The date on this thread might be 'old' but I do try to keep this list current! You can look at the date of editing
~laura
*July 7, 2013*: Recent thread:http://windsorpeak.com/vbulletin/sho...osters-for-DSs
from joolsplus2: http://sites.google.com/site/carseatmeasurements/
Ok since I love sharing info,
I've been reading threads about boosters, since
ds1 is 7 and ds2 is 4 & their
contemporaries' parents don't seem to know (or care to research) much...
so, when/if I'm asked, this is what I've compiled (fwiw, ds1 is in regent and ds2 is in MA & Frontier):
High-Back Booster List (please add & comment!):
Scroll down for Boosters that 'come' from a carseat and also there is info re: backless boosters, too!
(Post#19 has a link to latest 2010 IIHS booster article on which have good or poor belt fit)
Britax Parkway SG (becomes backless later) has 'wings'; Parkway is about the tallest (22")
The SGL is the one that LATCHes, the SG does not have LATCH. Narrow footprint, not necessarily narrow for the kid...
Photo Review of SGL: http://carseatblog.com/8193/britax-p...-photo-review/
Parkway SGL review vs Recaro Vivo post #21
PW [parkway] is easier to move around (than Monterey)
Recaro Probooster is close (21") to the Parkway
Here're pictures comparing the Parkway SG, Sunshine Kids Monterey, and Recaro Probooster
from joolsplus2: "I've read some complaints about the Probooster being a little tippy, and it doesn't latch...still safe, but it might push it lower on my prospective list"
(joolsplus2) I think they are quite well liked, maybe a bit tippy on a bench seat (they are curvy on the bottom, work really well with the 'usually hard to fit fancy bucket seats'), but definitely worth trying out
Clek Oobr
from joolsplus2: Clek has foam so it's supposed to be more comfy, but my kids find it very uncomfortable, as it's so shallow in the seat depth, and then since it was LATCHed, it couldn't scoot over to fit the shoulderbelt on their shoulder better.
Safety 1st booster (becomes backless later) (joolsplus2: I hear this is very tall, but I haven't been able to take a tape measure to it... http://www.safety1st.com/usa/eng/Pro...oster-Car-Seat
Safety 1st Boost Air Complete (highback or backless) (same as above? pretty sure it is) joolsplus2: [fitting it between other seats] I've had pretty good luck with it, I put it in a Highlander next to a Radian and the flip up armrests made it easy to buckle. It's highback or backless.
[about being narrow]: it's so hard to find a narrow highback. The Safety 1st Boost Air Complete is easy to buckle next to other seats, but requires that the child's head be protected from behind with a vehicle seatback or headrest (the headrest is good for side impacts, but a bit flimsy for rear impacts...a short kid should still be fine for a couple years even in a car without headrests, however).
Harmony Dreamtime HBB Discussed Here & NAROWNESS and versatility discussed here
joolsplus2:This is the only review I've seen on it, & it seems like a thumbs up... also know one other mom who uses it and her kid likes it better than her plethora of much more expensive boosters (like even the Clek Oobr )
It's made of blow molded plastic, so from what I understand, EPS foam isn't necessary and it still does a good job absorbing energy when the head hits it.
MORE INFO TO COME
(joolsplus2, april 12 2012) It's a very short seat...and it's nice to have a highback hanging around the house that's easy to move if you need it in another car, especially with another kid who can use it, and the price is so nice...No attachments for the Harmony, you'll need to buckle it in when she's not in it
Harmony Dreamtime is also super cheap with slightly deeper headwings, but harder to adjust the height. Works fine as a backless booster later, too
Jan 28 2012: Which Boosters Can be Left Latched in Place?
joolsplus2: Diono Monterey, Britax Parkway SGL, Compass/First Years Pathway B570, Clek Oobr
'spares' for some (less expensive), but good choices to recommend to people nonetheless:
Boost Air Protect from this threadGraco Turbo Booster (making sure to attach/screw arm rests correctly & to thread the seat belt correctly; Gracos are about 19")Originally Posted by Joolsplus2
June 2012: Nifty new Turbo booster--major side impact protection
Cosco Pronto
Safety-First GO (where does this fit in?)Originally Posted by Joolsplus2 post#7, below:
Originally Posted by KrisMOriginally Posted by joolsplus2
Evenflo Big Kid Booster (joolsplus2) Low shoulderbelt guide... won't last very tall (big seven? Small 8? a tad shorter than the Turbo)... flimsy headwings with no EPS foam. All in all, maybe a little better than a backless for a young kid who might wiggle out of position without the belt in a shoulderbelt guide, and probably not an unsafe choice if you have curtain airbags for head protection.
work fine as a backless booster later, too
Also:
High Back Boosters that 'come' from a Car seat:
Frontier
Graco Nautilus
Recaro ProSport (thanks jjordan post#2)
Evenflo Maestro (thanks KrisM, post#3!)
joolsplus2: Light and easy to install, not imposing. Harnesses to 50lbs with 18" tall top slots, then it becomes a nice, good fitting booster after that.
from same thread: larig: I just bought a Maesto for a travel seat (using a frontier at home). It was very light and easy to install, both on the plane and in the car we're traveling in at our destination.Originally Posted by emschwar
SecureKid 300This thread has some great pics and comparison to the maestro.Originally Posted by legaleagle
http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=210696
carseatblog.com review of secure kid
Evenflo Symphony
any more??Originally Posted by joolsplus2 post #16
Narrow and LATCH... [from Jools] tough combo to find, unfortunately.
*Maybe* a Britax Parkway SGL.
Or, also a weird choice, but one I surprisingly love (in an old narrow Highlander with two Radians) is the Safety 1st Boost Air. http://www.albeebaby.com/safety-1st-...FYXc4AodQ3QAcw
The base is super narrow with flip up armrests so it's easier to buckle. Also, it weighs practically nothing, so if you forget to re-buckle it when he's not sitting in it, it won't be a dangerous projectile in a crash (in fact, if you're used to solid heavy seats like the radian, it will feel awfully flimsy in comparison, which is hard to get used to, but the headwings are superb for side impacts).
Evenflo Big Kid Amp might also work (but smaller headwings, shorter back height) and
Harmony Dreamtime(kind of hard to assemble, but narrow, might work really well, and I think it's about $40 at Target).
Not Recommended:
Cosco High Back Booster post#6
Originally Posted by Joolsplus2 from link above
Joolsplus2 on how booster is attached to car, post#2Originally Posted by Joolsplus2
Please add, comment, share, etc
eta: When is it Time to Say Bye to the Booster?
Article posted from Jools: 4"9/age8/80lbs- Does my Child Still Need a Booster
FOR BIG KIDS- These are BACKLESS BOOSTERS:
from joolsplus2:
The Harmony boosters Photo Comparison of Three Harmony Boosters [when reading this link, please note that the Lite Rider is now Walmart's "Juvenile Youth Booster"] are better for big kids than the Turbo, or the Cosco High Rise (Auto Booster/Ambassador, it's all the same, different names at different stores), or maybe even the Evenflo Amp.
Looking for narrow backless boosters/to fit backless boosters side by side?
From Harmony Cruz vs. Harmony LiteRider (Lite Rider is now Walmart's "Juvenile Youth Booster"):
HighRise/Ambassador by Cosco is another choice for narroweness, and Cosco Pronto has super tall armrests, so does Evenflo Amp, so maybe those, too, but my first choices would still be the Harmonys, they are narrowest)
TIA,
~laura