The straightforward installation, whether via seat belt or LATCH, is the same, too. The Extend2Fit Convertible does fall short on a couple of details. To begin the process, first youll remove the seat cushion and set it aside; it comes off entirely, allowing access to the inner workings of the seat. However, since car seats are not required to be certified before sale, several of the seats included in our at-home testing did not yet have government crash-testing data available; this limited our ability to compare results systematically. (My almost-3-year-olds legs were scrunched up, even with the Ravas footrest extended.) This seat comes with a one-year warranty and has a lifespan of 10 years. Its doable, but even professionals we consulted noted that this seat is harder than others to install well. The Britax advocate clicktight has 3 layers of side impact protection while the Britax Boulevard clicktight has only one. To get started, youll use the color-coded bubble indicator at the base of the seat to determine the correct recline setting. And weve added an all-in-one pick, the Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1. If keeping your child rear-facing for as long as possible is the number-one priority, then we think youd be better served by our other picks. For the rear-facing install, we think the cars seat belt is a better choice than the LATCH method because it will save you from making the switch in the not-so-distant future. When we were using the seat belt install method (which the instructions recommend), it took a lot of force to get the seats SMARTSecure indicator (a color-coded window that shows when youve managed to get the seat in tight enough) to turn from red to green. The Foonf also comes with an added safety feature: an anti-rebound bar, which is a steel support piece that, in the case of a crash, can help to reduce the rebound motion of the seat. It will give you peace of mind every time you see your little one in this car seat. And it does a bang-up job of it: The seat absolutely does not budge. Although the standard model of the Boulevard does not come with an anti-rebound bar (the added safety feature on our also-great pick, the Clek Foonf), you can purchase a version that does have one. But in order to readjust the angle of the Fllo, you must manually reposition it on your vehicle seat. For first-timers, we think a video demonstration may offer a clearer overview than the diagrams in the seats manual. Depending on where you live, you may also be able to get a free car seat install or check by your local fire or police department (often by appointment only). We also missed the Extend2Fit 3-in-1s extension panel, which pulls out to provide extra legroom for rear-facing riders. They tried to take on the bend, but it was futile. But it has less padding on the headrest than the Boulevard, so sensitive nappers may find it less conducive to on-the-go snoozing. This installation videowhich uses a Britax Marathon ClickTight seatdemonstrates how it's possible to achieve a snug fit in under 30 seconds with the ClickTight system. Come Live Life With Care. Seat dimensions: 18.5 inches wide by 23.7 inches tall (with the headrest in its lowest position), Passenger rear-facing weight and height range: 4 to 50 pounds; head must be at least 1 inch below the headrests handle, Passenger forward-facing weight and height range: 22 to 65 pounds; up to 49 inches tall (the top of the childs ears must also be below the top of the headrest). Next, you route the seat belt through the seats rear-facing belt path and buckle it in. When it comes to making a car seat as simple as possible to install, Britax has figured out how to build a better mousetrapperiod. Additional reporting by Ingela Ratledge Amundson and Rebecca Gale. Which one is the better one? Once theyve been clipped to the cars anchors, the Foonf feels like it has been welded to your vehicle. They will not be eligible for a booster seat until theyre at least about 40 pounds and 38 to 40 inches tall, and until theyre mature enough to sit upright in a booster seat without slouching or leaning (which usually happens around age 5, at the earliest). Theyre also stain-repellant. And there also didnt seem to be enough space for a larger child between the crotch buckle and where the seat back begins to slope upward. When you press down on the key and turn it clockwise, the bottom of the seat lifts up, opening to reveal the guts of the operation. ), CPST Training, September 21, 2017. Over time, we found that because the seat belt wasnt locked off, the car seat didnt stay totally in place; it started to rotate, and we needed to reinstall it to make it straight again. Then the fun begins. Its top of the line when it comes to safety. (To be clear: This in no way diminishes our faith in the mandatory, regulated crash testing the government requires of all car seat manufacturers, which is essential to maintaining high safety standards and accountability.) Crash testing can be extremely useful for determining good versus bad, but it is less helpful for determining really good from really, really good. Get a good fit. Unlike an infant seat, where the base and seat can be separated for the installation, a convertible seat is a single piece and typically weighs 20 to 30 pounds (though the heaviest seat we tested, our also-great pick, the Clek Foonf, is 38 pounds). Plus, the Extend2Fit 3-in-1 converts into a high-back booster seat. One of our favorite infant car seats is made by Chicco, so we were eager to try the companys convertible seat, the Chicco NextFit Zip. Thankfully, the entire seat cover can be removed (video), machine-washed, and drip-dried. (Like the Extend2Fit Convertible, the 3-in-1 can be used for babies as small as 4 pounds, and it comes with a removable infant insert.). We love the Foonfs sleek, minimalist look; its a handsome seat. (The Graco Extend2Fit Convertible has the highest maximum rear-facing LATCH weight weve come across, at 45 pounds. If your kiddo is still riding rear-facing in the Extend2Fit 3-in-1 when they reach 40 pounds, youll have to reinstall the seat rear-facing with the seat belt instead. To install the Foonf forward-facing with the seat belt alone, you route the lap portion of the belt through the forward-facing belt path and the shoulder portion of the belt through the forward-facing belt lock-off, and then buckle it in. When youre done, the Extend2Fit Convertible shouldnt move back and forth more than one inch, if you grab it at the belt path and wiggle it. In terms of aesthetics, we found the Boulevard to be a stylish, good-looking seat; it has appealing curves and a generally high-end appearance. Its ease-of-use rating from the NHTSA is four out of five stars. But it likely wont make you shudder when you see it in the back of your car. And its easy to mistake other parts of the vehicle, like cargo hooks, for them, but cargo hooks dont have the same load-bearing capacity. However, with the panel extended on the Extend2Fit Convertible, he has more room to stretch out, and I have more room to get him buckled. So it is slightly easier to maneuver your child in and out of this seat. 2022 Wirecutter, Inc., A New York Times Company. Best of all, I dont have to call my husband for help. Installing the Foonf in the rear-facing position can be a bit intimidating for a first-timer. But for everyday use, the Scenera Next has some serious drawbacks. At just 6.8 pounds, the inexpensive Cosco Scenera Next weighs far less than most other convertible car seats. After extensive research and field testing of eight models, we found that the Graco SnugRide SnugFit 35 DLX is the best infant car seat for most families. The chest clip should be resting at the armpit level. The Fllo has the same narrow width as the Foonf (16.9 inches), but its 2 inches shorter. Not so with the Boulevard, since the ClickTight system is doing all the hard workwhich makes this seat an especially good choice for anyone struggling with strength or dexterity issues. We tested the Diono Radian 3QXT all-in-one, which is part of Dionos line of seats specifically designed to fit three across. We sought out seats that were intuitive to installwith bonus points for especially clear, accessible instructionsso that a diligent adult following the manual could manage a correct installation within a few minutes without expert assistance. All Clek seats last nine years from the date of manufacture before they expire, and they have a three-year warranty, if you register the seat within 90 days (one year if you dont register it). Let the owners manual and online instruction videos be your guidedont assume you can go on instinct alone, especially when youre installing a seat for the first time. This is one reason we love that seat, since you likely wont ever need to reinstall it rear-facing using a seat belt, depending on the size of your kid.). Installing the Foonf in the forward-facing position with LATCH is beyond easy. Hi there, we're so glad that you have found us. When we had visitors and I suddenly needed to put a car seat in the third row of our minivan, I opted for the Foonf out of about eight models in our garage at the time to choose from. We were joined by Wirecutter senior editor Courtney Schley, who has four kidsthe youngest just aging into his first convertible seat. How do you install the britax marathon clicktight convertible car seat? The infant seat is replaced by a convertible car seat sometime between 6 months and 2 years, depending on the size of the child and the kind of seat. The Foonf has a feature for its forward-facing install that no other convertible seat in the US has: rigid LATCH connectors. The family survived. The infant insert is for babies under 11 pounds. (Its nicely padded, too.) Not to mention, no insane yoga poses just to get that thing to click. All young kids need to be buckled into the appropriate car seat for their age and size every time theyre on the road. ), The Best Cooking Camp For Kids - Rooks To Cooks Summer Camp Review. As you have seen, this is a secure car seat. We respect your privacy. Plus, it looks and feels plusher than our top pick. Plus, it has energy absorption material and side-impact protection. The best car seat is the one that fits your kid, fits your car, and is used properly on every trip, Maltese said. (Each seat in the ClickTight linethe Marathon, the Boulevard, and the Advocatehas its own line of colors and prints.) The Boulevard ClickTight can be used in the rear-facing mode for babies as small as 5 pounds (an infant insert pillow is included), though many families prefer to use a dedicated infant seat instead. And unlike any other seat we tested, the 3QXT is so top-heavy that it cant sit upright on its own. The clicktight system makes ease of use possible. Your kid could end up sitting in the same convertible car seat for five years or moremaking it arguably your most significant car seat purchase. There are multiple recline positions to choose from. The Britax Boulevard ClickTight is a stylish and user-friendly seat that stands out for its incredibly easy installation. User-friendly. (The zip in the name refers to the fact that this seat comes with a zip-off seat cover for easier washing.) Then, as youre holding the belt tight, you must close and latch a pair of belt lock-offs, two plastic tabs that fold down over the belt to cinch it into place. If youre carrying an infant in this seat, then the seat must be in the rear-facing position. Rigid LATCH connectors are LATCH hooks mounted on metal bars that extend straight out from the seatthey look a bit like miniature staplers. Many people seem to be under the impression that the tether is optional, but that is not the case. Using the above criteria, we narrowed down our original list of over 90 to these 12 seats, which we field tested in late 2021 and early 2022: The weight of a convertible car seat can be an important factor for some familiesespecially those who often travel with their seats, take frequent taxi rides, have strength or mobility issues, or move their car seats in and out of different vehicles regularly. Of the seats we decided to try out in person, the NHTSA had crash-testing data available only for the Graco Extend2Fit Convertible (PDF), the Britax Boulevard ClickTight (PDF), the Clek Foonf (PDF),and the Graco 4Ever DLX (PDF). All you have to do is pop open the seat in forward facing or rear-facing mode and feed the seat belt or the latch system through. We also had an in-person meeting and assessment of the seat finalists with Gina Duchossois, an injury prevention expert with the Injury Prevention Program at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), as well as the chair of Safe Kids Southeastern Pennsylvania and a certified CPST. With low sides, a deep recline, and high rear-facing limits, the Diono Radian series is a favorite among people who are trying to keep their kids rear-facing longer; the rear-facing weight limit of the Radian 3QXT is 50 pounds. Lets get this Britax Marathon ClickTight review started. (Again, the installs were done all four waysrear-facing using LATCH, rear-facing using a seat belt, forward-facing using LATCH, and forward-facing using a seat belt.) britax clicktight iammrfoster But like the majority of convertible seats out there, this seat can only be used in the rear-facing position for kids weighing up to 40 pounds (10 pounds less than with our top pick). A five-point harness provides more protection than a booster; also, some kids who are physically large enough for a booster arent mature enough developmentally to ride in one, since they must be able to sit without slouching or leaning forward. You just recline the seat to the appropriate position (there are guides on the seat to let you know how much recline is needed, based on your cars angle and the childs age), push the LATCH clips onto your cars LATCH anchors, and tighten the straps. In most newer cars you will be able to find the latch anchors. So theres a good chance youll be able to use the LATCH install for the full life of the Extend2Fit Convertible, if you choose. But we think it could be difficult, in practice, to actually keep a kid rear-facing in the Boulevard for that long. At 29.4 pounds, the Britax is a bit bulkier and heavier than many seats out there. Still, the 4Ever DLX 4-in-1 is not as good as the Extend2Fit 3-in-1 for extended rear-facing. Clek sells an Infant-Thingy insert for the Foonf that lets the seat carry babies as small as 5 pounds in rear-facing mode only; we recommend using a dedicated infant car seat for newborns. So you have to manually tighten the seat belt and engage its locking feature (video) by pulling the seat belt all the way out and and then slowly letting the slack back in, while holding tension on the seat belt. Is the seat comfortable for a child? All of them have the same proprietary, innovative install system, and all of them are by far easier and quicker to install than any other convertible car seat weve come across. We opted not to test these seats because theyre less widely available than the Extend2Fit Convertible and have lower rear-facing weight limits. Whether it's finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we'll help you get it right (the first time). (In general, most car seat covers cannot be put in the dryer.) The Foonfs heft is polarizing: Some folks find it reassuring, and they like the idea of their child being protected by this fortress-like seat. According to a spokesperson for Britax, the company is planning to eventually phase out its other fabrics for the SafeWash line. britax clicktight Installation of the 4Ever DLX 4-in-1 is similar to that of the Extend2Fit 3-in-1. Other things to check out are the: harness straps, harness position, crouch area. And like the Convertible, the 3-in-1 can accommodate a forward-facing child in a five-point harness up to 65 pounds or 49 inches. The installation is easy. The cover can be put in the washing machine and then drip-dried. And weve noticed that the harness straps on the Foonf almost never get twisted, the way that straps on car seats usually do. As with any convertible car seat, the Boulevards hook-style top tether strap should always be used when the seat is installed in the forward-facing position. We have reached the end of the Britax Marathon ClickTight Review. The Marathon has the least padding of the three, and it typically costs about $30 less than the Boulevard. Its the all-in-one version of our top-pick convertible seat, the Graco Extend2Fit Convertible, and it has all of the same features, including an extension panel for added legroomto enable kids to remain rear-facing for longerand a no-rethread harness. You push the silver circle to flip it open, rotate it to the right, and then the seat bottom pops up for installation. Unlike with our other convertible picks, with the Boulevard the design of the seat itself doesnt really accommodate larger kids in the rear-facing position. For the LATCH install, the NextFit Zip has a so-called SuperCinch system, which allows you to tighten the straps with minimal effort. That is, if you try to pinch the fabric of the strap, it shouldnt fold within your fingers. And we found that it can be difficult to get a child in and out of the NextFits deep, egg-shaped seat. The only thing that stumped us was how to remove the rear-facing base in order to switch the seat to forward-facing mode. The Gold Revolve360 also has one of the lowest rear-facing height limits of any we tried, at just 40 inches (our main picks in this guide accommodate kids up to 49 inches). (In 2018, we tested the similar Diono Radian RXT, which has since been discontinued.) Some of the questions we kept in mind: Are the seats harness straps simple to adjust? The clicktight installation makes the install a breeze no matter if you use the latch straps (latch strap) or the seat belts. But there are some caveats. And its a heavier seat, at 23 pounds, versus the 3-in-1s 19 pounds. The driving was smooth, and their little one was asleep in the car seat. And unlike our main picks, which have a forward-facing weight limit of 65 pounds, the Scenera Nexts weight limit is 40 pounds in both forward- and rear-facing mode, which means you cant use it for nearly as long. Seat dimensions: 19 inches wide by 24.5 inches tall (with the headrest in its lowest position), Passenger booster mode weight and height range: 40 to 100 pounds; 43 to 57 inches; also, at least 4 years old (but most experts recommend waiting until at least age 5). Different car seats require different cleaning methods; the particulars are spelled out clearly in your owners manual, and they should be heeded. After adjusting the pitch of the seat to the appropriate angle for your child, you pull the LATCH connectors out from the base of the seat, align them with the cars LATCH anchors, and click them into place. Make sure you install it in the back seat. However, the SlimFit3 LX 3-in-1 is only 16.7 inches wide and designed to fit three across in a back seat, which may be appealing to some families. But all of the ClickTight seats are stylish and user-friendly, with a high-end feel. My almost-3-year-old son is tall for his age. The Extend2Fit Convertible comes with a pull-out footrest, which provides extra legroom and creates a little extra space for the caregiver to operate when theyre getting a child buckled in. It comes with the super easy Clicthight technology. Its forward-facing install is so simple and satisfying. (One 2018 tester described the lightweight seat as feeling like a kids toy.) That makes it a good choice for travelits the convertible pick in our guide to the best travel car seats. But it is fussier. The Foonf was also a favorite among our kid testers, who appreciated how well padded and roomy it felt. Another way we evaluated the seats: testing how easy (or difficult) theyd be to keep clean. The parents had many cuts and bruises. britax seat marathon convertible clicktight side advocate ct impact (Despite being taller, however, the Foonf doesnt necessarily take up more room in the car, depending on how its angled.) This seat is easy to install and adjust, and with a generous rear-facing weight limit (50 pounds) and an extendable panel to provide additional legroom as kids grow, its one of the best convertible seats for enabling kids to stay rear-facing longer. The seat padding doesnt feel quite as cushiony to the touch as padding on our other, more expensive picks (which add more foam between your childs tush and the hard seat). But we dont think its great for everyday use. Its straightforward, whether youre using the LATCH system or the vehicle seat belt; we prefer the LATCH install for this seat. The NHTSA crash-testing data for this seat (PDF) is available, and its ease-of-use rating is four out of five stars. In a crash, this strap limits the forward motion of the seat, ideally preventing the childs head from hitting the back of the seat in front of them or the center console. I only partner with products and services that I genuinely love and want to recommend. (LATCH cannot safely restrain a child past the prescribed weight limit, whereas the vehicles seat belt is designed to bear far heavier loads.). The bottom portion of the cover can be removed separately by undoing two snaps (by contrast, the standard seat cover on the Extend2Fit Convertible is one piece, which you remove by undoing little elastic loops all around the seats edges). If you need assistance installing your car seat, or want to have your installation checked please reach out to me (care@with-care.ca), or another certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (find a tech map). Check out some photos below. However, if you do decide to buy an all-in-one, the Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1 is a solid choice. Once the lid of the seat is off, you can position the Foonf on the vehicle seat at the correct angletheres a diagram on the side of the seat to guide you, based on your childs age and weight. Also, in our food-and-drink tests, when we smeared peanut butter on the seat, it left a stain that we couldnt get off with a soapy damp rag. Theres sufficient foam padding. The Stratos was particularly well padded and had a sensor to audibly remind you not to forget your kid in the back seat when you turned off the car. The Foonfs chest and crotch buckles function smoothly and without issue. You can use the latch system or the vehicle seat belt. With the Foonfs low sides and taut fabric, I felt like I spent less time fishing for the harness straps hiding behind my child than I did with any other seat we tested. Also, the seat is lightweight and has a no-rethread harness, so as your kid grows, you dont have to take the seat apart to adjust the straps. If this seems overly onerous, thats because it ishowever, its not something youre likely to do very often. The TrioGrow SnugLock LX also features a rapid-remove seat cover. The Graco Extend2Fit Convertible has a lot going for it, including pretty easy installation, thoughtful features, and great value for the price. (As civilians, wed never live so dangerously as to get an off-white car seat. When the Wirecutter outdoor team goes car campingas opposed to backpacking and carrying gear into the wildernessthis is the gear they bring. The harness and headrest height automatically adjust together in one smooth motionyou just squeeze the lever at the top of the seat and pull up or push downso they always remain in the correct proportion to each other. If we moved the seat belt loop out of the way, the base became too loose. (It takes the average 2- to 5-year-old a full year to gain 5 pounds, so thats a big difference, timewise.) Like the Extend2Fit Convertible, the 3-in-1 has a one-year warranty and a lifespan of 10 years from the date of manufacture. We thoroughly enjoyed using the Foonf on a day-to-day basis. As the name implies, a convertible car seat is designed to evolve as your child grows. If youve already picked the four best seats from all the other perspectives, then you can feel confident that engineers have spent a lot of time designing those seats for a good and safe user experience.. Over the span of a few months, we tested each of the seats (with the exception of the Diono Radian 3QX and the Evenflo Gold Revolve360, which we were not able to install securely enough in our vehicles, even with expert help) with our children, between 2 and 5 years old. The minimum weight for forward-facing use is 22 pounds, though experts recommend keeping a child rear-facing for much longer. The Foonfs footprint17 inches at its widest pointis among the narrowest in the convertible category, which makes it a good candidate for families that need to fit three seats across in a single row. Which is better Britax Marathon or boulevard? Are the buckles easy for caregivers to clip and unclip, but difficult to impossible for toddlers to compromise? Well, theres no bad install with this seat. britax (Most seats call for one method or the other, but not both.) Removing that lower buckle is easier than it sounds; it can take several minutes of maneuvering to guide it out of its tight slot. If you need a very lightweight convertible car seat for travel, we recommend the no-frills, 6.8-pound Cosco Scenera Next, the top convertible-seat pick in our guide to the best travel car seats. But the LATCH method, which we prefer, can only be used until your child reaches 40 pounds. Instead of conducting our own crash testing, safety experts encouraged us to focus on how the seats performed in the real world. britax clicktight The NHTSA estimates (PDF) that the lives of 10,157 kids, age 4 and younger, were saved by the use of child restraints in vehicles between the years 1975 and 2012. Video: Michael Hession, The easiest convertible seat to install (by far), but not the best for extended rear-facing use, Built like a tank, but fussier to install rear-facing, Our favorite all-in-one car seat (even though were not wild about all-in-one car seats), recommend keeping your child in a five-point harness until they outgrow the seats height and weight limits, National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (PDF), concluded in 2009 that a child is safer riding rear-facing until theyre 4 years old, a notably low fatality rate for children in car crashes, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, cars and car seats manufactured after September 1, 2002, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the entire seat cover can be removed (video), can be machine-washed and -dried up to 30 times, has good videos online for how to install, The shoulder straps should be positioned in the harness slot right below the shoulders, when rear-facing, and at or above the shoulders, when forward-facing. The Extend2Fit Convertible addresses that problem by adding an extension panel to the seat that pulls out to provide 5 inches of extra legroom in rear-facing mode. If you opt to do the rear-facing install using LATCH, youll remove the top of the seat cushion and take out the rear-facing LATCH strap (with connectors on either end) from its storage location.

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