There are many different styles of cushions to choose from now as compared to just a few short years ago.  And, if you compare this to a few decades ago, forget it, no comparison.  Chair pads used to be the only thing available for your outdoor furniture.  They were just these thin little foam-core objects with little longevity.  They might last a few seasons with great care but then they would become as functional as a sheet of paper for a cushion.

If you have wrought iron garden furniture, even wood, you know how hard it can be to sit on for any length of time.  This is why you should get chair cushions instead of just pads.  Some people are just comfortable with what they know and so this is a non-issue.  However, if you have not lounged on a newer style of patio furniture cushion, then you are missing what it is all about.  Once you try them, you will never go back.