If you are having an uncomfortable time in your wheelchair, then you must have already thought about a seat cushion.
Seat foam cushion or high-density foam cushion will give you extra comfort and make the time spent in a wheelchair more enjoyable.
You need a wheelchair cushion, especially if you are spending your whole day in a wheelchair (for example, on your job).
Even though many wheelchair manufacturers supply you with a cushion, it might seem that you need additional one in order to make things just right.
Even a simple though of a seat cushion foam might make you feel the warmth and softness it provides.
There is nothing wrong with using more than one cushion, but it would be the best to find the one that gives you all you need – comfort and pleasure of using your wheelchair.
This post contains affiliate links. We earn a commission if you make a purchase at no extra cost to you.
Check this comparison table for a quick guide. Read the review for further details.
What Are the Benefits of Using a Wheelchair cushion?
There is no age range when we talk about wheelchair cushions and the comfort and benefits they provide.
Seat cushion foam is a perfect material for anyone to sit on – going from children to elderly.
It doesn’t matter if you need it for a short-period or long-term use, a cushion will give you want have been missing – a light touch and comfort while using a wheelchair.
- Skin conditions
If you are using your wheelchair for more than hour or two a day, you must have felt comfortable at least sometimes.
People who have been using a wheelchair for years now experienced pressure ulcers or blisters.
These medical skin conditions make sitting in a chair extremely painful and uncomfortable.
On the other side, these severe conditions take long time to heal, which mean that you wouldn’t be able to use your wheelchair at all for a while.
Sitting in a chair probably makes your body sweat, which is another uncomfortable fact about a plain wheelchair cushion.
Sweat rash is another skin condition that might cause staying in bed for some time, until the rash reduces.
Seat cushion foam prevents any of the unpleasant conditions that are both painful and limiting, as the right cushion will minimize chances of skin irritation.
- Body posture
When not feeling comfortable, some people tend to change a couple of positions, hoping that they will find the right one.
Still, this leads to improper body posture most of the times.
As you are immobilized and sit in your chair a lot, your body posture might worsen if you don’t have the right type of back support.
Seat cushion foam or high-density foam cushion will help you improve posture, which will save you from a painful back, neck, or a hip.
- Adjusting your wheelchair to your needs
If you are using a wheelchair that has everything but one simple requirement – the optimal height, then a cushion will serve.
Use seat cushion foam to raise your seating position.
Sitting at an improper height might cause restless time in a wheelchair, as you would constantly try to reach the things that you need, but you are not able to do so as you are sitting in a low position.
Once you raise to the desired height and the high density foam cushion provides you a comfortable surface to sit on, things will get much more comfortable.
What Features Should You Look For In a Seat Cushion Foam ?
We know that the reason you think of this purchase is to provide yourself, or someone you love, better and more comfortable experience while sitting in a wheelchair.
We will point out to some features that you should pay attention to when buying a cushion.
- Use a cushion that is not too soft, as it might compress easily, which means it has a short lifespan. Go for medium to extra thickness cushion.
- Check the cushion’s height, so it corrects your own height when sitting in a wheelchair to optimal.
- This further applies that you need a cushion that fits perfectly to your body. The size of a cushion depends on your body shape and your wheelchair’s seating measurements.
- If you want to be completely safe while sitting in your wheelchair, it would be best to look for a seat cushion foam with grips, so the cushion doesn’t move around. The grips are on the bottom of each cushion.
- As you will want to wash the cushion, you need one with a removable cover. You will sweat less if you get yourself seat cushion foam, but it still needs washing.
Reviews of the Best Seat Cushion Foam in 2019
Kieba designed a premium memory foam pillow with soothing gel for people who have issues with sciatic areas, spine, hips, lower back, or tailbone. As it provides firm density, you can count on extra support when sitting on it.
There is no doubt that this cushion made of therapeutic grade memory foam that is combined with gel will make you feel comfortable and safe.
Thanks to this combination, you can count on the cushion’s durability, no matter how long you sit in your wheelchair.
With a non-slip bottom of the cushion, it will not slide or make you move constantly while you are enjoying your time.
As long time sitting might cause improper body posture, you need a cushion that will your improve it and lessen pain or discomfort while sitting.
The cooling gel within the cushion reduces sweating and stabilizes your body’s temperature and relieves pressure points.
This high quality memory foam cushion provides prolonged comfort and support for disabled people.
Benefits
- Ergonomic design
- Improves your body’s posture
- Stabilizes body temperature
- Washable in machine
- Non-slippery bottom
Cons
- Some people find it too thick
- Isn’t suitable for people over 150 lbs
- Low-quality zipper
- MAXIMUM RELIEF AND COMFORT: Ultra premium memory foam layered with soothing gel technology provides ultimate support and comfort. New larger design with more gel coverage than other gel cushions. Designed to relieve pain and tension from the lower back, coccyx (tailbone), hip, spine, and sciatic areas. Firm density provides extra support.
- DURABLE: 100% Premium therapeutic grade memory foam combined with gel. Will not flatten out with prolonged use. Non-slip bottom ensures the cushion stays in place and will not shift or slide on any surface.
- ERGONOMIC: Promotes good posture, spine alignment, and healthy weight distribution for hours of comfortable sitting.
- USE ON ANY SEAT: Superior comfort for any chair, bench, car seat, plane seat, or wheelchair.
- EASY CLEANING: Removable velour cover is machine washable for easy cleaning.
Essential Medical has a wheelchair cushion that increases comfort while relieving you from any back, spinal, or neck pain.
This is a high-density foam cushion, which means it is exceptionally supportive and fluffy at the same time.
If you have ever had an issue with blisters or sweating rush, you can be assured that you will never had such experience with Essential Medical cushion.
Fleece makes the cushion’s cover breathable, so your body’s temperature will stay at optimum.
On the other side, thanks to the fleece, you the cushion never gets slippery or move left and right.
This cushion is reversible, so you can use polyester canvas type or fluffy fleece white top on the other one.
No matter how long you sit on it – it will never go flat.
The cover is washable in the machine, which takes minimum effort and time to clean it.
There is a zipper on the side, so the cover is easily removable, too.
Benefits
- Versatile
- Breathable cover
- Fleece prevents slipping and body overheating
- Supportive and fluffy
- Easy to wash
Cons
- Needs better stitching
- Be careful about the size of your wheelchair and the cushion’s size
- Needs frequent laundering
- Dense heavyweight cushion is soft for comfort but firm enough for support
- For use in wheelchairs, transport chairs, home chairs, office chairs
- Machine washable cover
- 2 sizes to choose from
- Soft fleece cover for comfort and improved skin aeration
If you need an expertly designed cushion for your wheelchair that will release pressure off sensitive areas and pain at the same time, then convoluted cushion by Hermell might be the right one for you.
It is made of materials that increase air circulation (egg crate foam), so a person sitting on it won’t warm up of it and won’t sweat – the thing that you care about most when spending a long time in your wheelchair.
This cushion provides comfort, support, and pain relief at the same time.
What else are you looking for?
Hermell produced a polyurethane cushion with the durability of it in their mind.
That is why the cushion is made of polyurethane – a durable and quality material.
This beautiful navy-blue polycotton cushion is removable and machine washable, so you can keep it clean and sanitary.
Benefits
- Relieves pressure and pain
- Fits any chair perfectly
- Egg crate foam provides good air-circulation
- Durable
- Machine-washable cover
Cons
- The cushion doesn’t have straps or ties that would secure it
- Doesn’t have a non-slip bottom
- Some customers find the cushion too thin
- EXPERT DESIGN - This egg crate foam wheelchair cushion is expertly designed to increase air circulation and act as a pressure relief cushion to assist in distributing weight to provide comfort where itâ€s needed most
- MULTI-USE - Can be used as either a car seat cushion, office chair cushion, or coccyx cushion
- SPECIFICATIONS - 17.5 in x 15.5 in x 3.5 in thick padding to help prevent pressure sores and ulcers
- DURABLE - Made from durable polyurethane egg crate foam
- EASY TO CLEAN - Removable, machine washable navy blue poly-cotton blend cover offers a quick and easy way to keep your chair cushion cover clean and sanitary.
Xtreme Comforts knows that some people enjoy sitting on large cushions, as this gives them more comfort.
If you would want to get that feeling of ultimate pleasantness while you are sitting in your wheelchair, this is the right cushion for you.
Not only that it provides comfort thanks to the padded surface, but it also improves your posture, spin alignment, releases pressure on your lower back, spine, and tailbone, and improves blood circulation.
As we already mentioned the size, 19×17.5×3.5 is the optimal measure for almost any wheelchair’s seating surface.
Once you get the fluffy, supportive, and pleasant feeling after spending a couple of minutes on this cushion, you will never get back to any other.
With the carry handle, you can easily take the cushion with you wherever you want to go.
This is ideal solution for trips, as it, first – portable, and secondly – you will enjoy every minute of the way.
A black mesh cover of the Extreme Comforts cushion is easy to take off when you want to wash it in the machine.
Benefits
- Great size
- Extra padded surface
- Improves body posture and align your spine
- Portable
- Lightweight
Cons
- A bit pricey
- Don’t fit all wheelchairs
- Might compress after a while
- COMFORTABLE FOR EXTENDED TIME: Adating to your body, our versitle car seat cushion can help you to ease some of that back and posterior discomfort. Big enough for comfort, small enough for convenience! OEKO-TEX and Certi-PUR US certified
- GREAT FOR POSTURE - This versatile home office chair cushion doesn't just promote lumbar support & relief, tailbone, and posterior discomfort - it also promotes a stronger seated posture. Enjoy lower back pain relief with this office chair back support!
- WON'T FALL OFF CHAIR - Our cushions come with a handle for travel as outdoor chair cushions or seat cushions for office chairs. The anti-slip bottom of our chair pads are designed to keep your pillow in place.
- FITS ALL TYPES OF SEATING: Could be used as a gaming chair cushion, car seat cushion, cushion for office chair, stadium seat cushion, trucking, and so much more.
- CONVENIENT CLEANING - This office chair cushion comes with a black mesh cover that isn't all looks - it's breathable and machine washable too! Remove the zippered cover and toss it in the wash for an easy clean.
- KEEPS SHAPE FOREVER: Sit on our versatile gaming chair pillow for back pain for as long as you like without worrying of flattening out. Wether you're working from home, driving, or gaming. Makes a great travel accessories; sit comfortably wherever you go
- PORTABLE: Our butt pillow is a road trip essentials for adults! Use it as a car pillow for tailbone pain relief or cushion or as a home office accessories. Take this with you anywhere you go without occupying a lot of space.
- NO MORE UNCOMFORTABLE CHAIRS: Our lumbar support pillow for office chair is a work from home essentials because it changes your you seat.This tailbone pain relief cushion takes into account weight applied and provides support where you need it most.
People that are using wheelchair due to back pain, tailbone issues, sciatica, or any other orthopedic reason will surely find the Vive cushion extremely helpful with this type of pain.
Once a person sits on this cushion, it will itself distribute the pressure evenly, so you can feel completely supported and comfortable.
Vive cushion can bear higher weights, so you don’t need to worry that it will flatten – not at all.
You will have all day long support.
One of the best features and the thing that makes this cushion stand out is the fact that it is waterproof.
There are two layers of waterproof materials, so you can be sure that no water might damage your cushion.
You still can remove the soft and luxurious cover of this cushion and wash it in a machine.
Vive gives you 60 days of unconditional guarantee to this product, which assures you of the support and professionalism this seller is providing to the customers.
Benefits
- Gel core with 4 foam layers provide maximum comfort
- Waterproof product
- Distributes the pressure evenly
- Fits all wheelchairs
- 60-day guarantee
Cons
- Non-slip bottom missing
- Some of the users think that it is heavy
- Too firm
- 4 LAYERS OF SUPPORTIVE COMFORT: (1) Water resistant cover is soft and luxurious to the touch. Easily removed for machine wash cleaning. (2) Water proof seal ensures fluids will not intrude the foam making the cushion 100% waterproof. (3) Comfortable & supportive foam which will not flatten under weight to provide all day long support (4) Liquid gel interior for comfort and even distribution of pressure.
- LIQUID GEL CORE: Dynamic fluid allows the cushion to distribute pressure evenly across the contact surface. Regular foam cushions simply can not match the pressure relief quality of gel cushions especially for pressure sores.
- WATERPROOF: Use your cushion freely and do not worry about everyday spills or wear and tear. The cushion has 2 different layers of waterproof material to ensure water will never negatively effect your cushion.
- OPTIMAL SIZE: Designed to perfectly fit standard wheelchairs and office chairs. Large enough to cushion your entire seating area yet small enough to remain portable and convenient.
- VIVE GUARANTEE: 60 day unconditional guarantee so you can purchase now with confidence.
Which Material Are Cushions Made Of?
A comfortable cushion adds thickness to your wheelchair seat.
Compare sitting on a wooden chair and sitting on a comfy, padded chair.
Which one is better?
The answer imposes itself logically.
If you have a foldable wheelchair, its seat might get shrug in time, losing it volume.
Even though foldable chairs have many benefits, you should think of a new, separate cushion that will compensate comfort and thickness of the original cushion.
When it comes to material, wheelchair cushions are usually made of foam, gel, or are filled with air.
Simply place the cushion on your wheelchair and enjoy your time again.
Seat cushion foam are the most popular, as they provide truly comfortable seating time.
Foam doesn’t compress or shrug with the time, which means the cushion won’t lose its thickness.
People like seat cushion foam because it is lightweight, and you can easily adjust it to a size of your wheelchair’s seating.
Seat gel cushion
If you feel some kind of pressure while sitting in your wheelchair, then gel cushion might interest you.
As it adjusts to your body, you will feel as if you are sitting on the cloud, not in a wheelchair.
This is an expensive wheelchair cushion version.
Inflatable cushion
Inflatable cushion is the simplest solution if you only need extra thickness.
The air within them might be a bit tricky, as once the cushion has a small hole the air will leak out.
As you can see, different types and cushions’ materials have both advantages and disadvantages, but what is sure here – they give you support, comfort, and protect you from eventual harmful medical conditions.
Final Words
Never compromise on comfort.
If you spend a lot of time in a wheelchair, it will become less and less comfortable every day.
That is why you need a cushion that will compensate it all.
Once you find the one that is just right sized, supportive, relieves you from pain, and makes you feel great while sitting in your chair – you will know that is the one.
We wrote this review so you can decide easier which seat cushion foam meets your expectations and needs the most and we hope that we did a good job here.
Our Choice
Now that we have reviewed some of the best cushions, we can summarize our impressions that might help you too.
As we mentioned the important features of the seat cushion foam, that means you need a comfortable, correct size, quality-made, non-slippery cushion.
According do these requirements, the best seat cushion foam is Waterproof 4-layer Foam Support Wheelchair Cushion by Vive is the winner.
First of all, it gives you a 60-day guarantee, which makes the company stand out instantly.
However, they designed a well-made, quality seat cushion foam mixed with gel, which is the best combination.
It provides you durability, comfort, and support.
- 4 LAYERS OF SUPPORTIVE COMFORT: (1) Water resistant cover is soft and luxurious to the touch. Easily removed for machine wash cleaning. (2) Water proof seal ensures fluids will not intrude the foam making the cushion 100% waterproof. (3) Comfortable & supportive foam which will not flatten under weight to provide all day long support (4) Liquid gel interior for comfort and even distribution of pressure.
- LIQUID GEL CORE: Dynamic fluid allows the cushion to distribute pressure evenly across the contact surface. Regular foam cushions simply can not match the pressure relief quality of gel cushions especially for pressure sores.
- WATERPROOF: Use your cushion freely and do not worry about everyday spills or wear and tear. The cushion has 2 different layers of waterproof material to ensure water will never negatively effect your cushion.
- OPTIMAL SIZE: Designed to perfectly fit standard wheelchairs and office chairs. Large enough to cushion your entire seating area yet small enough to remain portable and convenient.
- VIVE GUARANTEE: 60 day unconditional guarantee so you can purchase now with confidence.