KIT TESTED: Airhawk seat cushion

Jonathan Schofield / £109.96 / www.sportouring.com

As the years have gathered pace and my mental state has not bothered to keep up, I am reminded by certain parts of my body that I need to slow down or take more care. My butt being one of those body parts that has recently decided to make its discomfort known.

With that in mind, I have been looking at which of the many comfort seat additions on the market would suit my budget and the bike I was riding.

The one that I have spent time using up to now is the Airhawk®. A company that has been supplying patented ‘Air Cell Technology’ seat cushions to the transportation and recreational industries since 1997. In early 2015, AIRHAWK International LLC acquired the AIRHAWK® brand, product lines, manufacturing, and distribution for all motorsports, office, and additional non-medical product applications.

My posterior was blessed with the ‘Cruiser Medium’, but there are many different sizes and styles to match the kind of machine you are riding.

The build of the cushion consists of a unique inflatable, multi-cell air pad made from polyurethane, which is then covered in a stretchable fabric on top, with breathable mesh sides and non-slip material on the bottom that contacts your existing seat. This is held in place with two elasticated and adjustable staps, so it’s super-easy to fit so I had no problems whatsoever. The ‘groundbreaking’ (that’s their wording) technology was originally invented for wheelchair users, who are obviously in the same seated position for many hours at a time, so adapting this for use in the transportation market was a positive move.

Once you have fitted the cushion, it’s a relatively easy process to inflate the bladder by blowing into it until it is firm, then while sitting on the cushion, you slowly release the air pressure until you are only about 5-10mm away from the original seat.

For the first few miles it is a strange sensation, feeling almost as if you are slipping around a little. My hips were sore after my first 100 miles but that soon disappeared as I got more and more used to relaxing and not turning to grip with my inner thighs. It took probably about three or four adjustments, a little more air, a little less, to find that sweet spot and then the difference was marked. It almost looked flat, as if I had forgotten to blow it up, but it was just enough to add another level of comfort that I was immensely grateful for when I took my first-ever cruiser out for a 300-mile blast.

I am interested to try other brands and styles of posterior protection, but right now I am happy with how much the Airhawk® has increased my riding comfort.