Which seat lasts the longest? Comparison Pics...

[CDNTech]

*Updated with Nautilus pics!* Pictures still taken in same vehicle (2008 Dodge Grand Caravan Swivel n' Go - Driver's side captains chair) and boys torso measurements have not changed.

We are constantly being asked which seat will last the longest and trying to measure slot height. Slot height is really subjective to how the seat actually fits *installed* in the vehicle *with* a child in it.

So today, I went out and installed the 5 (6 now with the Update ;)) most popular Canadian seats and used the same two models in the exact same vehicle position.

Here are the results...

From tallest to shortest...
1. Britax Frontier
2. Graco Nautilus
3. Sunshine Kids Radian
4 & 5. Compass/First Years TruFit & Evenflo Triumph Advance
6. Britax Marathon

Model #1
Aiden is 6.5 years old, 40lbs, 46.5" tall, with a 16.25" torso.

Frontier... in top slots with about 1.5" to grow
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3154/2753683009_7c6027a7d3.jpg?v=0

Nautilus... in top slots with about 1" to grow
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3112/3161290510_b1d2bba91c.jpg?v=0

Radian... in top slots with about .75" to grow
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3034/2753683013_331c87e597.jpg?v=0

TruFit... just over top slots (outgrown)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3099/2753683039_5f99698c24.jpg?v=0

Triumph Advance... just over top slots (outgrown)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3295/2753683037_aaa50c7713.jpg?v=0

Marathon... over top slots (outgrown)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3141/2753683031_09788b72d7.jpg?v=0


Model #2
Mikkel is 29lbs, 38.5", with a 13.75" torso.

Frontier... 4th notch from the top slots with at least 4" of growing room
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3145/2754483704_8e9360ec71.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3022/2754483710_c4428ce18a.jpg?v=0

Nautilus... even with 2nd from top slots with about 3.5" of growing room
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3111/3161290514_a73d1c177c.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3152/3161290516_d1e046f574.jpg?v=0

Radian... even with 2nd from top slots with about 3" of growing room
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3007/2754483716_f0d7e96ecd.jpg?v=0

TruFit... even with 2nd from top slots with about 2" of growing room
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2365/2754483740_54b1f55ca6.jpg?v=0

Triumph Advance... about 2" of growing room (to the top harness setting - slit in cover goes higher)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3117/2754483734_ce56324cdb.jpg?v=0

Marathon... top slots with about 1.5" of growing room
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3019/2754483730_4f27e37e7d.jpg?v=0

Note: Some of the pictures are slightly misleading due to covers shifting/angle of picture/ect. I've included which slot they are on and how much growing room they have left so that you have a more accurate idea of how the seat really fits (rather than just going by picture alone).

To those who already saw the original post (http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?p=532398)... sorry, just clued in that this probably would have been better as an article for easy finding later. :o

[emandbri]

Very helpful! thanks for putting this together!

Quick question though, how much does Aiden weigh?

[CDNTech]

Very helpful! thanks for putting this together!

Quick question though, how much does Aiden weigh?

39lbs - 41lbs... depends on clothing and shoes between the two weights. :)

[2 blueberry eye girls]

Not that I need another car seat, but I am looking for one for my Aunt and Uncle for there grandson, and you did a great job. Thoes are the car seats I am looking at for them along with the britax boulevard. Thanks for the slot comparrisons in the seats along with the pictures.

[jess71903]

Thank you for this! I am surprised to see that the True Fit and ETA end up having higher slots functionally than the Marathon. Everything I've read says that they are shorter, but I am sure that's because until now, it has just been measurements of the seat, not a child in the seat.

[emandbri]

Thank you for this! I am surprised to see that the True Fit and ETA end up having higher slots functionally than the Marathon. Everything I've read says that they are shorter, but I am sure that's because until now, it has just been measurements of the seat, not a child in the seat.

I had the same issue with my old roundabout and fisher price safe embrace. Measuring the roundabout measured higher but Daniel fit in the safe embrace for 6 months after he was too tall for the roundabout.

[cruciangal]

And if you were to add the Boulevard to the mix, how would it compare? Does it have the same body, holes for harness straps, etc. as the Marathon?

[CDNTech]

I haven't tried the Boulevard in the vehicle, but in the store compared to the Marathon (in the store as well), the Marathon has more room... maybe 1/2 inch more? I'm guessing the Boulevard would have less room in the vehicle as well.

I didn't include the Boulevard in my list as it is a brand new *expensive* seat and was at a store across town from where I was. Since I know it has less room to grow than the Marathon, I didn't bother driving the half hour across the city. :o

[Heather and Alex]

thank you that was very helpful! do you know how they fit in the regent?? the frontier and regent are the 2 i am looking at

[CDNTech]

thank you that was very helpful! do you know how they fit in the regent?? the frontier and regent are the 2 i am looking at

Sorry... no Regent in Canada, so I can't add it to the comparison. :( I do know it's taller, I just don't know by how much.

I will add the Nautilus once it makes it to store shelves... just waiting.

[bobandjess99]

Sorry... no Regent in Canada, so I can't add it to the comparison. :( I do know it's taller, I just don't know by how much.

I will add the Nautilus once it makes it to store shelves... just waiting.

thanks so much! I cant wait to see how the Gn compares......especially in comparison to the TF, which I think might be my new true love...LOL.

[northernmommy]

Just out of curiosity, what vehicle did you install the seats in? I'm wondering cause my oldest DD has a 16.25" torso and has about an inch left in the TF, but I know different vehicles affect the harness height. It'd be nice to know, so when I'm talking to parents I can have a bit of insight on how the seats might work in different vehicles...thanks!

[CDNTech]

These are all in an '08 Grand Caravan with swivel n' go... driver's side captains chairs. I've included that info in the first post now and I've also updated with Nautilus pics... thanks to Toni who picked one up for us to play with. :D

[NannyMom]

That's interesting. Was the GN done at the same size? I thought the GN's top slots was slightly higher than that of the Frontier.

[CDNTech]

That's interesting. Was the GN done at the same size? I thought the GN's top slots was slightly higher than that of the Frontier.

The GN was done today... the other seats were done in August. I measured their torso's today and they have not changed at all since August.

So, short answer is yes, they were done at the same size. :)

I've seen a few different measurements of the GN and the one we had today does not measure 18" at all... neither does my Radian though. ;) I think it all depends on how the seat fits in the vehicle, which is why I did this comparison with all the seats installed in the same vehicle position.

[Kat_Momof3]

my nautilus measures at well over 18"... I think it's your Nautilus... one of the few freak ones we heard about after the first release, where they didn't have the 18" top slots and we were scared till the next round came out and were taller.

[emandbri]

That is VERY interesting! I was on set on the nautilus now you have me second guessing myself AGAIN! I find it SOOO fascinating how kids fit differently in seats then when you measure them. I'm not kidding that I measured the slots on my MA and radian and I got right under 17 for the marathon and right above 17 in the radian but when I put Benjamin in the seats he is very clearly about to outgrow the marathon but has at least and inch and a half in the radian! It makes NO sense at all! :confused:

[Jeanum]

I doubt the OP or anyone else in the U.S. or in Canada has a "freak" Nautilus and they're all essentially the same seat by design but certified for their respective countries. We need to remember that shoulder harness slot measurements taken by different parties are somewhat subjective, and that how the child fits in the seat when it's installed is the true measure. Splitting hairs over top slot harness height measurements isn't the ultimate test of a child's fit. How any given child fits is also somewhat variable because of things like the width of the child's shoulders, the vehicle seat's contouring, the vehicle's seatbelt or LATCH geometry, etc. What ultimately counts is how the child fits in the carseat, and shoulder harness slot measurements are only a part of the overall picture. :)

[bobandjess99]

OP - would you ask your older child which seat, of the ones he still fits in, he prefers the best and why?

[CDNTech]

A big :yeahthat: to Jean. I highly doubt we have a freak Nautilus that measures differently. Especially considering that this is a brand new seat in Canada and they have been in the US for awhile now... there's no way we have one of the first made ones up here. ;)

I specifically did this comparison so people can see how the seats fit the same child in the same position... a much more accurate description of which seat really has higher top slots than just going by measurements and how they look in the store.

As always though, you need to try the seat in your vehicle, with your child, to determine the best seat for your needs. :)

[CDNTech]

OP - would you ask your older child which seat, of the ones he still fits in, he prefers the best and why?

Sorry, this got long... A wanted me to show you the booster mode as well. The hazards of asking a very talkative 6.75 year old his thoughts. ;) :D

A's thoughts...

Order of preference...
1. Frontier
2. Radian
3. EFTA/True Fit
4. GN
5. MA

He loves the Frontier the best...
-cushy
-can cross his legs in the seat
-like the look of it
-easy to sleep in with the head wings

He did not like the GN... found his shoulders/arms to be squished (and he has a small frame), he was also not impressed that he couldn't cross his legs in it.

He still likes the Radian... wide shoulder area, low profile to cross his legs.

He sort of liked the TF... liked the width of it, but it was fairly reclined FFing (more than I'm okay with) and he complained that his legs would get sore from the position they were in.

He was okay with the EFTA... not super impressed because of the high base.

He doesn't like the MA... did when he was under 4.5, but as soon as we moved him in to the Radian (when he outgrew the MA); he discovered shoulder room (and the ability to cross his legs) and that's what it's been about with every seat since.

Basic theme with A... if it's got nice shoulder room and the ability to cross his legs, he likes the seat. The Frontier wins out in the harness mode.

Booster mode is a little different... the child :love: his Parkway and ranks it above the Frontier. He tells me he likes the look of it better and he likes that the head wings are closer to his head... easier sleeping. Otherwise the Frontier wins out in booster mode as well.

Booster height pictures... and even though the Parkway and Frontier pics were taken this past summer, his torso stats have not changed... he's just been growing in his legs.

A in the GN in booster mode at maximum height...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/3163664338_4e75b201e7.jpg?v=0

A in the Parkway at maximum height...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3034/2619769594_59a5c0bba0.jpg?v=0

A in the Frontier in booster mode at maximum height...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3226/2619769588_8856939211.jpg?v=0

My thoughts...
I'm still only comfortable with telling parents that the Frontier is definitely the last seat they will need. The GN is just too narrow/squishy in the shoulders and thighs to comfortably tell a parent they won't need to buy another seat when their child is older/bigger.

I'm also not impressed with the shortness of their adjuster strap. A was in the top slots and only weighs 40.6lbs (to be exact)... there was only 3 - 4 inches of adjuster strap left over when tightened properly. If I was a parent that was loosening/tightening all the time (I'm not generally), there is *no* adjuster strap left over when it's comfortably loose to get out... which makes it difficult to tighten/loosen every time.

The adjuster did glide very smoothly (but so does the Frontier). Bottom line (especially for the Canadians with only a $30 difference), the extra price on the Frontier is more than worth it for the extra features/comfort/longevity (9 years for the entire Frontier vs. 6 yrs harnessed/9 yrs boostered GN).

I fear with the narrowness of the shoulders in the GN that parents will skip straight to the no back booster mode just to have more room for their big/older kids and that's not always the best idea or even feasible with some vehicles. :o

[canmom]

I was waiting for the those pics... finally found the thread, LOL. Just wanted to second what CDNTech said... I think the Frontier is worth the little extra money. Aiden isn't a huge kid and he looked squished in it to me. My DS is only 2 and 30lbs, there is no way he would fit it at Aidens age.

Off to do my new favorite activity... returning carseats :p