Drive Medical 14886 Skin Protection Gel "E" Wheelchair Seat Cushion

I bought my first one of these 2-yr ago after reading lots of reviews. I decided to get it because reviewers said it didn't stay collapsed once you sit on it, but molds itself to your bottom for good support without pressure points . That is very true. Also, after constant use by an overweight 70+ person for a year, it's like new. This cushion has been the answer to setting on a hard or poorly cushioned chair for a long time and not having a sore butt, pain and aggravation due to spinal stenosis, or backache. It's often taken to meetings and to the theater. Unbearable seats are now comfortable. It has a silky blue side that does not make you hot but it is slippery, and a gray non-breathable side that won't slide but will make your butt sweat. It's usually used with the gray side down so it stays cool, yet one can easily slide on the blue side to change positions. In cold weather, putting the gray side up acts like a seat warmer. The slippery side could result in someone sliding out of their chair, but only if they weren't sitting all the way back or they slouched terribly. It is a simple thick gel pad encased in foam all around, inside a removeable cover, as shown in the photos. Two problems I have had in over two years. One is that the handle broke away after a year due to a stitching problem, but Drive replaced the whole cushion. I just weighed with and without it, and the 18x16x3 weighs 6.2#. Definitely not lightweight. I frequently carry it under my arm for fear the handle will again pull away. Second problem was that security at Reagan Airport confiscated it because the gel was opaque and they couldn't tell what was inside. I ordered another one and took the time to open the zippered cover and carefully cut the outer foam enough to reveal a few inches of the gel pad. Reagan AP again tried to confiscate it, but finally let it thru. Pack it in my checked bag was Reagan AP's solution. Due to frequent trips to DC, I finally decided to order a 2nd one and leave it there so I wouldn't have to take it thru Reagan security. But on international flights, I need it in the chair.

My husband loved this product for his wheelchair. It's very comfortable for him,and he is a bigger man

Good! Sturdy! Soft!

This is the third time I've bought this cushion. Here's my experience with it. It starts out pretty hard, but if you sit on it regularly, it softens up and is quite comfortable. That initial period isn't great on the hips, the lower back or the "sit bones", and when it softens up a little, you sit lower than you do when it's in its firm initial state. In fact, I use it with a thin memory foam pad on top of it. That helps for comfort but sits you up a bit higher. Once it softens up, this is a pretty nice cushion, though. I sit on mine for many hours per day with no issues (if it helps, I weigh around 170 to 175 pounds). The first two I've owned suddenly dropped much lower in the middle where my weight is after two years. I'm not sure why, but I'm guessing the gel leaked out but stayed within the cushion. At that point, it was very uncomfortable as my hips were held a lot higher than the middle of me. Still, $30 including tax isn't bad for two years of constant sitting, but I can't wait for the initial "hard period" to be over.

A nice quality product that made my father very happy!

I purchased this item as a cheap alternative to replacing a chair (or rather its' padding). It works fairly well and in general I am happy with the purchase. I however may be the exception to this rule as I do not use this in a wheelchair. The only real issue I had with this cushion was getting used to the gel filling. It sits sort of like a hump in the middle of the cushion. Because of this I cannot sit directly in the middle of the cushion, but I have gotten used to sitting on the right or left side and back of center. This pushes the hump if you will to one side of the cushion or the other making it comfortable. Plus at 1/4 the cost of a new cheap chair, or 1/8 the cost this chair cost me many years ago it is an easy fix until I have the money to replace the chair altogether. I suppose it may be possible that I received a defective product that had too much gel included, or potentially that it is designed for a wheelchair seat that is concaved in the center where my chair is not. Either option may explain the hump I experienced, but that is not the only issue I've noticed. I've owned it almost two months now, and with mild use (20-30 hours a week) I am already seeing signs of the cushion (foam) itself deteriorating. I still have the box it was shipped in. When I received it the cushion took a little work to get out of the box as it was a tight fit. Now the cushion easily slides in and out of the box as the foam has compressed down almost a fingers width already (a fingers width is about 1/2 an inch). I expect it will last maybe a eight-ten months with my mild usage, but much longer and it will probably be more like sitting Ziploc bag filled with water warped in a beach towel. Additionally it is advertised as a wheelchair seat cushion. I only sit for a few hours a day, maybe 4 hours tops on this chair. I find I have to get up and move every 30-45 minutes as the seat get rather warm. I do not consider this a problem, as it is not healthy to sit for long periods of time, and this is just another reminder that I need to get up and move around. However it is worth noting for the wheelchair bound that this cushion does not allow for heat exchange very well. I have not noticed an issue here, but there are also two sides to the cushion (cover). The top is a lighter material that is fairly slick to the touch. I personally keep a towel over the the cushion as I have cats that love to sleep in my unoccupied chairs, and it is easier to wash a blanket or a tower than a cushion. I do however remove this towel before I sit, and I've not noticed the slippy aspects other reviewers have noted. The bottom side is thicker and more plastic-like material that has a raised pattern like the non-slip textures on steps. I've never had a problem with either me slipping out of the chair or the cushion slipping out of the chair. Nor have I had any issues of the cushion moving on my even though it is not as wide as the chair (there is almost a full inch between the cushion edge and the arm rests on both sides, and about half an inch between the front edge of the cushion and the front of my chair). The cushion itself is fairly heavy as well, which might explain how it stays put so easily. Therefore my recommendation for this product would be situational. In my case it was a great choice. I however do not use it as advertised, and I will not need it for more than six months. I would be hard passed to recommend this item for a wheelchair bound person. It is a good enough cushion, but only for light use. It is not something I would recommend for heavy usage, and if I didn't have the ability to get up every half hour or so it would get uncomfortably warm. Finally I would also question the longevity of the item for someone in a wheelchair as I assume they would use the cushion a lot more than I personally do, and yet my mild usage is starting to show after only two months.

bought for my husband who is disabled,he has quite a few things wrong with his back, has arthriis all though his body and is in terrible pain, so bought this cushion to help relive the presure and hopefully ease the pain a little, very impressed, the gel makes such a difference, when my husband is able to sit in a chair the cushion makes it a little easier for him. well worth the money. would definitely recommend. great for the wheelchair as well

Made my ishial bursitis so much easier to sit on.

Good so far, been using for a few weeks and happy with it. It is heavy - but I guess not surprising due to the material used

The cushion is really good. I am just put a reminder for future shopper, this item is 3 inches, it's really thick. If you do need a 3 inches cushion, it's good. But you may want to try the 2 inches cushion instead.

Pros: It has a water proof cover True to measurements Appears to be well constructed Cons: A bit to firm If it is durable Over time I will rate Five Stars