With extreme force, it can. But it doesn’t tear in everyday scenarios. We challenged grown men to try and tear it with all their might, and take a look at their best efforts:
Fleet managers will ask how our seat covers compare to Carhartt®, so in order to get an unbiased answer, we sent a sample of the 1000-denier CORDURA® fabric we use in our seat covers, along with the dcotton duck Carhartt® uses for its seat covers, to TexTest for independent lab testing.
Using the ASTM D4533 Trapezoid Method, TexTest tested the tear resistance of both materials. A cut was made into both samples, and a force was applied to further tear them apart. CORDURA® tore at 100lb of force. The cotton duck tore at 20lb of force, making the CORDURA® 5x stronger than the duck cotton.
Check out the live test:
This isn’t about us comparing ourselves to Carhartt®, per se, but it’s one of the biggest brands out there and known for its durability. So we’re here to tell you that while Carhartt’s material is durable, CORDURA® is rated military-grade and labeled nearly indestructible.
So yes, while CORDURA® can technically rip, we don’t think it will even rip on you in your daily use, which is why we offer an unconditional warranty on our seat covers. They fail you? We’ll make it right.
There’s a lot of competition when it comes to seat covers. You’ll undoubtedly see the Carhartt SeatSaver Custom Seat Cover when you google best seat covers for my truck.
Everyone loves Carhartt. You’ve got the hat, the jacket, and maybe the coveralls, so it’s natural to want to deck your truck out with it too. You’ve relied on Carhartt on the job, but can you rely on it in your vehicle?
And how do these covers compare to TigerTough seat covers?
We’ll take an unbiased approach (no…seriously, we will) in comparing these two seat covers.
Covercraft Carhartt vs. TigerTough–who’s going to take home the gold? We’re about to find out.
Watch the video comparison:
Packaging
We love the box the Carhartt covers arrived in. It was straightforward, said what it was, and branded so that you knew what to expect. The only thing we didn’t love was it wasn’t clear which cover went on the driver’s seat. Since these are airbag-safe, putting the correct cover on the seat is important.
TigerTough seat covers come in a branded bag, and Carhartt seat covers come in a branded, shelf-ready box.
The Covercraft instructions are pretty simple and what you expect from a standard seat cover company. It’s a universal one-sheeter designed to work for any vehicle.
TigerTough covers come in a branded bag. If you’re ordering a lot of covers (like a fleet), you’ll get a box filled with these bags. Not as shelf-ready as Carhartt, but it does the job.
Unlike Carhartt, we send a detailed full-color instruction packet with our covers and a link to an install video for your specific vehicle. It might not be necessary for everyone, but we try to avoid troubleshooting by offering as much detail upfront.
Materials: What are they made of?
Carhartt SeatSaver Custom Seat Covers are made of “heavy-duty, firm-hand Carhartt® Duck Weave fabric and triple-stitched main seams.” This is the same 100% cotton fabric you know from your favorite Carhartt gear. You can feel it already, can’t you? Like their apparel, the seat covers are water-resistant but not waterproof.
TigerTough seat covers are made from 1000 Denier CORDURA®️. That’s a mouthful, so what does it mean? It’s made in the U.S., waterproof, nearly indestructible, and so tough that it meets Military Specifications. It’s designed and tested to withstand some of the most brutal conditions.
Carhartt Duck Weave is tough but won’t withstand the same abuse as 1000 Denier CORDURA®️—seats in a vehicle experience more friction than an article of clothing. So if your truck’s interior will be used well, you’ll want to consider your options carefully.
Customer photo of Carhartt seat covers (not sold by Covercraft), made with the Carhartt® Duck Weave fabric showing visible wear on the driver's seat.
Derrick had some great things to say about the durability of his TigerTough seat covers:
“These are great quality, tough, very good fitting seat covers. I have had similar covers in the past on a previous Tundra, and they lasted 16 years until I sold that truck. I expect the same from these.”
Design and Fit
The fit of the Carhartt Seat Savers is the number one complaint we hear about them. These covers are made in a single piece (plus the headrest), so you won’t get a secure fit. Covercraft's Carhartt Precision Fit comes in separate pieces and fits more like TigerTough seat covers, but they flaunt a price tag starting at $429, so we didn't use them for this comparison.
The SeatSavers look alright at first but shimmy and shift as you slide in and out of your vehicle.
TigerTough seat covers come in multiple pieces: the seat bottom, back, and headrest cover. You’ll get an accurate fit, no matter your vehicle.
More pieces = better fit
Just take a look at a recently installed Carhartt seat cover vs. a TigerTough seat cover that's been installed for eight years. The seat portion on the Carhartt cover is already shifting:
New Carhartt SeatSavers. Customer photo courtesy of the Covercraft website.
Both headrest covers protect well. We’re happy that Carhartt covers them (because we’ve run into some covers that don’t). If you’re in any type of blue-collar line of work, chances are, you’ll want a cover protecting your headrest.
Just below the headrest, around the headrest supports, there’s a difference.
TigerTough covers are designed to fit under the plastic headrest mounts. Carhartt has a visible bias tape around their mounts.
The Carhartt covers have a visible bias tape around the edge. TigerTough covers are designed to fit under the plastic mounts of the headrest supports for a cleaner look. If you have the headrest all the way down, you wouldn’t notice. None of this affects function; it’s just a difference in design.
Seat back
TigerTough seatback embroidery is an additional fee, whereas Carhartt's logo comes standard on their covers.
Covercraft’s option has the Carhartt patch in the area between your shoulder blades. TigerTough arrives bare. If you’d like, you can add embroidery, whether stock or custom, for an additional fee. As far as we can tell, you can't add custom embroidery with Covercraft.
As you move down the seat back, both covers fit well, but TigerTough fits more securely. We make our covers in multiple pieces, so there are additional points for the cover to stay secured to the seat.
TigerTough's seatback pocket is an add-on for an additional fee. Carhartt's seatback pocket comes standard.
On the actual back of the seat, Covercraft gets points for having a pocket come standard on their vehicle seat covers. This is an upgrade feature for TigerTough and will cost you extra.
Seat crease
OK, this is where the difference is most obvious. It all comes back to one-piece vs. two, and the two-piece options just look neater.
TigerTough's seat cover comes in multiple pieces with a separate seat bottom and seat back. Carhartt's seat cover has one piece for the seat back and bottom.
Even if you shoved your hands into the crevice to get a neat look on the Carhartt cover, it would shift as soon as you slid into the vehicle. WeatherTech's seat covers are the same way. It makes for an imperfect fit, but you judge which look you prefer.
Seat bottom
These are pretty comparable. Both covers allow access to the seat controls and tuck in nicely on the side.
Both seat covers allow access to the seat control panels.
We wish there were additional contact points on the seat bottom, but overall, it works.
Ease of Installation
Installation on the Carhartt covers was about seven minutes. Since their cover is one piece, it made things simpler. There are little pillows that you shove into the seat crease for the covers to stay in place.
TigerTough took about nine minutes. That extra piece adds some complications to the installation process.
💡Helpful tip: When we installed the Carhartt seat covers, we couldn't find any indication of which cover went on which seat. In order for these to be airbag-compatible, they need to be on the correct seat. Take a look at the inside of the seat cover for a tearaway seam. That seam should be on the side of the seat closest to the door.
“Covercraft’s warranty coverage protects against defects in material and workmanship, as well as the fabric becoming unserviceable during normal use. After factory inspection, at its option, Covercraft will repair or replace the unit or specific panels or parts judged to be unusable. Warranty does not cover fading, which occurs naturally on all products used outdoors, or weather resistance of fabric.”
This is pretty good, but in the end, Covercraft can determine what they’ll cover and what they won’t.
Our warranty is shorter at just two years, but we believe in the durability of our products, so we’ve made it an unconditional warranty. It doesn’t matter how your seat covers got wrecked (but we bet there’s an epic story there); we’ll repair or replace them for you.
Three-year limited vs. two-year unconditional warranty.
Price
We want to compare apples to apples here, so we used a 2023 Ford F150 as our test model for pricing.
Covercraft Carhartt SeatSavers: $420 (this base price seems to fluctuate with their sales) TigerTough Seat Covers: $327
The Covercraft covers cost about 30% more than the TigerTough option. However, you’ll be able to find coupon codes for Covercraft, whereas we keep things straightforward with no-fuss pricing on our site. What you see is what you get.
Customer Reviews
With a 4.5-star rating and over 2,000 reviews when this was published, there’s no denying that people love their Carhartt seat covers. A lot of the reviews echo the same, but we liked how specific Matthew H. got:
“Exactly what I expected. Had put these in my landscape work truck three years ago and have been pleased. When I got a new-to-me CR-V, twelve years old but very clean, there was no question I wanted to invest in seat covers to keep the nearly new interior in good condition. Good fit, decent attachment, and I expect no durability issues.”
TigerTough covers don’t have as many reviews, but we average a 4.9-star rating, which is pretty great! We love what John T. has to say about his TigerTough seat covers:
“As advertised. I tried to jam a screwdriver through them with acceptable (non-extreme) pressure. They held up just fine. I’m sure the friction from my backside over the years getting in and out of the truck (2009 F150) will never wear these covers out. Wish I had bought a set when the truck was new. Would have saved the original seats from wear and increased the resale value. Pursuing ordering a set for my 2019 F250 to just prevent excessive wear.”
We often say that the Carhartt covers are the second-best covers for work trucks. If TigerTough doesn’t have a cover available for your vehicle, definitely go get your Carhartt fix. And if you love the Carhartt brand but want your seat covers to fit like a glove, you might want to consider upgrading to Covercraft’s PrecisionFit Carhartt Seat Covers, with two pieces (plus the headrest); they're designed to fit better.
When it comes down to the facts (and not our paychecks), TigerTough is cheaper, more durable, and has a more forgiving warranty.
We know WeatherTech makes incredible floormats. They’ve been in the business since 1989 and are well-known in the industry for their floor protection. A few of us at TigerTough even rock their mats in our trucks.
But when we were researching our Best Work Truck Seat Covers article, WeatherTech Seat Protectors were mentioned as an option for work trucks. Since we love their floormats, we had high expectations for their seat covers. So we ordered a single cover to fit a 2023 F150 XLT passenger seat to try our best to give an unbiased review.
Let’s see how it holds up.
Watch the video review
Ordering and shipping
WeatherTech wastes no time in shipping. We received our order in just two days!
WeatherTech shipping package vs. a TigerTough shipping package
The seat cover arrived in a plain brown box. This doesn’t affect our review, but we know their floormats come in a branded box, and it’d be cool to see that same thought put into shipping their covers.
Inside the box was the cover, wrapped in protective plastic, an invoice, and the installation instructions. No swag or fanfare. It was just a straightforward package.
Design and appearance
The weird thing is, WeatherTech does an excellent job of showcasing their Seat Protectors on the rear bench seats of vehicles in their stock photos, but you need to dig a little to find the covers shown on a bucket or captain seat.
WeatherTech Seat Protector installed
But once we installed the set we ordered on our Ford F150, we had that a-ha moment about why WeatherTech didn’t put their bucket seat covers in the spotlight.
It turns out they only offer six different fits for their seat covers–this fit is far from custom, despite searching for a specific vehicle when ordering. It reminds us of those weighted vests the dentist makes you wear before taking x-rays.
This is a one-piece seat cover, so you won’t get an attractive fit.
The lack of a headrest cover doesn’t help the appearance of an apron, so when you open the door, you can immediately tell this is a seat cover. Also, any grime from your head will still transfer to the headrest. That won’t help with resale value.
Fit
It’s crucial to point out that WeatherTech advises you not to install their seat covers on seats with side airbags. A standard consumer probably doesn’t realize that these airbags were being placed in vehicles starting in the 1990s. As of 1997, a mandate was put in place that all passenger-side seats contain airbags.
WeatherTech warns not to install their Seat Protectors if the side impact airbag is compromised
That means you shouldn’t put WeatherTech Seat Protectors on any passenger seat of a vehicle made after 1998. They could work on airbagless rear captain seats if your vehicle has those, but they wouldn't work on the seats of the Ford F150 we tried them on.
A side strap covers the side impact airbag tearaway seam
Let’s just skip right past that red flag and move on to the control panels.
The skirt of the Seat Protector covers the control panel on a Ford F150
The front skirt of the Seat Protectors went over the side control panels of our Ford F150 passenger seat. So if we needed to adjust the seat, we’d have to pick up that fabric curtain to access the controls. That’s not a deal-breaker, but it's inconvenient.
But the back of the seat is a different story.
Back of the Seat Protector
The back of the seat isn't covered by anything beyond the hook and loop straps that secure the Seat Protector. This might not be a big deal if you don't have passengers in the second row. But either way, it's not going to give you a secure fit.
Despite claiming their seat covers are semi-custom, having six varieties for thousands of different vehicles won’t give you a custom fit.
Manfred from Connecticut was disappointed with how they fit his 2018 Ford F150:
“I found the quality of the material good. The elastic to hold the fabric up against the seat was not very strong and unable to tighten, allowing the back to sag. The ‘grippy’ material on the bottom does not work well with leather seats allowing the bottom to slide forward. It is almost impossible to access the seat belts. There is no way to secure the bottom to the seat allowing the cover to ride up.
“All in all, for a cover that you advertise as a ‘custom’ fit, it is very poorly designed. I have been using the cover for two weeks. For the price and ‘custom’ fit, I expected much better.”
Material
According to their site, the seat covers are “made from a polycotton twill fabric featuring a water-repellent finish, and an extra layer of nylon lining.”
We’re always fans of anything that will protect your seats from spills. Waterproof would be better, but we won’t be upset over water-repellent. Just get to those messes quickly before any liquid seeps into your seats.
But the non-slip backing is questionable. Reviews say that it doesn’t work on leather. Dave tried them on his 2014 Ford F150 with leather interior:
“Purchased cover for backseat. So disappointed. Does not stay in place on the leather seats. Keeps folding up. The whole thing is cheap what we got. I'm sorry....but not good. Seats were full of mud on our trip. A blanket would have served better.”
That grippy material on the back is similar to a foam shelf liner. No, we’re not being snarky; that’s what it’s like.
Backing on a WeatherTech Seat Protector resembles non-slip shelf liner
Installation
Installation was quick. We were able to install it in under three minutes. There’s a strap that goes behind the seat and one that goes under. There’s an additional clip that goes around the headrest. Note that if you don’t have headrests, you won’t be able to install this seat cover.
We’re happy to report that a novice could install these.
Effectiveness
We didn’t do any of our torture tests with these seats, so we suggest checking out the reviews on the WeatherTech site from people who’ve used these covers in action. They’ll be able to tell you how these have held up in the long run.
Spoiler alert: Only 50% of customers would recommend the covers.
Warranty
Here’s where we can give WeatherTech some points. They offer a limited lifetime warranty on their Seat Protectors.
If anything goes wrong with the cover that you couldn’t prevent, WeatherTech will help you out.
Value
The WeatherTech Seat Protectors cost around $300 for a pair of bucket seats. That’s not cheap. And when you consider that the covers don’t protect the back of the seats or the headrest, and you’d have to pay an extra $55 per seat for a seat back protector, you’re looking at over $400 to fully cover your front bucket seats.
If you have $400 to spend on a pair of seat covers, there are other brands we think you’ll be happier with.
Summary
We wanted to like these but just couldn’t.
On rear bench seats, these could work well for pets or equipment. (Especially if you don’t need the middle seat because center seatbelts won’t be accessible.) If you’re not hauling around humans, this could be a good option, and the humanless options seem to be what positive reviewers are using these for.
But even then, WeatherTech reviewers give the Seat Protectors 3.2 stars out of 5. That’s a 64%, and if we were still in high school, they’d be getting a D. Not something we’d brag about.
Let’s face it; seat covers aren’t WeatherTech’s bread and butter. They’re known for floormats and other vehicle accessories. So although we love WeatherTech, we wouldn’t recommend their seat covers, and we’re not just saying that as a seat cover company; we’re saying this based on research, testing, and verified customer reviews.
Mike from Pennsylvania gets how we feel:
“I gotten many items from Weathertech over the years. All top grade. But the front seat protector I just purchased is awful. Looks bad, doesn’t fit well, uses Velcro attachments. Just awful. I have it two weeks. Constantly had to refit and re-adjust Velcro. I gave up and took it off. $150 bucks for an absolute failure. Stick to floor liners. Those work great.”
If you’re ready to invest in seat covers that last, take a look at these favorite brands.
When we researched top seat covers for work trucks, we didn’t just pick the ones at the top of Google. We asked blue-collar men and women what kinds of covers they’ve tried in their trucks, and this is the list they came up with:
Since we’re comparing covers for work trucks, we used a 2023 Ford F150 regular cab for pricing and research. Let’s get right into highlighting these seat-savers.
Note: Covercraft regularly adjusts its ARV to reflect different sales percentages. The prices we show here are their retail prices at the time of publication.
It’s nearly impossible to Google truck seat covers without Covercraft popping up. We give them credit. They’ve been in the business for over 50 years and have a great product with a stellar reputation.
They make seat covers and covers for cars, boats, RVs, airplanes, and patio furniture. First, let's take a look at the Endura PrecisionFit.
The fabric for the Endura PrecisionFit is vague. According to the description, it’s a canvas-nylon-polyester blend. But what does that mean? We contacted customer service to learn more, and they didn’t elaborate beyond the product description. It’s tough to know how durable their covers are without knowing more about the fabric.
This is a great seat cover, and we don’t think you’ll be disappointed. But it’s at the top of the price range for a set of bucket seat covers for a 2023 Ford F150 Regular Cab. If you can get them on sale, they might be a worthwhile investment, but we can’t say for how long without knowing more about their material.
Everyone loves Carhartt. We get it. Their reputation is undeniable. They've got that classic look of your grandpa's favorite jacket; overall, we feel nostalgic about them. The brand has been around since 1889 even though Covercraft Carhartt SeatSavers are newer to the market, so let's look at how these cover stand up to some others.
While we have a lot of respect for Carhartt, when it comes to choosing seat covers, we’d actually lean towards Covercraft’s Endura PrecisionFit over the Carhartt SeatSavers. It's not just about the price; the PrecisionFit covers just seem to fit better and provide more value. If you’re into a variety of colors, you might find the two-color options of these covers a bit limiting. And the two-piece design? It tends to slide around on the seat because of how it's fastened. Since these are an expensive choice, we really hoped for a bit more from them.
Okay, we know what you’re thinking…this is about work truck seat covers, and most of us aren’t driving around Baywatch trucks. Yep, this is a wet suit in seat cover form. We didn’t think it would be a fair comparison either, but after hearing from multiple people in the construction industry who love their Wet Okole seat covers, we decided to give these a fair shake.
Since they’re made from wetsuit neoprene and bonded with nylon, they’re waterproof and totally safe on vehicle seats. We'll take a look at their standard seat covers without a console cover.
Brent Fox, a contractor in the Nashville area, can speak to the durability. "I had Wet Okole in the truck I just retired. Rode on them for 12 years and, at some point, sent them back for a refurb. They were a great product and an easy company to work with."
Price: $402
Pros
✅ Easily washable
✅ Self-extinguishing
✅ Airbag safe
Cons
❌ Only a 90-day warranty
❌ No returns accepted
Verdict
These seat covers really do a solid job of protecting the seats in your work truck, almost like a wetsuit, and you can even clean them with wetsuit shampoo. They’re self-extinguishing, which is a big plus if you ever find yourself dealing with flames inside your truck. Plus, they're designed to be airbag-safe because they don’t cover the side of the seat where the airbag is located. Airbag safety is a must for us.
At first, we were a bit skeptical, but these covers have received great reviews. We really appreciate the custom fit and how easy they are to clean. However, at $374 a pair, they’re not exactly budget-friendly, and the very limited warranty makes us a bit hesitant to give them our full endorsement.
Canvasback Universal Fit seat covers. Source: Canvasback
We won’t lie; we hadn’t heard of this brand until Ambre Schaffer, Marketing Director at Aggtrans, pointed them out. These seat covers are a one-size-fits-most style, so consider that when ordering. You won’t be getting a custom fit for your seats.
Canvasback seems to be best known for their cargo liners. Liners are custom fit for your vehicle’s cargo space and attach with hook and loop.
Ambre confirms the durability and easy installation, “[the cargo liner] is custom fit to your specific vehicle and velcros right in place. They've been installed for three years without budging or showing any signs of wear. If I needed to remove them, they'd pull right up.
"In addition to carrying around all of my photography/videography gear and field gear for construction, I'm a search and rescue handler with a k9. We're usually covered in mud and debris.”
With a review like that, we had to include this option.
Price: $150
Pros
Durable cargo liners customized to fit most vehicles. Despite not having custom-fit seat covers, the covers are at the bottom of our price range at $140 for a pair of bucket seat covers. On top of all this, Canvasback is woman-owned, and we think that’s pretty cool.
✅ Inexpensive
✅ Fits most vehicles
✅ Woman-owned company
Cons
❌ Not custom fit
❌ Limited six-month warranty
Verdict
We probably wouldn’t put these in a work truck to protect the seats, but we like the cargo liner options. If you’ve got a dog or use your cargo space a good deal, we’d suggest looking into Canvasback. Plus, we can’t help but love that they’re made in Minnesota.
Like TigerTough, these covers are made from CORDURA®. It’s a slightly different kind, though. ShearComfort uses a heavy-duty 500 denier CORDURA® fabric, which isn’t as durable as the 1000 Denier CORDURA® we use. But this is still going to be a durable seat cover.
Price: $428
Pros
These airbag-safe seat covers are waterproof, durable, and guaranteed to fit perfectly. There’s a lot to love about them, and they’d perform well in a work truck.
✅ Waterproof
✅ Guaranteed perfect fit
✅ Airbag safe
Cons
❌ They don't use CORDURA® on their entire seat cover
❌ Price is a little high
❌ Limited Warranty
Verdict
They’re tough and built for hard work, but we don't love that ShearComfort doesn't use CORDURA® on the entire seat cover. They only use it on the portions you'd touch when sitting in the seat. The rest is made of a thin, stretchy material which will give out over time. They have great reviews from their customers. ShearComfort is a good option for your work truck, but not the best.
VERTEX OFF-ROAD is a newer company, started in 2021, and they specialize in truck seat covers. They consider themselves "American craftsman and enthusiasts committed to building top-quality products that help you upgrade and protect your truck for everywhere the road ahead takes you."
Well, what's not to love about that? Let's look at their 1000-Denier CORDURA® Canvas seat covers.
Price: $400
Pros
✅ Use CORDURA® nylon on their colvers
✅ Automatically include a center console cover
✅ Lifetime warranty, albeit limited
✅ Airbag safe
Cons
❌ Foam-backed seat covers (foam breaks down over time)
❌ Limited vehicle line
Verdict
We love that they're using CORDURA® nylon canvas for this particular cover. They also automatically include a center console cover and pockets for the seatbacks. They also have a lifetime warranty and seem pretty flexible, but it does exclude everyday wear and tear.
This is the first time we've run across another brand that uses a string to cinch around the seat for a secure fit. It's just too bad they don't use StringLock.
This seems like a great cover. These are going to be a durable option for your truck. And given that they come with a center console cover and seatback pockets, the price is fair for what you get.
TigerTough
TigerTough seat covers
TigerTough seat covers are designed for hardworking men and women. They’re extremely tough (hence the name).
We put our seat covers through torture tests. Do we do these tests for fun? Yes. Do we love proving how resilient these covers are with each test? Also yes.
Need more proof that we believe in our products? We have an unconditional warranty for at least two years on our products. They’ll get gross, they’ll get stained, but they won’t fail you, and neither will we.
Price: $317
Pros
✅ Unconditional warranty
✅ Custom fit
✅ Two-week turnaround
✅ Waterproof
✅ Airbag safe
Cons
❌ Limited colors
Verdict
These are some of the lowest-priced seat covers in this lineup, with an average 4.9 star rating from users. Everyone from parents to first responders uses TigerTough seat covers, and they’ve always risen to the occasion.
Of course we love our own seat covers (or we wouldn’t work here). But that doesn’t mean they’re best for you and your work truck. Look at all the options and choose the covers that fit you best.
Summary
Not all seat covers are created equally. Some will be better for you than others. We think you should have ones that:
Are waterproof
Easy to clean
Have a great warranty and return policy
Made in America
You don’t want to be stuck with seat covers that aren’t getting the job done. You want something that will last for years and ultimately save you money in the long run.
Look at the features of all these work truck seat covers and decide which one is best for you based on your needs and budget.
All specs based on 2023 Ford F150 Regular Cab Bucket Seats
Update on 07/06/2023: We Initially had WeatherTech Seat Protectors as part of this list but removed them when we found out they weren't considered airbag-compatible in all vehicles. Take a look at WeatherTech Seat Protector Review for more information.
Heated seats in your truck are nearly a must-have in chilly weather (just ask us, we’re from Minnesota). Some of our customers ask us: is it safe to put seat covers on heated seats?
Let’s clear the air and get down to the facts about protecting your heated seats without losing their warming benefits.
Not all seat cover materials are suitable for heated seats. Thin, breathable materials like polyester, CORDURA®, or certain blends are typically safe as they allow efficient heat transfer. Avoid materials that are too thick, foam-backed, or insulated, as they can block the heat and potentially cause damage to the heating elements. We’d also suggest avoiding faux leather or anything furry…for more reason than one.
Are seat covers safe with aftermarket seat heaters?
Thinking about boosting your ride's comfort with aftermarket seat heaters? It's worth considering how they might play along with seat covers.
Generally, seat covers are compatible with both factory-installed and aftermarket heating systems. However, aftermarket heaters can add extra bulk to your seats. Properly install heaters so that they're smooth under the covers. You can enjoy the added warmth and protect your seats with the right approach, but if your seat heaters are too bulky under the covers, you may want to consider a thinner option.
Safety and Efficiency
When using seat covers on heated seats, consider the following:
Ensure the seat cover is properly fitted and doesn’t bunch up, as uneven distribution can lead to overheating in certain spots.
Be aware that seat covers may slightly reduce the heat intensity you feel.
Regularly check the seat covers and seats for any signs of heat damage.
How do TigerTough seat covers work with heated and cooled seats?
They work great if we do say so ourselves.
“The covers work great with heated seats. They'll warm up just like the factory seats, and you won't notice a difference. If you use them with cooled seats, they'll work, but you'll notice less of a breeze. That's because the factory-cooled seats are perforated, but the covers are not. The covers will still cool and let some air through because the fabric is breathable, but it'll just be less than you're used to with the factory seats.”
-Sheldon Zitzmann, Marketing Director
Ready?
Planning to outfit your heated seats with covers? No problem, but let's do it right. Choose materials that play nice with the heat and you're all set. It's about striking that perfect balance – enjoying the cozy warmth while keeping your seats rugged and ready. Go the right route, and your heated seats stay snug and secure, season after season.
Construction truck (and heavy equipment) cabs see it all: dust, dirt, coffee, sandwich guts. No shortage of debris will find its way onto the seat. So, protecting those seats with a seat cover is smart. But which cover should you go with?
You’ll want something tough, waterproof, antimicrobial if there’s more than one butt in the driver’s seat, and doesn’t bunch up like a sock in a work boot. We could say you should choose TigerTough, but that’s not the only option out there.
We’ll share some of our favorite seat covers, and you can choose which is best for you.
Best Work Truck Seat Covers
We’ve spent many manhours testing out seat covers, trying them. Some have been competitive, others have been disappointing. We won’t waste your time with the seat covers we weren’t impressed with. But no matter what, try to look for these qualities in a truck seat cover:
Washable
Waterproof
Airbag safe
Separate seatback and bottom
Good warranty
Made in the U.S.
We’ll share prices with you based on a 2023 Ford F-150. With all that info in mind, let’s get into these seat covers for construction workers.
Marathon
On paper, Marathon is one of our biggest competitors. Their covers are made from 1000-denier CORDURA®️ in good ole Montana.
Disclaimer: Marathon recently got acquired by CoverCraft and a few things have changed since then. We just got our hands on a new Marahon by CoverCraft seat cover, and we'll be doing a side-by-side comparison soon. For now, this is based off the original Martahon seat covers.
Pros
Washable
Waterproof
Airbag safe
Separate seatback and bottom
Made in the U.S.
Price is on the lower end
They have a bunch of accessories you can add to the seat covers
Cons
Some recent negative reviews about quality on their Google listing
Camo is only 500-denier CORDURA®️
Production time is 4-5 weeks
No returns
Limited warranty
Price: $315 (with headrests)
Carhartt PrecisionFit
OK, we don’t normally suggest these because the price is steep. But they’re a great option if you’re loyal to Carhartt.
Pros
Washable
Water-resistant
Airbag safe
Separate seatback and bottom (their SeatSavers aren’t)
People love Wet Okole, despite that the name means “wet butt” in Hawaiian. They fit well and look good on. Raving fans have had Wet Okole on for years. They’re made in California and loved by surfers and construction workers alike.
Separate seatback and bottom (their SeatSavers aren’t)
Made in the U.S.
Cons
They’ll protect your seat from liquid, but the cover is designed to hold the liquid, so you’ll literally have a wet butt with spills. Think of it like a diaper--it's going protect your seat from spills, but it's also going to get a little squishy with any wetness.
Price: $374
TigerTough
Our covers are made in Minnesota from American-made materials by American men and women. We design exclusively for the blue-collar world, so you won’t see us offering covers for minivans or coupes anytime soon. Our covers made from 1000-denier CORDURA®️ are put through torture tests so we can confidently say they’re nearly indestructible.
The competition is slim when it comes to heavy equipment seat covers, but there are a few out there. You’re going to want to look for similar things in heavy equipment seat covers:
Washable
Waterproof
Separate seatback and bottom (if applicable)
Good warranty
Made in the U.S.
Ultra Seat
This is an aftermarket seat company that makes covers for its seats. It offers only three different kinds of covers: high back, medium back, and low back.
Pros
Washable
Separate seatback and bottom
They fit their seats like a dream, and should also fit Grammer seats well
The quality seems great
Made in Canda
Inexpesive
Cons
They won’t fit OEM seats well
Price: $168 (high back seat)
TigerTough
Our heavy equipment seat covers are super similar to our vehicle seat covers, except we offer an unlimited, unconditional warranty on them.
Pros
Washable
Separate seatback and bottom
They fit your heavy equipment seat extremely well
Made in America
Unconditional, unlimited warranty
Cons
Not every make/model of heavy equipment available
More expensive than the competition
Price: $247 (Cat 312 excavator seat)
Best Seat Covers for Construction
Every cover has its pros and cons. Determine which is best for you and your budget. And if you find a better option, let us know, we’d love to add it to the list!
Seat covers cost money upfront. But are they worth the investment? We think so, but instead of telling you our opinion, we'll shoot it straight to you with the facts.
If you keep your trucks for a while, you'll need to repair ripped-up and damaged seats to improve conditions for the driver/operator (we're looking at you, blue collar folks). It also helps with your brand image. If your crew rolls up in a truck with foam spewing out of the seat, how does that speak to your work?
We asked some customers how much they've paid to repair or replace seats. The average cost to repair or replace seats was $632.50 per seat.
Date
Cost
Seat type
Notes
11/8/2022
$600.00
F-250 bucket seat
Lease trucks and the cost can be up to $1,200 if the leasing company replaces the OEM cover with OEM parts.
12/2/2022
$345.00
Single bucket seat
That isn't figuring any labor or downtime; it takes them an hour to fix.
11/4/2022
$600.00
Ford E van driver's seat
No downtime or tech time is included in the price.
3/14/2023
$1,000.00
Vehicle seat
The price is per seat.
3/20/2023
$250.00
Transit driver's seat
$250 for a Transit seat back. They buy from the dealer and have to replace it themselves.
4/13/2023
$1,000.00
Pickup seat
Replaced the entire seat.
Cost to repair or replace seats.
Not only do you have to pay for the seat to be repaired, but there's also truck downtime you need to factor into the cost.
If a pair of TigerTough seat covers cost you around $327 and an average of $632.50 to repair or replace a seat, you've saved $465 per seat.
Money saved: $455/seat
2. Increased resale value
There comes a time in every truck's life when it's ready for the next journey. And when it comes time to sell, we want you to walk away with the most money you can.
The condition of your interior makes a bigger difference than most people think.
Kelley Blue Book data shows that buyers place just as much importance on interior condition as they do on mileage. Poor interior can knock 10-20% off a vehicle’s value
That’s thousands of dollars you're indexing on whether someone sees torn seats or a spotless cab. On a $30K vehicle, it’s easy to lose $3,000-$6,000 just because the inside looks rough.
A quality set of seat covers (like TigerTough) can keep your cab clean, intact, and buyer-ready. It's not just about staying clean today, it’s about locking in value later.
A “good” interior vs. a “clean as new” interior can easily cost you the extra thousands.
In practical terms, that’s more than enough to pay for a top-shelf set of seat covers—and then some.
Spills, snags, dirty kids, or gear don’t just make your cab look rough...they destroy your wallet too. Investing in seat covers now helps keep that value locked in for the long haul.
Money saved: $3,000-$6,000
3. Lease chargebacks
Maybe you lease your vehicles. Check into the charges you get after turning it in; it's normal for leasing companies to work in charges for seat damages.
On average, we see leasing companies charge $1,000-$1,200 for damaged seats. They'll allow some light wear, but if they deem a seat damaged, they'll charge you for the whole dang thing.
Money saved: $683-883
4. Detailing
We realize work trucks might not get detailed very often, but if you drive around a personal vehicle and spill a coffee inside, you'll probably want to get those seats cleaned.
So how much will a nice detail cost you?
An interior detail with deep cleaning can cost around $279. That's not terrible, but do it once and you've paid for a set of seat covers.
Check it out; we've taken a cup of coffee to a TigerTough seat cover to show you what happens:
Spoiler alert: The seat under the cover was totally unscathed. Your lap, on the other hand, might be a different story.
Money saved: $240 after two details
How much money will seat covers save you?
It all depends on how you use your vehicle, but here’s a rough idea:
Seat repair savings: $465 per seat
Resale value bump: up to $6,000
Lease return savings: up to $883
Cleaning savings: $250+
That’s anywhere from a few hundred bucks to over $6,000 just by throwing a set of tough seat covers on early.
Are seat covers worth it?
Do seat covers cost money? Yes. Is there a range of prices? Yes. Are they worth it? Yes. Especially if your vehicle's interior sees equipment, debris, dogs, or kids (like 90% of you reading this).
