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When I originally purchased my Fatstick iSUP I also got a SUP seat as part of the paddle board package. It seemed like a great optional extra to have which would add to the versatility of the board. Somehow I never quite got around to using it, until now.
It’s taken me 4 years and moving first to the other side of the world and then to the other side of the country to finally try it out. So I dusted of my SUP seat and attached it to my paddle board. I wanted to see if the SUP seat is a must have or just another gimmick. Here’s what I discovered;
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Pro’s of having a SUP seat on your Paddle Board
Having the SUP seat attachment makes sitting on your paddle board more comfortable. This is certainly a bonus if you plan to spend a lot of time sitting and paddling. Situations this comes in handy are when you are going on longer paddles and if you suffer from sore feet from standing too long. You may also spend more time sitting and paddling in windy conditions which can make stand up paddling more difficult.
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Other situations you may require added comfort and support while sitting and paddling include having back problems. If you experience pain from sitting with your legs out straight in front of you, a SUP seat is a good addition to you paddle board.
Another benefit of having a SUP seat attached to your paddle board is that it can also provide you with extra storage. Most SUP seats have a pocket behind the back rest. This extra pocket is handy for items such as sunscreen or water bottles.
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Cons of having a SUP seat on your Paddle Board
The down side of having a SUP seat on your paddle board is that there is extra set up time. This is primarily the case with the first time you use the SUP seat. The four attachment chord bundles need to be adjusted to the correct length. Although this isn’t a huge inconvenience, there are a lot of chords to keep from tangling up and a bit of patience is required.
The SUP seat can also make you paddle board more difficult to carry. The extra weight isn’t evenly balanced on the board. This weighs down the back end making single person portage more difficult.
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The SUP seat is situated further back on the board past the mid point handle. When sitting in the SUP seat the back end of the board will sit lower in the water. This means that your fins have less clearance in shallow conditions.
The final con I discovered in having a SUP seat on your paddle board is that it’s in the way. The SUP seat is an obsticle getting on and off the board. It also makes changing into the standing position more difficult.
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An option for those paddlers not wanting to attach D Rings to their board is this stadium seat cushion.
Do you need a SUP seat?
From the above list of Pros and Cons it looks like I would say no. I found that there are more down sides to having a SUP seat. However in the right conditions I think the fewer Pros out weigh the many Cons. For paddlers who enjoy sitting I think they are a great option. I think SUP seats are also good in certain conditions such as windy conditions or when the water is choppy or has waves.
I am glad that I got my SUP seat with my paddle board as I possibly wouldn’t have bought it as an extra. It hs taken me four years to use it after all! But I am glad that I have gotten the opportunity to try something that I wouldn’t normally have. It might be fun to use SUP surfing!
Can you attach a SUP seat to any inflatable Board?
Most SUP seats come with hock attachments which connect to D-rings on the paddle board. If you don’t already have d-rings on your paddle board you can purchase a set and attach them yourself.
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There are a range of colours to chose from to match the material that you board is made out of.
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