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Top 3 harnessed boosters?
- Thread starter magoose
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The following combo seats last about the same time height wise harnessed (most $$$ to least $):
Recaro ProSport
Graco Nautilus/Argos
Evenflo Secure Kid 300/400
Harmony Defender 360 (Walmart/Walmart.com only, 10 year expiration)
Evenflo Maestro (50 lbs weight limit on the harness, really short booster)
Evenflo Chase Deluxe (40 lbs weight limit, really short booster)
The Recaro, Graco, & Harmony are possibly easier to use in booster mode than the Evenflo's. The fit of all of these is good. And I'm pretty sure you can use them without a top tether, although you may prefer one of the lighter models if you must use it without. I think the Graco had really good head excursion numbers even without the top tether.
Thank you so much for your kind and informative reply.:yeahthatlove:
The Harmony Defender 360 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat really peaked my interest. It seems safe and has the long expiration date. this seat is for a grand parents car.
107 people looking and only one reply.
The Harmony Defender 360 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat really peaked my interest. It seems safe and has the long expiration date. this seat is for a grand parents car.
107 people looking and only one reply.
The following combo seats last about the same time height wise harnessed (most $$$ to least $):
Recaro ProSport
Graco Nautilus/Argos
Evenflo Secure Kid 300/400
Harmony Defender 360 (Walmart/Walmart.com only, 10 year expiration)
Evenflo Maestro (50 lbs weight limit on the harness, really short booster)
Evenflo Chase Deluxe (40 lbs weight limit, really short booster)
The Recaro, Graco, & Harmony are possibly easier to use in booster mode than the Evenflo's. The fit of all of these is good. And I'm pretty sure you can use them without a top tether, although you may prefer one of the lighter models if you must use it without. I think the Graco had really good head excursion numbers even without the top tether.
Brianna
New member
Henrietta had a great reply so maybe others didn't think they had much to add. Or maybe others also had the same question as you and were just looking at replies. Either way, I've had threads with tons of views and few replies before, it happens sometimes. Is there anything more specific you would like to know or were you hoping for more general recommendations? If it's the latter, I'll just have to :yeahthat: Henrietta's post.
Thanks for pointing this out to me. My apologies for jumping to conclusions.
Indeed her recommendations seem very comprehensive and I appreciate her response. I actually ordered the Harmony Defender 360 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat.
I hope it can install without a tether and or also on lap only belts. I plan to use it in 2 different vehicles. So far what I could find people overall seemed very happy with this seat. I will also be ordering the longer crotch belt.
My grand son is coming in a week and a half. I will try and post back and share my experience with this seat. He will use it seldom and his parents have a nice seat in their car but I do not like taken a seat in and out of cars. We also tend to forget to take the seat out and then we can't go any where if the car with his seat is gone. This should take care of it. I will also put the seat in my car when visiting them as they have one car and one seat.
Indeed her recommendations seem very comprehensive and I appreciate her response. I actually ordered the Harmony Defender 360 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat.
I hope it can install without a tether and or also on lap only belts. I plan to use it in 2 different vehicles. So far what I could find people overall seemed very happy with this seat. I will also be ordering the longer crotch belt.
My grand son is coming in a week and a half. I will try and post back and share my experience with this seat. He will use it seldom and his parents have a nice seat in their car but I do not like taken a seat in and out of cars. We also tend to forget to take the seat out and then we can't go any where if the car with his seat is gone.
This should take care of it. I will also put the seat in my car when visiting them as they have one car and one seat.I keep forgetting about the Britax Pioneer, too. It's more than $150, like the Recaro one, but with about the same limits. I'm just throwing it out there for those looking at this thread.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/33688244?...31537552&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=78291471392&veh=sem
http://www.walmart.com/ip/33688244?...31537552&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=78291471392&veh=sem
The following combo seats last about the same time height wise harnessed (most $$$ to least $): Recaro ProSport Graco Nautilus/Argos Evenflo Secure Kid 300/400 Harmony Defender 360 (Walmart/Walmart.com only, 10 year expiration) Evenflo Maestro (50 lbs weight limit on the harness, really short booster) Evenflo Chase Deluxe (40 lbs weight limit, really short booster) The Recaro, Graco, & Harmony are possibly easier to use in booster mode than the Evenflo's. The fit of all of these is good. And I'm pretty sure you can use them without a top tether, although you may prefer one of the lighter models if you must use it without. I think the Graco had really good head excursion numbers even without the top tether.
Where did you get head excursion figures? I can't find any more recent than Jan 2010 on NHTSA's site.
I just picked up the Harmony Defender 360 (Walmart/Walmart.com only, 10 year expiration). total cost $91 and a trip to Walmart. I found a You Tube video that helped me with assembly. Not the easiest. It is also missing a tiny part of the snap on screw for the fabric cover of the head piece. I am too tired to bother at this point but I might see if I can get it or I will need to buy another seat and take that part and then bring the rest back. Pain to do!.
One of my older kids helped me install it in a older Toyota Sienna 10 plus yrs, center second row. It was a little harder to tweak it to get a rock solid install. I prefer the Graco Nautilus. Also I had to use the tether and I think you have to per booklet if in harness mode. I can still tumble the seat next to it so kids can get to the back. Since this is for my grandson and all my own children are out of car seats, this seat will work. If I would need a lap only install with no tether I would use the Graco Nautilus.
I was taken back by all the installing and the fact it had issues with the screws on the fabric. One screw was also all the way loose but DS fixed it. I think it would be nice if the seat came fully assembled. I also had problems getting the main bolt through.
One of my older kids helped me install it in a older Toyota Sienna 10 plus yrs, center second row. It was a little harder to tweak it to get a rock solid install. I prefer the Graco Nautilus. Also I had to use the tether and I think you have to per booklet if in harness mode. I can still tumble the seat next to it so kids can get to the back. Since this is for my grandson and all my own children are out of car seats, this seat will work. If I would need a lap only install with no tether I would use the Graco Nautilus.
I was taken back by all the installing and the fact it had issues with the screws on the fabric. One screw was also all the way loose but DS fixed it. I think it would be nice if the seat came fully assembled. I also had problems getting the main bolt through.
Dillipop
Well-known member
All seats sold in the US pass the same federal tests- which include having to pass without a tether and only installed with a lap belt. So, all the seats you are looking at will be able to be used in the situations you are looking for.
However, some car manufacturers still offer tether retrofitting for free. It might be worth looking into as the tether really does limit head excursion and limiting that will limit the chance that a child's head will contact something inside he car during a collision.
However, some car manufacturers still offer tether retrofitting for free. It might be worth looking into as the tether really does limit head excursion and limiting that will limit the chance that a child's head will contact something inside he car during a collision.
I had a van retro fitted with two tether anchors. They drilled twice into my gas tank even though DH told them to be careful. They can only do two tethers per this manufacture and obviously they did the first install wrong even though the manufacture had specifics of where the installs were to be. And no it was not free and they had the nerve to blame us for the holes in the tank and were trying to have us pay eventhough at that time the van was new. I had children on 86 Y harnesses, one in a high back booster, on those tethers while I had three in Graco Nautilus seats. Oh well long story and kids are grown. This seat is for my grand son.
Oh by the way DD is here now with my grand son and they have the Evenflo Symphony LX All-in-1 Car Seat, Crete Gray. http://www.evenflo.com/Products/Evenflo/Car_Seats/Symphony_LX/ It is also a true convertible, rear facing, but he is now in the harnessed booster forward facing. This seat is very comfy but a bit of a beast to move. This seat would be a good option for people that need a rear facing seat that can go to a high back harnessed booster and later a lap should booster.
Oh by the way DD is here now with my grand son and they have the Evenflo Symphony LX All-in-1 Car Seat, Crete Gray. http://www.evenflo.com/Products/Evenflo/Car_Seats/Symphony_LX/ It is also a true convertible, rear facing, but he is now in the harnessed booster forward facing. This seat is very comfy but a bit of a beast to move. This seat would be a good option for people that need a rear facing seat that can go to a high back harnessed booster and later a lap should booster.
Dillipop
Well-known member
My dad talks about retrofitting his cars in the early 80's and they drilled their own holes as well. Thankfully, no gas tank involved.
Cars starting in the late 80's or so actually have predrilled holes for the tethers. Mainly have to poke through the carpet covering the holes and screw in the tether anchor part. What vehicle year and model are you installing these seats? GM was installing one anchor for free at one point as were a few other companies. We can probably tell you the bulletin to reference and the part number if you want to look into it.
Cars starting in the late 80's or so actually have predrilled holes for the tethers. Mainly have to poke through the carpet covering the holes and screw in the tether anchor part. What vehicle year and model are you installing these seats? GM was installing one anchor for free at one point as were a few other companies. We can probably tell you the bulletin to reference and the part number if you want to look into it.
jacqui276
New member
I put together two similar harmony car seats (Canadian versions essentially) and that bar is a huge pain to get through. I swear they didn't put any effort into making sure that the holes lined up correctly. Glad that you got it installed though!
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