The seat cover is one of those car accessories you might not give much thought to, but it’s important for keeping your vehicle’s interior in pristine condition, which not only adds comfort, but also helps maintain resale value. The fabric your seat covers are made from will play a big part in that, too. The best seat covers are tough enough to protect your original seats from stains, scratches and other damage.
Depending on your needs, you can get seat covers that look just as good as the luxurious leather you splurged on when buying your car or truck, but without the high price tag. The TYPE S seat covers built with Kevlar, for example, will make your vehicle feel like a performance machine while offering rugged protection.
Most seat covers are trilaminates, meaning they have a face fabric, foam layer and scrim backing fabric. The face fabric determines appearance and may be treated for performance characteristics such as soil resistance, abrasion resistance and lightfastness (Fung & Hardcastle, 2000). The foam layer adds cushioning and support. The scrim backing is typically polyurethane but can be polyester or other fabrics.
If you spend lots of time in the backseat with kids and pets, a waterproof fabric like neoprene or neosupreme is great to prevent spills and moisture build-up. Canvas is another durable choice, but it can be rough on the skin. A waterproof fabric like Gorla is ideal for those who live a more active lifestyle, such as surfers, runners and skiers. It’s fully waterproof, odor-resistant and machine washable.