I've wondered about those gel cushions myself... they seem comfy, but I'm always skeptical about how they'd hold up after a few hours stuck in traffic. The towel trick sounds like a simple and effective solution, though—might give that a shot before investing in anything pricier. Good thinking on the mesh insert too, anything breathable seems like it'd help on those sticky summer drives.
I've been curious about those gel cushions too, but my main concern is durability—do they flatten out or lose their shape after a while? Especially if you're stuck in traffic regularly, I'd imagine they'd get pretty compressed. The towel trick sounds practical, but does it stay put or do you find yourself constantly adjusting it? I've tried something similar before and ended up wrestling with it at every red light... not exactly relaxing.
The mesh insert idea seems promising though. Breathability is key on long summer drives—nothing worse than peeling yourself off the seat after a few hours. Have you noticed if the mesh insert affects comfort on longer trips, or is it mostly just good for airflow? I'm always looking for that sweet spot between comfort and practicality, especially when keeping an older car comfortable on road trips.
I've tried the gel cushions myself, and honestly, they do flatten out after a few months—especially if you're heavier or spend lots of time behind the wheel. The mesh inserts are decent for airflow, but comfort-wise they're just okay on longer drives. Personally, I ended up going with a memory foam cushion wrapped in a breathable cover. Holds shape better and doesn't slide around like towels do. Have you considered seat covers with built-in padding instead? Might be worth looking into for longer trips...
Memory foam definitely helps—I went with one after the gel cushion lost its shape on my last road trip. But honestly, seat covers with built-in padding were a game changer for me. They fit snug, don't shift around, and make a noticeable difference after a few hours behind the wheel. Plus, they're easier to clean than separate cushions, especially if you snack or drink coffee on the go like I do...
Memory foam's decent, but honestly, I found it a bit too squishy after a couple hours. Switched to one of those padded seat covers you're talking about and yeah, way better. Last summer, drove my '72 Mustang from Dallas to Denver—10 hours straight—and my back wasn't screaming at me by the end. Plus, spilled coffee wipes right off... can't say the same for the foam cushion I had before.
