With the different types of materials and brands of seat covers available, it can certainly be confusing and overwhelming to select the right one for your car.
Especially when committing to a custom made option which is higher priced, it is important to select the best material for your application.
Whether durability, comfort or value is your main priority, the below guide will help you choose the best material for your new seat covers.
How to read this chart.
Velour
Velour is the basic material choice for seat covers. It is designed to look like the original upholstery in modern vehicles so is ideal for the person who is looking to protect
their seats without looking like they have seat covers. The material is soft and comfortable but not the most durable or waterproof. Velour is a good economic, multipurpose
option for any vehicle.
Jacquard
Similar to the velour, the jacquard is not waterproof or super durable. The material is a bit rougher than the velour and features a heavy duty centre panel. You could argue that the jacquard is more hardy than the velour, while the velour is more comfortable and modern looking.
Canvas
The most durable of all the fabrics, canvas is the favourite for trades vehicles, trucks and agricultural vehicles. It is fully waterproof, rough and designed to take a beating.
Comfort is not its strong suit though and can be a little rough on the skin so is not recommended for family cars. Perfect for those who require ultimate protection for their seats. For a more thorough comparison of canvas seat covers, checkout our ultimate guide.
Neoprene
Neoprene is a great all round fabric for seat covers. Comfortable, highly water resistant and durable, it is the popular choice for those with an active lifestyle. Made from wetsuit material which is 98% rubber, neoprene is really popular amongst surfers and beach goers.
Leather Look
The easiest to clean of all the materials, leather look is the number 1 choice for taxi and Uber drivers. The fully waterproof vinyl barrier is perfect for regular spilt drinks,food crumbs and vomit. It can easily be wiped off and will look just like new again. Unfortunately leather look can get hot in the summer, and cold in the winter so is not the most comfortable seat cover unless you wear appropriate clothing for the seasons.
Denim (low stock levels)
Denim is a high end seat cover material made by Black Duck. Most famously used for jeans, denim is hard wearing and relatively comfortable. The denim used for seat covers are very high quality with a foam backing making them soft with a smooth finish. These seat covers are for those looking for Black Duck quality and fit, with extra comfort.
Mesh
The design of mesh material makes it the best material for seat covers in a very hot climate. The mesh allows air to get underneath the seat covers allowing better circulation and less sweat. Very similar to velour in quality, it is a very popular choice in the RM Williams, AFL and NRL seat cover brands.
Sheepskin
The ultimate luxury seat covers, sheepskin provides the best comfort of all the material options. It is warm in winter, cool in summer and the thick pile gives the passenger
the best cushioned ride. The downside is that is can be very expensive, especially for custom options and requires dry-cleaning. Sheepskin is very durable however and
offers the highest warranty of the lot.
Acrylic Fur
Acrylic fur is a synthetic material which looks and feels similar to genuine sheepskin. Obviously being synthetic, the fur is not as smooth or luxurious as the real thing.
It also doesn't have the properties which genuine sheepskin has, such as regulating temperature and durability. It is however, much much cheaper. A custom made rear seat cover in acrylic fur can be around 1/3 the price of genuine sheepskin. If you do not get much traffic in your rear seat but want to match your front sheepskins without paying through the nose, then acrylic fur is a very popular option.
The acrylic fur is already used on the skirting and back of most universal front sets of sheepskins. When we have the custom rear seat cover made for you, we will match the colours up perfectly with the fronts.
4Elements
4Elements is a technical material developed by Black Duck to bridge the gap between the hard core canvas material, and the softer denim. It has been specially formulated to be soft and stretchy to touch, but also 100% waterproof and extremely durable.
The 4Elements are high end in terms of price but also super high quality, justifying their price tag.
Perfect for the driver who wants the best of both worlds in terms of comfort and durability.
For more information on our variety of materials , please call us on 1300 554 288 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday AEST.
