Muddy Paw Protection: Carhartt Canvas Bucket Seat Covers Review

If you’ve worked in just about any kind of rough construction industry, you know Carhartt makes legendarily durable products. Now, it’s bringing that durability to your car with its canvas seat covers.

While the product line is different, the sensibility remains the same. The Carhartt Canvas Fitted Bucket Seat Cover exceeded my expectations after I tested it for a full autumn season.

In short: The durable Carhartt Canvas Fitted Bucket Seat Cover ($70) includes one bucket seat and one headrest cover per package. It snugs quickly onto a seat to shield it from stains and wear. Rugged 500-denier polyester Cordura fabric treated with durable water repellent holds up to snags and blocks spilled beverages or rain-soaked dogs from seeping into the seat below. It’ll also catch dirt, which can then be vacuumed off.

See our complete collection of selected car seat covers in the Best Car Seat Covers buyer’s guide.

Carhartt Canvas Fitted Bucket Seat Cover Review

I’m an outdoor enthusiast and dog owner, and I live an active lifestyle in Santa Fe, N.M. I tested this seat cover on the front passenger seat of my car in the fall season of 2024.

My car hauls gear for yoga, trail running, alpine, backcountry, and telemark skiing on any given day. I also haul a dog. So, my front seat is prone to taking a beating.

This two-piece design comes with a cover for the main part of the seat. Simply remove the headrest for installation. A piece of fabric with a foam insert slides in where the back and seat meet to help secure the cover in place. A separate piece of fabric covers the headrest.

In my experience, the installation was fast. I could quickly slip this cover on for road trips and adventure outings before the dog loaded up. Before the next human passenger, I could pull it off to reveal the clean seat underneath.

The single seat cover doesn’t quite hug the front passenger seat in a Subaru Outback, leaving a spongy feel for human riders.

Organization, Airbag Compatibility

Carhartt kept extra design details, including safety and organization, in mind. These seat cover sides are designed to release if a side airbag deploys from the seat, an important safety feature in modern vehicles.

There’s also a spot for keys, sunglasses, or other small accessories in a series of webbing rings across the seat back. It’s a nice touch that brings a little order to the backseat chaos.

Stain-Resistant, Durable for Pets

Made with DWR-treated Cordura textile, this seat cover is stain-, mud-, and water-resistant.

The set comes in an assortment of colors, including Carhartt Brown to match the brand’s iconic jackets and pants, as well as black, gray, and camo. Some colors, like Carhartt’s classic caramel hue, cue an instant sensation of durability.

Despite our best efforts, steady foot traffic from a muddy dog didn’t smudge or stain the cover: Dirt just collected in the bottom.

Removing and shaking out the cover is easy enough: Just pull out the tucked-in fabric and fold the cover’s edge in, like a taco, with the dirt inside. After fully pulling it out of your vehicle, shake the dirt out.

Critique: Universal Fitment for Vehicles

These covers stretch just enough to fit in most cars, but some users have complained about the seat covers hitting their limits on larger seats and the stitching stretching beyond capacity.

Check the dimensions before buying: Carhartt recommends seats with a base of 21 to 25 inches and a depth of 18 to 20 inches. It recommends seat backs that are 21 to 25.5 inches wide, 25 to 27 inches high, and 5 to 7.5 inches deep.

As some assurance, all complaints posted online had prompt feedback from customer service staff seeking to resolve the issue. Do the diligence of checking your dimensions first, but don’t hesitate to reach out if the installation doesn’t go well.

Conclusion

This durable, dirt-ready seat cover design surpassed my expectations. While it’s not the sleekest fit, this front seat cover is a work-ready design that will ease your mind when welcoming a muddy dog aboard or hoping to protect your real upholstery from the occasional coffee spills and crumbs. Overall, the Carhartt Canvas Fitted Bucket Seat Cover makes for a solid choice for car seat covers.

You can even get matching travel dog bowls, lined blankets, and cargo space covers in the classic Carhartt brown. So go ahead and get a matching set if you’re feeling brand-loyal. Carhartt has again proven its value with a durable, capable product.