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They are made from the same base fabric, but ShieldTech is infused with odor and microbe-killing superpowers.

What They're Made Of

Let’s start with what’s the same. They’re both built from 1000-Denier CORDURA because:

👍🏻 Grown, woven, and dyed in the USA (super important)
👍🏻 It’s nearly impossible to tear.
👍🏻 It’s crazy abrasion-resistant. You’ll find versions of Cordura in products from motorcycle clothing to backpacks.

Ironweave Properties

The Ironweave fabric receives a DWR (Durable Water Repellent) treatment. This treatment allows the fabric to stay breathable, but liquids bead up and run off. 1 point for the covers, 0 points for the spilled coffee.

ShieldTech Properties

ShieldTech doesn’t get the DWR treatment. Its treatment is leveled up and it’s infused with silver and copper ions and waterproof properties.

✅ Waterproof
✅ Anti-Microbial
✅ Anti-Odor

Back to the example from the beginning – if you’re part of a team that shares vehicles, ShieldTech is a great choice. If your vehicle is your own, Ironweave will give you the protection you need without the anti-microbial properties.

Is ShieldTech right for me?

We won't tell you how to leave your life, but ShieldTech is specifically engineered for:

👮‍♂️ Police, Fire, and EMS
👷‍♀️ Blue-collar workers in hot climates
🚚 Delivery drivers
🤹‍♂️Fleets with crew vehicles or hot-seat vehicles

For example: if you are a one-man-band landscaper, Ironweave is a perfect option. It’s going to give you all the protection you need at a slightly lower price.

However, if you are part of a landscaping crew that all piles into the same vehicle at the end of the day when you’re hot, sweaty, and dirty, ShieldTech is going to be the prime choice. It’s going to go to work killing the odors and microbes that come along with the shared vehicle environment. 

ShieldTech is made from the same crazy tough fabric as our Ironweave line of covers, but it’s infused with silver and copper which give it microbe and odor-killing powers.

What Exactly Are ShieldTech Seat Covers?

They’re a germ-killing version of the crazy strong seat covers we already make for work trucks and law enforcement vehicles.

ShieldTech seat covers are made from the same base fabric as all of our seat covers (except Sportweave)  We use 1000-denier CORDURA for the following reasons:

👍 It’s all-American made
👍 It’s highly abrasion resistant
👍 It’s nearly impossible to tear
👍 It’s supple and not scratchy or irritating

While the CORDURA for our Ironweave seat covers gets a custom DWR waterproof treatment, ShieldTech is treated with a different solution. It’s infused with a waterproofing treatment and copper and silver ions in a zeolite carrier are bonded to the fabric, which gives the seat covers anti-odor and antimicrobial properties. 

It is very durable, too – the fabric was washed 20 times before testing (tbh we’ve never heard of anyone washing their covers that many times.)

Who is ShieldTech right for?

ShieldTech is going to be a win for these people looking for heavy-duty seat covers:     

👉 Laborers in hot climates
👉 Police, fire and EMS
👉 Last-mile delivery companies
👉 Dog owners who have their pups in the truck more often than not
👉 Any organization that uses crews/shared vehicles, or hot seating (when the vehicle is passed off from driver to driver)

The Scientific Stuff (how it actually works):

The coating utilizes silver and copper ions (which have been used since 4000 BC to kill bacteria) in a zeolite carrier to starve, sterilize, and suffocate microbes.

A zeolite carrier is a microporous, three-dimensional crystalline solid of aluminum silicate that’s been charged with ions of the active ingredient (silver and copper, in this case) Zeolites are naturally occurring and born of volcanic ash.

The antimicrobial effects are only released when needed in order to have the longest-lasting effects.

Here’s the lab testing results:

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.

Yes, you can put seat covers on heated seats, but with caution. The key is choosing the right type of seat cover that allows heat to pass through without causing damage to both the seat and the cover.

Material Matters

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.

Let’s just get this out of the way: Camo alone doesn't make a seat cover suitable for hunting

What do we mean? 

Adding camo to a standard seat cover doesn't prepare it for hunting. That’s like painting your truck like a police cruiser and saying it’s ready to patrol the streets. It's about the right features and build, not just the appearance.

So we’ll sift through the best hunting seat covers for trucks. We'll look beyond the camouflage and assess what really matters: durability, functionality, and whether they can stand up to the challenges of hunting life. Whether you’ve got a budget to stick to or you're ready to splurge, we've got you covered. By the end of this, you’ll have all the info you need to choose a seat cover that’s not just a pretty face in the woods but a real workhorse, just like you.

So, buckle up, and let’s get into it.

Carhartt 

We all love Carhartt. Their RealTree Camo Seat Covers are just their SeatSavers with a different pattern on the fabric. We can give a pretty accurate overview since we’ve had our hands on these and installed them in a vehicle.

Price: $466

Pros

You know exactly what these seat covers will feel like. They’re made of the same Carhartt duck cotton you know and love. There’s nothing unexpected or surprising about these covers.

Cons

We’ve done a lot of homework on Carhartt’s seat covers, so we’re pretty familiar with them. 

These covers don’t have a separate back and bottom, so they shimmy a lot. They’re not waterproof (which is pretty important for hunting seat cover). They’re not made exclusively in America and are not as durable as CORDURA®️.

Verdict

If you’re brand loyal and love what Carhartt stands for–go for it! But you might not be getting the most durable cover on the market, and you’ll be buying the most expensive one we’re reviewing. Over $400 to match your jacket to your seat covers seems a little extreme, but who are we to judge?

Saddleman

The name Saddleman conjures up the image of a cowboy emerging from a hazy fog after vanquishing villains from a nearby town, so naturally, we’re drawn to these seat covers.

Price: $228

Pros

These are made in America, which we love (and we’d expect nothing less of a cowboy). Saddleman stands by their products and offers lifetime support. This means that you can send your covers to them for repairs for the product's lifetime for a small fee. There were only six reviews, but all of those customers seem thrilled with their covers.

Cons

Saddleman doesn’t say what their covers are made from (beyond polyester), so you can’t determine their durability. They’re also not waterproof. And like the Carhartt, they don’t have separate pieces, so the fit won’t be as secure as it could be.

Verdict

We’re not sold either way on these. Since they’re American-made and at the bottom of the price point, they’re probably worth trying.

Northwest Seat Covers

We weren’t super familiar with Northwest, so we were intrigued when it popped up in our Search. Northwest has been making seat covers since 1997, and we enjoyed reviewing what they offer.

Although they don’t specifically state it, these are made in Canada. We contacted their customer service team, and they confirmed that the covers are made in Vancouver, BC.

Price: $395

Pros

Northwest uses 600-Denier fabric for their hunting seat covers. Knowing the fabric's denier is so helpful because it will tell you how strong it is. 600 is decent, but we’d prefer to see something in the 800-1000 range.

Northwest also provides a two-year warranty that’s more generous than most–they’ll fix or replace a seat cover that experiences wear due to normal use. And bonus: they have videos showing that their seat covers are airbag compatible. 

Cons

Ok…we were on #teamnorthwest until we read the website section that says you need to CUT YOUR OWN HOLES in the seat cover for things like headrest posts and latch holes. That’s a big no-no for seat covers because it compromises the seat cover's integrity. 

Verdict

As Grandpa always said: never buy a seat cover you need to stab.

Northwest is a pretty expensive seat cover, but their fit does look good. We also love their generous warranty, but we’re not sure we’d recommend them without knowing a little more.

Sportsman Camo Covers

We’re always happy to find another U.S.-based seat cover company using CORDURA®️. Sportsman has been in business since 1999, making their covers in good ole Mississippi.

Price: $295

Pros

As mentioned, we love that these are made in America. We also appreciate that they’re made from CORDURA®️. These covers look great! 

Cons

Even though these are CORDURA®️, they’re only made with 500-denier. That’s not the best it could be. Sportsman also says that their seat covers are padded and quilted. While padding might be great, it degrades over time and can make the seat cover baggy. Quilting looks great, but every seam makes the seat cover less durable. 

And if you go with a solid color from Sportsman, know that they are nonrefundable and nonreturnable. 

Verdict

It’s hard for us not to like this company. They’re doing great things. We’d love to see a better return policy and a stronger denier without padding and quilting…but then they’d just be a Mississippi version of TigerTough. Since their price point is lower than most, we’d give them a try.

Kryptek by Coverking

The Kryptek seat covers are made by Coverking, but specifically for hunters. According to a Coverking customer service rep, these are the same covers as Coverkings’s Neosupreme covers. Since Kryptek’s website info is…cryptic…we’ll use the Coverking’s site info.

Price: $320

Pros

The design on the Kryptek seat covers is unique, and there’s a variety of colors to choose from. They also include a back seat pocket on their covers, typically an additional fee. 

Cons

You’re paying $100+ more for the Kryptek pattern on your seats. (Coverking’s Neosupreme covers cost around $220 when this was published.)

Since these are not made of neoprene, they’re not totally waterproof.

Verdict

If you can get them on sale, go for it. Otherwise, we suggest going with the Coverking version in color you can live with. It might not be camo, but it’s literally the same otherwise.

ShearComfort

We’re also no strangers to ShearComfort. We did a side-by-side comparison of the 1000-Denier ShearComfort vs. TigerTough. The ShearComfort Realtree Camo seat covers are super similar in specs to Northwest’s seat covers: 600-Denier, DWR top coat, PU undercoat, etc. We asked, and although they are similar, ShearComfort and Northwest each make their own covers. There’s no manufacturing overlap that we could find.

Price: $395

Pros

They are pretty easy to install, and they come with a seatback pocket. These look great in the stock photos, but we haven’t had our hand on these particular covers. However, reviewers love them.

Cons

ShearComfort uses different fabrics on the front of the seat covers than the backs. When we asked customer service about this, they said their solid camo seat covers use the same material around the whole seat. So if you don’t want varying materials, order the solid camo versions. The one thing we don’t love is that these are close to $400 for a set. 

Verdict

We don’t love ‘em or hate ‘em. If you end up buying them, let us know what you think. We’d love to hear you out.

Marathon Seat Covers

Why are we nervous writing about Marathon seat covers? Because Marathon is an intimidating brand and a division of Covercraft. They’ve got a heck of a reputation, are made in Montana, and people love them. They also have customizations that you can add, like a bow holder.

Price: $315 (price include adding headrest covers)

Pros

They’re made in America (can you tell that we’re into that?), and from CORDURA®️. They’re a small company of around 30 people, so you feel good supporting them. They also have a 4-year limited warranty on seat covers. Limited means that the warranty is at Marathon’s discretion. However, this is still the longest warranty we’ve seen.

Cons

We had to search for something negative to say about Marathon, but if we had to be one thing, they don’t offer returns. Once the fabric is cut, it’s yours. They will possibly accept returns with a 50% restocking fee.

Verdict

If we didn’t work for TigerTough, we’d buy these. That return policy is intense, though, so be prepared to keep them.

TigerTough

We’re based in Minnesota and all of our seat covers are made on U.S. soil by American men and women. We strive to make seat covers the blue-collar world can be proud of. Since we focus on trucks and heavy equipment, we design every seat cover to withstand major abuse.

Price: $319

Pros

Our camo seat covers are made of 900-denier polyester and can withstand tools, pets, and spills. We offer an unconditional two-year warranty–it doesn’t matter how you ruin them. We’ll repair or replace them. 

Cons

The camo version of our seat covers isn’t made of CORDURA®️ like our solid-color options. So they’ll still be durable as heck and offer the same great warranty. 

Verdict

Not the cheapest seat covers, but still on the lower end of the pricing scale. We offer the best warranty out of all these hunting covers–that’s not an opinion, it’s just fact. If you’d like a third-party review, check out what HuntTested had to say about TigerTough.

Summary

In the hunt for the perfect seat covers, remember, they're not all built for the same game. The ideal choice for your hunting adventures should tick these boxes:

• Totally waterproof for those unexpected elements
• Easy to clean after a day in the wild
• Supported by a robust warranty and a fair return policy
• Proudly crafted in the USA

Don't get trapped with seat covers that can't keep up with your hunting lifestyle. You need resilient, cost-effective options to endure years of outdoor excursions, ultimately saving you money in the long run. And for those who hunt with a four-legged friend, be sure to check out our review of the best backseat bench covers for dogs – they're a game-changer.

So, as you scout the options for truck seat covers, tailor your choice to fit your hunting needs and budget. Make a choice that’s not just good for now but one that stands as your reliable partner in every hunting journey. 

Fia is a popular seat cover company we find ourselves compared to, so it was worth an in-person look.

They’re a Canadian company founded over 40 years ago, so they know their stuff and have been in the market far longer than we have.

Fia has a variety of covers, from faux leather to saddle blanket style. We went with the SP80, the most comparable to TigerTough. 

We ordered a 2023 Ford F-150 set to compare them with TigerTough seat covers.

Let’s see how they do.

Watch the video review:

Packaging

Packaging might not be top of mind when you're picking out seat covers, but it's still something we like to cover. It's more than just a box or a bag — it's a reflection of the brand itself.

Fia Packaging

Fia covers arrived in purple branded box, but we noticed that the box doesn’t really match their orange website. Not a big deal. Maybe they’re going through a rebrand, and we got old packaging stock.

Their covers were packaged with a black-and-white generic instruction sheet labeling a three-step installation process.

TigerTough Packaging

When your TigerTough seat covers arrive, they come neatly packaged in a branded poly mailer with full-color instructions tailored to your vehicle's make and model. Say you've got a 2019 Nissan Frontier — you'll receive a set of guidelines crafted precisely for fitting TigerTough covers to your Frontier's seats, ensuring a smooth installation process.

Design, material and fit of the seat cover

Fia Design, Material, and Fit

These covers are made of 100% polyester. But like Shear Comfort, Fia uses different materials for the seat bottoms and sides. The sides and headrest are made of a much thinner, stretchy polyester. This difference in quality can affect the longevity of the seat cover.

Fia doesn’t label the denier of their polyester, so we can’t give details on that.

There’s some decorative stitching on the seat back, which we don’t suggest because it makes the seat cover weaker.

TigerTough Design, Material and Fit

TigerTough seat covers come in three pieces and wrap the entire seat, much like Fia, but we use 1000-Denier CORDURA on the entire seat for consistent quality.

Our covers are made from 1000-Denier CORDURA and are proven to withstand intense abuse. We don’t have any decorative stitching, except for embroidery, but because that’s in an area with minimal wear, it doesn’t weaken the seat cover like decorative stitching.

Installation

Fia Installation

It took us approximately 9 minutes to install a Fia cover. We rated these as fairly easy to install. The instructions weren’t awesome, but we made do.

TigerTough Installation

Installing TigerTough seat covers clocked in at just 9 minutes for a full seat setup too. Granted, we're pretty savvy with our products, so it might take a newcomer a bit longer, but not by much.

We try to go the extra mile by providing detailed instructions and step-by-step installation videos tailored for each specific vehicle model to ensure you get it right the first time.

Here's the lowdown on how TigerTough seat covers fit into place:

• The cover for the seat bottom extends under the entire seat, firmly securing itself with robust hook & loop fasteners.
• Our unique StringLock system encircles the base of the seat bottom, pulling everything snugly together under the seat just like a drawstring, making sure the cover stays put without any slip or slide.

Check out our full installation expectations to learn more.

Headrest

Both seat covers come equipped with headrest protection — a definite plus! Covering the headrest is as essential as the seat itself for full coverage. That said, we noted that Fia's headrest cover is crafted from a thinner fabric. This might not offer the barrier you need on a dusty job site. Instead of acting as a solid shield, Fia's cover might behave more like a filter, allowing finer particles to pass through rather than providing a robust defense.

Seat back

Fia Seat Back

Fia’s seat backs have their heavy-duty polyester on the front and light polyester on the back and side. They do not offer a seatback pocket option or any custom embroidery. 

TigerTough Seat Back

Our seat covers fit snuggly to the back. It’s fits like a glove. If you’d like to add a seatback pocket or custom embroidery, you can do that for an additional fee. 

Seat crease and bottom

Since both seat covers are made from multiple pieces, they both have clean-looking creases that fit the seats well.

They also both tuck into the plastic trim of the seat bottom. We wish Fia had a way to secure the portion that tucks into the plastic trim, though, because this will pull out as you slide in the vehicle.

Fia only has their heavy-duty polyester on the bottom and outside of the seat bottom, though. They use their lighter-weight polyester on the other areas of the seat bottom.

Airbag safety

A bit of a history rundown: Post-2014, virtually all cars come equipped with side airbags, a mandate driven by federal safety regulations. These airbags, often integrated into the seats, have been life-savers even before becoming standard. To put it in perspective, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that from 1996 to 2012, side and curtain airbags saved over 2,000 lives. Back then, only 42% of cars had them – a number that's substantially higher today.

We understand the importance of safety in every vehicle, whether it's your work truck or an entire fleet under your watch.

Fia Airbag Compatibility

There are several ways to do airbag compatibility, but no matter how it’s done, the airbag just needs to be able to deploy in the event of a collision. 

Fia does a flap technique. There’s a cutout covered by a thin fabric flap. We have no doubts that this would function as needed, but the flap is so floppy that we don’t know if it would actually stay tucked into the cutout. 

TigerTough Airbag Compatibility 

Our seat covers are designed with a clear tearaway seam that spans the length of the seat, ensuring they don't hinder airbag deployment during an accident. Tested by independent safety experts, our covers are confirmed to be compatible with airbags. While we hope it never comes to that, you can trust that our seat covers are safety-approved.

Warranty and Returns

Fia Warranty and Returns

Fia offers a limited two-year warranty against manufacturer’s defects under normal use. 

And if you’re not happy with your purchase, you have 30 days to return your Fia products. Pretty fair, we’d say. 

TigerTough Warranty and Returns

Our vehicle seat covers have a two-year, unconditional warranty. If something happens to your TigerTough seat covers, we’ll replace or repair them. How they got damaged doesn’t matter; we’ll happily make it right.

If, for some reason, you don’t like your TigerTough seat covers, we’ll accept returns within 30 days of you receiving them. You just need to be sure they’re in like-new condition still.

Price

Seat covers can range from $50 to hundreds of dollars. For comparison, we used a 2023 Ford F-150 for spec. 

How much does Fia cost?

We ordered a set of their SP87-34 seat covers for $160. This is one of the lowest prices we’ve seen for seat covers.

How much does TigerTough cost?

To fully cover your two front seats with TigerTough, it will cost around $297.

Overview

It all comes down to what you want out of a seat cover and what your budget allows.

There are two things we’d love to see from Fia: a fully-wrapped seat cover that uses the same material all around, and reviews on their website.

If you want something rugged and meant to withstand hard use, like construction equipment or excited farm dogs, we’d encourage you to try TigerTough. You can’t destroy them (and even if you manage to, we’ll replace them in the first two years.)

Maybe after reading this comparison, neither of these brands appeal to you. Then you should definitely check out the best seat covers for work trucks and find something that meets your needs and budget.

CORDURA® sets the standard for fabric durability, known for its unmatched resilience against abrasions, tears, and scuffs. This robust woven fabric is made of nylon material and is favored for high-stakes applications from military gear to adventure equipment. 

It’s the Hercules of fabrics.

CORDURA® seat covers embody this strength, designed to withstand rigorous daily use, unforgiving weather, and incidental spills, ensuring your seats are well-protected for years.

The History of CORDURA®

CORDURA® fabric isn't just durable; it's a legacy in the making. Crafted over half a century ago and trademarked by DuPont, CORDURA® began its journey, toughening up tires and military attire. Fast forward to the 1970s: that’s when CORDURA® really showed its mettle, becoming the fabric of choice for military apparel because of its unparalleled resistance to wear and tear.

It didn’t stop there. CORDURA® broke through military confines, transforming the consumer market with its rugged essence, revolutionizing everything from outdoor equipment to durable luggage. Remember lugging around a Jansport or Eastpak backpack in the 80s or 90s? That was made out of CORDURA®.

Celebrated for its enduring nature and reliability, CORDURA® continues to evolve, meeting the challenges of a world that demands strength and longevity.

What Makes CORDURA® Unique?

When it comes to fabrics that need to endure, CORDURA® stands out from the crowd. But what exactly sets it apart? The answer lies in its composition and the varying deniers it offers.

What is CORDURA® Made Of?

At its core, CORDURA® is a type of nylon made by spinning together fibers of various lengths to create an exceptionally sturdy yarn. However, it's not just any nylon. CORDURA®'s fibers are specially engineered and treated in many steps that enhance their natural durability. The result is a fabric that boasts resistance to abrasions, tears, and scuffs far beyond that of ordinary nylon.

Understanding Denier

Denier refers to the weight of the yarn used in the fabric. Specifically, it indicates the weight in grams of a 9,000-meter length of the yarn. The higher the denier, the thicker, sturdier, and more durable the fabric. This makes the denier a crucial factor when selecting a fabric for specific applications — the right denier for the right job ensures both efficiency and longevity.

The Spectrum of CORDURA® Deniers

CORDURA®'s versatility is reflected in its range of deniers, each suited to different tasks:

• Lightweight Applications (30 to 210 denier): Used for clothing and light bags where flexibility and breathability are needed alongside durability.
• Intermediate Applications (500 denier): Strikes a balance between strength and weight, ideal for more demanding travel gear and backpacks.
• Heavy-Duty Applications (1000 denier and above): The choice for situations where maximum durability is non-negotiable, such as in seat covers for heavy machinery, military gear, and workwear.

Focusing on 1000 Denier for Seat Covers

This high-denier powerhouse doesn't just cover your seats; it armors them. Choosing CORDURA® means choosing unbeatable resilience and a commitment to long-lasting protection, keeping your seats in top form against the toughest challenges.

Key Benefits of CORDURA® for Seat Covers

1. Exceptional Abrasion Resistance: The tightly woven fabric of CORDURA® stands up to continuous rubbing and friction without showing signs of wear. This is particularly crucial for seat covers, which are subject to constant use and movement.
2. Enhanced Longevity: CORDURA® is synonymous with longevity. Seat covers crafted from this material are less likely to need replacement, which means less waste and more savings over time.
3. Adaptability: CORDURA®'s versatility allows it to be treated for additional properties, such as water resistance.

CORDURA® in the Real World

CORDURA®'s reputation for toughness is built on real-world grit—it's the fabric that's been put through its paces in the most grueling conditions imaginable. It's the go-to material for professionals who need performance they can count on, day in and day out, no matter the job site's demands.

CORDURA® Across Industries

Military: In the military, gear failure is not an option. CORDURA® is extensively used to create equipment that soldiers rely on, from bulletproof vests to heavy-duty rucksacks, due to its high tensile strength and exceptional durability.

Outdoor Gear: Adventure seekers and outdoor enthusiasts turn to CORDURA® for backpacks, camping gear, and apparel that can endure the elements and rugged terrain without faltering.

Workwear: The fabric's resistance to abrasions and tears makes it ideal for workwear in industries like construction and forestry, where clothing and gear face constant abuse.

Caring for Your CORDURA® Seat Covers

Like any other high-performance equipment, CORDURA® seat covers require proper maintenance to ensure they continue functioning at their best. However, taking care of them is not as daunting as one might think. Here are some straightforward tips and dispelled myths to help you maintain your CORDURA® seat covers effectively.

Maintenance Tips for Longevity

• Simple soap and water are often enough to clean CORDURA® seat covers. For tougher stains, a soft brush and mild fabric cleaner will do the trick.
• Steer clear of bleach and other abrasive cleaners, as they can degrade the fabric's protective coatings over time.

Choosing the Right CORDURA® Seat Covers for Your Vehicle

Selecting the perfect CORDURA® seat cover for your vehicle doesn't have to be a challenge. With the right information and key points in mind, you can make an informed choice that provides maximum protection and longevity.

• Understanding the make, model, and year of your vehicle is crucial. CORDURA® seat covers come in designs tailored to specific vehicle layouts, ensuring every contour is covered.
• Different deniers of CORDURA® cater to varying degrees of wear. Determine the conditions your vehicle's interior faces and choose a denier that stands up to those challenges.
• Many vehicles have unique features, such as side airbags or integrated seatbelts. Ensure the CORDURA® seat covers you choose accommodate these specifications.
• Full coverage is key. Opt for seat covers that cover the entire seat, reducing the risk of unprotected areas that can accumulate wear.
• Look for additional protective features such as water resistance, UV protection, antimicrobial options, and reinforcement in high-stress areas.

Why does TigerTough use CORDURA®?

By now, you’ve seen how tough it is. We make seat covers for work trucks, semi-trucks, and heavy equipment, so our covers need to be able to stand up to the same harsh conditions as you do.

It’s also made in the U.S., like our seat covers, which is important to us as a company.

“1000 Denier is the perfect blend of strength and workability. It's tough enough to be almost indestructible, but it's still flexible enough to be easy to work with. Any heavier gets stiff, and any lighter loses strength. It's highly customizable. It can be dyed and printed with a range of colors, and we can add a ton of different technologies to it to make it waterproof, antimicrobial, etc.”

Sheldon Zitzmann, Marketing Director

Compare CORDURA vs. Carhartt

Curious to see how CORDURA® seat covers measure up to Carhartt? Take a look at the lab results, where a third-party laboratory independently tests each material. 

People love their Wet Okole seat covers. There’s a loyal fanbase raving about these American-made, waterproof seat covers.

What's their claim? Seat covers that don't swelter in the summer or freeze in winter, waterproofed, and a fit that's tighter than a new pair of gloves.

They're a competitor we recognize. They're dedicated to enhancing vehicle interiors and protecting them from daily wear and tear. Wet Okole has a rabid following, and at TigerTough, we appreciate good competition.

But we need to take a quick pause to tell you that when we googled what Wet Okole means, we found out that in Hawaiian, it means wet butt. Nope, we didn’t make that up. 

Anyway, we ordered a set for a 2023 Ford F-150 to compare them with TigerTough seat covers.

Let’s do this.

Watch the video review

Packaging

Now, we know this isn’t a factor people consider when ordering seat covers. But it’s still important to note since packaging can give you a glimpse of how a company treats their customers.

Wet Okole Packaging

Wet Okole covers arrived in the largest box we’ve ever received for a single set of seat covers. These covers are bulky on their own, so the box is understandable. It was branded well and came with information about the company and color instructions. 

TigerTough Packaging

TigerTough seat covers ship in a branded poly mailer with full-color instructions specific to your exact vehicle. So, if you ordered covers for a 2018 Toyota Tacoma, you’ll get instructions on installing TigerTough seat covers on a 2018 Toyota Tacoma.

Design and fit of the seat cover

Wet Okole Design and Fit

Wet Okole’s seat covers have nylon-covered neoprene laminated on a half-inch of foam. It’s a thick cover and looks great installed.

The covers come in multiple pieces (we love that!) for the best fit. And thankfully, Wet Okole labels which seat cover goes on the driver’s seat. (They don’t label the passenger seat cover.) Does this matter? Absolutely. You need to make sure you have the correct covers on so that the airbag can deploy in the event of a collision.

And bonus: the set we received also included a center console cover.

We like the way the Wet Okole looks. It’s very attractive. However, it’s stiff with that ½” foam backing. If you press on the seat back, you’ll notice gapping between the cover and the seat. This is because the foam isn’t pliable. And after a while, that foam breaks down, and the cover won't fit as nicely.

Wet Okole also does a lot of decorative stitching in the seat back. This looks nice, but it makes the fabric weaker.  

TigerTough Design and Fit

TigerTough seat covers come in three pieces and wrap the entire seat, much like Wet Okole, but they are installed differently, which we’ll get into later. 

Our covers are made from 1000-Denier CORDURA® and are proven to withstand intense abuse. There’s no foam backing on our covers, so it hugs the seat. We also don’t have any decorative stitching, except for embroidery, but because that’s in an area with minimal wear, it doesn’t weaken the seat cover like decorative stitching.

"We design for strength first and looks second."

Sheldon Zitzmann, TigerTough Marketing Director

Installation

Wet Okole Installation

It took us approximately 17 minutes to install a Wet Okole cover. We rated these as medium difficulty. The instructions were pretty poor, but because we know seat covers, we knew what to do.

However, we had issues getting one of the straps through. The instructions said that you’d need to possibly remove the plastic molding on your seat to get the strap through. We didn’t want to do that on our boss’ truck, so it took a little longer for us to install.

Here’s how their seat covers are attached:

• One strap running from side to side
• Two straps running underneath from front to back
• One loop around the seatbelt plug

TigerTough Installation

TigerTough took us 9 minutes to install on a seat. Yeah, we know our seat covers, so this probably took us a little faster than most people.

We try to be as specific with our instructions as possible and offer installation videos for every vehicle. 

Here’s how TigerTough seat covers are attached:

• The seat bottom runs all the way along the underside of the seat, attaching to itself with heavy-duty hook & loop.
• We have our Stringlock that runs around the perimeter of the seat bottom and cinches it like a drawstring around and underneath the seat to ensure it doesn’t shift.

Check out our full installation expectations to learn more.

Headrest

Both seat covers have headrest covers, so that’s a win! They also both tuck into the headrest mounts nicely. There’s not much more to say about that other than if you’re covering your seat, you need to cover the headrest. 

Seat back

Both brands have a custom look for the seat back. They also both have options for custom embroidery and seat back pockets.

Wet Okole Seat Back

We’ve touched on this earlier, but the back of the Wet Okole seat covers have decorative stitching, which looks very attractive but isn’t great for durability. You'll also see the gapping here when you press on the seat cover.

TigerTough Seat Back

Our seat covers fit snuggly to the back without any gapping or unnecessary seems.

Seat Crease and Bottom

Since both seat covers are made from multiple pieces, they have clean-looking creases that fit the seats well.

They also both tuck into the plastic trim of the seat allowing access to the seat controls. We like the way TigerTough’s fit more snuggly on the bottom half, but if we removed the plastic trim to install the Wet Okole covers as they suggested, we might like that fit more than we do as is.

Airbag safety

Quick history lesson: most cars made after 2014 will have side airbags due to federal regulation, many deploying from the seat. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that between 1996 and 2012, 2,252 lives were saved by side and curtain airbags–before regulations were even put into place. At that time, only 42% of vehicles on the road were equipped with side airbags. That percentage is much higher now.

We know you take safety seriously, whether it’s in your personal vehicle or if you’re managing a fleet. 

Wet Okole Airbag Compatibility

We don’t love the way Wet Okole does airbag compatibility with their covers. They have a slit on the side of their seats for the airbag to deploy. But, the slit isn’t as long as the tearaway seam on the factory seat, so we have concerns that an airbag could get stuck during deployment. However, Wet Okole says their seat covers are tested, so we’ll take their word for it.

TigerTough Airbag Compatibility 

Our seat covers have a visible tearaway seam that goes the entire seat length. Our covers have been independently tested to ensure that an airbag will deploy in the event of a collision. We hope you never have to find out, but rest assured that our seat covers are deemed safe with airbags.

Waterproofness 

Not all waterproofness (that’s a real word) works the same. This one is best shown in the video, but we’ll break it down here too.

Are Wet Okole seat covers waterproof?

Yes, they are, but they also soak up the water like a little sponge. The seat underneath stays dry. However, if you spill something, your cover will remain wet for a while. You’ll want to blot the seat cover and keep the windows open if you can so that they’ll dry out.

Otherwise, Wet Okole will live up to their name and leave you with a wet butt.

Are TigerTough seats waterproof?

They are, and they’re also hydrophobic. Does that mean they’re scared of water? Pretty much. They can’t even absorb liquid. 

In the video, you’ll see that the water poured on the TigerTough seat cover beads up and rolls off. So yeah, your floor may get wet if you spill on your seats, but you can wipe up your seat cover and sit about it without worrying about wet pants. Do you want the portion of the video where we do that? Maybe as a gif?

Warranty and Returns

Wet Okole Warranty and Returns

This is one of our biggest disappointments with this brand. They have a 90-day limited warranty, and it only covers manufacturer defects. In terms of returns, they don’t accept returns if you aren’t happy with your purchase. So you get what you get. 

TigerTough Warranty and Returns

Our vehicle seat covers have a two-year, unconditional warranty. If something happens to your TigerTough seat covers, we’ll replace or repair them. It doesn’t matter how they got damaged; we’ll happily make it right.

If, for some reason, you don’t like your TigerTough seat covers, we’ll accept returns within 30 days of you receiving them. You just need to be sure they’re in like-new condition still.

Price

Seat covers can range from $50 to hundreds of dollars. For comparison, we used a 2023 Ford F-150 covers. 

How much does Wet Okole cost?

We ordered a set of their standard bucket seats for $374. This is a fair price for seat covers since they can get pretty expensive if you pay for something custom.

How much does TigerTough cost?

To cover your two front seats with TigerTough, it will cost around $297.

Overview

We like Wet Okole. Not enough to quit our jobs and go work for them, but they have a decent seat cover. But if we were sitting down with you over a beer, we’d probably say that we expected more from Wet Okole based on their cult following, but we don’t doubt that the covers will protect your seats for years.

It all comes down to preference in the end. Both covers are made in America and have great reviews.

If you want fun colors and that beach vibe, Wet Okole would be a great option. We still don’t love their warranty or return policy, though.

If you want something rugged and meant to withstand hard use, like construction equipment or excited farm dogs, we’d encourage you to try TigerTough. After all, if you don’t like our seat covers, you can return them.

Maybe after reading this comparison, neither of these brands appeal to you. Then you should definitely check out the best seat covers for work trucks and find something that meets your needs.