The 5 Best Air Cushions [Ranked]

The Extend Medical Supply

The first inflatable air cushion we took a look at was the Extend Medical Supply seat cushion. Extend Medical says that its waffle design is engineered to provide stress-free sitting experiences on account of its pressure-point elimination technology.

• This air cushion technology entails ring-shaped apertures in the cushion mean that your body weight is distributed evenly across the seating surface, eliminating the painful buildup of pressure throughout your body and lower back.
• Extend Medical also say that the included air pump makes it simple to inflate the cushion, and that it will also hold inflations for long periods of time, providing durable cushioning for bed sores.
• In general, some of the benefits include an easy portability, the elimination of painful pressure when you are sitting, an adaptive design to fit different seating surfaces, a rugged build material that resists air leakage, and an inflatable design that in some respects is more sophisticated than a foam or gel seat cushion.
• This waffle air cushion is ideal, the manufacturers say, to help deal with pain and discomfort associated with post-surgical recoveries, injuries to deep tissue, and general sitting pain management.
• One elderly buyer who weighs over 300 pounds says that this cushion has been a lifesaver her to her-she uses it as an inflatable chair pad.
• Another buyer we interviewed said that they even filled it with water to provide a different surface feel, rather than air.
• Another fibromyalgia sufferer we interviewed told us that they covered their waffle air cushion in a pillowcase so that it wouldn't slide around when its user fell asleep in his sofa chair.
• Another buyer we interviewed told us that they suffer from an autoimmune disease that creates general pain and malaise, especially when sitting.
• They have found that using this inflated air pillow relieves a lot of the painful sensitivity that was preventing her from a nights rest.
• Other senior citizen reviewers tell us that it's important not to over inflate the cushion- you'll want to take it easy when inflating it, really only using a couple pushes from the pump to get it inflated. This is because the way these cushions work is that once there's some air inside of them, and you put your weight on it, the air will disperse inside and conform to your body's shape.
• Another reviewer who suffers from lupus and obesity and says that their sitting life is much more sustainable- because they are stationary so much of the day, purchasing a wheelchair air cushion that was responsive to their autoimmune disorder was a necessity.
• Another reviewer we interviewed and said that they suffered from post-surgical bedsores and because they are so excruciatingly thin that they are bones could not comfortably settled on hard sitting surfaces.
• This is where air cushion technology helped the most- because of its low profile she was able to lay on top of it in bed the way she couldn't with higher-elevated cushions like donut-shaped options.

The Drive Medical

The second option we examined was the Drive Medical adjustable air cushion. Drive says that their inflating cushion is specifically engineered to help distribute weight and pressure, increasing the sitter's blood flow to ensure that their tissue is healthfully maintained.

• It ships with a hand pump so that you can customize the level of inflation and body conformity to help you or the patient you are caregiving to achieve maximum comfort.
• As a pressure management tool, this is a high-end option from a renowned brand at promises to provide complete security and stability while ensuring the reduction and prevention of pressure ulcers.

The Roho

The third option we looked at was the Roho wheelchair cushion- it ships with a repair kit and an air pump and Roho includes a 24 month warranty. It measures 18" x 16" and is designed with high-profile air bubble cushions called 'cells' that are designed to therapeutically decrease pressure in the body, specifically indicated to decrease risk for the development of ischemic ulcers.

• Sometimes it makes sense to confer with a physician or physical therapist prior to purchasing one of these low-profile air cushions, specifically if you are looking to deal with pressure sores.
• One buyer we interviewed had purchased it for their elderly mother who was suffering from an advanced stage pressure wound. The wound was irascible, bloody and itchy, but soon after purchasing this Roho wheelchair cushion and inserting it into her Lazy Boy sleeping sofa, the bedsore began to decrease over the course of several weeks.
• Other reviewers concur, saying that many of the physical rehabilitation specialists they spoke with endorse it as a premier option for preventing skin breakdown.

The Roho Airhawk

The fourth option we took a look at was the Roho Airhawk truck comfort cushion- this one is specifically designed for long haul truck drivers, construction personnel, basically anybody who is behind the wheel for long periods of time.

• It measures 19" x 19" and is designed to help improve your posture when sitting, as well as managing lower back pain and general discomfort.
• Roho says that this automotive pain management cushion is designed to help you deal with the uncomfortable sensations of fatigue, numbness and pain that comes with extended driving.
• The interconnected air cells facilitate the flow of air from each chamber, helping to redistribute your body pressure weight while promoting a healthy blood flow.
• The pockets of air are great for absorbing the painful vibrations from driving on rough roads that are known to create spinal cord compression as well as lower back pain.
• Reviewers say that this is a great wheelchair cushion in addition to being a rubber-gripping, low-friction option for bus drivers, forklift operators, cabdrivers and other people stuck in a seated position for prolonged periods of time.
• Many drivers we spoke to say that this Airhawk automobile cushion has helped decrease the pain that they feel after driving hours and hours, sitting in one painful position.
• Buyers suffering from sciatica, lower back injuries and spinal problems have described this automobile cushion as a lifesaver-enhancing their quality of life and enabling them to get back on the road, or even sit more comfortably in regular sitting chairs or wheelchairs.

The Therm-a-Rest

The last option we took a look at was the Therm-a-Rest Trail Seat. This air cushion is designed for camping, sitting on hard stadium benches or for long car drives- it is a self-inflating option that measures 16 inches long by 12 inches wide and 1.5 inches thick.

• One disabled buyer we spoke with said that they suffered from hip pain and sciatic pain- they were highly pleased with this option, saying that its adjustability was one of its high points, enabling them to customize the feel of the cushion.
• Another reviewer purchased some for their grandparents saying that sitting for a long period of time on hard surfaces is a serious risk injury for them- and because this option is so easy to inflate and deflate, it's a cinch to transport to stadiums or just keep rolled up in your car's glove compartment.
• Some buyers spoke of using it as a wheelchair cushion, but you should always confer with a physician if you're looking to use this cushion for pressure sores.
• Another reviewer we spoke to says that they were dealing with general soreness from air travel- sitting in an uncomfortable airplane seat compressed their spine and created nagging postural difficulties as a result.
• They invested in this cushion because of its portability, inflation adjustability and its proven capacity to decrease the experience of pressure pain from prolonged sitting.