Jim the reason I asked was related to an Adirondak chair I made vs. two we bought. The one I made was from a plan, that has a curve under the seat planks that you sit in as you said above. It is very comfortable even without a pad. The two we bought have flat seats, that you sit on as stated. I never really used them until recently we we repainted the house and put them on the front porch. They look good, but are like sitting on a pile of bricks. I even bought seat pads, thinking that would help, but they still are uncomfortable. I think I'll take the seat planks off, and cut a curve into them, which hopefully will change the angle of forces to the butt and lower back!