Airhawk budget or premium
 

I'm thinking of giving the Airhawk seating pad a go but I see they do two types, budget and premium.
I've managed to find a premium one to look at (sit on!) but can't find a budget.
Anyone know what the difference is (apart from the cost :eek3: )...the premium is almost twice the price of the budget...

The difference is in the quality of materials, otherwise they are the same. The premium is neoprene and the budget is polymer. Obviously the premium will last longer.

I used one for a 5000 mile trip to Eastern Europe last year and it was excellent.

Airhawk
 

Hi, Airhawk say that the budget one cannot be repaired. I used a budget one for a 4000 mile Europe trip a couple of uears ago and it is still going strong.

Mike.

Airhawk from usa
 

I have just bought an airhawk seat direct from the USA. It was cheaper than buying in the uk even after customs.

Mine is the budget seat and it came with a repiar kit so I guess it can be repaired.

Not sure how good it is yet as I have only just got it but it feels very nice on the bike.

I will be taking it camping to the HU weekend tomo as it will also make a nice pillow!

Jane

Airhawk
 

:mchappy: I like the look of these but not the cost. Also if they are so good i wondered why the Long way down crew are not using them this time, unless they forgot how good they were ?

Do they make a big difference ? if so i may have to raid the piggy bank

This is good marketing.
Lettuce and pickles are extra....

I cant understand why they are mega expensive. A load of people will not go anywhere with out theres but i have seen a few people using a system like those blow up mats. It is a small 6 inch by 6 inch mat with a wee blow up pipe on the end. A few guys i saw had a wee bag made up for it blow it up and away they goo. Maybe not as good as the hawk but a hell of alot cheaper. havent got one myself but tried a gel pad found it awful, very unstable and uncomfy.

Cheap Alternative to Airhawk
 

I found this while searching the web. Self inflating sleeping mat pillow. Its on ebay for £3.75 plus £3.50 postage. It looks like a mini thermarest.

I think for the price i will give one ago and see how it performs. Unless someone has tried already ?

I will order one up and take it for a ride, I will have to look at strapping it to my saddle but i guess a compression strap would do it unless I try to make a pocket to zip it into.
:mchappy:
I guess if it doesnt work it will still make a great cushion for snack breaks.

Give me a while and i will report back on my findings.:scooter:

AirHawks do split and spring leaks BTW
 

I had a 'premium' version AirHawk cushion, which unfortunately started leaking air from a split along heat-sealed forward seam on Tuesday, August-20 ['07] ... just three weeks after the 2-year guarantee expired! At the time I was riding up to the top of Mt Evans, Colorado.

Afterwards I popped into the southern suburb of Englewood in Denver City to see if a rubber type factory/manufacturer could fix it.

"No can do" was the response.

I then bought a bicycle tyre puncture repair kit in an attempt to fix the leak. But I couldn't remedy the problem this way either.

http://keithooper.smugmug.com/photos/186850958-M.jpg

But I couldn't ever live without an AirHawk, especially on long-haul trips, as I really rate these cushions.

Fortunately though, for travelling the farthest to a Bike Meet the following week, I was ceremoniously handed the prize of a brand new AirHawk by the Meet's organiser. What a stroke of luck .. :thumbup1: Of all prizes that I could have received, this particular item was, of course, just what I needed.

And to think too that the new replacement AirHawk that I ordered on-line - through eBay.com - just a few days beforehand and arranged to be forwarded onto my motel in Deadwood, South Dakota (the Meet's rendezvous point) .. well, just didn't show-up!

It was all a hellofa coincidence. I really did get lucky during the summer, from time-to-time .. didn't I?
:confused1:

http://keithooper.smugmug.com/photos/188983508-M.jpg