeycomb TPE gel
Slow-rebound memory foam
This car cushion pillow features a gel that is matched with a mesh cover to optimize air circulation. This helps to reduce sweating and the risk of hemorrhoids. It also dissipates heat, including in hot weather. The front-low design on the car cushion seat makes it easier to reach the gas pedal and brake. The rear-high design impacts the driver's sitting height and expands the driving view for safer driving.
Cons
Mixed opinions on comfort level sitting on the car cushion seat, especially while wearing shorts
This car seat pillow is equipped with secure round buckles to fit various car seats.
10. TushGuard
Specifically designed for people who sit for extended periods, this car seat cushion has larger and thicker sizes.
Key Features
Available in large and X-large
Proprietary patent design
Premium elastic gel ice pad
The breathable material is designed for comfort, and the zippered outer cover can be washed in a regular washing machine. The nonslip cover should also come in handy, so the car seat isn’t sliding all over the place when you stop at a gas station or grab lunch.
Cons
Multiple users said it flattened and lost its shape after a few uses.
This car seat cushion should help to ease pain from the tailbone, sciatica, coccyx and lumbar.
Bottom Line
Just as every piece of furniture isn’t ideal for every household, every car seat cushion won’t be ideal for every person’s body. If you’ve read reviews for these items and it gives you memories of Goldilocks, that’s not by accident. Where one person may find the best car seat cushion to be “too hard” and another thinks it’s “flat as a pancake,” quite a bit of that depends on each person’s individual physical concerns, weight, height, car and multiple other factors.
You may want to check around in stores before ordering online. Whether you’d like to test lumbar support chairs, memory foam, artificial leather or other common features found in chair cushions, first, find what works best for your body type.
Second, make sure that the chair cushion dimensions comfortably fit on your seats. Flat-back cushion chairs won’t work well with rounded seats.
Third, light-colored seats may not be ideal for heavily dyed cushion chairs. It is much easier (and cheaper) to replace a chair cushion versus damage to a passenger’s seat or driver’s seat.
And finally, make sure that the seat cushion focuses on your problem areas. If posture is not a problem for you but leg support is, confirm before purchase whether its design supports certain parts of your body.
With these suggested steps above, hopefully you can find a cushion that will make you want to be a road warrior.
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