GCI Outdoor SitBacker Adjustable Canoe Seat with Back Support

I've been an avid canoeist for 48 years, having gotten my first canoe at 19. A little over five years ago I was riding my bicycle and was hit by a SUV. One of the harder things to recover from was the break at the L-1 vertebrae. Initially there was a question whether I would need a wheelchair for the rest of my life. After the first of three reconstructive surgeries (with a total if five surgeries in less than five years), the doctors gave me a 50/50 chance of walking without a walker or cane. They didn't give me any odds on breaking horses, canoeing, or skydiving again. But now I'm back to lugging my 18' aluminum whitewater Grumman to get it wet. However, I wouldn't even want to do it without the back support of the GCI Outdoor SitBacker Adjustable Canoe Seat with Back Support. The GCI seat with back support was a game-changer for me. Canoeing rehab has been going so well my younger brother and I are planning on canoeing the Boundary Waters in 2026! In fact, I just bought a second GCI seat for my brother! They are that good. The integral shoulder strap is great for carrying the seats hands-free when the seat has to be taken off the canoe. The portage straps securing the seats in the fold-down position are a life-saver during transportation and portaging. The seats themselves are comfortable and warm in all weather conditions. Seat and frame construction is rugged quality. If I were engineering the seat, I would see if the tops of the seat back corners could be rounded more to give a little more clearance on the follow through paddle stroke. But as it is, you can adjust your stroke to compensate and still enjoy all of the benefits the GCI seat offers!

This product exceeded our expectations. The son and I decided to do a few nights canoeing down the Colorado River this last spring. It was truly a lifetime experience. The beauty and rawness of the area is truly something to see. The canoe that we rented advertised that they had seats built in but we decided to buy these for a little extra comfort. Boy, are we glad we did! The hardback plastic seats that were on the canoes absolutely sucked and were not forgiving. Meanwhile these seats, which we placed over the seat support, were padded and comfortable. The bulk of the back support comes from the adjustable strap and we found that to be truly comfortable you cinched down the strap to a more upright angle than you may normally have thought necessary. They strap down and are solidly in place even if you have to move around and there is no chance of losing the seat in a capsize or other unplanned event. Several others in our group expressed their regret at not buying the same seats my son and I did. After the trip they have found continued and regular use as stadium seats. In that capacity they are a little less convenient than some models which simply “hook” onto the bleachers. These seats strap down to the bleachers by means of a buckle/strap assembly. It’s very solid and reliable but a tiny bit more effort than a hook on seat is necessary. This doesn’t bother me in the least but may be worth considering if you are using this exclusively as a stadium seats.

I have this strapped into my Wenonah canoe, which just came with backless seats. It's much more comfortable than a backless seat for long days on the water, but I have two issues. First, while there's some nominal lumbar support, it's hardly sufficient. I bought a mesh lumbar support to accompany it, and it made a world of difference. I can't find anything else that's similar with better back support, so my mesh lumbar support will have to do. Second, the recline adjustment straps constantly loosen; I'm consistently tightening them. Other thoughts: After about five years of use - mainly summers - there's a decent bit of rust and wear, particularly on the hinges. I'm not sure it'll last another season. Five years seems like a decent lifetime, though. The seat is pretty light, which is nice, and the straps are handy for keeping the seat in place on the installed flat seat. It does shift around over time, as the straps loosen, but it's not as bad as the recline straps. I like the back mesh pocket, though I wish it was about 2 inches taller. It would be nice if it had some Velcro straps to keep it closed when folded. I leave these strapped into my canoe when car-topping, so I have to have a bungee to keep it closed. The price has gone up maybe $10-15 since I bought it, but I guess everything has gotten more expensive. Get them on sale, if you can. Occasionally, Woot will have them at a better price than the mother ship.

I am a canoeing instructor and backcountry guide. I've had two of these SitBackers since 2007. I just bought this one for my grandson in preparation for a seven-day canoe trek in the Boundary Waters with his Scout troop. I've tried other seats, including Crazy Creek's, and they just don't have the back support. This is one of those products where more expensive doesn't mean better. Because I spend most of my time in the stern, and my seat can be a tight fit for some canoes, the material on that seat has frayed where the seat rubs against the gunwale, especially when I lean back. However, Gorilla Tape has kept it in serviceable condition for nineteen years and I don't envision trading it in for several more. And now that I'm getting old and have grandkids' ball games to support, I appreciate its double-duty as a stadium seat. I just strap it to the bench seat and lean back in comfort.

I really like this canoe seat! My friend and I have been using stadium seats that you would normally use on bleachers, but this seat has features that make it stand out. The frame is metal construction and the cushions are very comfortable. Its one-fold design makes it easy to deploy and put away. Other seats tend to have multiple folds and it feels like you have to fumble around until you get it right. Not so with this one. The portage lock is a really nice touch to keep it flat in transport as well. The back support is easily adjustable, as well as the clips underneath for the seat. You could even use this sitting at a picnic table or on the ground, making it great for a canoe camping trip. Its size is well though out, too. I'm 6ft and weigh 210 pounds, and the back rest comes up way higher than any other seat I have tried. That makes it really nice to paddle longer distances with a kayak or canoe paddle. This seat is easy to use, comfortable, and is well made. I would definitely recommend it.

So versatile going to help with paddle boarding trips and the races. Lightweight comfortable sturdy material.

This item here is probably the best thing I purchased outta the $500 I just spent on fishing gear, and I bought some NICE stuff! Although, how would you enjoy these things if you have a back issue? You need comfort my fellow fishin friends! And this is it! The price was all over the place and I feel I over paid, but I used this chair twice within 2 weeks. The second time we hit some pretty bad rapids, flipping the canoe and me needing first-aid and a ride back to camp, but! It held up to the Delaware River! I haven't seen any tears, rips or faulty stitching yet. I guess you would have to expect more/faster wear & tear when you hit the river hard. Lots of moving around, switching positions and banging it around, it still held up. The important thing is bracing my back. I keep finding myself hunched over with tying on hooks or dealing with lures. A long day on the river can strain your back and ruin your night. I felt support in the upright position and relaxed in the reclined position. The strap seemed to hold up well and the chair was well anchored to the canoe bench, the pads were cushiony and I made use of the pocket in the back. I just wish it came with those extension stapes. Still on a waiting list which I don't like. I'm sure the stitching will fail at some point, but if you're not against a little sewing I'd say to pick one of these chairs up. Just don't pay $50 or more for it unless the extension stapes come with it. All around usage & construction 5 stars across the board! 👍

My experience with this seat has been mixed, but that may be due to the particular type of canoe I was in. This is a well-made seat that should fit most situations. However, it takes some adjusting, and even so, may not be adequate for your needs. The split, hinged seat cushion makes it more adaptable and comfortable, but creates a compromise in stability, as the two bottom rods (perpendicular to the back frame in 'up' position) may simply lean back as you do, rendering seat useless. If they were rigidly connected horizontally, your lower body weight would help provide anchor and stability. People of wider girth may actually see more benefit as their bottom may sit over these bottom rods--I am just narrow enough to sit between these rods. Make sure it is very tightly strapped to your seat (seat straps are strong and can be tightened after fastening). There may also be a trick to positioning it forward and keeping the weight of your thighs across it. Find the sweet spot on the side straps that neither pushes you forward nor leans too far back. My first two days on the water, it simply didn't work at all; on the third, something about the way I had adjusted these parameters had it working pretty well. Wish I could tell you exactly why. The side strap bit into me but I was OK with that since I was finally supported. I still don't think you can really rely on it allowing you to lean back too much, but this may also depend on the seat type and position, as evidenced by the more favorable reviews, here. This seat would be virtually useless in a freestanding situation (e.g., on the ground at a campsite) unless leaning against a tree or something but as long as you have something to strap the bottom to (stadium bench, picnic table, etc.) it should function OK.

背もたれ付きカヌー用シートは検索しても選択肢は少なく海外レビュー評価も良いので購入してみました。着脱は簡単で固定ベルトの調整幅は広く特殊艇でなけれは大体のカナディアンカヌーに装着出来ると思います。ちなみに当方所有の5艇には全て取付け可能で追加購入検討中。使用感はクッション性も良く好みの角度で背中を支えてくれて良好ですがベルトで背面を支える構造なので体重の重い方が思いっきり寄りかかるのには不向きかもしれませんけどコンパクトで軽量のほうが評価できます。背もたれ部分を畳んだ状態で座る事も可能で背面畳んだ状態簡易ロック機能があるのでカヌー装着したままでも車体干渉せずに車載できました。あえてマイナス点を探せば受注してからの輸入品だったので価格は高めで手元に届くまで日数はかかりましたが快適なので星5としました。

Love this thing. Comfortable, light, high quality. Doesn't interfere with paddle. Great for long paddles or fishing.

I've got a ultra light Swift Prospector 14 Kevlar Open canoe and wanted a light solid back seat rest and this one gets good reviews the price here was lower than any other advertised as well and the reviews are right the seat is exactly what I wanted it's well made and sturdy and fits in seconds it also has next to no weight the only thing it doesn't have that would be handy is a way of keeping it in the folded position if you wanted to leave it in your canoe when you transport it so I use reusable tie wrap to hold the seat folded down when its on my car I can highly recommend this seat system.

Wurde bisher einmal ausprobiert. Die Sitzposition war dadurch recht komfortabel und rückenschohnend. Die Qualität der Nähte beunruhigt mich etwas. Bald eine Woche Dauertest. Dann kommt ein Update der Rezession.

Fácil de transportar, cómodo de usar. Puede recostarse fácilmente mientras está sentado. Lo usamos para nuestro pequeño bote de pesca, pero se puede usar en cualquier lugar. Easy to carry, comfortable to use. You can easily lean back while seated. We use it for our small fishing boat, but it can be used anywhere.