If you are looking for the best protection for your car seats, you can't go past canvas.
Canvas is the most rugged and durable material of them all. The material is 100% waterproof and
designed to take a daily beating. It is the material of choice for trades vehicles, trucks, mining vehicles
and farm vehicles. Below is a comparison of the leading canvas seat cover brands on the market.
| Outback Canvas | RM Williams | Tradies | Tuffseat | ||
| Canvas Type | 11.6oz cotton canvas |
12oz canvas |
✔14oz Polyester Canvas |
12oz Australian Made canvas |
|
| Lining | ✔Foam backing |
✔Foam backing |
No lining | No lining | |
| Back/Skirting | Poly stretch fabric | Expanda Fit sides |
✔14oz Polyester Canvas |
12oz Australian Made canvas |
|
| Custom Price (per row) | $419 | $539 | ✔$250 | From $572 | |
| Universal Available | ✔Yes | ✔Yes | No | No | |
| Value Premade Packs | ✔Yes | No | ✔Yes | No | |
| Universal Front Price | $127 pair | $362 pair | N/A | N/A | |
| Warranty | ✔5 years | ✔5 years | ✔5 years | 3 years | |
| Pattern Range | ✔Nearly all cars | ✔Nearly all cars | Popular trade vehicles |
Popular trade vehicles |
|
| Custom Made Timeframe | ✔7-10 days | ✔7-10 days | Premade Only | 4 weeks | |
| Colours Available | Black and charcoal |
Black and charcoal |
Black and grey | Grey | |
| Airbag Allowance |
✔Deploy Safe stitching |
Airbag seam | Airbag seam | Airbag seam | |
| Logo | ✔No | Rm Williams longhorn |
✔No | Tuffseat Logo | |
| Tie System | Ties |
✔Strap with clips * |
Heavy duty straps with velcro |
✔Heavy duty straps with velcro |
|
| Waterproof | Front of seats | All except Expanda fit sections * | ✔All-over | ✔All-over | |
| Applications | Casual 4WDing | Casual 4WDing | Commercial use | Commercial use |
|
| Comfort |
✔Moderate comfort |
✔Moderate comfort |
Very rough canvas |
Tough and hard canvas |
| ✔ | Winner |
Outback Canvas
The entry level canvas seat covers. These covers feature a 6.5oz waterproof cotton canvas on the front
with a stretch fabric skirting and back. The seat covers are lined with a soft foam which makes these one of the most comfortable canvas seat covers on the market.
A universal set of front Outback Canvas seat covers will set you back under $150 making these the best value for money. They are also backed with a 5 year warranty, so if you are not looking to spend too much, you cannot go past the Outback canvas.
Verdict: Best value, very comfortable.
RM Williams Stockyard
These seat covers are made from a 12oz canvas and are a genuine RM Williams product, so you can be confident of the quality. What sets these seat covers apart from the rest, are the amazing amount of storage pockets they come with. The quality of the pockets are what you would find in a high end backpack and are perfect to keep your car organised.
Expanda-Fit stretch fabric is used in the sides, whilst the canvas is on the front and back of the seat cover. This makes them easy to fit and the canvas is foam lined for superior comfort. The RM Williams Stockyard come with a 5 year warranty.
* For easier access and fitting, custom-made covers incorporate a velcro strap fitting system, not with buckles and clips. The back of the seat covers are made of stretch material and not canvas.
Verdict: Best storage pockets, most comfortable.
Tradies
The Tradies are the best value "all-over" canvas seat covers. Made from a 14oz polyester canvas, these seat covers are nearly indestructable and fully wrap the seats with canvas (no stretch fabric).The canvas is unlined, so provides no comfort and the material is the roughest of the range. If you are a trades person and comfort is not a priority, then the Tradies are perfect. They are only available as a custom made, and the range of vehicles is quite small, but does cover most of the popular late model trades cars such as the Hilux, Navara and Landcruiser. The Tradies comes with a 5 year warranty.
Verdict: Best value all-over canvas.
Tuffseat
The Tuffseat is a high end, Australian seat cover brand. The canvas is hand made, and its quality is so high that they are OEM (original equipment manufacturer) for several well known car brands. The Tuffseat canvas is a unique flame retardant, tear resistant 12oz Australian canvas, and is remarkably soft to touch. The range includes most popular late model trades vehicles and is only available in the mid grey colour.
Verdict: OEM quality, Australian hand made
