6 Best Car Seat Cushions UK 2021| Halfords, Comfort Bliss and More

Whether you're just looking for a bit of extra comfort or you want the full-on heated seat experience, we're going to let you know what to look out for and what to avoid so you can sit back and relax every time you get behind the wheel. 

A standard car seat has two areas of your body it supports: your bottom and your back. A car seat cushion can provide additional comfort to either of these areas or both of them. Some cushions will also be transferable so you can use them as support behind you or support beneath you. 

If you are shorter and need extra height when driving, a cushion that you sit on is the way to go, but this isn't the only reason they might be beneficial to someone. 

Those who suffer from pain in their coccyx and lower spine can get car cushions which are specifically tailored to them. These come in a U-shape which relieves and redistributes the pressure that sitting directly on your coccyx puts on your spine and nerves. Having a better-cushioned bottom can also help with circulation to your legs, so you won't get any pins and needles. 

While car seats are adjustable and can be tailored to fit you to a certain extent, there is still room for discomfort. A cushion with back support can help align your spine, particularly the lower half, so you can sit up straight without pain. 

The lumbar area of your spine is between your torso and your hips, and a cushion that props up your back will help to accommodate the natural curvature of the spine to stop you slouching and aching.  

By looking at the thickness of a cushion, you'll be able to see how much added support you're getting. An average thickness tends to be around 5-10 cm, although some will have much less and others far more. 

Thickness isn't always the best indicator of comfort as it's an individual preference and some cushions work very well with thinner materials, but if you know you want lots of extra cushion to cosy into, look for thicker option. 

To make cushions as comfy and supportive as they can be, much research has been done into finding the ultimate filling material. Often, this involves using a mixture, but here are the best materials to look out for when finding a good cushion. 

When looking at car seat cushions, you'll see the words 'memory foam' popping up all over the place. As you may know from cushions, pillows and mattresses at home, memory foam is a popular filling that reacts and adjusts to your weight and shape. 

It gives way where it needs to give way but still manages to stay put where it needs to stay put and,  because the shape bounces back, a car cushion made from memory foam won't become deformed over time. 

The sinking nature of memory foam isn't for everyone, and it also doesn't work as well for thinner cushions or those that are heated. Instead, other manufacturers will use a normal foam without the 'memory' qualities. 

Standard foam is cheaper than the memory stuff, but as a result, it won't adapt to your specific shape in quite the same way and is more likely to become deformed with frequent use, thus offering you less support as the months go on. 

Another, newer filling to look out for is gel. Gel-filled cushions are excellent for those who suffer from pain as the gel helps to alleviate and absorb pressure from the body. 

Using a car cushion in summer could cause you to overheat, but gel cushions don't have this issue thanks to their cooling effect – perfect for stuffy commutes or long drives when the weather is nice. As well as the gel itself, this cooling effect can also offer pain relief. 

With all the turning, braking and accelerating that goes on in a car, you'll need a cushion that won't shift with any sharp corners or sudden jolts. The way to do this is to get a cushion that has a way of securing it to your seat. 

Elastic straps are usually the method of choice and are fastened around the car seat in some way, depending on the cushion's intended positioning. 

It's worth noting that car cushions you just sit on don't tend to have straps, as it's less likely that your cushion will move around. To ensure that the lack of straps isn't a problem, look for designs with a grippy material on the bottom. Without straps, they are easier to take out, which is convenient if you're not always the one driving. 

To add a bit of luxury to your drives, why not get a cushion that is heated? This heat source will not only keep you warm when the cold weather hits, but it also has an incredibly therapeutic effect on your body.

These cushions require electricity, something you don't need to worry about with other types, so you'll have to plug it into your car and use its lighter plug as a power source. This could be impractical, however, and these seats often aren't as geared towards comfort and support. 

Tucking into snacks on your long car journey can mean things get messy, and if you're sitting on a cushion, that puts it in the food firing line. Simple cushions will normally have removable cases that can be taken off and thrown into the washing machine. 

For those that have slightly more complicated designs or have a heating system within, you probably won't be able to machine wash. Double-check the instructions, as you will often have to carefully sponge them clean while being very careful of any wiring inside. 

It's time to saddle up and see what options you have to make your car journeys comfier than they've ever been. We've picked a selection of car cushions that will support, comfort and warm so you can find the combination that you think will work best for you. 

Driving for hours and hours can be dull and uncomfortable, so make sure your car is ready for your next road trip by installing accessories that will provide tunes, comfort and ease. To get you started, we've suggested a few of our four-wheel favourites.

We've all heard how too much sitting can be damaging to our health, but with driving, you don't have a choice. To prevent any damage and help ease any pain that comes from sitting for prolonged amounts of time, invest in a car seat cushion and notice how much more comfortable you feel behind the wheel. 

Author: Emma Cramp