Best Marsh Seat Reviews of 2021 | Updated
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So you're tempted to buy a mud seat for marsh hunting? Well, If you’re out duck hunting, you will more often than not find yourself camping out in some shallow water or mud – where the ducks are. Unless you want to spend the entire day standing in the marshes, you'll need something reliable to sit on comfortably.
The answer is, of course, a good mud seat. A good one should be lightweight, portable and easy to carry around from spot-to-spot when hunting ducks and waterfowl. A good seat should be comfortable for you to sit on, remain nice and rigid when planted into the mud to allow for the perfect shot, and allow you to adjust it to your preferred height.
Sound like something you want to try out? Well, we've gone ahead and picked out the best marsh seats that you can buy with your money today. Find out what our top picks are and why they have been specially chosen for our reviews list.
Top 5 Rated Models Comparison Table
Image | Seat | Weight | Height | Build | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. Avery Marsh Steel Realtree Max-5 Camo Edditors Choice | 4.6 lbs | 27” to 37” | Aluminum | |
 | 4 lbs | 24” to 34” | Steel | ||
 | 6.8 lbs | 28” | Steel | ||
 | 4 lbs | 36" to 56 | Plastic | ||
 | 9-10 lbs | 26 1/2" to 34" | Steel |
Reviews of the Best Marsh Seats
This marsh seat from Avery is certainly an excellent choice and is even smaller and lighter than the ALPS Outdoorz model below. It’s made in the USA of Aluminum and weighs only 4 pounds. Like the ALPS, it has two side-feet that help stabilize it over mud and prevent it from sinking in. It goes from 27” to 37” tall. The seat is padded for comfort, and when not in use, it folds down flat with the shaft. It also has a Duramax seat cover for even more durability, printed in Realtree MAX-5 Camo to blend in with your surroundings, and your hunting gear.
Our favorite part of this model is just how durable and lightweight it is; as mentioned, it weighs only 4 pounds, making it the lightest one on our list. But it’s strong and sturdy enough that you wouldn’t think so; you can move it around easily and sit on it for hours on end.
There really isn’t much we don’t like about it; it would be nice to have a larger seat, as always, but this seat is light and portable enough we almost don’t mind.
It’s our pick for the best marsh seat for 2018, and we think it will hold up well and give you something to sit on for a long time.
Verdict: Our Top Pick
Pros
- Light, Aluminum Build; 4 pounds
- Adjustable height
- Two side feet for stability
- Duramax seat cover for durability
Cons
- Could use a larger seat, at least as an option
The Wetland Seat from ALPS Outdoorz is another excellent choice, being a relatively lightweight yet sturdy choice for a marsh seat. The legs are aluminum, which isn’t quite as heavy-duty as steel but cuts down significantly on weight. It has two side feet, which extend out and create even more support and prevent it from sinking into the mud. The wedge-shaped end drives into the mud for some stability.
This measures 12” by 8” and is very well-padded, making it a very comfortable choice for long hours sitting. When you’re ready to pack it up, the seat folds flat with the rest of the frame, and it comes with a shoulder strap for hiking in and out.
Again, one of the only problems with this mud chair is the seat itself; it’s well padded, but it’s not very large, which can be awkward for some of us. Were it larger; we wouldn’t have much to complain about.
Otherwise, this is an excellent, sturdy and stable seat that is relatively light and easy to transport back and forth. The two side feet really work.
Pros
- Stable, sturdy side-feet and wedge-shaped end
- Light, aluminum build
- Thickly padded seat
Cons
- Is small; tough for us bigger folks
This Mud Seat from MOJO Outdoors is made of an extra sturdy steel shaft, with 3 steel lateral supports that are specially shaped to spread out in the mud and provide rock-hard stability. On top is a molded plastic seat that keeps your comfortable. You can adjust the height of this to accommodate yourself and deeper/shallower water.
The design of this seat works well and is quite sturdy; when you’re ready to move it, simply throw it over your shoulder with the included shoulder strap. Easy to move and carry around.
Cons? The seat is a bit small, so if you’re larger, you may find it uncomfortable. The plastic isn’t all that sturdy – at least not as sturdy as a metal seat could be. And it’s a little bit heavy, at more than 6 pounds.
But, for a solid, affordable model that gets the job done, it’s a perfectly fine choice.
Pros
- Solid steel construction
- 3 lateral supports dig into the mud for extra stability
- Light
Cons
- Heavy
- The seat is very small
- Plastic seat isn’t sturdy
If you’re looking for a lightweight marsh seat but want one a little bit larger, you need the Surf n’ Swamp model. This bad boy is made of thick, tough, durable plastic, so it weighs only 4 pounds but manages to be larger than all the rest of the marsh seats out there. It’s made with plastic tubes that telescope from 36" to 56" – very tall – to accommodate you in essentially any water or mud. The seat top is 14” in diameter, for a large, comfortable seat. They’ve made it in a neutral, brown color that blends into natural environments, too.
As mentioned, this only weighs a lightweight 4 pounds which is awesome. It’s also light and buoyant enough to float on the water should you drop it or knock it over. With the included shoulder strap, this makes it one of the most portable and convenient options you find, even if it is larger than most others.
Only complaint? Thanks to the length and width of the shaft, it is very hard to sink into hardened sand and mud, unlike angled steel tubes that sink right in with a bit of force. This one needs quite a bit of weight and pressure to really go in.
Other than that, this is a great, lightweight, portable and very comfy marsh seat. It’s a decent choice thanks to its convenience and comfortably wide seat.
Pros
- Thick, tough, lightweight plastic
- Weighs 4 pounds
- 36” to 56” tall
- Wide, comfy seat
- Floats
Cons
- Hard to sink into hardened mud or sand
- A bit large
Another decent option for a marsh stool, this seat is made from solid steel and has an angled bottom stake for driving into the mud, as well as the two feet for balancing it and giving it a stable hold. The height adjusts from 26 1/2" to 34" for hunting in water of different depths, and for accommodating your own height. On top is a 12 1/2" x 8" padded, and a shoulder strap for carrying it around.
While the steel build is hefty and feels solid, this is one of the heavier mud stools you’re going to find; it weighs close to 10 pounds, which is a bit much to lug around – almost twice as heavy as all the others.
It’s just as sturdy and useable as the others, and a bit cheaper, but a bit too heavy, so we’d pass on it and invest in something lighter and more portable.
Pros
- Solid angled steel construction
- Padded seat
- Adjustable from 26 1/2" to 34"
Cons
- Too heavy
Why Buy A Mud or Swamp Stool for Waterfowl Hunting?
If you're an avid waterfowl hunter who likes to hunt in the marshes or swamps, then you know that there may be alot of waiting around on your targets. You're out in the water with your waders setting up your decoy spreads, now the waiting begins. You don't want to be standing or crouching all day in the water, especially with a gun or rifle that you're ready to aim with. Instead, use a duck hunting mud stool that will allow you to remain in the swamps or marshes for long periods, while ensuring that you stay comfortable and secure in the water. We can assure you that your legs and back will thank you for buying a chair, as long as it's a model of good quality.
What to Look for In a Marsh Seat for Duck Hunting
Weight and Portability
Most mud seats are going to be made of steel, which is durable but quite heavy, and others will be made of aluminum, which is a bit softer but makes for up by cutting down on weight. Some will be made of durable plastic, too. You want to find a something that is light enough to carry around and move when you’re going in, and out of the marshes or swamps you’re hunting – look for 6 pounds or less as a good rule of thumb. You may also want to check out whether your waterfowl swamp stool has a strap included so that you can easily chuck it over your shoulder when traveling.
Height
Most seats are adjustable, ranging anywhere from 24” tall to 37”-ish. Some will get up to four or five feet tall, however. The taller the seat, the deeper the water or mud you can set up shop in. This is an especially important factor for comfortability if you're somewhat of a taller duck hunter. Check the heights of our top model picks further up the review.
Seat
Try to find something that is both large enough for you to sit on, and preferably, padded. Some stools are just thick plastic; this leaves them hard and uncomfortable for long periods of sitting. A nice, thick, padded seat is always better and ensures you can hunt those ducks for longer in the swamps.
How Well It Sticks In The Mud
You also want to check out how hard it is to stick your chosen model into the mud and how well it sits in it. Some seats are a bit of a struggle to get them to stick into the mud properly and are not very stable or sturdy when in it. You don't want something that's going to have you spending a while to get the stool setup or pose any sort of safety issues, you want a model that you can get setup safely and as quick as possible, so you can fully concentrate on your waterfowl shooting.
Build Material
You can buy marsh stools that are made of aluminum, steel or plastic. Typically your more expensive, and higher quality waterfowl stools are the ones made from aluminum and steel. The aluminum and steel stools may sometimes be more heavy than plastic models, but they typically have better construction quality.
Final Thoughts
Our pick for the best marsh seat currently is still the Avery Marsh Seat. It’s made of some solid steel, but is still relatively light, has two side feet to keep it stable in the mud, and is easily carried around. The padded seat up top is comfortable and folds down flat to remain portable. We think it’s well-built and worth the extra weight and price tag of steel.
Either one from our reviews list will make an excellent choice and help you kick back during those long hunts on the water. Happy marsh hunting for those ducks!
