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.
Disclaimer: We had Marathon seat covers in this blog originally. While the OG Marathon covers were great, they were recently bought by Covercraft and the design of the seat cover changed. We haven't gotten our hands on one of the new covers yet, but when we do, we'll determine if they should be added back into this list.
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?
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.
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.
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.
90 days and $10 restocking fees. Solid colors are nonrefundable.
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.
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.
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. We also offer an antimicrobial option, in case you're worried about stinkin' up the joint, but that only comes in black and gray.
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.
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.
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.
Customer's dog in a truck with TigerTough car seat covers.
“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
Customer's dog in a truck that has TigerTough seat covers.
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 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.
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
A side-by-side comparison with ShearComfort's CORDURA® 1000-Denier Xtra-Duty Seat Covers with TigerTough's seat covers.
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
TigerTough's covers fit under the headrest support mounts. ShearComfort's covers have a bias tape that goes around the mounts.
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.
TigerTough has a pocket which costs extra to add. ShearComfort has a pocket that comes standard.
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
TigerTough has a tearaway seam for airbags. ShearComfort has an airbag hole and flap.
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.
The airbag feature we received was a hole and flap on the side of the cover (left). The cover featured on the site had a tearaway seam (right).
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 covers are made up of multiple pieces, so there's a clean 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
TigerTough and ShearComfort covers both tuck into the seat bottom and allow for access to the seat controls.
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:
The ShearComfort covers we ordered weren't marked for driver or passenger seats.
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.
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.
To be direct, yes, airbag-compatible seat covers are considered safe if they allow the airbag to deploy in third-party testing.
But for those who want to know more details, this article is for you.
Airbags are relatively new in automobile history. They were heavily considered for passenger vehicles in the 1950s, according to The Rough Road to Airbags. The concept was brought to Chrystler, but they weren't interested. Ford and General Motors experimented with prototypes but couldn't mass-produce them.
But it wasn't until 1990 that the first collision with two cars deploying airbags was recorded. Since then, airbags have saved over 50,000 lives.
So what are airbag-compatible seat covers, and why are they important?
What are airbag-compatible seat covers?
Seat covers are considered compatible airbags when holes or flaps allow the seat airbag to deploy. They're considered safe for installation.
TigerTough seat cover with airbag-compatible tag
When you install seat covers on a newer (2012+) vehicle, you're almost guaranteed to cover up an airbag in the side of your seat. If your seat cover doesn't allow the airbag to deploy, you will likely be smashing your head and upper body into the side of the vehicle in the event of a crash. That's not something fun to think about, but it's true.
Watch this video and see how the torso airbag in the seat works with the ceiling airbag to protect the driver from hitting the side of the vehicle:
That doesn't mean you shouldn't install seat covers on your vehicle. Just don't install cheap, universal-fit covers. But watch out; even well-known manufacturers don't always have airbag-safe covers.
WeatherTech Seat Cover instructions and warnings
If the seat cover doesn't mention anything about compatibility, and you see straps or anything covering the side airbag, it's probably best not to install it in your car, truck, van, or SUV.
A seat cover that's not compatible with airbags.
Which brands of seat covers are compatible with airbags?
In our research, we've found the following top brands to be considered safe:
Covercraft
Wet Okole
Canvasback
ShearComfort
TigerTough
We haven't looked to see if these brands (other than TigerTough) have been independently tested, but according to their websites, they're considered safe with airbags. We suggest you only install seat covers that are independently tested and verified for airbag compatibility by a qualified third-party laboratory.
So TigerTough seat covers are airbag-safe?
Yes.
TigerTough seat covers have been independently tested and verified by MGA Research Corporation in Troy, MI. Watch the airbag deploy in under 30 milliseconds in the testing video below:
Whether you're installing truck seat covers or if they're for your car or van, check and make sure that the cover will allow your airbag to deploy. You owe it to yourself and your passengers.
Why are they important?
When adding aftermarket parts to your vehicle, you need to ensure that you don't hinder any of the safety features of your truck, van, car, police vehicle, etc.
All vehicles today have airbags in the steering wheel and passenger side dash. Most vehicles come with them in the side of the seat back. Some cars have airbags in the A-pillar (by the dash), the B-pillar (by your head when you're in the seat), the ceiling, and other locations in the vehicle.
We HIGHLY recommend checking your owner's manual before modifying your vehicle's interior to ensure you aren't compromising your and your passengers' safety. And when you're ready to install seat covers, be sure they're compatible with your airbags.
We get it a lot; people looking for seat covers for vehicles that we don’t cover, crazy colors, or other really custom stuff that we don’t do.
So here’s who we’re right for and who we’re not
First off, let’s start off with who we’re not right for. That way, if you’re in that category, you don’t have to waste any time.
If you’re looking for seat covers for a passenger car, minivan, or a custom dog hammock, we’re probably not your best option.
We’re not the right fit if you’re after seat covers featuring the logos of your favorite sports team, vehicle manufacturer, or motorcycle. While we do offer stock and custom embroidery, we don’t license copyrighted logos (it’s too expensive, and we prefer to invest that money in high-quality materials).
If you want seat covers that are two-tone, alligator skin, or come in wild colors, we’re not the right company. Same goes if you’re looking for extra foam padding, heated covers, or similar extras.
If you need a seat cover that can be quickly installed to take the dog to the vet or haul landscaping equipment in the backseat of your family truck, we might not be the best fit. Our seat covers take 15 minutes to install per seat and about half that time to remove. So, this one’s up to you.
Lastly, we’re not cheap—and there are three key reasons why:
Made in the USA: We don’t outsource our manufacturing. While we could cut labor costs by sending production elsewhere, we choose to support American workers and pay fair wages.
Top-notch materials: We use the toughest, highest-quality materials available to ensure you get the best seat covers out there.
Custom-fit designs: Every seat cover is designed specifically for your vehicle. That means we bring trucks to our factory and spend hours making sure each cover fits perfectly.
If we’re not right for you, no hard feelings. We’d rather you find out now than after you spent your hard-earned dough and ended up disappointed.
Now, who we ARE right for
We make seat covers for work. And by work, we’re talking blue-collar, hard work. Contractors, pest control, last-mile delivery, service trucks, and law enforcement, just to name a few industries.
The people who use our seat covers are typically doing some of the following:
Multiple entry/exits every day
Getting dirty
Wearing tools and/or weapons on their belts
And, most often, a combination of all three
TigerTough Ironweave seat covers are made from 1000-denier CORDURA, some of the toughest material we can find to wrap around your seats. In fact, it has a higher abrasion rating than Kevlar. We use it because while it’s almost impossible to tear, it’s easy to work with, it’s water-resistant, and it’s made in the USA.
You’ll probably notice that our covers have no decorative stitching (aside from the optional embroidery, if you choose that) and very few seams. That’s because seams and stitching are the weakest points in anything sewn together. Since our customers use their vehicles as tools in their toolboxes, we’re doing everything possible to eliminate weak points.
Actually, a customer who goes by the name R00ster said it best. He’s a farmer from Virginia and says
“I would not say they are luxury but most definitely built for work.”
R00ster - A VA Farmer
R00ster goes on to say he throws grease guns, screwdrivers, and fencing tools (even his chain saw) on his seats and doesn’t worry about it anymore.
We build seat covers for people like R00ster. The people whose day-to-day jobs are the ones that make the lights come on, the food hit your plate, the gas come out of the pumps, and the packages show up on time. Ours are some of the best work truck seat covers on the market, and we're darn proud of that.
If you’re looking for a seat cover that isn’t luxury but most definitely is built for work, TigerTough is the best choice.
