I'm a little disappointed in the Regent...

[Michi]

Our Regent's straps are REALLY twisty! (...and I can only imagine that they will get worse with time.)

They seem so thin and flimsy compared to our Marathon, (or even compared to our old RA/ADV.) You would think that for a $270 seat they could at least put on decent straps!

My DH doesn't like it at all. He says he's glad that she's still harnessed, and he feels she's safe, but he thinks it was a 'rip-off' compared to the MA.

 

[scatterbunny]

I keep hearing this, and it's so disappointing. Our Husky straps are nice and thick and twist-resistant. Maybe Britax needs to hear some complaints.

 

[southpawboston]

britax doesn't make their straps/harnesses-- they're made by IMMI. they are the same ones on the safeseat and the recaro. maybe britax had been sourcing from another company and recently switched to IMMI? i have to say, i don't think the IMMI ones are terribly thick... they twist pretty easily.

 

[scatterbunny]

My Futura has an IMMI harness that is very twist-resistant and thick. I haven't paid attention to who made the Husky harness, I just assumed it was also IMMI.

Would they only make ONE type/thickness of harness? I doubt it.

 

[southpawboston]

perhaps they do make different harnesses... but when i compared the recaro, safeseat, and the new MA/DC/BV's recently (all in the same store), they all had IDENTICAL harnesses (except for color)... including identical buckles and LATCH straps. ???

 

[Splash]

SafeGuard, not SafeSeat. SafeSeat is made by Graco.

Yes, IMMI makes lots of harnesses and latch straps, for almost every manufacturer. But Britax has certainly slipped. They used to have very nice thick ones. It was something that turned me off about the Radian, those thin twisty straps.... come to find that my new BVs have them, too.

Oh well. Tuesday is pizza night.

 

[nisi]

I'm sorry the Regent isn't quite living up to your expectations Maybe use an old Cosco for a few days and you'll have a new appreciation for those straps

Yes, IMMI makes the harnesses for most (all?) of the major car seat manufacturers, but they make them to different specs. It's the manufacturer who decides what straps go on the seat.

It may not be relavent, but I remember when the SafeGuard seat was first released, a few people were disappointed with the flimsy (compared to Britax) straps. When they complained, they were told that these straps tested better than the thicker ones. Better energy absorbtion because they stretch more, maybe? I don't remember the details but I'll see if I can dig it up somewhere. Anyway, I kind of doubt Britax put that much thought into it, but it's possible.

btw - another person here with similar complaints...
http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?p=92690

 

[joolsplus3]

britax doesn't make their straps/harnesses-- they're made by IMMI. they are the same ones on the safeseat and the recaro. maybe britax had been sourcing from another company and recently switched to IMMI? i have to say, i don't think the IMMI ones are terribly thick... they twist pretty easily.

They make different grades of strap, the carseat manufacturer can choose how thick a strap they want.

 

[joolsplus3]

I'm sorry the Regent isn't quite living up to your expectations Maybe use an old Cosco for a few days and you'll have a new appreciation for those straps

Yes, IMMI makes the harnesses for most (all?) of the major car seat manufacturers, but they make them to different specs. It's the manufacturer who decides what straps go on the seat.

It may not be relavent, but I remember when the SafeGuard seat was first released, a few people were disappointed with the flimsy (compared to Britax) straps. When they complained, they were told that these straps tested better than the thicker ones. Better energy absorbtion because they stretch more, maybe? I don't remember the details but I'll see if I can dig it up somewhere. Anyway, I kind of doubt Britax put that much thought into it, but it's possible.

btw - another person here with similar complaints...
http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?p=92690

I talked with the IMMI rep at lifesavers and they said they were putting the thick straps on the safeguard, they realized the marathon straps weren't licensed to britax, so they might as well use them on their own seat

 

[southpawboston]

They make different grades of strap, the carseat manufacturer can choose how thick a strap they want.

that makes perfect sense...

 

[LuvBug]

Ive got a husky and regent and to me the straps dont seem any different than the marathon straps lol!
I know the fact that there is just a lot more strap has something to do with it, more to get tangled up in.
The regent's straps are silkier than our husky, I guess you could call that thinner

 

[Lys]

We haven't had any problems with our Regents straps. I've heard they were twisty and was concerned about that but so far so good

 

[Victorious4]

They make different grades of strap, the carseat manufacturer can choose how thick a strap they want.

I was just going to say this -- it's similar to my family's business (Prosthetics): although only a few very large companies supply almost all the materials for the smaller companies that make the final products, there are variations of strength (re: plastic) or stiffness (re: straps).... We use most of the same materials just supplied from companies specific to Prosthetics instead of Carseats, but business is business -- it's up to the company who makes the final product to choose which supplies they wish to use on their product, so this is definitely more of a Britax slip than IMMI & very worthwhile to make formal complaints!

 

[ajweeks]

If you have an older MA, the straps are now different. I love the nice thick straps on my older MA (DOM 1/2004). My newer RA and new Regent both have the newer thinner strap style. I think Britax may have changed the straps due to the recalls, but this is just a guess because the new strap that I had to replace on my MA due to the recall is this new style and is different from the rest of the harness.

 

[Michi]

My MA is from Dec of '05, and I I LOVE the straps on it. They are very thick and not 'silky' like the Regent straps. Plus, since the Regent doesn't have the velcro, the clips slide all the way under my DD and I have to 'fish' for them under her after she sits.
I know I just got spoiled with the MA, but even the ADV was better! The straps on that were thinner, but they weren't silky and they did have the velcro.

Hmmm....I guess I'm just having a little bit of 'buyers remorse.'

 

[LuvBug]

last time this came up I want to say we talked about putting stick on velcro on the strap to keep the buckle from sliding like that. it wouldnt be for velcroing out of the way or anything, just something to keep the buckle from sliding down so far.
also someone I think suggested putting a rubber band there to keep it from sliding.
Maybe someone who actually remembers the thread will reply lol!

 

[joolsplus3]

My MA is from Dec of '05, and I I LOVE the straps on it. They are very thick and not 'silky' like the Regent straps. Plus, since the Regent doesn't have the velcro, the clips slide all the way under my DD and I have to 'fish' for them under her after she sits.
I know I just got spoiled with the MA, but even the ADV was better! The straps on that were thinner, but they weren't silky and they did have the velcro.

Hmmm....I guess I'm just having a little bit of 'buyers remorse.'

Well, after it gets such glowing excited reviews from sooooo many people, it can't live up to the love. You'll learn to appreciate it .
You know those little elastic thingies on the side of the cover are for holding the chest clip? same function as the velcro on the marathon, but different.

 

[Michi]

Oh that is such a great idea!
(I'm going to have to go do a search for older Regent threads. I really didn't think we would be getting one this soon, so I didn't really pay attention to some of the older posts.) Thanks for the tip!

 

[Michi]

You know those little elastic thingies on the side of the cover are for holding the chest clip? same function as the velcro on the marathon, but different.

Okay, i'm officially embarassed! - I need to re-read the manual! I must have 'glossed over' that part! Doh!

 

[lynsgirl]

If you have an older MA, the straps are now different. I love the nice thick straps on my older MA (DOM 1/2004). My newer RA and new Regent both have the newer thinner strap style. I think Britax may have changed the straps due to the recalls, but this is just a guess because the new strap that I had to replace on my MA due to the recall is this new style and is different from the rest of the harness.

RA straps are not the same as the MA ones. My friend has an older RA and the straps are different from the MA, but the same as the new RAs. I've had 2 2004 MAs (gray and tan harnesses) and now have a 12/2006 MA (black harness) and the straps are all the same thickness/texture. The Husky/Regent and RA straps have a different "feel" to them, but I honestly don't believe they've changed that much. I had a 2001 Super Elite with black harness and it felt the same to me as the 2005 Huskies I have (and had) and the 2006 Regent. I've had gray and tan harnesses both for these. The other thing that can make the Regent straps seem twistier is the fact that the metal piece at the end of the harness can sort of fall loose when the straps are not buckled/tight and if you grab the strap just right, it'll twist around. So far, I haven't had many problems with that, just because I was made aware of it early on in our Husky/Regent relationship lol .