# Viscoelastic foam as seat padding? **URL:** \ **Category:** Unicycles and Equipment\ **Created:** [January 31, 2005, 9:00am UTC](https://unicyclist.com/t/viscoelastic-foam-as-seat-padding/68852 "2005-01-31T09:00:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mgrant](https://unicyclist.com/user_avatar/unicyclist.com/mgrant/32/43_2.png) [@mgrant](https://unicyclist.com/u/mgrant)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 9:00am UTC](https://unicyclist.com/t/viscoelastic-foam-as-seat-padding/68852/1 "2005-01-31T09:00:45Z")
Has anyone used viscoelastic foam (also called slow-memory foam) as padding for a unicycle seat? Thoughts? Thanks, -mg ---
**Author:** ![DigitalDave](https://unicyclist.com/user_avatar/unicyclist.com/digitaldave/32/84605_2.png) [@DigitalDave](https://unicyclist.com/u/DigitalDave)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 9:45am UTC](https://unicyclist.com/t/viscoelastic-foam-as-seat-padding/68852/2 "2005-01-31T09:45:20Z")
I haven’t. But, I sleep on it. I don’t think it’s what you want, Cuz it’s not really ‘cushiony’ after it’s ‘formfitted’. (IE: conformed to your weight) It’s elastisity isnt really quik to rebound from wieght either. So, I’d stick to a more ‘firm’ foam rubber. ---
**Author:** ![fexnix](https://unicyclist.com/user_avatar/unicyclist.com/fexnix/32/460_2.png) [@fexnix](https://unicyclist.com/u/fexnix)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 10:25am UTC](https://unicyclist.com/t/viscoelastic-foam-as-seat-padding/68852/3 "2005-01-31T10:25:01Z")
I sleep on it too. And I loooooove it. I have thought about it too. But as DD said earlyer it shouldn´t be very comfy. ---
**Author:** ![DK1](https://unicyclist.com/user_avatar/unicyclist.com/dk1/32/511_2.png) [@DK1](https://unicyclist.com/u/DK1)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 12:53pm UTC](https://unicyclist.com/t/viscoelastic-foam-as-seat-padding/68852/4 "2005-01-31T12:53:01Z")
It would be ggod to but maybe an 1 inch layer on top of an non doubled over airseat… i might try that ---
**Author:** ![mgrant](https://unicyclist.com/user_avatar/unicyclist.com/mgrant/32/43_2.png) [@mgrant](https://unicyclist.com/u/mgrant)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 5:43pm UTC](https://unicyclist.com/t/viscoelastic-foam-as-seat-padding/68852/5 "2005-01-31T17:43:49Z")
While at a furniture store on Saturday I noticed that some of the higher-end matresses use various layers of stuff. One of the layers was a 2" thick bit of viscoelastic foam. That started me thinking about using it on top of regular foam (mattress pad) or to smooth the top of an airseat. I agree that if it was the only padding it might compress into a hard, crotch-shaped brick of foam. But, used in conjunction with other materials might make for a really comfy ride. Only problem is that I have been unable to find small bits of the stuff. The smallest I can find in the desired density is a $49 pillow. Maybe I’ll get a twin sized matress pad and have plenty to spare. On a related thought, is there a generally agreed upon “best” seat covering material? Thanks, -mg ---
**Author:** ![brockfisher05](https://unicyclist.com/user_avatar/unicyclist.com/brockfisher05/32/539_2.png) [@brockfisher05](https://unicyclist.com/u/brockfisher05)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 5:54pm UTC](https://unicyclist.com/t/viscoelastic-foam-as-seat-padding/68852/6 "2005-01-31T17:54:14Z")
I sleep on a futon but no havnt tried that stuff ---
**Author:** ![john\_childs](https://unicyclist.com/user_avatar/unicyclist.com/john_childs/32/44_2.png) [@john\_childs](https://unicyclist.com/u/john_childs)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 6:00pm UTC](https://unicyclist.com/t/viscoelastic-foam-as-seat-padding/68852/7 "2005-01-31T18:00:38Z")
I was thinking about trying that type of memory foam in my air seat. My air seat has an innertube in a pillow with a layer of foam on top. But I had my doubts that it would work very well. And it was very expensive foam. It was too expensive to experiment with on something that I didn’t think was going to work out very well. Foam that has more structure to it seems to do better in the air seat. ---
**Author:** ![daino149](https://unicyclist.com/user_avatar/unicyclist.com/daino149/32/99_2.png) [@daino149](https://unicyclist.com/u/daino149)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 6:40pm UTC](https://unicyclist.com/t/viscoelastic-foam-as-seat-padding/68852/8 "2005-01-31T18:40:27Z")
Well, you can check here: [http://www.tempurpedic.com/tempurcmsvb/freeinfo/](http://www.tempurpedic.com/tempurcmsvb/freeinfo/) and get a free sample of the stuff and try that. ---
**Author:** ![fexnix](https://unicyclist.com/user_avatar/unicyclist.com/fexnix/32/460_2.png) [@fexnix](https://unicyclist.com/u/fexnix)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 12:59pm UTC](https://unicyclist.com/t/viscoelastic-foam-as-seat-padding/68852/9 "2005-08-19T12:59:11Z")
I know this is a pretty old thread but since I have professional know-how and help from my dad about this special subject I will write a few words. The viscoelastic foam (Tempur) was developed by NASA, but comercially widely spread by a swedish company called Fagerdala, and is now produced in Denmark. My dad worked for Fagerdala for some years and thinks of himself as a specialist in the subject. He says like stated above that the “slow-memory-foam” itself wouldnt be very comfy. But if you add another layer (about 25 mm) of closed cell PE-foam. It would be one sweet saddle. So 25 mm PE foam in the bottom, a layer of 40 mm Tempur Memory foam on top of that and a Fusion cover, that is what I will try to make a saddle out of. The cool thing is that my father got plenty of “memory foam” in our garage so i can experiment with it almost as much as i want 🕶 Expect me to write a follow up about the “memory saddle” I plan to build.