ORP seats too hot

I had a longish (7 hours) drive over weekend and noticed softex leather gets too hot. It doesn’t feel as cool as leather. Maybe it’s a good thing in winter. But summer travel feels uncomfortable.
Short of replacing softex with leather what have others done to address this? I think the seats are comfortable and I dig the TRD badging a lot, so I don’t want to change it out. Is there any product others have tried to make the seats cooler or vent more easily when in use?

 

This is what came up on Amazon:

$70 EXCEL LIFE Natural Wood Beaded Seat Cover Massaging Cooling Cushion for Car Truck. Keeps The Back from Getting Sweaty While Driving. Makes Driving More Bearable and Less Painful On Long Trips

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GYF72OQ

anyone have experience with these?

 

The very best seat covers I've used to get that essential air-gap between you and the seat are genuine sheepskin covers. The imitation sheepskin works almost as good. Many people think the sheepskin is just for winter and cold weather use. It is equally as good, if not better in summer. My other vehicle is a convertible. After driving with the top down in 90+F temperature, you feel warm. But your back and seat don't perspire. They are super comfortable and easily mold to your seat contours. The only negative with sheepskins is they are expensive. Especially if you order them custom to your particular vehicle.

Strangely enough, they no longer appear to make the old fashioned terry cloth seat covers. They were inexpensive and I thought worked pretty well. While they didn't provide that air-gap between you and the vinyl seat, they did provide a barrier between both. Like putting a cotton towel on your seats.

Back in the 1950/60's they use to sell these folding two-piece seat pads that were woven with natural fibers. They were not especially comfortable, but they did provide an excellent air-gap. Eventually the natural fibers were replaced with plastic strands (cheaper) which would loose their shape more easily.

Well, that's all for today's history lesson in seat covers. LOL

 

YES!! I've tried these. They do provide an excellent air gap. And the covers tend to mold to the contours of your car seat easily. The only draw back for me was what they claim to be a messaging effect was really more of an irritation. But I'm 73 with thin skin and old bones. LOL They seem to sell a lot of these. So many folks apparently find the wooden balls comfortable. If the seller offers a return privilege, this would be worth trying out. It's probably the best option for air-gap at a reasonable price.

 

I would recommend investing in a quality ceramic tint all the way around, including the windshield. You’d be surprised how well it helps keep the interior cool with the ac running.

 

Sheepskin is the beginning and end of seat comfort. F-16 fighter jets come with sheepskin out of the factory.

These pilots can be doing 5 to 8 hour missions without much ability to move around. For me, it made an uncomfortable motorcycle seat go from a 1 hour seat, to a 5hr seat easily. I would imagine it would do wonders in a car. If you go this route, I recommend getting a generic sizing that you can take with you and use on other cars/seats, since they are good, and expensive.

 

I didn't see it mentioned yet but, is the seat heater... off.

Ok, please continue.

And I've had fabric seat covers since day one over the Softex.

 

ha ha
I swear that is what I thought a few times. Sadly they are not on.

 

Thanks for the recommendation.
I do not think this will do anything with seat getting too hot however. The interior of my car is quite pleasant. Its the seat and back of my seat that feels too hot. Plus I do need all the heat from sun I can get in winter, here in Boston.

 

I am very surprised at the recommendation. If anything I would have thought this would make me sweat more not less.
Wow very cool, I did not know pliots used these.

 

I have spent a fair amount of time with sheepskin between my posterior and saddles, seats, and chairs. Sheepskin is good stuff in warm or cold temps.

 

I’ve been using half of a dark gray bath towel on trips. I cut it in half. One for each side. But I’m contemplating sheep skin. Would love a recommend.

 

Pretty much any modern airplane that is at least a turbo prop to jets all the way up to airliners have sheepskin covers on the crew seats. There is nothing else out there that performs the way sheepskin does.

 

Same with my 4 Runner that had softex. Like the looks and was easy to maintain but was too hot. On drives over 4 hours, very uncomfortable. Yes, seat heat was off. Got rid of it and made sure the next one I had came with leather and venting. Went with a Limited.

 

I can compromise but not that much. No way I will get a limited, no disrespect

 

None taken. Mine were years apart. Bought the one with Softex in 2015 new for 35k. Bought the Limited in 2023 with 82k miles on it for close to what I paid in 2015. Prices are nuts but no disrespect taken. I just knew that the next one was not going to be Softex.

 

I had ventilated seats in my Lexus and even though the seats didn’t feel cold in 115F AZ summer, it let air in between the seat and my body which prevented my back from being all sweaty. Definitely wouldn’t mind having these again

 

The reason you stay cooler is that the air gap between all the wool strands can move air in and out as you move around, so it’s a bit like it’s ventilated.

 

I recommend some quality tint.

 

go to Ikea and pick one up:

https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/ullerslev-sheepskin-light-brown-40501062/#content

 

In Sweden, they used to wrap babies in the skins of Gotland sheep, which are very soft and fluffy. However, they're quite a bit pricier than the Ikea sheepskin.

 

Search "Cooling Car Seat Covers" on Amazon. Seems there are lots of choices of seat covers with fans built in.

 

Compromise? Yeah, I guess you’re right

 

you have to see that chrome on grill everyday

 

Lol, more chrome means cooler butt!

 

Yeah I though ceramic tint was a gimmick but it does cut down on the heat. Have not done a long trip yet but sunny days are definitely cooler

 

I am kinda sad you don't like my butt.