Husky Liners vs. Weathertech: Choosing the Best Floor Mat

By Garrett Davis - December 26, 2019

If you’ve looked through a car magazine within the past few decades, then you must be aware of WeatherTech’s existence, and likely have seen its dominance in the market. But then you see that Husky Liners look every bit as good in pictures, but can are often a little cheaper. So what’s the deal?

The great outdoors shows no sympathy to the bottom of your shoes, and ultimately your car’s floorboards. Whether mud, sand, snow or anything in between, you know those factory-installed floor mats under your feet won’t keep up with your lifestyle — at least, not for long. No one can avoid tracking in some of the outside world, from the rancher who’s not afraid to get his hands dirty, to the weekend warrior to the after-practice chauffeur. But where do you start the hunt? Luckily for you, we’ve done the work for you.

It could be argued that this is another Coke VS Pepsi sort of argument, and you’d be right in the way that many people wouldn’t notice a difference. Honestly, it’s hard to go wrong with either option, but there are a few pros and cons to each, so there are some details to get into:

WeatherTech DigitalFit Floor Mats

Probably the most common reaction that I’ve seen to someone picking up a set of DigitalFit floor mats is that people are expecting to grab a flexible rubber, but are instead surprised by the stiff plastic construction. I had had that exact reaction when I first pulled a set of them out of the box. In those magazine ads I’ve been seeing since time immemorial, they just always looked rubbery to me (and they do offer custom fit rubber floor mats as well).

Oh yeah, and there are lasers too. Not built into the floor mat or anything (that would be weird, but kinda cool), but WeatherTech uses crazy laser technology to three dimensionally map the floorboards of every car they offer their custom mats for. Then to stay in place, they have extruded cleats on the bottom to grip the carpet underneath as well as integrate with any factory retention posts to stay in place (depending on model of car).

Based in Bolingbrook, Illinois, but with dealers across the country, WeatherTech truly sets the bar high in the realm of not just aftermarket floor mats for trucks, cars and vans, but cargo and trunk liners as well. Every single product has been researched, designed and manufactured to offer the very best in styling, length of service and overall value.

At the top of their product list are DigitalFit floor mats, designed by computer and measured by laser to match the exact specifications of your front and rear rows. Made right here in the USA, WeatherTech liners are constructed from high-density, tri-extruded material that remains flexible even in extreme temperatures and is impervious to the kind of damage and mess commonly left behind by pets. Like all WeatherTech products, this extreme-duty line carries a Limited Lifetime Warranty against general wear-and-tear. They’re also available in four exclusive colors — black, grey, tan and cocoa — to match or accent your interior.

Pros:

• Custom fit
• Tough material that won’t wear out in this millennia
• No odor (yes this is a problem for some rubber mats)
• Highest side walls to contain spills
• Most comprehensive vehicle model coverage
• 3-year warranty

Cons:

• Expensive
• The tough thermoplastic can get a little slick when wet in areas without the ridges
• If the edges curl, good luck getting them to sit flush due to the stiff material

Husky Liner X-Act Contour Floor Mats

Still want that more pliable rubber feel under your soles that you might have been expecting from an all-weather floor mat? Husky’s X-act contour floor liners offer a similar custom fit (including measuring with freakin’ laser beams), similar high edges to hold in dirt and spills, use those poke-y extruded cleats on the bottom, and also tie into those factory retention posts.

Headquartered in Winfield, Kansas, Husky Liners was founded in 1988 with the intention of revolutionizing floorboard protection. All Husky Liners WeatherBeater weather mats are laser-scanned and crafted in a manner similar to WeatherTech — but from an exclusive elastomeric material for increased durability and stain-resistance. Their cargo liners are a cinch to install and even easier to clean — don’t fret in the event that a bumpy road or sudden stop spills the liquid contents of your groceries all over the cargo area. Just hose the liner off and get back in action.

Husky full-protection packages come in a three colors — one less than WeatherTech — and those are black, grey and tan. All are backed by the company’s Lifetime Warranty. The biggest difference, and frequently the deciding factor, in this debate comes down to two things – the price tag and the warranty. With similar warranties, similar coverage and similar looks, price may be your biggest consideration.

But here’s where more confusion comes back in to play. Husky also makes the rigid thermoplastic WeatherBeater floor mats as well, similar to the solid structure of the WeatherTech floor mats but with a rubberized surface for traction. Both options here come with a lifetime warranty as well, not that I can really imagine anyone wearing out any of the options here.

Pros:

• Cheaper of the two brands
• Available in pliable rubber or thermoplastic
• Best grip available with the X-act contours
• X-act Contour’s material settles in with time to hug the floor
• Lifetime warranty

Cons:

• Don’t contain spills quite as well, with shorter lips around the edge
• The X-act contours can have a mild rubber-y smell from the factory
• WeatherBeaters can curl on edges like the WeatherTechs
• Aren’t made for as many vehicles as the WeatherTechs

So, Which Floor Mat Do You Go With?

If you’re still uncertain, my advice would be to check out the literal thousands of customer reviews on the different floor mat options you’re looking at. Real feedback from real customers is always a valuable resource when figuring out what to buy. Also, if you put in your year, make, and model on the site, then the first reviews that pop up will be from owners of the same vehicle you have, so you can see reviews for your exact same setup from other people who took the plunge first. Handy, right?

If you still aren’t able to make up your mind, then your next option should be to check out what the experts at AT have to say about them. We work with customers just like you every day to figure out what will work best in your specific situation for your specific needs.