Heated seat pad vs under-seat heater kit at a glance

The heated seat pad: strap it on, move it between machines

Our Heated Seat Pad for Motorcycle, Snowmobile and ATV sits on top of the seat you already have. An adjustable webbing system holds it in place and an anti-skid underside keeps it from sliding around on rough trails. The heat comes from ZEPTO fibres, made in France, which are very thin and light and spread the heat evenly. The outer fabric is breathable Drymax, and a water-resistant lining inside protects the heating fibres. It is water-resistant, not waterproof, so treat it accordingly in heavy rain or wet snow.

It is made for most snowmobiles, ATVs and many kinds of motorcycles: adventure, touring, cruiser and sport bikes. It does not fit enduro bikes, dirt bikes or other bikes with long rectangular seats. Check its dimensions against your seat before you order.

What owners tell us in their reviews:

• It goes on quickly. One owner strapped it on in about 15 minutes and kept his stock seat rather than buying a heated replacement seat.
• It moves with you. One rider bought it for plowing snow with his ATV and likes that it comes off easily to go on his second ATV. Others run it on touring bikes and on the passenger seat of a snowmobile.
• It gets hot. This is the most common comment. The pad has one heat setting, so on a mild day many owners switch it off and on during the ride.

The under-seat heater kit: built in and out of sight

Our Undercover Seat Heater DIY Kit for Powersports is for riders who want a heated seat that looks like the stock seat. The heating pad goes beneath your removable seat cover, so nothing shows once the cover is back on. It suits any powersport vehicle with a 12V battery: motorcycles, scooters, ATVs, UTVs and snowmobiles. The heating fibres are waterproof and so is the on/off switch.

The kit gives a little more heat than the strap-on pad (23 to 30 watts against 17.4) from a smaller pad, 22.9 x 26.7 cm, which suits most seat sizes. One snowmobiler who installed it found it heats up fast and was still working perfectly after a full winter.

The one rule: your seat must have a removable cover. Do not try to install this kit on a seat where the cover is bonded to the seat foam.

Installation: what is involved with each

Heated seat pad. Position the pad on the seat, tighten the webbing, and connect the included battery cord to your 12V battery. The pad ships with an instruction manual, and the product page links to it. If you have never wired an accessory to your battery before, follow the manual step by step, or ask your dealer to do it.

Under-seat heater kit. This is a do-it-yourself kit and the box includes everything you need. In short, the pad goes under the seat cover and the cord runs to the battery; for the details, follow the instruction sheet included with the kit (also linked from the product page). Take your time with the seat cover so it goes back on smooth and secure. One ATV owner found the install a little tricky under his seat and noted there is no bracket for the switch, so plan ahead where you will mount it.

Power: what each draws and how to control the heat

Both heaters connect directly to your vehicle's 12V battery and both cords have a 5 amp fuse. The draw is modest: 1.3 amps for the pad (measured with the engine idling) and 1.7 amps for the kit.

• Turn it off when you park. When the heater is wired straight to the battery, it keeps drawing power until you switch it off. Owners warn about this, and one notes the pad's switch has no indicator light, so make switching it off part of your shut-down routine.
• Want more than on and off? The heated seat pad page lists our Single Temperature Controller as an add-on to fine-tune the heat. It has seven settings and an LED that shows whether it is on. The kit's page does not list a controller, so ask us before you plan one for it.
• Use the pad off the vehicle. With one of our Heated Clothing Portable Battery Kits, the heated seat pad also works away from the machine: on a cold bench at a hockey game, at a campsite or watching an outdoor event. Splitters and extension cords are sold separately if you need them.
• Already wear heated clothing? The pad can join your existing heated gear setup. The right connection depends on what you own, so contact us and we will tell you how. Our heated clothing FAQ explains how the system fits together.

Which one should you buy?

• You ride more than one machine: the heated seat pad. Strap it on the ATV in the morning and the sled next weekend.
• You want it on quickly without opening the seat: the heated seat pad.
• You want a heated seat that looks stock: the under-seat heater kit, if your seat cover comes off.
• You ride a UTV: the kit's page names UTVs. The pad's page lists snowmobiles, ATVs and motorcycles, so check its dimensions against your seat, or ask us.
• You ride an enduro or dirt bike: the pad will not fit those long, narrow seats. The kit needs a removable cover, so check your seat first.
• You also want warmth off the vehicle: the heated seat pad plus a portable battery.

You can see both side by side in our heated seats collection.

Questions riders ask us

Does the heated seat pad have heat settings?

No, it is on or off, and owners say it gets hot. For adjustable heat, the pad's page lists the Single Temperature Controller as a separate add-on with seven settings.

Will it drain my battery?

It can if you leave it on after you park, because it is wired straight to the battery. The draw is low (1.3 amps for the pad, 1.7 for the kit), but switch it off every time you stop the engine.

Can I install the under-seat kit on any seat?

Only on seats with a removable cover. If your cover is glued or bonded to the foam, choose the strap-on pad instead.

Can I use the seat pad off my bike or sled?

Yes, with one of our portable battery kits. It is a good way to stay warm on a cold bench or at camp.

Will it fit my seat?

Measure your seat. The pad is 36.2 x 36.8 cm and the kit's heating pad is 22.9 x 26.7 cm. If you are not sure, send us a message through the chat on either product page with your make and model, and we will help you choose.