The 7 Best Motorcycle Seat Cushions
Updated by · How we research
Air, gel and mesh motorcycle seat pads compared for long rides, passengers and hot weather. The Airhawk Cruiser R Large leads for its linked air cells. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
A seat cushion sits on top of the saddle you already have, so it raises you a little and can't fix a seat with the wrong shape. What it can do is spread your weight and ease sore spots on long days. These picks suit touring riders, passengers, adventure riders and anyone sitting on a seat baked by summer sun.
From the manual
- Fill it by mouth, sit with feet on the pegs, let air out until you sink in, about half an inch off the seat. steps 2-5
- Once it's set, lean side to side: you should feel air shift slightly beneath you, and if a lot moves, let more out. step 6
- Loops on the cover take a strap or rope under the seat, but the non-skid base also lets you ride it unstrapped. attaching
- Keep oil-based lotions, lanolin and phenolic disinfectants off the cells. A standard inner-tube patch will do in an emergency. cleaning, patching
Airhawk motorcycle cushion setup and care instructions (maker page)
From the manual
- Fill it no more than half full by mouth through the twist valve under your left rear pocket, then let air out while seated. FAQ: air
- If you have to re-aim your mirrors after sitting down, there's too much air; the target is 1/8 to 1/4 inch off the seat. FAQ: air
- Run both straps through the cover beneath the air bladder, not over it, then around or under the seat. FAQ: attaching
- It can be ridden with no air at all, cushioning you on its gel pads alone. product page
From the manual
- Set the air while seated in riding position with feet on the pegs; Airhawk says it works best with as little air as possible. steps 4-5
- Scrub the deflated cells with diluted dish soap; machine wash the cover cold and air dry it, with no heat or bleach. cleaning
- Out-of-warranty repairs carry a minimum fee plus shipping, and any return needs Airhawk's prior approval and a restocking charge. repairs, returns
Airhawk motorcycle cushion setup and care instructions (maker page)
From the manual
- Don't machine wash or tumble dry it; hose it off on low pressure and let the cover and insert air dry before refitting. care
- The Cruiser and Large versions share one footprint but differ in shape: Cruiser for scooped saddles, Large for flat solo seats. size guide
- A manufacturing defect gets a free replacement cover under its lifetime warranty, with no need to send the old one back. warranty
From the manual
- It's all polyurethane with no gel, so it can't be ridden deflated; it needs air to cushion you. material guide
- Machine wash the polyester cover in cold water, skip bleach and the dryer, and wipe the bladder with a damp cloth. FAQ: care
- The two-year warranty starts at purchase, and direct orders can come back within 30 days with no restocking fee. FAQ: warranty, returns
Editor's Notes
November 5, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
We checked each pick against its maker's own pages, added setup and care notes from Airhawk's, Wild Ass's and Badass Moto's instructions, and searched the CPSC recall list, which shows nothing for these brands. We also corrected our October note, which said the Skwoosh, Pro Pad and Alaska Leather pads were no longer sold, brought the inflation advice in line with the makers' method, and fixed how the passenger pad grips the seat.
October 23, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
The Airhawk Cruiser R Large holds on to the top spot because it's still sold, still made in the U.S., and has the longest record of riders putting serious miles on it. Most of the old list was replaced, though. The Conformax Topper Excel, Skwoosh Classic, Alaskan Leather Buttpad, Air Seat Innovations Cruiser, Pro Pad Tech Series SuprCruzr, ASI Air Pad, Born Behind Barz Gel and Heran Water Cooling are out. Skwoosh, Pro Pad and Alaska Leather still sell their pads on their own sites, if you liked one of those. The Badass Moto Airflow stays for hot days.
The new picks are the Wild Ass Smart Airgel and the lighter Wild Ass Smart Lite, the Airhawk Dual Sport for narrow seats, the Grand Pitstop Gel Cushion for tight budgets and the SKYJDM Passenger Cushion for whoever rides behind you. Most cheap gel pads are near-copies of one another, so we picked one for the rider and one for the passenger rather than listing five twins.
The evidence here is mostly Airhawk's and Wild Ass's own fit and inflation guidance, Saddlemen's pad sizing, and what riders report after long seasons of use, such as pads that slide, trap heat or split at the seams.
Earlier notes
November 26, 2020, by Luke Mitchell:
As someone who is currently riding from southern Vietnam to the Chinese border, north of Hanoi, I view this list wishing that I'd had the foresight to purchase a seat cushion for my trusty Honda when I had the opportunity back in Saigon. Long days in the saddle can be extremely unforgiving on the pelvis, inner thighs, and tailbone, and the respite offered by an extra layer of padding can add hours of comfortable riding to your day.
When reviewing our list for this latest update, we opted to include the ASI Air Pad, which is ideal when coupled with the Air Seat Innovations Cruiser to allow both driver and pillion to ride in comfort. These particular models are especially good for improving circulation on long rides, alleviating the dreaded "pins and needles" below the waistline.
The Badass Moto 3D Mesh was our next inclusion, and, while this provides less cushioning than most models, it is not bulky and hugs the lines of your existing seat, while providing significant airflow between the legs. Its rectangular profile makes it ideal for use with long, thin seats, as can be found on many classic models, cafe racers, and off-roaders. This would be the ideal choice for my XR 150 dirt bike, for example.
Lastly, we selected the Heran Water Cooling for our list, as, while it may not be the most aesthetically appealing model, it is both versatile and well recommended in terms of comfort. It has the distinction of being able to be filled with either air or water; the latter adding a cooling element to your rear, while its modular design allows the apparent wind to flow freely between you and your bike.
February 6, 2019, by Chase Brush:
There are a number of things to consider when shopping for a motorcycle seat cushion. Size is one, and since most options out there are not bike brand or even model specific, you want to make sure whatever you buy has the right shape for your particular saddle. Thickness is another, since not only will that affect your over comfort level, but it may also impair your riding position. After looking at over a dozen options, we found the Airhawk R-REVB to be best for most people, in part because it allows you to adjust the pressure -- and, by extension, its thickness and comfort -- of its inflatable cells.
Special Honors
Saddlemen SaddleGel Comfort Pads Saddlemen, which makes replacement seats, also sells gel pads that strap onto a stock seat. They come in sizes from medium up to extra-extra-large, with a fleece, technical fabric or soft stretch cover, and they're sold direct from the maker. saddlemen.com
David Scott Co Motorcycle Gel Seat Pad This U.S.-made viscoelastic gel sheet comes from a company that makes gel positioners for hospitals. It can be trimmed to your seat's shape and used on top of the seat or under the cover, and it comes in two thicknesses. davidscottco.com
Corbin Custom Saddles When a pad can't fix a badly shaped seat, Corbin builds replacement saddles for a long list of bikes at its factory in Hollister, California, and it has been at it since 1968. corbin.com
Air, Gel Or Mesh
Mesh covers, such as the Badass Moto Airflow, are about airflow, not padding.
Air pads use rows of small cells joined by channels, so air shifts away from the spots that press hardest and spreads your weight out. Wild Ass says air works best on rides of more than about two hours and that its pads add only about a quarter inch of height. Those are the maker's claims, but the idea is the same one used in wheelchair cushions. The catch is inflation: too much air makes the pad hard and wobbly, and too little lets you sink through. Airhawk and Wild Ass both say to put air in first, sit in your riding position with your feet on the pegs, and then let air out until you barely float off the seat. Paul Johnston, a lifelong rider and AMA Charter Life Member who reviews gear for WebBikeWorld, gave the same advice in 2023: inflate the cushion "as little as possible, to just barely float your butt off the seat."
Gel pads need no setup. A viscoelastic gel sheet like the David Scott Co motorcycle pad comes in a quarter-inch or half-inch thickness and can be trimmed to fit or slipped under a seat cover. The low-cost honeycomb pads are a soft rubbery gel molded into cells. A honeycomb gel pad like the Grand Pitstop weighs more than the all-air pads here, though, and gel can hold heat after the bike sits in the sun.
Mesh covers, such as the Badass Moto Airflow, are about airflow, not padding. They help a seat that's fine but hot, and they drain when it rains.
Fit, Height And Staying Put
Measure your seat before you buy. Saddlemen sells its gel pads in a range of sizes and suggests comparing its pad sizes with your seat. Wild Ass matches its shapes to your seat's width where you sit and says a pad shouldn't hang more than about an inch past the edge. A pad that hangs over the edge pushes on your thighs and makes it harder to reach the ground.
Every pad raises you. An air pad adds very little, while thick gel pads add more. Short riders should check that they can still reach the ground with both feet at a stop.
Straps matter as much as padding. Look for a non-skid base and straps that hook under the seat or around the frame. Tuck loose strap ends away from the chain, belt and rear wheel, and recheck them after the first ride, because a pad that shifts under braking is a distraction you don't need.
When A Pad Isn't Enough
A pad is a patch. If your seat slopes you into the tank or is too narrow for your hips, a cushion only adds a layer on top of the wrong shape. A reshaped or replacement seat fixes the cause. Corbin has built motorcycle saddles in Hollister, California, since 1968, and Saddlemen and Sargent make replacement seats for many popular bikes.
Riding habits help too. Stand on the pegs for a few seconds every half hour, shift your weight, and wear padded shorts or seamless underwear on long days. Pain that spreads into your legs or lasts after the ride is worth a doctor's visit, since some makers' health claims for their pads haven't been tested independently.
How we researched this
We compared 24 seat cushions and covers, including all 10 from the old list. None of the seven picks has an owner's manual online, so we read the makers' own pages instead: Airhawk's inflation and care instructions and its Cruiser R Large and Dual Sport spec pages, Wild Ass's FAQ, material guide and Smart product pages, and Badass Moto's 3D Mesh sizing and care page, while the Grand Pitstop and SKYJDM details come from store copies of their listings because neither maker publishes a page for these pads. Paul Johnston's 2023 WebBikeWorld review of two Wild Ass pads backed up the makers' inflation advice. A search of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's recall database on November 5, 2026 found no recalls for Airhawk, Wild Ass, Grand Pitstop, SKYJDM or Badass Moto.
Sources (13)
- Airhawk: motorcycle cushions
- Wild Ass: best motorcycle seat cushion for long rides
- Saddlemen: SaddleGel comfort pads
- David Scott Co: motorcycle gel seat pad
- Corbin: motorcycle seats
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: SaferProducts.gov
- Airhawk: how to adjust the motorcycle cushion
- Airhawk: Cruiser R Large
- Airhawk: Dual Sport
- Wild Ass: FAQ (setup, care, warranty)
- Wild Ass: seat cushion material guide
- Badass Moto: 3D Mesh motorcycle seat cover
- WebBikeWorld: Wild Ass seat cushion review (Paul Johnston, 2023)
Frequently asked questions
Do motorcycle seat cushions help on long rides?
They can. A good pad spreads your weight and takes pressure off the tailbone and sit bones, which delays the ache that builds after a few hours. It won't fix a seat with the wrong shape; for that, a reshaped or replacement seat is the cure.
Is a gel or an air seat pad better?
All-air pads are lighter, adjustable and spread weight well, but you have to set the air right. Gel pads need no setup and often cost less, but the honeycomb kind is heavier and can hold heat in the sun. Wild Ass's Air Gel mixes the two, and its maker says it can be ridden with no air at all.
Will a seat cushion make my bike taller?
A little. Wild Ass says its air pads add about a quarter inch, and thick gel pads add more. If you can barely reach the ground now, choose a thin air pad.
How do I keep a seat pad from sliding?
Pick one with a non-skid base and straps that hook under the seat or around the frame. Pull the straps snug, tuck the loose ends away from the chain and wheel, and check them again after the first ride.
Is there a seat cushion for the passenger?
Yes. Small pads made for pillion seats, such as the SKYJDM Passenger Cushion, strap onto the back seat. Measure the passenger seat first, since many are narrow.
