Learning Center

If you’ve been a fan of Marathon seat covers in the past, you might be in for a surprise the next time you order. 

Quick backstory…we purchased a set of Marathon seat covers back in 2023 to compare them to TigerTough seat covers. But when we got around to filming and needed to look up the specs on the Marathon website, we noticed that it redirected us to Covercraft. Turns out, Covercraft purchased the brand. Technically, they bought the brand in 2018, but things didn’t shift until May 2024. We won’t pretend to know the details; we’re going off what we know.

After Covercraft Industries took over Marathon’s production in May 2024, there have been a few notable changes to the design, materials, pricing, and even where they’re made.

We compared a set of the original Marathon seat covers with the new Marathon seat covers to help you see what’s changed—and decide if they’re still the right fit for your truck.

What’s Included in the Box?

Both the old and new Marathon seat covers come with installation instructions and tools, but here’s where things start to differ:

• Original Marathon Seat Covers
• Six-page, detailed instructions designed for the specific seat cover set.
• Covers included for the driver’s backrest and bottom, and the passenger’s backrest and bottom.
• New Marathon Seat Covers
• Two-page generic installation instructions.
• Covers now include headrests and center console covers as standard—something that was an upgrade in the past.

Material Differences

Both versions of the Marathon seat covers are made with CORDURA fabric, but there’s a key difference:

• Original Marathon Covers: Made from 1,000-denier CORUDRA, a heavy-duty fabric known for its durability and strength. 
• New Marathon Covers: Also made from Cordura, but the exact denier (fabric weight) is unknown. Covercraft’s customer service was unable to confirm the fabric’s specifications. But based on our heated seat test, we know it’s less than 1,000-denier because the tool we used to shove the cover in the seat crevice punctured the seat cover. 

Where They’re Made

This is a big one.

• Original Marathon Covers: Proudly made in the United States, specifically in Montana.
• New Marathon Covers: Manufactured in Mexico under Covercraft’s production.

Design and Features

• Old Design
• Simple and straightforward with no decorative stitching.
• Hemmed edges for a clean finish.
• Straps with hook-and-loop fasteners (Velcro) to secure the covers.
• New Design
• Includes decorative stitching for a more factory-like appearance.
• Uses a bias edge (folded material) instead of a hemmed edge.
• Secured with buckles instead of hook-and-loop straps.

Our Take: While decorative stitching adds a polished look, it introduces perforations that could allow water to seep through. It also affects the durability of the cover. We try to avoid decorative stitching outside of embroidery.

Pricing: Know What You’re Paying For

Pricing for Marathon seat covers has also seen some changes. Covercraft’s MSRP fluctuates frequently, so it’s worth keeping an eye on prices to get the best deal:

• Old Marathon Seat Covers: $269.99 (November 2023)
• Covercraft Marathon Seat Covers:
• $270 (MSRP: $499.99) in August 2024
• $299 (MSRP: $459.99) in January 2025

Pro Tip: With Covercraft, prices can vary significantly depending on timing, and their MSRP jumps around, so it’s smart to shop around or monitor pricing trends before purchasing.

Extra Features with the New Design

The new Marathon seat covers now come standard with:

• Headrest covers
• Center console covers
• Seatback pockets

These were optional upgrades in the old design but are now included in the base set. So you get a little more bang for your buck now if you can get them on sale.

Warranty

Both the old and new Marathon seat covers come with a 4-year warranty against manufacturer defects, so there’s no change in coverage.

The Bottom Line

If you’re considering a new set of Marathon seat covers, here’s a quick rundown of what’s different:

• The original Marathon covers were made in Montana, while the new ones are produced in Mexico.
• The original covers used 1,000 denier Cordura, while the new covers’ exact specifications remain unclear, but it’s not as good.
• The new covers include decorative stitching, headrest covers, and console covers as standard but trade hemmed edges for bias edges.
• Covercraft’s MSRP has been up and down. Be sure to monitor prices to find the best deal.

Which One Is Right for You?

If American-made quality and proven durability are your priorities, the differences in production location and materials might matter to you. But if you’re looking for a slightly more polished design with extra features, the new Marathon covers may still fit the bill.

Whatever you choose, make sure it’s built to stand up to your toughest days on the road. And if you’re not old on Marathon, check out the top seat covers for work trucks and find a brand that suits your needs.

Proudly crafted in Vesta, MN, with American-made fabric. At TigerTough, we don’t just make seat covers—we build them with purpose, pride, and the kind of toughness that can only come from hardworking hands. Every cover is stitched in the United Sates, using American-made fabric, because we believe in doing things the right way, not the easy way.

WHY AMERICAN MADE MATTERS

1. We’re Not About Cheap Shortcuts

Let’s be real—shipping manufacturing overseas would save a few bucks, but it’d cost us something bigger: quality, integrity, and jobs for hardworking Americans. By keeping our manufacturing in the U.S., we’re investing in the people and communities that make this country great.

2. Fair Prices, Every Day

Here’s the deal: we don’t do sales. Why? Because we price our products fairly from the start. That means we pay our team well, use high-quality American-made materials, and give you the best price we can every single day. No waiting for discounts, no “limited-time offers”—just honesty.

3. Built to Work Hard

Our seat covers aren’t just made in the USA—they’re made for the toughest jobs out there. Whether you’re hauling gear, working long hours, or running the dirtiest job sites, these covers are built to stand up to the mess and the grind.

BUILT WITH PRIDE, BACKED WITH CONFIDENCE

We stand behind every seat cover we make with an unconditional warranty. Why? Because we believe in what we build and how we build it. No excuses, no fine print—just the confidence that when you buy TigerTough, you’re getting a product that can take whatever you throw at it.

STRINGLOCK: PATENTED & AMERICAN MADE

Our patented StringLock is real hero when it comes to our seat covers fit so snuggly. This uniquely TigerTough contraption secures the seat bottoms firmly in place, so they stay put no matter what your workday throws at them. And like the rest of our covers, the Stringlock is proudly made in the U.S.A., ensuring every detail meets our exacting standards.

TESTED, TWEAKED, AND PERFECTED—ALL IN HOUSE

One of the best parts of keeping our manufacturing here in America? Speed. Our factory is right next door–as in, we literally bump into each other at the coffee machine. When we want to test something new, we can open the door, walk into production, and try it immediately. No delays, no middlemen—just quick iteration to get things right.

And when it comes to measuring seats, we don’t rely on manufacturer specs or laser scans. Every seat is hand-measured by our team to ensure the perfect fit. Customers and local dealerships often lend us their vehicles so we can pull the seats, bring them into our R&D area, and measure them down to the last detail. That’s how we make sure every seat cover fits like a glove.

WHAT IT MEANS TO BUY AMERICAN

1. You Support American Jobs.
   Every seat cover you buy helps provide meaningful, well-paying work to men and women in Minnesota and the suppliers across the country who make our materials.
2. You Get Unmatched Quality.
   Made-in-America isn’t just a label for us—it’s a promise of durability, reliability, and attention to detail that you can count on.
3. You Invest in Local Communities.
   From our factory to the suppliers we partner with, every dollar spent on a TigerTough seat cover stays within American communities, fueling local economies and supporting families.

Seat Covers That Make You Proud

When you buy TigerTough, you’re not just getting a product—you’re getting a piece of American craftsmanship. Our goal? To make the most durable seat covers on the market while honoring the people who build them and the vehicles and heavy equipment they protect.

WHY CHOOSE TIGERTOUGH?

• 100% made in the U.S.A. — From fabric to factory floor.
• Fair prices every day — No sales, no gimmicks—just honesty.
• Hand-measured for perfection — Every seat is measured by hand in-house.
• Rapid innovation — Our on-site production lets us test and iterate quickly.
• Patented StringLock — Made in the U.S.A. and built to last.
• Toughest covers in the game — Built for work and backed by pride.

When you need seat covers that work as hard as you do, TigerTough has your back.

Seat covers are safe with heated seats, but we found that the material of the seat cover has a massive impact on how well the seat heat passes through the covers. That makes sense. The thicker the material, the longer it will take to feel the heat. But it turns out it also limits the total amount of heat you can feel through your seat.

The Heated Seat Test

We tested the seats of a Ford F150 with an outside temp of 10°F here in Vesta, MN. The starting temp of the seat was 15°F, and we set the truck’s heat to 65°F. We let the vehicle cool down completely between each test–good thing we started early!

So, breaking it down:

• Outside temperature: 10°
• Seat starting temperature: 15°
• Truck temperature set at: 65°
• Temperature was read at five-minute intervals for each cover
• We did two temperature checks at each interval
• The vehicle cooled down completely between each test

We tested four types of seat covers. Beyond our own brand, we won’t mention the brand names of the other covers we tested. But we can tell you that we reviewed them all, which is why we had them on hand.

Here’s the lineup:

1. Factory seats (so a bare seat without a cover)
2. TigerTough seat covers, made with CORDURA
3. Polyester seat cover with foam backing
4. Neoprene seat cover with foam backing.

The Results

Here are the results. We included both readings we did on each seat cover situation:

It makes sense that the thinnest cover yields the best results, but we actually expected the TigerTough seat cover to block a little heat, so we were pleasantly surprised that it was pretty much on par with the bare factory seat.

Let’s set the scene: You just got your new TigerTough seat covers delivered. You’re ready to make your F-150’s interior bulletproof against mud, mess, and mayhem. But wait—they don’t fit. Why? You guessed wrong on your cab type.

This happens more often than you’d expect.

Don’t worry; we’re here to save you from future frustration. Let’s break down the differences between the Super Cab and the SuperCrew for your Ford F-150 so you get it right the first time. (We’ll get to Crew Cab at the end.)

What Is a Super Cab?

The Super Cab is like a workhorse—strong, reliable, and built for versatility. It’s got enough room for the essentials without going overboard.

Clues you’ve got a Super Cab:

• Two full-size front doors and two smaller, rear-hinged back doors that open backward.
• Rear seating? It’s there, but it’s more for gear, pets, or kids who don’t mind cramped quarters.

Tip: If the back doors only open when the front doors are open, congrats—you’ve got a Super Cab.

What About SuperCrew?

Ah, the SuperCrew—a Ford F-150 exclusive and a crowd favorite. It’s like the Super Cab, but with even more rear legroom.

Clues you’ve got a SuperCrew:

• Four full-size doors.
• A back seat that’s massive—think SUV-level space. Perfect for families, road trips, or anyone who loves to stretch out.
• Has about 10” of extra legroom than the Super Cab.

Tip: If your F-150 feels roomy and you can stretch your legs while sitting in the backseat, you’re probably rocking a SuperCrew.

Disclaimer: If you’ve got a Super Duty (i.e. a F-250 or larger), this cab type is considered a Crew Cab.

What is a Crew Cab?

Hey, guess what? If you have an F-150, you don’t have a Crew Cab. This cab type is only available in Super Duty Ford-250s and larger. Why did Ford do this? We’re not sure, but those cab types look like this:

• Regular cab: No backseat (this should be obvious).
• Super Cab: Backseat, but not super roomy.
• Crew Cab: This has a backseat with legroom to boot. In the F-150s, this is equivalent to the SuperCrew.

Why Knowing Your Cab Matters for Seat Covers

Ford F-150 owners, listen up: seat covers aren’t one-size-fits-all. Super Cab and SuperCrew trucks have different back seat sizes and configurations; if you order the wrong one, it won’t work.

• Super Cab back seats are smaller..
• SuperCrew back seats are full-sized but slightly different in dimensions.

The wrong fit means your covers won’t stay put, exposing your seats to mud, spills, and whatever your day throws at them.

And a note to all Ford F-150 regular cab owners: your front seats are probably not the same as any of the above-mentioned cab types, so you’ll need to be sure you’ve selected the correct cab type when ordering seat covers.

How to Check Your Cab Style

Not sure what you’ve got? Here’s how to tell:

1. Look at the Back Doors:
• Super Cab: Half doors that open backward.
• SuperCrew: Four full-size doors (if you’re in an F-250 or larger, this is a Crew Cab).
2. Owner’s Manual: Your F-150’s manual will confirm your cab style.
3. VIN Decoder: Pop your VIN into an online decoder to see all the details.
4. Ask Us: Seriously—our team is here to help. Send us a picture if you’re stumped.

Don’t Guess Your Cab Type

Ford F-150s are built tough, and your seat covers should be, too. But they’ve gotta fit right to do their job. Knowing whether you’ve got a Super Cab or SuperCrew will allow you to order the perfect set for your truck.

Back in 2016, a bunch of cities we worked with started asking for seat covers for their police vehicles. We’d already been outfitting their work trucks, but when it came to law enforcement vehicles, they were out of luck—nobody was making covers that fit.

At first, we were all about sticking to work trucks. But when we saw just how big the demand was, we knew it was time to step up. That’s when we decided to roll up our sleeves and start designing covers specifically for law enforcement.

Highly abrasion resistant

Cops are in and out of their vehicles all day long. Their seats see more wear and tear than the average truck. So we worked to find a fabric that could withstand constant friction: 1000-denier CORDURA. 

To determine how tough our fabric really is, we sent it off to an independent lab for testing. Turns out, CORDURA maxed out the Wyzenbeek abrasion test and never wore through, unlike Carhartt’s duck cotton.

They’re waterproof

Some police pretty much live in their vehicles. So sandwiches, soups, and coffee all threaten to find their way onto the seat. Thankfully, TigerTough seat covers are hydrophobic, meaning that they’re legit scared of water, so liquids bead up and can be wiped off, rather than sinking into your seats to leave that inevitable stink.

They’re airbag-safe

We don’t put safety on the backburner here. If we couldn’t make our seat covers safe with airbags, we wouldn’t make them.

Thankfully, our seat covers are designed to tear away in the event of airbag deployment. They’ve been independently tested by a third-party lab to ensure they’ll do what they’re supposed to do.

Made in the U.S.

It’s important to us that our seat covers are made in the U.S. by hardworking American men and women. We support American blue-collar workers, so it only makes sense that we employ Americans too. 

Police departments do what they can to support American businesses and try to buy American-made when they can, so TigerTough has become a great option for them.

Seat covers are cheaper than new seats

We’ve talked with police from around the country, and large departments regularly replace seats. Seriously, the seats get busted and worn out, and replacing them costs thousands of dollars and requires the vehicle to be out of commission for a few days. A seat cover costs 10-20% of the cost to replace a new seat, so it’s well worth the preventative maintenance.

It’s a more sanitary option

Did you just give us the side-eye? We get it. You wouldn’t immediately think of cop cars as being unsanitary, but we’ve seen a few things. Police find themselves in gross situations more often than you’d think. And thanks to Shieldtech, any bacteria that touches a seat gets suffocated and dies before the next person sits in the vehicle. It’s not magic, it’s science.

If It’s Good Enough for Cops, It’s Good Enough for Almost Anyone

Let’s face it—if these seat covers can handle the daily grind of law enforcement, they can handle just about anything you throw at them. Cops are some of the toughest customers out there, and their vehicles see it all: constant wear and tear, messy lunches, spilled coffee, and, yeah, some pretty gnarly situations.

TigerTough seat covers were built to keep up. They’re insanely durable, waterproof, airbag-safe, and even fight off bacteria. And the best part? They’re made right here in the USA by folks who understand what hard work looks like.

So whether you’re a cop, a contractor, or just someone who wants to keep their truck in great shape, TigerTough seat covers are up for the challenge. If they’re good enough for law enforcement, they’re more than good enough for you.

Pet owners are a certain breed of folks (see what we did there), and they understand the messes some pets can leave behind. So we're often asked how our seat covers hold up to dogs, cats, toddlers etc. The truth is, pet owners love TigerTough, and here's why: 

1. They’re Waterproof

Whether your pup is a water-loving fiend or they’re just ultra drool-a-saurus, TigerTough seat covers will protect your seats from any liquid messes. And if you’ve got one of those dogs that gets car sick, you’re protected there, too.

2. Nails and Teeth Won’t Poke Through

We did puncture tests on Cordura (the material our seat covers are made from), and it took around 120lbs of pressure on a single object to penetrate the material. That means your dog would have to weigh over 120lbs and put all of their weight on a single nail to potentially poke through a TigerTough seat cover. We don’t imagine that happening anytime soon.

This is extra important if you’ve got leather seats. The seat covers will protect your supple seats from any pet scratches. And yes, they’re totally compatible with leather seats.

3. Fur is much easier to clean off than on factory seats

Let’s be real—no seat cover out there completely repels dog hair. And if there were, you probably wouldn’t want to sit on it–think Grandma’s plastic-covered couch.

Ours are no exception.

The good news? Dog hair doesn’t stand a chance against a basic vacuum on TigerTough. We tried out a few tools—a regular vacuum, a Lily Brush, and a Furz-Off Stone—to see what worked best. Spoiler alert: the vacuum won, hands down. The fur came right off. No fancy gadgets required.

Worst case? Yank the covers off and toss them in the washing machine for an easy reset.

“The best thing about these for me is their resistance to dog hair and ease of cleaning when they get dirty. I’ve got two large labs that wreck everything they touch. [A] damp cloth and good to go. Dog hair doesn’t porcupine quill into the fabric. It vacuums right up. One dog has coarse hair, and the other soft. So well worth the money. So much better than the Carhartt I’ve used for the last 20 years.”
– Mark

4. Dog Seat Belts Still Clip In

Because our seat covers are designed for humans, seatbelts and safety features are fully accessible. So, if your dog requires a seatbelt or seat harness, you’ll absolutely be able to use it with TigerTough seat covers. 

5. They’re Washable

If your dogs, cats, goats, etc. wind up making a mess if your vehicle’s interior, don’t worry, we got you. Remove your seat covers and toss them right into the washing machine. A gentle cycle with mild detergent will leave your seat covers looking (and smelling) great. 

Made For Humans, Loved By All

We don’t claim to be a dog seat cover company. We design for humans (specifically blue-collar folks), but that doesn’t mean our covers don’t work well for dogs. If they can protect against food, grease, concrete, mud, paint and various power tools, they’re sure to hold up to your pets.

And if your menagerie manages to destroy your covers, just hit us up because our warranty is unconditional and we’ll take care of your busted up seat covers.

We do a lot of wild things to our seat covers and call them "torture tests." While it’s all about showing just how tough TigerTough seat covers are, we have to admit—it’s also pretty fun to try to destroy something nearly indestructible.

But real-life disasters are anything but fun. When tragedy strikes and leaves you with a totaled vehicle, no test can compare to that kind of loss.

Josh reached out to us to see how unconditional our unconditional warranty was after his truck caught fire and was deemed a total loss. Inside that truck? A set of TigerTough seat covers that didn’t make it through the flames.

Lucky for Josh, it doesn’t matter how your covers get destroyed—our warranty’s got your back.

In his own words:

To whom it may concern, I bought TigerTough seat covers for my 2021 Chevy 2500hd. They looked absolutely amazing. My dog Loki likes to go every[where] with me, and I wanted to protect my seats. TigerTough seat covers were the only way to go. My dog loves the water and to roll in the dirt. With that being said, the covers kept my seats dry and the sand easy to clean up.  

Unfortunately, my truck started on fire, and my truck was a total loss. I called up TigerTough to ask about how good [their] 2 year unconditional warranty was, and to my surprise, it is everything they say it is. The wonderful staff is replacing them, and since I bought the same style of truck, my dog and I will be rolling again in style, and my seats will stay dry and sand-free.

Basically, I am saying TigerTough is the only seat cover I will ever buy, and they will have a customer for life. I will tell anyone and everyone that the seat covers may not be fireproof but they are dog-proof. Like I said before, I can't enough how amazing TigerTough is as a company, and [their] product is worth every penny.

Sincerely,
Josh Hare 

We’re thrilled that Josh and Loki are safe, and we hope they enjoy plenty more muddy, messy adventures in their new ride. As for the seat covers—no matter how they’re wrecked, we’ve got your back every time.