Comparison pictures of Recaro Start, Britax Parkway & Sunshine Kids Monterey

[Gypsy]

Model #1 is 7.5 years old, 59 pounds 51 inches - 18.75 inch torso.

Recaro Start

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/alunatic_photos/Boosters/IMG_2463.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/alunatic_photos/Boosters/IMG_2465.jpg

She has 3 more "clicks" until it's in the top position
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/alunatic_photos/Boosters/IMG_2466.jpg


Britax Parkway

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/alunatic_photos/Boosters/IMG_2459.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/alunatic_photos/Boosters/IMG_2460.jpg

She has 2 more "clicks" until the top position.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/alunatic_photos/Boosters/IMG_2462.jpg

Sunshine Kids Monterey

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/alunatic_photos/Boosters/IMG_2455.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/alunatic_photos/Boosters/IMG_2456.jpg

She has 3 more "clicks" until she needs the top position.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/alunatic_photos/Boosters/IMG_2458.jpg

[Gypsy]

Seat height comparisons
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/alunatic_photos/Boosters/IMG_2480.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/alunatic_photos/Boosters/IMG_2481.jpg

Seat depth comparisons

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/alunatic_photos/Boosters/IMG_2483.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/alunatic_photos/Boosters/IMG_2476.jpg

[Gypsy]

Model #2 is 3.5 years old, 35 pounds, 39 inches - 14 inch torso.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/alunatic_photos/Boosters/IMG_2484.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/alunatic_photos/Boosters/IMG_2485.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/alunatic_photos/Boosters/IMG_2486.jpg

Model #3 is 8, 42 pounds, 47 inches - 16.25 inch torso.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/alunatic_photos/Boosters/IMG_2487.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/alunatic_photos/Boosters/IMG_2488.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i301/alunatic_photos/Boosters/IMG_2489.jpg

[Ahzryn]

Which ones did the models prefer? And wow, the Monterrey has one deep seat!

It's always so nice to see them all together, and how the same kids fits in each seat differently. Thanks for the pics!

[Mama!]

If you had to choose one for a 5 year old girl, who was 45 ish inches and 40 lbs, with a 16-16.75 ish inch torso, which one would it be? (Professional opinion and personal)

[scatterbunny]

So am I right in thinking the Start offers about the same amount of growing room as the Monterey (I know the Start's belt guide isn't the top torso height, it's really the bottom of the head wing on highest setting)?

[Kat_Momof3]

it doesn't look like your monterey goes taller than the parkway, where Joni and I have found it does.

but Don't you love how it is not made for small kids?

The monterey is my favorite booster, hands down.

[hipmaman]

Thanks for the pics. So eventhough there are only 2 more clicks on the PW, but in the picture of them together, is it fair to say the PW has higher seatbelt guides than the Monterey though?

[Gypsy]

Which ones did the models prefer? And wow, the Monterrey has one deep seat!

It's always so nice to see them all together, and how the same kids fits in each seat differently. Thanks for the pics!

The models all prefer "The Pink One"

[Gypsy]

If you had to choose one for a 5 year old girl, who was 45 ish inches and 40 lbs, with a 16-16.75 ish inch torso, which one would it be? (Professional opinion and personal)

I'd have a child that age/sized harnessed, but if I NEEDED a booster for a very good reason, then definitely the Parkway - it "hugs" littler kids a lot better.

[Gypsy]

So am I right in thinking the Start offers about the same amount of growing room as the Monterey (I know the Start's belt guide isn't the top torso height, it's really the bottom of the head wing on highest setting)?

Yes, all three were remarkably similar in usable torso height. It was pretty amazing, there is such MINIMAL differences between the three in that regards.

[Gypsy]

it doesn't look like your monterey goes taller than the parkway, where Joni and I have found it does.

but Don't you love how it is not made for small kids?

The monterey is my favorite booster, hands down.

No, I haven't found that mine goes any taller than the Parkway. I've pulled pretty hard on the head rest adjuster too.

[Gypsy]

Thanks for the pics. So eventhough there are only 2 more clicks on the PW, but in the picture of them together, is it fair to say the PW has higher seatbelt guides than the Monterey though?

Within .5 inch all seats offered the same torso growth room. The Start was the tallest, and the other two were very similar.

[scatterbunny]

No, I haven't found that mine goes any taller than the Parkway. I've pulled pretty hard on the head rest adjuster too.

That's so disappointing. I'm not sure what to go with for H now, considering we need the tallest highback possible for my Focus (no headrests). I planned for her to be in highbacks until about age 10, at that time I'd sell/trade the Focus for something with rear headrests. But she just turned 7 and has a 19 inch torso, and I don't know how I'm going to keep her in a highback for another 3 years if she keeps growing like this, and the tallest highbacks are comparable to the Parkway.

[Gypsy]

Jenny, I'm betting she will pass the 5 step test in the next few years in the Focus.

A high back booster for a tall child in a small car makes the seatbelt fit awkward after a certain point because the seatbelt is coming from BELOW the child's shoulders UP to the guide and down over the child - it's a bad fit, one I have recommended against when a child passes the 5 step test.

[scatterbunny]

Thanks, Lisa. Maybe you're right, and she will pass the 5 step test sooner than I think. I'm just not okay with that. :p Plus, I have no rear headrests, and the seatback isn't very tall. If she passes the 5 step test but has no head support, I'm going to probably choose to keep her in the booster. I just need to remind myself to worry about now, and the next year or two, and we'll probably have a vehicle with headrests by then.

[Gypsy]

I know! It's so hard when they grow up :(

My dd nearly passes the 5 step test in the 3rd row of my Sedona. She is only 7 :( I bet within about 6-12 months she will fit beautifully back there.

[Mama!]

I'd have a child that age/sized harnessed, but if I NEEDED a booster for a very good reason, then definitely the Parkway - it "hugs" littler kids a lot better.

It'd be a spare, for sure.:thumbsup:

[Defrost]

Jenny, I wasn't able to compare the height in our little Golf liked I'd hoped, but considering the width of the Monterey's headwings, and the fact that it's just as tall as the Start, I think that if the Start headwings are up against the side of your Focus, the Monterey's definitely would be.

Also, just a comment-in-general, both the Monterey and the Start are best for big kids - Macha (model #3) rode in the Start last week in my Mom's truck, and I wasn't impressed. She fit similarly in the Monterey yesterday. It's hard to tell in the pics because we didn't buckle them in, but for skinny, petite kids, the Parkway is still the best fit of those three.

We're definitely going to go back to the Turbo for Macha for those occasions when she needs one and can't use the Husky or Radian.

[jdubsm]

Great pictures. It does confirm that I really want to do another Parkway for DS(if I can find one). I like the way it hugs your ds better than the Monterey.

[musicmaj]

Model number 1 fits in the parkway very similar to how my oldest fits into it. She also has two clicks until the highest position. We have the purple seat too. She is at the top limits of her fisher price booster seat now with no grow room and I am very happy that we purchased the parkway for both kids in our corolla. Oh, and at 7 years 10 months old, 50lbs and 49ish inches, she almost passes the 5 pt test in that car. There are no headrests in there and she has about 4 inches before her ears reach the top of the seat. I do want her in the booster for as long as possible so she has some side protection in that tiny car though.

[Stretchy Glue]

The problem Jenny and I both had with the Parkway was the depth of the seat. Both of our H's have long legs and were "sliding" down the seat. The way the Monterey is designed, it prevents this by having that anti-submarine feature that is built into most of our vehicles. The Start doesn't appear to have quite as much of that. Both support the long legs marvelously though.

My dd is developing broad shoulders and felt squished in the PW after riding in the Monterey. She's going to deal with the PW though, because I'm letting the carpool driver use it for her this school year.

[Defrost]

The problem Jenny and I both had with the Parkway was the depth of the seat. Both of our H's have long legs and were "sliding" down the seat. The way the Monterey is designed, it prevents this by having that anti-submarine feature that is built into most of our vehicles. The Start doesn't appear to have quite as much of that. Both support the long legs marvelously though.


Yes, the Start and the Monty (sorry, I'm really tired of typing that long name!) both have really good leg support - the Start gets bonus points for being adjustable in that regard, of course. Macha's a rather unusual situation in that the Parkway fits her best, except it is too short for her thighs - apparently the only thing "big" on her is her femurs!

What exactly is the difference in the Monty that creates the anti-submarine feature? I can see that there are differences between it and the Start, but I'm not sure what precisely what it is.

[scatterbunny]

Jenny, I wasn't able to compare the height in our little Golf liked I'd hoped, but considering the width of the Monterey's headwings, and the fact that it's just as tall as the Start, I think that if the Start headwings are up against the side of your Focus, the Monterey's definitely would be.

Thanks, Debbie. So if we get a Monterey, I'll have to use it in the middle only, most likely. That will only work if we're alone, probably (can't see other boosters fitting next to it side-by-side). So I'll still need a booster to work outboard when necessary. I'm back to the Vivo, LOL.

Also, just a comment-in-general, both the Monterey and the Start are best for big kids - Macha (model #3) rode in the Start last week in my Mom's truck, and I wasn't impressed. She fit similarly in the Monterey yesterday. It's hard to tell in the pics because we didn't buckle them in, but for skinny, petite kids, the Parkway is still the best fit of those three.

H has always been a pretty skinny kid (she appears skinnier/fits clothes skinnier than she should, for being almost height-weight proportionate). She can still fit in size 6x pants in the waist, but needs size 8 for length. However, she found the Parkway lacking in seat depth over a year ago. She complained bitterly, and I could see how the PW's seat shape more than seat depth was the problem. The way it slopes down at the front/knee area was the problem.

The Parkway is 13 inches deep, but it starts sloping down between 10-11 inches deep. The Start and Monterey are both just under 15 inches for seat depth (haven't personally measured a Monterey, going by other people's posts on that one). The Start and Monterey also do not slope down in the seating area, they actually slope the other way, down at the backside and up at the knee.

The problem Jenny and I both had with the Parkway was the depth of the seat. Both of our H's have long legs and were "sliding" down the seat. The way the Monterey is designed, it prevents this by having that anti-submarine feature that is built into most of our vehicles. The Start doesn't appear to have quite as much of that. Both support the long legs marvelously though.

Exactly. I would make sure her backside was scooted all the way back in the PW's seat, but she would end up forward a few inches because she was uncomfortable.

Russ explained the anti-submarine feature as basically a seat pan that slopes up at the knee, instead of down. This keeps the child from sliding down and out from under the seatbelt in a crash. The Start, IMHO, is actually better for that.

My dd is developing broad shoulders and felt squished in the PW after riding in the Monterey. She's going to deal with the PW though, because I'm letting the carpool driver use it for her this school year.

My H has never mentioned feeling squished in the PW, and in fact, she begged for another one a few months ago after trying it out for photos. I think her legs might be long enough now that she can touch the floor, alleviating any leg support problems. She rests her arms over the sides of the PW (the torso wings), instead of trying to wedge her arms inside.

The Recaro Vivo's seat depth is also about 11 inches, but it is flat and level instead of sloping down at the front like the PW. It also doesn't sit up as high off the vehicle seat as the PW (or really, as high as any other booster I've tried). I think this leads me to believe that good leg support and comfort comes from more than just a deep seat, measurement-wise. If the seat shape is designed well, kids will be comfortable.

Macha's a rather unusual situation in that the Parkway fits her best, except it is too short for her thighs - apparently the only thing "big" on her is her femurs!

That's how I felt H was, too. The PW fit her best in every way except leg support, but that lack of leg support was such a huge issue for us that we couldn't use the PW anymore. I still wonder if it would be more comfortable now.

[Ahzryn]

Also, just a comment-in-general, both the Monterey and the Start are best for big kids - Macha (model #3) rode in the Start last week in my Mom's truck, and I wasn't impressed. She fit similarly in the Monterey yesterday. It's hard to tell in the pics because we didn't buckle them in, but for skinny, petite kids, the Parkway is still the best fit of those three.

I half agree. The Monterey is definitely not for short skinny kids. But, the Start adjusts down REALLY low for the shortest height setting, low enough for your average 18 month old. With the shoulder wings adjusted in, it actually fits a small child well. NOT THAT I RECOMMEND USING IT FOR A YOUNG CHILD! :) For skinny kids, there are also some bolsters available to help with fit, nice if you have a real string bean. I've toyed with getting them several times for my really skinny 6 year old.

[Murphy's Law]

:happy-wavehello: Hi Gypsy!
I have no comment on the boosters as we're simply not there yet and I expect that they'll change quite a bit before we need to look at them.

But my gosh, the models are gorgeous! :love:

[Gypsy]

Hi Laurie! :love: Thanks! :love:

[loufrando]

That's so disappointing. I'm not sure what to go with for H now, considering we need the tallest highback possible for my Focus (no headrests). I planned for her to be in highbacks until about age 10, at that time I'd sell/trade the Focus for something with rear headrests. But she just turned 7 and has a 19 inch torso, and I don't know how I'm going to keep her in a highback for another 3 years if she keeps growing like this, and the tallest highbacks are comparable to the Parkway.

Okay, I know $270 is a lot for just a booster, but it's cheaper than a new car! What about the Frontier in booster mode? Isn't it like 23 inches to the belt guide in the tallest position? And very deep in the leg area? You could always sell it afterwards too for a good amount because of the long lifespan. I don't know maybe the seatbelt coming from below would be an issue like was mentioned, but if you really want to wait longer to buy a new car and she won't have head support, it could be a stop-gap solution. :twocents:

[Gypsy]

Okay, I know $270 is a lot for just a booster, but it's cheaper than a new car! What about the Frontier in booster mode? Isn't it like 23 inches to the belt guide in the tallest position? And very deep in the leg area? You could always sell it afterwards too for a good amount because of the long lifespan. I don't know maybe the seatbelt coming from below would be an issue like was mentioned, but if you really want to wait longer to buy a new car and she won't have head support, it could be a stop-gap solution. :twocents:

I think I agree with you. However, I'd only do that if the Start was outgrown and H didn't pass the 5 step test or didn't have adequate head support. It might only need to be used for a year or so and that would make resale value much higher. It also might not even be necessary to get a taller booster since H is a tall child and will likely pass the 5 step test in the Focus before the Start is outgrown.

[scatterbunny]

We sold the Start. :o It didn't work outboard on the higher settings, and it sits up so high (especially on the higher settings) that it blocked my rear view in the center. We're now using the Regent and B510 mostly, with the FPSV booster and/or Bodyguard when we need to fit three-across.

I have toyed with the idea of a Frontier, but I know dh will not like spending that much for booster-mode only. Maybe in a couple of years when she needs it, I can buy one here in Swap. :p

[Defrost]

I half agree. The Monterey is definitely not for short skinny kids. But, the Start adjusts down REALLY low for the shortest height setting, low enough for your average 18 month old. With the shoulder wings adjusted in, it actually fits a small child well.

The Start does adjust really low (our youngest model wasn't even using the lowest setting) but the side-wings were at their narrowest setting, and the amount of shoulder room it left for my DD was more than she had in the Parkway. When she rode in the Start last week, she wiggled around more than I was comfortable with.

Mind you, this is for my own child, and I'm REALLY picky about these things. And if she was using a booster full-time, she'd probably do better because she'd be taught not to slip her dang shoulder out from behind that shoulder belt. But if I had to move her to a booster full-time right now (or when she was younger), my choice would be the Parkway.

[Kat_Momof3]

I agree... from what I've seen the start adjusts nice and low,mostly due to the ultra low booster minimums in Europe, but it doesn't work well for skinny kids.

Now, for my slim kids, the Monterey doesn't go short, but it does support them with the side wings and headwings. I think it does well for skinny or wide kids alike, but not short kids.

in the end, it keeps my top pick for the smallest and slimmest booster riders with the parkway... and the turbo is probably second (only because the fisher price booster and other britax boosters are out), with the Monarch tying as 2nd.

[Unregistered]

If you were purchasing a pink monterrey and Elite Car Seats had them on backorder, is there another site you'd recommend purchasing from? Any other site that offers return insurance?

[Gypsy]

Wal-mart has free site to store shipping, and you can return it to the store if there is a problem.

Target you can order online and return to a store as well, but I don't think they have site to store shipping, and I don't know if they have free shipping or not.