Feelfree promotes their Kingfisher seat using a few key facts about this well-made sit-on-top accessory. First they mention its wedge-shape seat bottom.  Next the stiffness of the seat back with lumbar support, and finally the overall super-rigid secure design. I had a chance to demo the Kingfisher recently, not in my usual haunts of the wild Pacific Ocean, but rather a remote alpine lake in northeastern California, Lake Almanor.

Almanor is known for its big feisty trout.  The Eagle Lake variety rainbow have adapted to Almanor but there's also a good chance to catch big Brown lake trout and even land-locked chinook salmon. Along with a couple good buddies, we pushed from shore and found good bait signs just off the beach. The hookups began fast and furious, then leveled off to an occasional bite.  A paddle up to the next cove covered about a mile there and back, but we were constantly paddling chasing bait balls, spinning in the seats to get gear or fight fish, and back paddling or sculling for position. All activities to give a good workout to a kayak seat's comfort and construction.

At first, I felt like the wedge shaped seat bottom was a bit too high, and a bit too hard.  In a very few minutes I did not notice it at all, which in itself is a great indication of comfort. The built-in lumbar support was very noticeable and comfy for me as well.  The high back did have a tendency to bend backwards, despite my repeated attempts to adjust the straps correctly. To give this seat the benefit of the doubt, I was unable to correctly balance the seemingly straightforward strap system.  Most likely operator error, but I did notice a possible connector point higher on the back of this seat that would make more sense to me for the upper front straps to attach.

I was unable to detach from the stock contact points and relocate, unfortunately.  I seem to need that high-back stiff support, where the seat sort of wraps around my shoulders, but was unable to accomplish on the each with minimal tools.  As I said, likely operator error.

Bottom line, a seat that I can take out, cold, paddle and fish for eight hours and return without aching legs or a sore butt is a good seat.  The Kingfisher amply fits this bill.