Tractor Seat + nylon pants = PIA

[Chip]

I like the tractor seats in the two Wenonas I paddle. In combination with foot bars, I feel well locked-in on the tractor seats.

But, a problem for me is I develop a sore at the top of my butt crack. I’m pretty sure my pants are the culprit. Two seams cross at right angles a few inches below the belt line, which creates a bit of a bump in the material. Usually I wear pants of nylon blend that are quick dry and offer protection from the sun and insects. I have pants by Columbia, REI, Patagonia, and Kuhl, and they all have those intersecting seams. So do blue jeans.

I tried taping two strips of 1/2” foam to the back of the tractor seat, separated in the middle by an inch of space in the middle, right where my butt sore develops. That helped. The foam also made me realize I twist my butt in the seat as I paddle. I push with my paddle-side leg with every paddle stroke, which makes my butt move in the seat. Is that incorrect technique? The foam pads prevented butt rotation, and I didn’t like that.

It seems like a simple solution is getting pants that don’t have that seam across the back of the pants. There are no cross-butt seams on dress slacks, so perhaps I just need to upgrade my canoeing attire. However, I don’t know of any dress slacks that are made with quick-dry, DWR material either. I’m pretty sure a kilt would resolve the problem, but that would leave my legs to get sunburnt and bug eaten. Also, athletic tights usually feature flat-stitched seams, but they lack pockets and would make me feel self-conscious off the river.

Anybody else run into this pain in the butt issue, and if so, what’d you do about it?

 

[Mason]

Have you tried a complete foam seat cushion (eg blue foam)? I've put those on all my tractor seats. One thing they might do is raise your butt up 3/4 inch, which might help with your pants (less seat depth). But I've never had problems with bare seats either--foam is just cushier.

 

[Tryin']

Just put a smooth patch over the inside of your pants.

 

[gumpus]

I have trouble with long term comfort on my Advantage. I use various pads to help.

You might want to get some padded bicycle pants. No seams and some padding right where you need it.

 

[GeoBoy]

But, a problem for me is I develop a sore at the top of my butt crack

TMI

 

[tketcham]

It seems like a simple solution is getting pants that don’t have that seam across the back of the pants.

That might be the simplest solution but adding a full layer of bubble-foam padding to the seat would certainly provide some relief from the seam overlap abrasion. That and maybe tilting the seat forward a bit to shift the pressure point(s) off the back of the seat. I glued in foam padding and raised the back of the seat half an inch using seat risers and it's very comfortable for hit-and-switch paddling.

The foam also made me realize I twist my butt in the seat as I paddle. I push with my paddle-side leg with every paddle stroke, which makes my butt move in the seat. Is that incorrect technique? The foam pads prevented butt rotation, and I didn’t like that.

Sliding around on the tractor seat isn't necessarily a bad thing, or a good thing; all depends on your technique and preferences. Even with a full layer of foam padding your butt will slide a bit, perhaps enough to work for you.

 

[yknpdlr]

Those of us who marathon paddle on the Yukon races (1000 miles) experience what we call "monkey butt", as your cheek halves rub and chafe against each other. for 18 hours/day. There is a cream made especially for that, but most any lubricating cream will work.

In an older voyageur canoe with wood bench seats; the wood was covered with a thin foam pad then with a sheet of teflon plastic stretched on top. We wore slick nylon shorts to easily slide from one side on the teflon to the other for eadh "hut" change of paddling sides.

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

pants that don’t have that seam across the back of the pants.

Mountain Hardware Basin Trek Pants



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Men's Basin™ Trek Pant | Mountain Hardwear

An easy-afternoon loop or a week under heavy loads through rugged terrain—the Basin™ Hike Pant handles them both and everything in between. This durable yet stretchy pant features a gusseted and articulated construction to improve range of motion and comfort on the move.

www.mountainhardwear.com

 

[RBourg]

I developed a sore after adding padding to one of my Wenonah seats. I modified the seat by cutting a U in the top of the back of the foam that I had added and this seems to have cured the problem.

 

[Chip]

Have you tried a complete foam seat cushion (eg blue foam)?

I haven’t tried this. I have a seat cover around. I think it’s 20 or 30 years old and it looks brittle. I should put it on and see if it’s any good. I suppose new one’s are available. With padding has to irritate less than with the pant against the composite seat. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Chip]

Mountain Hardware Basin Trek Pants

I see a seam going across right above the pockets. Might not be as much of a bump because it is a “T” intersection of seams rather than a “+” , but I think there must be at least a little bump at that three-seam junction.

 

[jdeerfoot]

Some good ideas above to try out. Let us know what you work out.

 

[Chip]

I modified the seat by cutting a U in the top of the back of the foam that I had added and this seems to have cured the problem.

I thought about cutting a U in the back edge of the seat, or drilling a hole. But that might be destructive to the seat. Adding a pad with a U in seems worth a try.

Just put a smooth patch over the inside of your pants.

I first encountered my PIA problem on a multi-day trip last summer. My improvised solution was a 3x4 piece of carpet duck taped inside the pant. It worked. Felt a little weird walking or driving, but it solved the PIA.

I think I will try adding material inside the pant to surround the seam with material. My sister recommended this. I will get some fusible web from Michaels, which is fusible (iron-on) on both sides. Never heard of it. Like double sided tape, except it’s iron-on. So a piece of tape to the side of the seam with a piece of cloth over it, surrounding the bump that causes my grief.Theoretically, this will spread the pressure evenly and I won’t get a sore from the seam-bump at one spot.

GeoBoy: TMI? Couldn’t see back there, so I took a photo when I was trying to figure out what that PIA was! Be happy I just posted the textual description!

 

[Alan Gage]

You must not be the only one to experience this. Check out option D from ZRE:

Carbon Fiber Canoe Seat

Super lightweight canoe replacement seats. Each model weighs less than 7 oz and is 14 inches wide. Model A: Standard seat formModel B: Deeper dish seat for more comfortModel C: Same as B with added outer rimModel D: Deeper dish with a tail bone relief pocket. This is our top selling seat. Seat...

zre.com

Alan

 

[gumpus]

You must not be the only one to experience this. Check out option D from ZRE:

Carbon Fiber Canoe Seat

Super lightweight canoe replacement seats. Each model weighs less than 7 oz and is 14 inches wide. Model A: Standard seat formModel B: Deeper dish seat for more comfortModel C: Same as B with added outer rimModel D: Deeper dish with a tail bone relief pocket. This is our top selling seat. Seat...

zre.com

Alan

So D is the one you recommend? Is it fairly straightforward to swap a seat in a Wenonah (I've never done it)? I may order the seat you recommend...I just didn't want to start collecting seats hoping to find the right one.

 

[Alan Gage]

So D is the one you recommend? Is it fairly straightforward to swap a seat in a Wenonah (I've never done it)? I may order the seat you recommend...I just didn't want to start collecting seats hoping to find the right one.

I can't recommend it as I've never used one like that. The regular seats suit me fine but I thought I remembered seeing one with a cutout in the rear so I went looking and I found it at ZRE.

Alan

 

[lowangle al]

I was also thinking about using a pad. It would not only cushion the area, but it might raise your butt enough that the seam won't hit the seat.

I've had that problem in the past from doing sit ups with jeans on, so I know it is irritating. Being a helpful guy with a lot of spare time I tried to find a more definitive answer for you. I did some searches on a few different farming and tractor forums thinking this has surely been discussed by the denim wearing men that spend a lot of time on their tractors. I found nothing, apparently farmers must suffer in silence.

 

[Alan Gage]

I did some searches on a few different farming and tractor forums thinking this has surely been discussed by the denim wearing men that spend a lot of time on their tractors. I found nothing, apparently farmers must suffer in silence.

LOL. I don't think I know of any farmers that still sit on a "tractor" seat. The seats in their equipment probably puts my recliner to shame.

Alan