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Both brands have earned their stripes, commanding respect in the market for their quality and durability. But brand reputation is just one piece of the puzzle when hunting for the right seat cover.

Your vehicle’s interior faces daily challenges, from accidental spills to the wear and tear of regular use. And while both Carhartt and WeatherTech promise top-tier protection, the real question is: which one truly delivers on that promise? 

We've ordered both covers and tried them on a 2023 Ford F-150, and we’ll give you a head-to-head comparison to help you make an informed decision for your ride.

Installation

Installation might seem straightforward with seat covers, but it's more than just fitting a piece of fabric onto a seat. It's about ensuring the cover stays in place, doesn't interfere with the vehicle's functions, and looks aesthetically pleasing. Carhartt and WeatherTech have different installation methods, and we’ll take a detailed look into both processes.

Covercraft Carhartt Installation

You know Carhartt. Their seat covers promise the same rugged quality as their workwear. 

The aesthetic is instantly recognizable, appealing to fans of the Carhartt brand. However, a slight hiccup emerges in differentiating the driver's seat cover from the passenger's, especially since these covers are airbag-safe, making correct installation crucial.

Installation is straightforward, with simple instructions typical of most seat cover brands (but not typical of TigerTough…just sayin’). The covers are one piece, excluding the headrest, which means less hassle in assembling multiple parts. However, this singular design can be tricky in ensuring a snug fit, especially over prolonged use.

WeatherTech Installation

WeatherTech is no newbie in the vehicle protection arena. Installation of their Seat Protectors promises speed, with our trial run clocking it at under three minutes for a single cover. Their one-piece design is reminiscent of a bib, using two straps behind the seat, one beneath, and a stretchy band around the headrest posts for a relatively secure fit. Simplicity is WeatherTech's motto here.

However, this simplistic approach has its drawbacks. The one-piece design exposes the back of the seat (cue a hospital gown analogy). The lack of snug fit will also lead to the cover shifting with regular movement in and out of the vehicle.

Design and Fit

Design and fit aren't just about making your truck’s interior look good. It's about protection and durability. Covercraft Carhartt and WeatherTech each have strengths and potential areas of improvement.

Covercraft Carhartt

Carhartt's design leans heavily into its brand identity—rugged, durable, and ready for work. The SeatSaver Custom Seat Covers, made of their signature "heavy-duty, firm-hand Carhartt® Duck Weave fabric," are an extension of this brand. This 100% cotton fabric feels familiar to anyone who's donned a Carhartt jacket or hat.

However, this commitment to tradition can be a double-edged sword. The material does wear out (we’ve seen it). A seat cover sees far more friction than a jacket, so it won’t last as long.

Each Carhartt cover is customized to your vehicle's specific make and model, making it a custom fit.

The seat covers are constructed as a single piece (aside from the headrest) unlike TigerTough seat covers. While this can simplify the design, it can compromise the fit. Over time, as users slide in and out of their vehicles, the SeatSavers might shimmy and shift, detracting from the snug fit you’d hope for.

“Will not stay in place. Have to fix the cover every time I get out, very frustrating for the price.”

- Timothy C.

WeatherTech

WeatherTech's design philosophy seems centered around simplicity. Their Seat Protectors adopt a minimalist, one-piece design approach. 

However, the emphasis on simplicity also leads to compromises. The seat protectors only cover the front, exposing the back—a curious choice that might not appeal to those looking for full protection like a TigerTough seat cover. And the lack of a custom fit for specific vehicles means the covers won’t offer a snug, glove-like fit. This might lead to the seat covers shifting more than users like, especially with frequent use.

“Heavy duty, but not enough places to secure them so they don't slide up. Don't really fit right. Pretty expensive for the fit! As long I keep pulling them down the should protect from dirt etc.”

- Jericho

Headrest Protection

The headrest cover, while sometimes overlooked, plays a vital role. Protecting the headrest ensures not only the longevity of the material but also the cleanliness and appearance of your vehicle's interior. 

Covercraft Carhartt and WeatherTech take different approaches to headrest protection, and understanding these can greatly influence one's buying decision.

Covercraft Carhartt: Integrating the Iconic Fabric

Carhartt continues its commitment to its signature Duck Weave fabric, even regarding the headrest. The headrest portion is a separate piece (like TigerTough) and offers a consistent look throughout the seat. This ensures that the iconic rugged appearance is uniform, making the interior look cohesive.

Functionally, the headrest cover protects against dirt, wear, and the elements. However, as it's designed as a separate piece, there might be concerns regarding its fit and potential to shift over time, especially if not secured properly.

WeatherTech: The Minimalist Approach

WeatherTech's approach to the headrest is noticeably different. Their Seat Protectors do not cover the headrest, opting for a strap around the headrest bars. While this minimalist design ensures quick installation and removal, it leaves the headrest vulnerable to dirt, sweat, and other potential stains.

From an aesthetic standpoint, the lack of coverage can be seen as a design inconsistency, especially when the rest of the seat is protected. Functionally, for drivers in blue-collar jobs, the unprotected headrest might wear out or discolor faster than the rest of the seat.

Seat Back

Often, the back of the seat is a neglected aspect of protection. It’s not as visible as the seat front, but it's just as important when it comes to shielding against wear, tear, and potential damage. Let’s just say Carhartt and WeatherTech have different approaches to covering the seat back.

Covercraft Carhartt: Full Coverage with Character

Appearance

The Carhartt Duck Weave fabric extends to the back, ensuring a seamless look throughout the seat. Its rugged texture and signature style adds a touch of workmanship to the vehicle's interior, even in areas not immediately visible.

Fit

The Carhartt design snugly wraps around the seat back, with the material's firmness ensuring it stays in place. This tight fit minimizes the material's chances of sagging or becoming baggy.

Extra Features

• Logo: Carhartt’s iconic patch sits between the shoulder blades, a subtle brand reminder.
• Storage Pocket: A standard feature on their covers, the seat back pocket offers added functionality and storage, a win for those who like to keep things organized.

WeatherTech: Simplified Protection

Appearance

The Seat Protectors by WeatherTech sport a more minimalistic design. If you’re into bibs, you’ll be into these.

Fit

The design leaves the back exposed, resembling a shield rather than a full cover. This design choice might raise eyebrows among those who prefer complete coverage, but it allows quicker installation. But it also makes for a sloppy fit.

“When the dog is on the seat, the cover moves around every time she changes position. It should not be my job to re-engineer a WeatherTech product to make it work. I have always been pleased with WT products until now.”

- Doug S.

Extra Features:

• Open Back: The lack of a full back cover is a drawback, but this can benefit those who need quick access to pockets or features on the original seat.
• Optional Back Protector: For an additional $60, WeatherTech offers an additional seat back protector, acknowledging that a segment of their audience might prefer the extra layer of defense.

Seat Crease and Bottom

Let’s look closer at how Covercraft Carhartt and WeatherTech tackle the seat crease – that intersection where the seat bottom meets the back.

Covercraft Carhartt: Not the Neatest Crease

Seat Crease

• Carhartt’s one-piece design offers continuity at the crease. This translates to a smooth transition from the seat back to the bottom.
• However, the single-piece construction means the crease may shift over time, especially as occupants slide in and out of the seat.

Seat Bottom

• Crafted with their signature Duck Weave fabric, the Carhartt seat bottom boasts both durability and a rustic aesthetic.
• The design ensures that access to seat controls remains unobstructed, with the cover contouring neatly around the edge of the seat.
• Multiple contact points ensure the seat bottom remains anchored, resisting movement and providing a firm seating experience.

WeatherTech: One-Piece Flaws

Seat Crease

• With WeatherTech’s single-piece Seat Protectors, the seat crease design emphasizes functionality. Its design can act as a catcher for crumbs and debris – a practical touch for those with kids or frequent eaters on the go.
• But, much like Carhartt, this single-piece approach may lead to the cover shifting over time, compromising the initial neat appearance.

Seat Bottom

• WeatherTech’s focus on functional design shines through with its skirt-like approach to the seat bottom, wrapping around its base.
• This skirt design may drape over some seat controls, potentially causing slight accessibility issues for some vehicle models.
• The absence of anchoring points under the seat means the seat cover might shift slightly during use, which may be a point of consideration for some users.

Airbag Compatibility

⚠️ Spoiler alert: Not all seat covers are airbag-compatible.

Covercraft Carhartt: Safety at Forefront

• Carhartt's seat covers have been meticulously designed to work seamlessly with side seat airbags, ensuring unhindered deployment when needed.
• Proper installation is paramount. Even with the best designs, incorrect fitting can pose risks. Adhering to the provided guidelines is crucial.

WeatherTech: A Questionable Oversight

• WeatherTech, despite its reputation in vehicle protection, has a glaring oversight in their Seat Protector design concerning side airbag safety.
• Their installation instructions say not to put the covers on vehicles with side airbags. Since most new vehicles have these airbags, the WeatherTech Seat Protectors shouldn’t be installed.
• Their securing straps can potentially cover side seat airbags, making them a hazardous choice for most modern vehicles, especially those post-2014 where side airbags are prevalent.
• This design flaw isn't a tiny hiccup; it's a major safety concern. There’s no room for nonchalance when it comes to life-saving features.

The Non-Negotiable Nature of Airbag Safety

The data doesn’t lie. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's findings underline the significance of side airbags in saving lives. So any seat cover that doesn't prioritize this essential safety feature should considered cautiously.

When choosing between brands, remember that safety isn't negotiable. Whether you lean toward Covercraft’s Carhartt or any other brand, ensuring the seat covers comply with the vehicle's safety features and are installed as directed is vital.

Price

Let's check out both brands' price points and analyze their value.

Covercraft Carhartt: A Premium Offering

Price Point

• Priced at $428 (as of our last check for a 2023 Ford F150 model), Carhartt SeatSavers position themselves in the market's premium segment.

Value Proposition

• The fabric's resilience, iconic Carhartt branding, and tailored fit justify the steeper price for many. As an integral safety feature, airbag compatibility adds to its value.
• Their periodic sales and coupon codes offer some relief, making them more accessible during promotional periods.

WeatherTech: Surprisingly Steep for the Offering

Price Point

• To cover the front and back of bucket seats (not the sides, as those are still exposed), WeatherTech Seat Protectors carry a price of $420. ($150 per seat protector and $60 for each seat back protector.) And your headrests are still naked in this scenario.

Value Proposition

• At face value, WeatherTech demands a premium price. Given the safety concerns around airbag compatibility and the less-than-perfect fit, the value for the price could be better.
• Their "universal" design philosophy might cut costs in production, but it might not always align with consumers' expectations for a tailored fit.

Price Overview

With Carhartt at $428 for a custom fit and WeatherTech at $410 for a universal fit, there's not enough cost savings for us to justify buying WeatherTech.

Customer Feedback and Reviews

Covercraft Carhartt seat covers earned a notable 4.5-star rating with over 2,000 reviews, showcasing their appeal and reliability. Many drivers admire the robustness and look of their signature Carhartt fabric.

On the other hand, WeatherTech's Seat Protectors aren’t as loved, averaging a 3.2-star rating. Customers often mention fit issues, coverage gaps, and concerns regarding airbag safety. While WeatherTech has mastered other vehicle protection, their seat protectors differ from their top-tier product.

Conclusion

Wrapping up our in-depth comparison of Covercraft Carhartt and WeatherTech seat protectors, here's a snapshot of what each brand brings to the table:

Covercraft Carhartt

• Brand Legacy: Carhartt leverages its iconic Duck Weave fabric and its established reputation in durable workwear.
• Design Philosophies: The seat covers offer a familiar feel, though there are areas, such as seat fit, where improvement is needed,
• Price Point: Retailing at around $428 for their SeatSavers, Carhartt combines brand trust with a slightly premium price.

WeatherTech

• Brand Strength: A well-established name in vehicle protection, WeatherTech is known for precision and craftsmanship.
• Safety Concerns: The potential risk to airbag deployment is a major concern that users need to be wary of.
• Design and Fit: Despite a more streamlined design, there are compromises, especially around seat crease and headrest protection.
• Price Consideration: Priced at approximately $420 for complete front seat protection (including additional seat back protectors), WeatherTech's offering seems less compelling, especially when factoring in the safety reservations and lack of headrest cover.

No pressure, but when it comes to seat covers, your choices play an important role in determining your car's interior's safety, aesthetics, resale value, and durability. If you were to ask us, we’d choose Covercraft’s Carhartt over WeatherTech’s Seat Protector. When selecting seat covers, it's crucial to weigh aesthetics, comfort, safety, and functionality.

We’re dog people. I mean, we’re Americans, after all. At TigerTough, we have dogs who ride along in our trucks just like our customers do, so wondering if our seat covers are durable enough to withstand dogs is a valid concern.

If you’re bringing your pets along for the ride, first, you want to protect your seats. You paid good money for your vehicle and want to keep that resale value. We get that. So you need seat covers. Second, you want those covers to withstand what your pet dishes out.

Our covers aren’t made for dogs. And we don’t have any pet hammocks you see slung in the back seat of a Subaru near you. We make our covers for hardworking men and women, so let’s see how TigerTough holds up to pets.

Made for Messes

Dogs are gross. They run through mud, jump in swamps, and roll in...stuff. You need seat covers durable enough to handle the messiest scenario your dog finds itself in.

Waterproof material

Our covers are made from 1000-Denier CORDURA®. We’ve literally dumped tar on our seat covers and poured five gallons of coffee on them, and the seats underneath came out unscathed. So if your pooch soils your seat and you’ve got a TigerTough seat cover on it, don’t sweat. The seat under it will be fine.

“Tough as f###ing nails, my dog puked on them and didn’t even faze them. If they ever wear out, I’ll buy [them] again.”

-Gene

How well does dog hair clean up?

Sadly, our seat covers don’t repel dog hair. We’re actually not sure of any covers on the market that do. 

But we’re happy to report that dog hair easily vacuums up off the seat covers. We tested three tools to remove dog hair from the seat covers a standard vacuum cleaner, a Lily Brush, and a Furz-Off Stone. Out of all of them, the vacuum performed the best, and the fur came right off. You won’t need special tools.

Worst case scenario, you can easily remove the seat covers and toss them in the washing machine for ultimate cleanup.

“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

 

Durability

We have yet to find a dog who can dig or chew its way through one of our seat covers. We can’t say it won’t happen, but until (if) it does, we’re considering them scratch-proof. No matter how much your dog digs, it won’t be able to dig through the cover. Heck, if a screwdriver can’t stab through a cover, we don’t think your dog has a chance of destroying these.

“We bought these well over a year ago mainly for our three dogs, and they look just like the day we put them on, so easy to clean too. We love them."

- Dennis

Safety

If your dog uses a dog seatbelt or harness, you can still clip it in. All connection points and seatbelts are still accessible with TigerTough. 

Disclaimer: We’ve only tested our seat covers for human safety, not dog safety, so be sure to read any instructions that come with your dog's car seatbelt before using it with TigerTough seat covers.

Dog-Friendly Seat Covers

We don’t make our seat covers with dogs in mind. Our covers fit like a glove on your captain/bucket seats and bench seats. We don't make pet hammocks or cargo liners (but if you are looking for cargo liners, we recommend Canvasback.) We make our seat covers for people first, but our covers are great for pets too. 

If our covers can withstand concrete, coffee, gypsum, chainsaws, and weed-eaters, they can withstand the wear and tear of dogs and whatever other animals you happen to have riding shotgun.

But suppose your dog manages to dig with the ferocity of a first-time excavator operator and actually causes some damage. In that case, we have a two-year unconditional warranty and will happily replace those covers. And yes, we mean unconditional.

“Absolutely fantastic product! Holds up great to a German Shepard Service Dog getting into and out of the truck multiple times a day now for months with no signs of wear. Cleans easily, including the famous “German Shedder” glitter! My wife loves it. She can access the storage compartments in the back seats with no problems and loves the fact that this seat cover even allows her to raise the one section of the back seat allowing the dog to get in and out easier. No other seat cover does that, well none that we found! It is just the best!”

- David

We've seen our seat covers in action with a range of dogs—hunting dogs, pets, police K9s, and service dogs. Not a single negative review about TigerTough seat covers for dogs has come our way. Even though our seat covers aren’t designed for dogs, they've proven to be as dog-friendly as the best of them.

We didn’t know much about ShearComfort before doing our Best Work Truck Seat Covers review, but we were pleasantly surprised by their specs. In that review, we looked at their Waterproof covers made of 500 Denier CORDURA®. Since we wanted something more similar to our covers for this comparison, we ordered their CORDURA® 1000 Denier Xtra-Duty Seat Covers, which seemed promising.

Let’s see how they compare with TigerTough seat covers.

Watch the full video review

Packaging

The ShearComfort covers arrived in a plain, unbranded box with “custom seat covers” printed on it. If we were grading this, we wouldn’t ding points for an unbranded box, but they don’t get extra credit.

We were disappointed that their covers didn’t come with instructions. There wasn’t anything in the box except the covers. Maybe this was a packaging error, or perhaps it’s standard. Either way, since we work in the seat cover industry, we assumed we could figure out how to install them. Installing guides are available online, but we didn’t dig into them.

TigerTough covers ship in a branded bag, and we include full-color instructions for your specific vehicle. No generic instructions here. And all our instructions are available online (check out a copy) if yours mysteriously disappears.

Materials: What are they made of?

We got excited about ShearComfort because they, like us, use CORDURA®️, which is like the diamond-tipped saw blade of the seat cover world. These particular seat covers of theirs are made from 1000 Denier, the same as ours. (They have other types of CURDURA®️ as well.)

But there’s a plot twist.

ShearComfort’s covers aren’t fully covered in CORDURA®️. The back of the cover–where the pocket is–is made from stretchy nylon. Think 1980s workout gear–same vibe.

This was surprising because nowhere in the product description does it say the back is made from a different material. We can’t tell how this mullet-of-a-seatback will perform long-term, but we’ll get into more details in the installation section.

Design and Fit

The ShearComfort Xtra-Duty covers come in three pieces. We love this–it means the cover will have a more accurate fit. 

We want to point out that the seat covers we ordered didn’t look exactly like the stock image. The cover we received didn’t have an airbag tag, and instead of a tearaway seam, it had a hole with a flap for the airbag. However, these were indicated as airbag-compatible, so we’ll trust them. 

Overall, both covers look great installed.

Headrest

The ShearComfort covers have slits around the headrest mounts with a visible bias tape around the edge. Similar to how Carhartt does theirs. This doesn’t affect function; you wouldn’t notice this if you had the headrest down.

TigerTough covers are designed to fit under the plastic part of the headrest supports for a cleaner look.

Seatback

The part of the cover you rest your back on is similar on both brands. The TigerTough option you see has the added embroidery (which will cost you extra), but other than that, they’re about the same. We didn’t see an option to add embroidery to ShearComfort.

The actual backs of the seatbacks are very different. 

ShearComfort has a pocket, which is rare as a standard feature. You need to pay for this additional feature with the TigerTough vehicle covers (seatback pockets come standard on our heavy equipment seat covers, though.)

But, like we mentioned earlier, the material on the back of ShearComfort Xtra-Duty cover is a totally different material. It’s thin and stretchy. 

Here’s what we don’t know about this back material:

• What it’s made of
• How durable it is
• If it’s waterproof
• If it will stretch out with time

That said, we wish they would have wrapped the whole seat in the 1000 Denier CORDURA®️.

Side airbag-compatibility

ShearComfort deems their seat covers as side airbag-safe. This is huge. We wouldn’t ever recommend putting on a seat cover that wasn’t compatible with side airbags. 

This is where we got another head-tilt, though. 

The stock images of ShearComfort’s Xtra-Duty seat covers show a tearaway seam, similar to how TigerTough does it. But the covers we received from them had a hole covered by a flap for airbag deployment. Since the hole is smaller than the airbag deployment area on the factory seat, this does make us nervous. We couldn't find any testing info on their site, so we couldn't see how they deploy.

We emailed the ShearComfort team to see if their covers were tested. This is what they said:

"Yes all of our seat covers are made airbag compatible if the vehicle has side impact airbags...While I cannot send [the] documentation as it is proprietary information (every company has different methods that need to be certified), but I can assure you that there is regulation and tested and our manufacturing is certified."

TigerTough seat covers have a tearaway seam, so the side airbags can fully deploy in a collision. A third-party lab tests our covers for compatibility.

Here's one of the testing videos:

Seat crease

Both brands are similar here too. You can tell ShearComfort is a bit stiffer in this area, but we think that would break in with time.

Since each cover is made of three pieces (the headrest, seatback, and seat bottom), there will be a clean seat crease. 

Seat bottom

Both covers allow access to the seat controls and tuck in nicely on the side.

An elastic bungee connects on the side and runs under the seat to secure the ShearComfort covers. This helps keep it in place. Sort of. Elastic gives, so the cover may shift slightly when you slide into the seat. It’s also not a great material to use on seat covers because it stretches out over time, and if your vehicle gets hot at all, that will reduce the lifespan of the elastic. 

TigerTough uses a string that runs along the edge of the seat bottom and cinches up (like your favorite drawstring pants), runs under the seat bottom, and our Stringlock secures it all. It’s not the easiest, but it’s the best way to keep the seat bottom from shifting.

Keeping the cover secure on the seat bottom is a common problem with seat covers, and not many brands have figured out how to solve this effectively.

Ease of Installation

“That install kind of sucked,” admitted one of our team members. 

Since we didn’t receive installation instructions with the seat covers, we just went for it, assuming we’d figure it out. The headrest and seatback were fine, but it got rough with the seat bottom. We didn’t know what to hook the hooks to (Part of the seat? Each other?). This is partly on us because we didn’t search online for installation instructions.

And because we knew the airbag slot needed to be on the side of the seat closest to the door, we could figure out which cover to put on which seat. But it wasn’t indicated on the seat covers themselves. That box wasn't checked on ours:

Overall, the installation took seven minutes, which is still less than TigerTough seat cover installation, which was at nine minutes.

Warranty

ShearComfort has a two-year, risk-free warranty, according to their site:

“This product comes with a 2 Year Risk-Free Warranty against any defects in workmanship and materials. This warranty excludes daily wear and tear, accidental damage, or wear because of improper use or installation.”

Two years is better than we’ve seen from other seat cover companies, but we don’t love that it doesn’t cover daily wear and tear. If a seat cover breaks down during daily wear and tear, it's probably not one you want in a work truck.

The TigerTough warranty is two years, but we make our covers for the blue collar world, and they’re designed to power through the worst of scenarios, so we’ve made it an unconditional warranty. We don’t care how you wrecked your seat covers; we’ll repair or replace them for you.

Price

We used a 2023 Ford F150 as our test model for pricing.

ShearComfort CORDURA® 1000 Denier Xtra-Duty Seat Covers: $470
TigerTough Seat Covers: $297

The ShearComfort option is nearly twice as much as the TigerTough version. However, you can usually find a coupon code for ShearComfort or wait for a sale. We keep things straightforward at TigerTough–we don’t have coupons or surprise sales. You get what you get.

Customer Reviews

With a 4.6-star rating and over 1,700 reviews, people really like ShearComfort’s covers. Ed P. says:

“This stuff is really tuff material, looked rough at first but it conformed decently over a short time. I have zero worries about my new trucks interior now. There are a couple small areas the seat cover did not cover. So be it.”

We have around 800 reviews, but we average a 4.9-star rating. This is what Stephen E. has to say:

“This is my second set of covers for my personal truck. Indestructible. Have purchased a set of front and Rear for a RAM truck in my Volunteer Fire Department. Are holding up well to the abuses that fire fighters put them through with the gear they wear.”

Summary

Ultimately, seat covers save you money, so they’re a wise investment, and you should take some time to research which ones you like best.

Both of these seat covers are well-loved by their reviewers. It all comes down to preference and what your budget looks like.

Based on the facts, TigerTough is a little more appealing since the price is about half of what ShearComfort charges, and the warranty is unconditional. But both covers are great options and will protect your seats for years.