Radian XT

[njkj]

I did not know if any one knew or not but the XT is available for pre-order on Elite Car seats now also. They have really good pics too!

[oxeye]

I preordered it from them a few days ago and got an e-mail today saying that they will be available in 3-4 weeks.

Very exciting. :)

[fyrfightermomma]

I noticed the description said it offered 3" more shoulder room than the Radian 80. So....how does that change the measurements of this thing? Its so great for 3 across-I don't see how they could add 3" without changing the width, so is this not gonna be great for 3 across anymore?

[bobandjess99]

I noticed the description said it offered 3" more shoulder room than the Radian 80. So....how does that change the measurements of this thing? Its so great for 3 across-I don't see how they could add 3" without changing the width, so is this not gonna be great for 3 across anymore?

ya, that made no sense,..they still talked about how great it is for 3-across, and in the sec section, the interior width is listed as 11.4, which is the same as the radian 80....it certainly LOOKS the same....I'll be interested to know how it gets 3 more inches?

[njkj]

I don't undestand the adjustable head rest either?? I can't be like the frontier and go up and down b/c it has individual harness slots, or can it? Or maybe it gets bigger width wise?

[oxeye]

Could they just be talking about extra shoulder room? Maybe the seat isn't any wider than it was before but they got rid of stuff inside to give more space for the child?

[Kat_Momof3]

I agree... remember... on the boulevard and diplomat, the eps foam is only in the headrest... without the eps foam in the shoulder area taking up space, i'm guessing that's the 3"

I'm emailing Russ right now, though.

[Mylilboyblue]

I pre-ordered it a couple of weeks ago from Hip Monkey. I have never ordered from them so I am a bit nervous. They said it will ship sometime in January.

What color did everyone get? I got the Nassau, cause I HATE MESH!

[emandbri]

What is the seat on the top of elite car seats page when you go "sunshine kids.? The one with the blond little girl, it doesn't really look like a radian and has black straps. If I could get black straps I would buy a tan one.

[oxeye]

I got two Malibu ones - my girls wouldn't have it any other way. LOL I may need both to do a three across with the Keyfit in DH's car. If I don't need to use both of them in his car, then one will go in my car so DD2 can RF to 35 pounds. :)

[Kecia]

What is the seat on the top of elite car seats page when you go "sunshine kids.? The one with the blond little girl, it doesn't really look like a radian and has black straps. If I could get black straps I would buy a tan one.


IIRC, that's an old stock photo of the original prototype Radian65 - before they added their own unique chest clip.

[Kat_Momof3]

I got a reply from Russ.

elite carseats made an error.

Kat,



Sorry for the confusion, but thanks for letting me know. I will contact Elite tomorrow and correct the misunderstanding.



All Radian seats (65, 80 and XT) share the same basic plastic shell body and share the same dimensions (the structural difference being the steel). So, all can fit three across and yet all have about 3” more shoulder room than some other convertible seats (like Marathon/Boulevard/Decathlon).



I had linked him to where it was posted so he could take care of it more quickly... so the store wouldn't have to contact SK to double-check or anything.

But he ALSO gave me a ton of new info on the seat...




I think I had promised you a list of the updated features for 2009:



Radian updates for 2009: Rubber bottom grips for a no-slip installation

Aircraft aluminum reinforced sides

.5” thick memory foam for cloud-like comfort (seriously) < Radian80 and XT

Wider chest clip

Replaceable harness and tether

Updated rear-facing base to make RF installation even easier

Deeper harness pathway channel underneath and on the back



RadianXT is brand new and ships in a couple of weeks.

RadianXT offers the most complete and most advanced side-impact performance and protection of any seat – anywhere.



Let’s start with this: No other seat is made like Radian and it wasn’t designd this way just to help keep the steel industry in business.

Radian80/XT is the strongest car seat in the world and it’s built that way for a reason.

We believe high-capacity means high-performance for the high-capacity child, not just minimum standards to get a weight rating.

We built the highest capacity seat. For us, that means the highest performance including the highest-capacity child.

Safety is not a marketing approach. It’s actual performance and test results.



Forward facing:

Radian feature SafeStop – energy-absorbing harness system to provide the absolute best performance for smaller FF occupants (who from a physiological perspective, are, perhaps the most vulnerable group ). SafeStop reduces peak chest, head and neck loads by up to 30% - this is significant safety enhancement and protection.



Fact: Car seats for children above 50 lbs do NOT have to meet ANY performance criteria.

This is true, only seats below 50 lbs have to meet all the testing standards. This is why some higher capacity seats can get away with ‘requiring’ the use of top tether above 50 lbs. Below 50 lbs, the seats have to meet all the requirements and excursion values in every configuration – with and without top tether. Above 50 lbs, seats can actually have less strength and lower performance…for bigger kids. (Yes, it is about time they updated the government’s rules….)



Radian80/X meets all the biomechanical values established by NHTSA in FMVSS213 - even at 80 lbs, with and without top tether.

Tether use is important because almost all vehicles do not allow use of top tether about 48 lbs. In fact, only one vehicle mfg allows top tether to 60 lbs.

The concern is vehicle anchorage points which are not designed (nor are they required by FMVSS209 to be designed) for the loads of higher weight kids.

Broken piece of metal tethered to a car seat and flying over a child’s head in an accident is generally considered a bad thing.



NCAP is the 35 mph crash test strandard required by US govt for all vehicles to determine their safety rating in a severe crash.

Car seats are only crash tested to 30 mph FMVSS213 (translates to about 23 g’s)

Most safety advocates belief strongly that car seats should have to undergo NCAP at their highest weight rating, just as a fail-safe precaution.

What does 5 mph mean? Well, depending on the type of vehicle and the stiffness of its frame (like that of a smaller car, which more people are driving), the difference can mean almost twice the crash forces impacting the occupant inside. Think about it this way: 35 mph riding in ‘78 Volvo with a long hood and a big ‘crumple zone’ to cushion/absorb the impact or 35 mph in a ‘08 Toyota Echo with not a whole lot of space up their (or a Ford Explorer with a stiff frame).



Radian80/XT was tested to the most severe NCAP crash test – 46 g’s (almost double the forces of FMVSS213 test) with an 85 lb dummy – without top tether.

There is NO car seat that can even come close to this at 65 or 70 lbs, with or without top tether.

They’re ‘bad’ seats, they just weren’t designed with the strength for such fail-safe performance.





Side-Impact performance:

Reinforced sides, 7” deep reinforced head support with adjustable height.

Again, RadianXT is the ONLY car seat built this way, and we did it for a reason:



Car seats claim ‘side-impact’ tested…But what does that mean?...To what standard? With what results? With what dummy?

The NPACS European coalition side-impact standard has the highest degree of international acceptance.

The Q-series dummies are the most advanced and the only ones that can measure side-impact forces.

We also test with a standard, 10 yr old dummy to confirm containment safety and protection for larger children.

That’s real side-impact testing, and RadianXT is the ONLY car seat that does it.









You want great side impact performance? You have to completely contain and protect. For that you need depth and structure. Grab the head-supports of a car seat and flex-them in and out and tell me how that’s going to contain a 100 + lbs of force generated in a side-impact crash?

You want; high-capacity performance? Can’t do it with a hollow, plastic seat. You need a steel frame.

No other car seat is built like Radian.

No other car seat is crash tested like Radian – I take that back. I am sure they have been crash tested like Radian…they just won’t tell you the results.





How about this perspective:

Chances are you’ll never get into an accident, and if you do it will probably be minor and your child may not even be in the car, anyway.

So why even buy a car seat?

The uncomfortable truth is this: bad accidents can happen to anyone at any time. And they do.

All car seats are designed for accidents.

But only one features a steel frame, designed and crash tested for the worst, possible accident conditions.

Radian80/XT is the strongest car seat in the world and built that way for a reason.

A car seat is like an insurance policy.

Choose the best coverage for your child.



If you can find a stronger, safer, better performing car seat than Radian80/XT – buy it. You should.

It has a big feel of a sales pitch, but an informative one, at least.

[Kat_Momof3]

oh, and there is more than eps foam in the headwings

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v332/kat_k1/carseat%20photos/image001.png

He included this pic in the big portion of the email.

[2mykids]

Geesh.... makes me want to go buy Radians for all my kids.

[4girls4me]

I am very interested in this seat and am considering getting one in Malibu as well...all girls...and even considering getting one for my almost 5yo to replace her Regent...not sure this is a smart move or not, but we sure could use the space in our vehicle. I can't wait to hear what you ladies think of this new seat as well as how the Malibu looks IRL. ~Tina G.

[natalie77]

I pre-ordered it a couple of weeks ago from Hip Monkey. I have never ordered from them so I am a bit nervous. They said it will ship sometime in January.

What color did everyone get? I got the Nassau, cause I HATE MESH!

Hipmonkey is where I got my DS's Radian 80 just back in September and I will probably be ordering a Radian XT from there as well as long as it fits in hubbys car. They have no sales tax, free shipping and it got here FAST!!

[An Aurora]

Interesting chest clip.

[njkj]

I don't see the pic???

[Gypsy]

I don't see any pics either - can someone email them to me? mommyshepp@french.toast.net

[An Aurora]

No pics in her message--you can see them at elite car seats dot com.

[Gypsy]

No pics in her message--you can see them at elite car seats dot com.

Post #13 has a picture in it, but all I am seeing is an X.

[snowbird25ca]

oh, and there is more than eps foam in the headwings

https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=d90253a01c&view=att&th=11e5af20b7c7926e&attid=0.1&disp=emb&zw

He included this pic in the big portion of the email.

Kat, the pic code is a link from your gmail. You'll need to actually save it and then upload it for it to show. :thumbsup:

[elle7715]

oh, and there is more than eps foam in the headwings

()https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=d90253a01c&view=att&th=11e5af20b7c7926e&attid=0.1&disp=emb&zw()

He included this pic in the big portion of the email.

I can't see the pic? But when I quoted I could see the link, I just put the parentheses so it wouldn't blank out again.

[christineka]

Wow, I'm sold. Now I need radians for all my harnessed kids! Good thing they're so thin, Maybe I'll hold out on purchasing another scenera and save my money for radians.

[thepeach80]

Evan wants the red one. Do you think the SIP wings will interfere w/ 2 of them side by side? Do I need an XT if I'm using it in the middle next to an XT? So, should I put regular RN in the middle and then XT outboard next to it or try and get 2 XTs?

[Kat_Momof3]

I'm going to go put it in my photobucket... I don't know why I can see it posted here and no one else can.

[Kat_Momof3]

photo SHOULD work now.

[Gypsy]

oh, and there is more than eps foam in the headwings

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v332/kat_k1/carseat%20photos/image001.png

He included this pic in the big portion of the email.

Yes, it does work!

Thanks so much for fixing it!

[CPSDarren]

We hope to have a review of the Radian XT at www.carseatblog.com shortly after it is released!

[melniemi]

It almost looks like the shoulder straps widen as they go up. That, along with the new chestclip, would solve the problem on older kids.

[xxluckychicxx]

Wow, I'm sold! I had been debating between this and the TrueFit Premier, and was actually leaning towards the TFP. Not anymore!

[Ice Princess]

I want it now. :love: I will need one for a third child when the time comes.

[xxluckychicxx]

One question though... Anyone know how the headwings will work?

[*Spoiledinmyhouseofblue*]

Shoot! Now, I want a radian xt.... Hum.... someone tell me it has the same harness height as the Nautilus.... PLEASE! I hope I can see reviews before I need to buy one. Hopefully, HipMonkey will have tons in stock ;-)

[Gypsy]

There is about an inch difference in harness height between the Radian and Nautilus. Maybe closer to 3/4 an inch.

[lovinwaves]

Gypsy, can you clarify which seat has the higher top harness slot?

[*Spoiledinmyhouseofblue*]

There is about an inch difference in harness height between the Radian and Nautilus. Maybe closer to 3/4 an inch.
Oh that is good news! I am ok with that since logan is going to be 4 in a month and has TONS of room in both seats.... Hum.... I am thinking One radianXT and one nautilus.... ;-) That way he has 2 seats(and doesn't have to use a booster in any car till he is at least 6) and I can use one of them for daycare kiddo. ;-)

Now, I think I will just not tell DH how much the XT is... :whistle: I see a 199.99 on it, not 279ish. LOL :whistle:

[Gypsy]

Gypsy, can you clarify which seat has the higher top harness slot?

Sorry, the Nautilus has higher top harness slots.

[oursonend]

So there is more height? If anyone can clarify whether the top harness slots are any higher, or if the moveable headrest can accomodate taller kids than the current Radian, please do! That is the deal-maker for me. :thumbsup: I am already freaking out that my tall 3.5yo will be too tall for the Radian by the time she is 5, let alone 6 like I was counting on. A couple more inches would be great.

ITA that the email is a bit sales-pitchy, but it was great info, and thanks for sharing! I am very interested in this seat.

Also, is Nassau grey or blue? The dark grey one looked like it wasn't soft, more rubbery,. Anyone know? GTG baby screaming. thx!

[Kat_Momof3]

nope... dimensions and seat frame are the same.

the covers and the added headwings are the only structural changes.

now, the new chest clip and any changes to strap length/being able to remove them wouldn't be structural.


the headwings, going by pics and from history with the MA/BV would make me think it should do just as well in a 3-across as any other Radian does.

I do think it's a cool looking seat.

[thepeach80]

the headwings, going by pics and from history with the MA/BV would make me think it should do just as well in a 3-across as any other Radian does.



Now do I want 2 or 1 XT and 1 regular?

[safeinthecar]

Am I the only one that is questioning the wisdom of taking as gospel safety lessons on car seats from a man who thinks that a 78 Volvo is safer than a car with more modern crash protection?

[An Aurora]

Am I the only one that is questioning the wisdom of taking as gospel safety lessons on car seats from a man who thinks that a 78 Volvo is safer than a car with more modern crash protection?

Wow someone obviously hasn't seen the video on Youtube of the modern Renault vs. 1990's Volvo wagon :eek:

[tl01]

Am I the only one that is questioning the wisdom of taking as gospel safety lessons on car seats from a man who thinks that a 78 Volvo is safer than a car with more modern crash protection?

I think what he is referring to is the fact that having more time for the car to crumble is a benefit b/c it helps to decrease the amount of impact energy that travels to the passengers. When you decrease the deceleration time in a crash... the occupants do better... assuming there is not cabin intrusion. The smaller cars today protect better from cabin intrusion than they used to.... but the quick speed deceleration can be a problem.

In a crash, the car is used to absorb the impact... when the hood is short and hence the frame very stiff... more energy heads to the passengers. With a big long hood and a softer frame, the passengers are better off.

I've seen a lot of pics of really devastating crashes in well designed cars and in a frontal impact, sometimes you will see the back c-pillar (behind the back passenger windows) start to bend and buckle. The car does this b/c the car is sending the energy around the passenger cabin trying to protect the passengers.

[fyrfightermomma]

Am I the only one that is questioning the wisdom of taking as gospel safety lessons on car seats from a man who thinks that a 78 Volvo is safer than a car with more modern crash protection?


I've been on a lot of car crashes. I have honestly seen older cars in accidents that people should have died in. Yet, they didn't. They weren't even injured. With lap belts only and a non telescoping steering wheel, and no safety glass, airbags, or crumple zones :)

Yet, at the same time I've seen people in their state of the art, brand new cars with 14 airbags, crumple zones, ABS, pretensioners on the seatbelts in accidents that weren't that severe and people have died.

I've obviously seen people die in older cars and people be fine in newer cars as well. But honestly? I've really not seen a huge number injuries or deaths in older cars. Nothing worse than I've seen in newer "safer" cars.

It's also a whole lot easier for us to get someone out of an older car than a newer car. And when you're seriously injured, those extra minutes of fighting to cut through steel that's not made to be cut into, and making sure none of the 800 airbags go off can mean the difference between life or death.

Now obviously the newer cars can prevent a lot of injuries, but on those who are injured, I'd MUCH rather them be in an older car. It takes half as long to cut them out. I'm sure other firefighters will agree. The amount of knowledge you need to even extricate someone from a brand new car is phenomenal. There is SO Much to do before you can even begin cutting them out. Now imagine that person is bleeding out. Not good.

Just my two cents