Dog and Dirt Proven: A Year of Rugged Use with Canvasback Car Seat Covers

Dog and Dirt Proven: A Year of Rugged Use with Canvasback Car Seat Covers

      Andrew P. Collin

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      There's an overwhelming variety of pet-proof seat and cargo area covers available at local pet stores and online. However, Canvasback is the only brand I’ve encountered that boasts both high-quality construction and a selection of unique patterns beyond just black or grey. They also offer a wide range of custom-fit applications, which initially caught my interest. After using a Canvasback cover set in my BMW F31 wagon, I appreciate the materials and design, even though it doesn’t fully meet my expectations for perfection.

      This review has been a long time in the making—I contacted Canvasback over a year ago after discovering that they have a cover pattern specifically designed for the 2014-2018 BMW 3 Series Sportwagon. Since then, my former colleague Michael Febbo reviewed a Canvasback cargo liner in his VW Golf last year and had a positive experience.

      Febbo’s cover appeared to fit the shape of his Volkswagen’s cargo area flawlessly. However, the one for my BMW is a bit more ambitious, featuring cutouts for various cargo tie-down points and two separate under-floor storage openings. Initially, I was excited about this compatibility with my car’s OEM features, but it ultimately led to some frustration during use. I kept thinking I might be doing something wrong with the installation, but after numerous attempts and months of testing against scratches, I feel it's time to share my thoughts.

      Regardless of how innocent they seem, pets will inevitably cause messes. Andrew P. Collins

      Although I technically only have one dog, I often transport several others belonging to my family members. We use our wagon as a ranch vehicle, frequently hauling mulch, rocks, vegetables, and dirty tools nearly every weekend. In the past year, our Canvasback cover has undergone substantial testing without any damage.

      High Points of the Canvasback Cover

      Canvasback covers are made in the U.S., featuring impressively strong stitching, clean edges, and an appealing variety of patterns to choose from. The designs are user-friendly, allowing easy access to seatbelts and tie-down points. The net between the front seatbacks on the second-row hammock helps air conditioning reach your dog while giving you a chance to check on them easily. The company’s customer service is responsive and helpful over the phone.

      This cover is exceptionally well-constructed. Andrew P. Collins

      The brand’s logo, a large square with ducks, has a classy, old-world charm that looks great with a luxury vehicle. It gives off a hunting lodge vibe, although the ducks likely symbolize how water slides off these covers effortlessly, much like it does off a duck's back.

      The water and dirt resistance is excellent. You could leave wet, dirty items on these covers for days, and while your car might smell, the moisture doesn’t penetrate.

      We've had six energetic dogs in the car, along with rocks, dirt, and various landscaping materials dragged over these covers, and they still look brand new after a year.

      Weaknesses of the Canvasback Cover

      I described Canvasback’s BMW wagon cargo liner as “ambitious,” and while this was the main reason I wanted it, it also became my biggest frustration.

      Here are all the cutouts Canvasback provides for this BMW (other vehicles have similar options). Canvasback

      The F31 BMW 3 Series wagons have a lot of features behind the second-row seats, including two storage bins with hinged doors, multiple retractable cargo tie-down points on the floor, and several other cargo holsters along the sides of the back area. When you order a Canvasback cover for this car, you can choose to have cut-out provisions to maintain access to these features.

      Unfortunately, the cover I received has provisions for the various hinges and hooks, but I could never get them all to align satisfactorily. If the hole for the cargo ring is in the correct position, another section of the material gets caught when the cargo bin door opens. If I adjust it for that door, the tie-down slot goes out of alignment.

      I have spent several sessions adjusting this, suspecting it might be user error, yet I haven’t managed to position it in a way that I feel comfortable enough to secure the liner in place with the adhesive provided.

      The side covers would be practical for dirty cargo, but in practice, they create an overwhelming plaid appearance. Personally, I prefer leaving the sides off for a more sophisticated look. Andrew P. Collins

      This leads me to my second concerning point: Canvasback’s cargo liners are kept in place with Velcro strips. One strip attaches to the liner, while the other is glued to the factory carpet. Initially, I thought the adhesive was meant for firm plastic points. However, it’s supposed to be applied directly to the carpet. I'm not completely comfortable with that approach—the potential for pulling out carpet fibers and creating bald spots when I eventually want to

Dog and Dirt Proven: A Year of Rugged Use with Canvasback Car Seat Covers Dog and Dirt Proven: A Year of Rugged Use with Canvasback Car Seat Covers Dog and Dirt Proven: A Year of Rugged Use with Canvasback Car Seat Covers Dog and Dirt Proven: A Year of Rugged Use with Canvasback Car Seat Covers Dog and Dirt Proven: A Year of Rugged Use with Canvasback Car Seat Covers Dog and Dirt Proven: A Year of Rugged Use with Canvasback Car Seat Covers Dog and Dirt Proven: A Year of Rugged Use with Canvasback Car Seat Covers Dog and Dirt Proven: A Year of Rugged Use with Canvasback Car Seat Covers Dog and Dirt Proven: A Year of Rugged Use with Canvasback Car Seat Covers Dog and Dirt Proven: A Year of Rugged Use with Canvasback Car Seat Covers Dog and Dirt Proven: A Year of Rugged Use with Canvasback Car Seat Covers Dog and Dirt Proven: A Year of Rugged Use with Canvasback Car Seat Covers Dog and Dirt Proven: A Year of Rugged Use with Canvasback Car Seat Covers Dog and Dirt Proven: A Year of Rugged Use with Canvasback Car Seat Covers Dog and Dirt Proven: A Year of Rugged Use with Canvasback Car Seat Covers Dog and Dirt Proven: A Year of Rugged Use with Canvasback Car Seat Covers Dog and Dirt Proven: A Year of Rugged Use with Canvasback Car Seat Covers Dog and Dirt Proven: A Year of Rugged Use with Canvasback Car Seat Covers Dog and Dirt Proven: A Year of Rugged Use with Canvasback Car Seat Covers Dog and Dirt Proven: A Year of Rugged Use with Canvasback Car Seat Covers Dog and Dirt Proven: A Year of Rugged Use with Canvasback Car Seat Covers

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Dog and Dirt Proven: A Year of Rugged Use with Canvasback Car Seat Covers

Canvasback seat covers offer an elegant solution for protecting your car from dogs. We equipped a BMW wagon with these interior protection items to evaluate their advantages and disadvantages.