Seat comfort and the icomfort pad…

Well the icomfort seat pads add a lot to the overall comfort of the ride without making the kayak perceivingly more tippy. However the statement by Hobie that it can be used in conjunction with the original seat pads is a bit optimistic for the casual DIY’er. The seat pegs really don’t have a long enough shoulder to go through 3 thick pieces of Velcro and material, it can be done with perseverance and the right tools but it isn’t easy. Compound that with the fact that Hobie decided to pre-punch two (way too small) holes at the wrong spacing in the icomfort seats and that will compound the problems of the installation.

I also noticed that slumping in the seat to get the seat back up higher on my back relieved a lot of back pain so I’m thinking that a high back seat will work better for back pain. I will definitely be looking for a better seat in the future.

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2011 Oasis with Sail and AMA's
2011 Necky Looksha 14

IMO, the i-comfort seat pad works every bit as well without the original (detachable) pad -- makes it much easier to install and lets you sit a little bit lower against the seatback. This gives you better back support, a more stable seat bottom and a slightly lower center of gravity.

Did you try it together with the existing seat pad, because IMO Hobie hasn't tried it or they wouldn't say it could be done so casually

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2011 Oasis with Sail and AMA's
2011 Necky Looksha 14

Yes, I've tried it both ways. On my boats I have removed all the original seat bottoms and replaced them with the i-comfort pads. But I have an extra pad so if I need to use somebody else's boat, without bothering to change seats I can just put the pad on top of the original seat bottom and pull it off when done.

I can't tell any difference in comfort with or without double pads as long as I get to sit directly on the i-comfort. Everybody is a little different though -- you can give it a try and see what you think.

BTW, I think the i-comfort pad is at its best with just a little air removed -- little more give but still plenty of cushion.

the icomfort pad does not need to be installed with the seatplugs through. its easier to just use the velcro.

I don’t see how you could do that since the Velcro area goes right over the seat peg holes.

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2011 Oasis with Sail and AMA's
2011 Necky Looksha 14

lift the two "flaps" that cover the pegs, press the icomfort pad down onto the velcro (correct side down) so the pad velcro is now covering the pegs, push the flaps down onto the velcro of the pad, all done easy and it works!

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Hobie Adventure Island (Yellow Papaya)
Hobie Tandem Island (Yellow Papaya)

Exactly! glad you can explain it better jms

Yep, thats how I attach the I-comfort seat...just lift the velcro end flaps, place pad on top of existing velcro and seat peg rings, then put velcro flap back on....I go down the hiway like this and it stays fine.