Float tube, butt hurts - Advice?

Hey guys,

After 1 hour of fishing my butt starts to hurt really bad. Luckily, it's not a constant discomfort; I only feel pain when I adjust my seating, when I lift my legs and butt up and move back. And when I'm done fishing and I take my tube back to my car my lower back hurts as well.

A friend suggested I buy a cushion/pillow, but which one? I don't think an inflatable one would help since I need something soft. I've found a 4" x 15" x 15" (also have 5" and 6" thickness) foam one but I can't find a waterproof cover. Any ideas?

I have a Cumberland tube.

Thanks

I have the Cumberland as well.
I regularly go out for 4 to 6 hours with no problem. I have the seat back adjusted so it holds me up pretty straight; meaning I don't lean back at all unless I'm kicking pretty hard. I weigh 200 pounds and am 5' 10".
I hope this helps.

Hey Jerdon,

Thanks!

Same as you, but I weight a little more than 200 lb haha

I would like to hear more on this for low back pain and knee pain, who else has this issue how have you dealt with it. More stretching before your outing, maybe a simple exercise program. I know that seems like a lot of crazy info, but we should be thinking about this.
As for filippodg I also make sure to have my back rest up as strait as I can get it, I notice that when I am leaning back more then usual I tend to have some of the problems you talk about. But having cushioned seats is important and worth a try in my opinion.

Thanks for the tip, effcpr.

I actually don't like leaning back, it feels uncomfortable fishing that way, so I keep my back really straight. I tried moving my butt more often, but I still feel pain. Stretching might help actually! The more I think about it the more I believe the float cushion is too hard and I just need something soft in between. Lighter people might not have this issue, but a bigger guy who concentrates all of its weight in 1 spot (butt) without the support of his legs might be an issue.

Ya I think we should come up with some stretched that would help us on the water, couldn't hurt right.

I had the same problem, so I ordered a Coghlan's Air Cushion from Amazon.com for around $6.00 and it worked great. It is 15" x 15", and I inflated it about half full. Seemed to really help with the sore butt.

Thanks for the tip Komori. I just ordered one and arrives on Monday. If it works, I owe you a beer.

Yeah in my old blue FishCat (well it was brand new, still in the box, traded for my old aluminum boat), I tried sitting up straighter, sitting way down, almost laying back, and nothing seemed to help with the sore arse.  I'm a thin guy anyway and I guess because I'm an older guy, I don't have much of a butt anymore..not any padding-Ha ha!  I was thinking of getting a thick piece of soft foam, like 3 or 4 inches, closed-cell or open, doesn't matter.  I still might try it.  The inflatable really helps, but after 2 or 3 hours even it gets somewhat uncomfortable..

This is the one I found:

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They also have 2, 3, and 6 inch thickness.

Excellent reviews on their other foam products. Just need to find a proper waterproof cover.

The Coghlan's Air Cushion from Amazon worked OK. Let's just say I still felt pain after 2 hours of fishing but somehow it made it a bit easier to move my butt with "less" pain. Still not the solution I'm looking for. I need to find something fast or good bye tubing.

I think you may be the problem, that is there is likely something physical that you need to address. I have never had the problem that you describe. Do you experience the same pain when you sit in a car for a while? (not intended as an insult)

None taken.

It might be me indeed. I only feel pain when tubing. The only other time I felt this much pain when I was on a 1/2 day trip last week and I was sitting on the upper deck on a solid/hard surface, so I can understand it. I'm fine when I sit everywhere else.

This morning we went to America's Cup in Point Loma and after 2-3 hours I was ready to give up. The pain was too much. I kept getting bitten and saw it as motivation to keep fishing haha (14 catches) but I just couldn't stay in the water any longer.

2 more things I'll try before I give up tubing:
1) Bath Body and Beyond has a gel cushion for $20. Will pick one up next week. Hopefully this will work.
Or
2) Will buy a coccyx cushion off of Amazon and find a way to make it waterproof. THIS might be my real problem (Coccyx Pain). Why do I only feel pain while tubing? Maybe because I'm sitting on a flat surface and my butt absorbs all the energy from the water/waves/etc. Who knows.

Thanks

How's your lower back? I only ask cause my lower back is kinda messed up and it starts hurting about the 5hr into fishing the discomfort/pain travels down to my ass checks. I run a air seat and it helps big time. I could never use a form seat myself.
The best $50 you can spend to help on this is order a set of air seat and back rest for a ocd420.

You may also want to consult a Dr. as well to see if there is anything wrong.

Fipdog,
It sound physical in nature. I tore myself up in a car wreck years ago and there are certain angles my knees and back wont do. Makes a LOT of pain at those angles. I have a workout routine from Dr. to help with it. I did 6 1/2 hours on the tube today and I think my tube is more comfortable than my recliner .
Hope this helps .

Thanks guys, I think you're all right. I'm afraid it's me and will go see a doctor. Funny how we get to know things totally random. Who knew that tubing would diagnose me with a bad back haha. Now, who's gonna help me tell my wife I need to upgrade to a boat?? hopefully a doctor's note will do.