Seats, money well spent?????

Everytime I purchase a new motorcycle the first upgrade is the seat and I always feel as it was the best money I have spent and the best upgrade.  My question: is it the same for a kayak?  are there other upgrades such as a paddle that should come first?  Any suggestions on what type of seat would be much appreciated as well.  Currently I have your standard run of the mill surf to summit low back.

Depends on how much 'personal' cushion you have of your own; I had enough to really not affect me my first day out.

But I did get me a new cusion for the next ride on the water...

Upgrading my kayak seat made a huge difference!  Especaially if your dealing with back pains.
My first upgrade I made on my motorcycle was a Power Commander & Exhaust 

Upgrading my kayak seat made a huge difference!  Especaially if your dealing with back pains.

+1

My lower back is jacked and having a cushy seat/back support really has made time OTW a lot more enjoyable, and the night after a lot less painful!!

Sincerely,

Jim

yeah I ditched the stock OK and Hobie seats. I also added a but pad. Next to safety comfort is #1 (I guess that makes in #2)

No need to spend a lot.  A really nice seat is on my list of things to spend several hundred dollars on, but meanwhile a gardening knee pad has served me well, for like $4.  Avoid the dense open-cell foam ones at Walmart...  look for the cushy ones that sorta have a coating on them.

http://www.gardenkneeler.org/images/black-and-decker-deluxe-garden-kneeling-pad.jpg

I use a pad for extra comfort on freshwater. On saltwater, a pad or cushion can raise your COG enough to create some instability depending on your yak and how thick the seat pad is. Probably not a problem OTW but in the surf zone maybe not ideal.

EWB you said you ditched your Hobie seat what did you end-up with.

Pat R

No need to spend a lot.  A really nice seat is on my list of things to spend several hundred dollars on, but meanwhile a gardening knee pad has served me well, for like $4.  Avoid the dense open-cell foam ones at Walmart...  look for the cushy ones that sorta have a coating on them.

http://www.gardenkneeler.org/images/black-and-decker-deluxe-garden-kneeling-pad.jpg

Yep, a garden pad makes a huge difference for me as well. That said, I think a decent seat makes a difference, too. Gotta be able to adjust the seat to fit your body.

I like both my Hobie seats, and bought a Surf2Summit rip-off from Ebay for my X-Factor which works fairly well.  The OK seats sucked IMHO, but at least they came with one.  I guess i'm trying to say if your un-happy, yes invest. But its hard to shell out a a couple hundred dollars for a nice one.

I use a cheap seat, but my a$$ hurts after 8 hours of fishing.

Crack of dawn sold a high back hard back seat I really like (bought 3) They warrenteed one that fabric frayed on, no questions... Thin and comfortable... Didn't see my model on their site? might not be available. Ebay? Nice seats make a big difference. So does a nice paddle!!!

Thanks for all the responses fellows.   I suspected that a seat wouild make a huge difference.  I will post up what I get and offer my opinion after i put some seat time in