TESTED: Scuvvers Seat Covers

We get to review a range of products at AMB, from bike equipment to items that work to improve your riding experience, to things that just make life a little easier. When I first heard about Scuvvers seat covers, I wasn't sure it was a direct fit for mountain bikers. Until I actually took a closer look. This is when I realised that Scuvvers are a very specific solution to an issue that all sorts of people and families playing in the outdoors have. While most people will use a seat cover on nice seats in their car, they aren't typically removable. We'll put a towel or other porous layer down if we're muddy after a ride, and deal with the clean up later. Scuvvers can change all that.

RRP: From $98.95
scuvvers.com
Hits:
Easy to fit, easy to use, easy to remove
Faster clean up after muddy rides
A versatile item
Looks after your car

Misses:
Not an essential item

A closer look

Scuvvers were developed by Steve and Joan Prasser, two mountain bikers from the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. The idea was to have an easily removable, waterproof (and therefore mud-proof) seat cover that wasn't a permanent addition to your car. It could sit aside until needed, meaning you can have your comfortable seats in your car, but not trash them after a ride, trip to the beach, or other activity where you're not that clean anymore. They would be easy to remove afterwards, and you could clean them up quickly and easily for the next time.

Scuvvers come in a variety of neutral tones to match most car interiors. From black to grey, cream and latte. You can buy them as single items or for 2, 4, 5 or 7 seater bundles, suiting anything from a ute, van, small, midsize or large family car. The bundles are a 30% saving on single items, which sell for $98.95, As you'd expect, they're just as useful at protecting seats from paws and fur as they are from muddy backsides.

The 600D material is soft enough to not feel like you're sitting on a tarp, with a non-slip silicone backing so you're not sliding around while trying to control a vehicle. It's made from 90% recycled materials – in fact each seat cover saves over 30 plastic bottles from landfill. The packaging is easily recycled, using soy based inks. We've seen lots of brands adopt these sorts of materials options and hope to see more do the same.

Fitting and removal

Scuvvers come in two sizes, but this relates to the harness that loops around the headrest. They will work with any seat that has an adjustable height head rest, or at least a gap between the base of the head rest and the top of the seat. A hook and loop harness wraps around the head rest and there is a quick release buckle so the wrapped up seat covers sits on the back of the head rest – or somewhere else to be attached when needed. You could just attach the harness when needed if you like, it only takes a few seconds.

Then you just flip it over to the front, and roll out the seat cover, then plant your dirty bum in the seat and head home. At this point, it is easy to remove the cover, picking it up in a manner where you cold it corner to corner, and none of the trail detritus falls back into your car. You can shake it out, put it through the wash, hose it off – that is up to you. But it's simple to use and keeps your car far cleaner.

In use

As someone who owns a a vehicle that is about function above form, I wasn't sure I would really see the benefit of a product like Scuvvers. I'm not too fussed about my van getting dirty, which is why it's the same vehicle I use for tip runs, going to mountain bike rides, taking the dog somewhere or just about anything. I can just clean it out later.

But over the past few months I used the Scuvvers seat cover far more often than I thought. I guess I never really needed it, but I know I have used a towel after filthy rides plenty of times, or even a plastic bag. The former doesn't do a whole lot as it is porous, and the latter has barely any coverage and slides around, which isn't a great sensation and it feels quite unsafe.

My previous vehicle had seat covers as it was a bit nicer, but the only time I removed them was when I was selling the car. So through their life they did get pretty gross, and I likely used a towel or plastic bag in that one too.

Scuvvers are easy to remove and clean up. PS this is not my car, it is too nice.

So with the Scuvvers harness fitted up, I did find it easy to roll out the seat cover more often than I thought. There is just about no discernible difference in comfort compared to the stock seats in my Citroen Berlingo, it just made for an easier and faster clean up. Scuvvers suggest putting the seat cover in on a gentle cycle in your washing machine. I put it in with dirty trail kit and it has been just fine.

Our take

It would be easy to file the Scuvvers seat cover under in 'nice to have but not needed' column. And you could have it there along with tyre liners, dropper posts, wireless drivetrains, carbon wheels and the like. They really aren't a necessary item at all. But they do make cleaning up your car after a dirty ride (or run, or hike) a whole lot easier, and you may be surprised how versatile they are. It's probably not endorsed by Scuvvers, but the seat cover can be put down on the ground as a change mat while getting kitted up at the trail if you have nothing else to stand on. I did this a couple of times, as it has more surface area than my floor mat which is the other go to.

Compared to a regular seat cover, they're a cinch to remove and don't drop any of the crud when you do. So whether you're saving time on post-ride clean ups or looking after a fancy car, I think a lot of riders will find the Scuvvers seat covers worthwhile. And I'd say active families might wonder how they got by without them.