Frontier vs Nautilus with pictures at BRU

[The Bjorns]

I wanted to do a post for everyone who is on the fence about the Nautilus and the Frontier. While I have not purchased either yet, I did have fun trying out seats at BRU with my DD.

She is 4yr10mo, almst 50 lbs and right around 44". I don't know what her torso height is as it changes every time I try to measure, although I know she is long-torsoed. She is within a hair's breadth of being level with the top slots of her MA for size comparison.

I have a bit of a concern about the pictures of the Frontier--should the head rest be higher? If I did one more click higher, the straps were really high and she didn't like the placement of the side wings of the head rest (said it was too tall). She has 3 clicks of adjustment left on the Frontier and only two clicks on the Nautilus.

Side-by-side of both seats
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii211/DianeBjorn/Car%20Seat/P1030348-1.jpghttp://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii211/DianeBjorn/Car%20Seat/P1030357-1.jpg

This view you can really see that her shoulders are nestled in the Frontier and are a bit on top of the side of the Nautiuls
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii211/DianeBjorn/Car%20Seat/P1030347-1.jpghttp://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii211/DianeBjorn/Car%20Seat/P1030354-1.jpg

Close-up of hip room comparison
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii211/DianeBjorn/Car%20Seat/P1030351-1.jpghttp://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii211/DianeBjorn/Car%20Seat/P1030355-1.jpg

Close-up of shoulder harness (on the FN it looks like the harness is too low, but it was actually pretty close to being level, but almost ready for the next slot)
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii211/DianeBjorn/Car%20Seat/P1030349-1.jpghttp://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii211/DianeBjorn/Car%20Seat/P1030356-1.jpg

Sitting, not harnessed, just lounging in the aisle
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii211/DianeBjorn/Car%20Seat/P1030359-1.jpghttp://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii211/DianeBjorn/Car%20Seat/P1030358-1.jpg

And just for fun
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii211/DianeBjorn/Car%20Seat/P1030361-1.jpg

What my DD said about the two seats:
* Loved the cup holder in the Nautilus, but was consoled by the pull-out version in the Frontier
* Wanted to nap in the Frontier rather than the Nautilus
* Thought that the Frontier was softer and cushier

What I thought about the two seats:
* DD's shoulders are more squished in the Nautilus
* Not much growing room width-wise in the Nautilus
* She's more nestled in the seat in the Frontier
* Love how easy the straps adjust on the rollers on the Nautilus
* The seat is deeper in the Frontier for more leg support
* I think the Frontier will sit lower in my car and block less of my rear view
* Both arm rests are too low to actually be of use as an arm rest
* Crotch strap in the Nautilus is pretty close to DD, but did not bother her, but she had a lot more room in the Frontier (more of a boy-issue)

We did not have the opportunity to try either seat in my car. After seeing DD in both seats, I think the choice for her is the Frontier. I think given her shape, the Frontier will be the better option. When she had previoiusly tried them out individually she liked them both equally, but when she when from one to the other quickly, she did prefer the roominess of the Frontier.

Do the experts agree that she seems to fit best in the Frontier?

[ctbcleveland]

Not mentioned in your comments, but the Nautilus seems to be pushing her head forward - which looks uncomfortable to me. In the Frontier, her neck and head look straight.

[Mommy0608]

Thank you so much for sharing the pictures!! What a great comparison! :thumbsup:

I think she looks more comfy in the Frontier. I'd be a little concerned about her comfort in the Nautilus (crotch and shoulder areas specifically). They have almost exactly the same harness height, so that probably isn't a deciding factor.

Really, it's a matter of preference... both are great, safe choices, but if she's more comfortable and likes the Frontier better, it might be a wise choice. :twocents:

[firemomof3]

Its hard to tell by your pictures, but how does the crotch room compare? Is the crotch strap longer on the Frontier? I think your dd would have more room in the frontier, it seems to fit her better....but the nautilus is sooo pretty :)

[Heather98012]

My first thought was "she looks MUCH more comfy in the Frontier" so I'm not surprised by what she said.

My :twocents: : Get the Frontier. It looks like a way better fit for your dd. (my dd loves hers!)

[Splash]

Oh dang it. The first two pictures I saw the tag with the swirly dots on the GN and I was SOLD, ready to go buy it tomorrow, until I realized it was just the tag and not the cover. Rats.

I actually think she looks more comfortable in the GN, but eh...

Glad to hear there is more crotch room in the Frontier. Charlie's man bits are getting squished a bit in the GN, but he hasn't complained.

[joolsplus3]

FR crotch strap is about as deep as the Regent....Leah's on the middle and it's still very roomy, the farthest out would be the middle of her thighs, I think, lol.

[The Bjorns]

The crotch strap on the Nautilus was close and it was on the farthest out setting. On the Frontier I think it still had one adjustment left and she had plenty of room. DD is used to a snug crotch strap on her MA, but other times we've tried out the Nautilus it was on the closest setting and she was sitting on top of it. and we couldn't even buckle it. Really more of a boy issue, but the Frontier seems much roomier in the crotch.

I just keep wishing she wasn't quite so wide in the shoulders because I really like a couple features of the GN better--straps on rollers, better arm rest/cup holder, no fraying meshy fabric, pretty butterflies.

Oh well, don't want squishy kids. Looks like I'm off to order a Pink Sky!

[munchkin]

Did you leave the extra padding in on the Nautilus? That would make a difference with the side space and crotch space for the Nautilus. However, I still think there is more room in the Frontier than the Nautilus.

[Yoshi]

In your pics, the infant padding is still in the GN, so that could be why she she has a bit less room in the hip area. And I have tried both for my almost 6 yr old (we use a GN, but I did try out a FN with her and returned it due to install issues) so I know that although it looks like the GN is pushing her head forward, installed in a vehicle, even w/o the recline, it is more of a slope backward. And we seem to have a GN with plenty of crotch room:confused:and my DD is not petite, either. I liked the FN, but it would not install with the crazy low belt path in either of our cars. Hope you have better luck-and you already know this but-she is a real cutie:)

[Splash]

I'm trying to order one at hipmonkey.com, and it's coming in at under $200. I'm not sure it'll work, but for five bucks return insurance, I'll take the chance. It's worth five bucks not to drive to BRU to check it out.

[snowbird25ca]

I actually like the fit of the Nautilus better too, but I'm not a Frontier "lover" either.

But hey, if she likes the fit of the Frontier better, that's what I'd go with. :thumbsup:

(FWIW, the curvature in the Nautilus is designed to be the way that captain's chairs are for adults. It looks squishy, but because it's more gradual it doesn't seem to be narrow the same way as other seats that are narrow in the interior.)

[CelticLabyrinth]

In your pics, the infant padding is still in the GN, so that could be why she she has a bit less room in the hip area.

that's my thought too- my brother seems to have plenty of wiggle room in his :thumbsup:

[katiesmommy]

I'm not a frontier lover by any means, but her head looks very pushed forward in the GN, and it does not look like that would be comfortable.

[arly1983]

I dont like the way she fits in either :duck:

It could be a combination of the angle of the pics, that both seats are on the floor causing her legs to sit at an awkward angle, and the GN's padding being in the seat.

[ketchupqueen]

Oh dang it. The first two pictures I saw the tag with the swirly dots on the GN and I was SOLD, ready to go buy it tomorrow, until I realized it was just the tag and not the cover. Rats.



My eye went there too and the thought went through my head, "I wonder how I can convince my husband that the kids (who am I kidding, I) need a Nautilus when I just bought 2 SafeGuards?" :whistle:

Seriously, Graco needs to get a new team on the Nauti cover designs, stat. Maybe the team that did the new SnugRide and SR32 covers.

[thepeach80]

Is the Frontier narrower by any chance than the GN? I should just suck it up and buy 2 Radian XTs, but ugh. I don't know, I never know.

[Splash]

Is the Frontier narrower by any chance than the GN? I should just suck it up and buy 2 Radian XTs, but ugh. I don't know, I never know.

You should do what I did, order from hipmonkey for $190 and suck up the $5 return insurance just in case. I figured to me it's worth the five bucks not to drive to BRU, fight with a sales rep, be followed to my car, be told 1967493 times that my son should be in a booster, be "helped" by a pimply kid named Steve, get rained on, yell at Steve to stop trying to touch my butt, figure out if the seat works or not, take it back in, explain to Steve that he's an idiot and I don't want his assistance ever again, and then explain to my son why we can't take it home right now.

Much easier to have it arrive at my doorstep, steve free, and install at my leisure after my son is asleep so he never knows it was here if it has to go back. Yes, that's well worth five bucks.

It should be to you, as well. ;)

[doriansmummy]

Oh dang it. The first two pictures I saw the tag with the swirly dots on the GN and I was SOLD, ready to go buy it tomorrow, until I realized it was just the tag and not the cover. Rats.

That is so funny, I was thinking the same thing!
I was like, WHAT?! Look at that awesome cover.
Darn it.:(

[Mama Jo]

Not mentioned in your comments, but the Nautilus seems to be pushing her head forward - which looks uncomfortable to me. In the Frontier, her neck and head look straight.


My DD has never complained about her head in her GN, but for fun we did the comparison of the two at BRU last weekend and that's I did notice that her head was pushed forward more in the GN than the FN... and that's when she said she liked the FN better and wanted to buy it because suddenly her neck hurt in the GN! Of course it did... Also to consider is that her GN is pink and the FN she was trying was brown and that didn't even seem to bother her, she liked it that much better. So our "fun" little experiment is going to cost me $229 for a new seat that I don't really need but kinda want now!

[Mama Jo]

You should do what I did, order from hipmonkey for $190 and suck up the $5 return insurance just in case. I figured to me it's worth the five bucks not to drive to BRU, fight with a sales rep, be followed to my car, be told 1967493 times that my son should be in a booster, be "helped" by a pimply kid named Steve, get rained on, yell at Steve to stop trying to touch my butt, figure out if the seat works or not, take it back in, explain to Steve that he's an idiot and I don't want his assistance ever again, and then explain to my son why we can't take it home right now.

Much easier to have it arrive at my doorstep, steve free, and install at my leisure after my son is asleep so he never knows it was here if it has to go back. Yes, that's well worth five bucks.

It should be to you, as well. ;)

Little do you know, Steve will be graduating Valedictorian, and so clearly at 17 he knows way more than you do. He was employee of the month 3 times in a row.

((Sorry to get off track... that was hilarious!))

[thepeach80]

Estelle, you do know how to make people smile. :) I just hate to order it if it's just as wide as the Nautilus. If it weren't for 3 sick kids, I could run over to the baby store. Maybe if DH gets home early, I can run over there w/ none of them. It would last longer than the Radian...I just really want to do 3 across the back if needed.

[ShannaLeah]

elitecarseats.com says the Nautilus is narrower than the Frontier by an inch.

HTH!

I'm currently debating between these two as well. ;)

[thepeach80]

That's not going to work then. I'm about 90% sure the GN isn't going to be able to stay back there and I'm going to have to get 2 Radians. $400 is a lot of $$$$. Sigh. For once I don't even really have anything to sell to make up for it, lol.

[joolsplus3]

Fits next to an FF Roundabout just fine... http://picasaweb.google.com/joolstag/Frontier#5208143231899203954 (duh, I'm sorry I didn't try the RA RF :()

(usually it's more about 'where' the seat is wide, rather than the overall measurement, FWIW)

:)

[5terre]

What a cutie! Thanks for sharing. I imagine you had them both on recline (ie the head thing). Just wanted to comment on the comfort thing when changing seats quickly. I know that I have found myself thinking things 'seem' to be more comfortable when switching. For example when trying on shoes at a store, or switching shoes during the day, you might feel like one is more comfortable than the other at first, but it might not necessarily be true overall. Just a change can feel better. They both look good on her!

[thepeach80]

Fits next to an FF Roundabout just fine... http://picasaweb.google.com/joolstag/Frontier#5208143231899203954 (duh, I'm sorry I didn't try the RA RF :()

(usually it's more about 'where' the seat is wide, rather than the overall measurement, FWIW)

:)

That's a car though, this'll be the 3rd row of my van, so I lose hip space b/c of the wheels. I did 3 across w/ a FPSVB, a rfing Avenue, and a Airway, but those aren't the seats I need now, lol. I need an empty space, and then 2 ffing seats. I'll have to try it again, but I don't think my GN will work even next to a Radian, I think I'm just going to have to suck it up and get 2 Radians if I really want that open space. If I didn't care, I could just keep whatever back there, but the GN is starting to tip funny being outboard.

[bobandjess99]

Nice comparison.

[LuckyFins3Lil'Fish]

I agree, nice comparison. I also agree that you're not an accurate fit on the GN though w/ the insert still being in.

[The Bjorns]

Duh! I left the infant padding in.:doh: I forgot it has infant padding because who would ever use this seat for an infant? Don't answer that, I don't want to know.

I don't think it made that much difference in the fit. The side-to-side hip room and the shoulder room were the main things that made DD like the FN better. In looking at the pictures it does rather look like her head is being pushed a bit forward in the GN, but I think she's just leaning a bit forward for picture taking. She does weird things when I try to take pictures.

[ShannaLeah]

Duh! I left the infant padding in.:doh: I forgot it has infant padding because who would ever use this seat for an infant? Don't answer that, I don't want to know.

I don't think it made that much difference in the fit. The side-to-side hip room and the shoulder room were the main things that made DD like the FN better. In looking at the pictures it does rather look like her head is being pushed a bit forward in the GN, but I think she's just leaning a bit forward for picture taking. She does weird things when I try to take pictures.

Someone who didn't know any better and went by the weight and age listed on the box?

I tried my dd in it at TRU yesterday and her head was pushed forward in it a bit. She's 4 1/2 and was not comfortable that way. There are no Frontier's here so that was the best I could do.

[Mom2three]

Duh! I left the infant padding in.:doh: I forgot it has infant padding because who would ever use this seat for an infant? Don't answer that, I don't want to know.


My 2 yr old fit wonerfully in the Nautilus when we tried her in it at Wal Mart once. I wouldn't buy it for her now, as she only weighs 22lbs, but if I didn't know what I do about ERF I could easily see myself buying it for her.

[The Bjorns]

When I think infant, I think under 1 year--not toddler. My 17 mo old would not use infant padding in most seats. To me an infant is rear facing (think infant-only seats) and the padding would be used to help support them like the head/body padding in an infant-only RFing bucket-style seat.

I can see how someone who has a child who has outgrown their infant-only bucket style seat would think the GN would be a nice option and the only seat they'd need to buy. I don't think if they tried the seat out on a little child that they'd be overly pleased with the fit--it just seems overwhelming for a toddler. Just for fun it might be nice to drag my 17 mo old along and try out seats. Okay, fun only if I have someone else with me to keep her occupied. It's not fun wrangling both kids in a BRU!

[Kat_Momof3]

The crotch strap on the Nautilus was close and it was on the farthest out setting.

Just going by your pic, it looked like you were using the closer setting... in the first pic of her in the Nautilus, I see a slit in front of her, as though for the further out spot.


However, that might have only been the slit in the extra padding, not in the seat or main pad...

I just wish I could know for sure, you know?

she's definitely more solidly built than my daughter, though, so I think you made the right call.

Mine fits great in the Nautilus, though.