OMG, I hate the Defender

firemomof3 · Feb 15, 2013

I just went and picked up a Harmony Defender and I can't even begin to tell you how horrible this seat is. The assembly was time consuming & I had to pull the cover out of the way to get the thing together...and I can't get it back on

After the 3 separate nuts/bolts/washers were in place they are still not tight, just snug...maybe thats right but I don't see how its going to hold up in a crash

And then I put my 2y/o petite daycare kiddo in it to see how it fit and the crotch strap is so short it was digging into her legs! She wears a size 3t pants and is skinny! This seat is a joke
:soapbox:

arly1983 · Feb 15, 2013

I agree but I hated to say anything since I have only played with it at the store...It reminds me of the harnessed booster that was at target for a little while...what was it called? Only the defender is not quite that awkwardly designed.

Stelvis · Feb 15, 2013

arly1983 said:
I agree but I hated to say anything since I have only played with it at the store...It reminds me of the harnessed booster that was at target for a little while...what was it called? Only the defender is not quite that awkwardly designed.

The Baby Trend one? I forget what it was called.

rachelandtyke · Feb 15, 2013

The Trendz Eurosport?

cookie123 · Feb 15, 2013

Seriously, these companies have been making car seats forever. Why they can't get basics like crotch strap length and easy assembly correct is amazing to me.

arly1983 · Feb 15, 2013

Stelvis said:
The Baby Trend one? I forget what it was called.

rachelandtyke said:
The Trendz Eurosport?

Yes, that's it!

The Defender is more compact and I'd rather use it than the Eurosport but for some reason they remind me of each other.

joolsplus3 · Feb 15, 2013

Well, this is Harmony's first harnessed seat, so I could almost give them a pass, except, yeah, every other company has been doing this forever, you'd think the harness people would have some input....? Too bad it's such a bust :thumbsdown:

firemomof3 · Feb 15, 2013

The only thing I did like about the seat was the tall harness slots, that was cool.

Athena · Feb 15, 2013

firemomof3 said:
After the 3 separate nuts/bolts/washers were in place

Huh? People can't handle the two screws in the Turbo and they think this will be done correctly?

Phineasmama · Feb 15, 2013

I didn't find the assembly to be difficult AT ALL. I'm sure they have it like that so they can put it in a smaller box and it's cheaper to ship.

But I didn't like the short crotch strap either.

firemomof3 · Feb 15, 2013

I'm very mechanically challenged so having to figure out to put those screws back in while squishing the seat together so that the stupid holes would line up...ya, not happening!

Stelvis · Feb 15, 2013

I'm of the opinion that no car seat should require assembly. People will screw it up.

firemomof3 · Feb 15, 2013

Stelvis said:
I'm of the opinion that no car seat should require assembly. People will screw it up.

I agree, and after I tried to assemble it I did feel like a might have done it wrong

Athena · Feb 15, 2013

Stelvis said:
I'm of the opinion that no car seat should require assembly. People will screw it up.

:yeahthatmad: If manufacturers actually cared about the huge misuse rate, they'd make seats easier to use. At some point you have to acknowledge that when the numbers are that large, the problem is with the seats, not the users.

christineka · Feb 15, 2013

joolsplus3 said:
Well, this is Harmony's first harnessed seat, so I could almost give them a pass, except, yeah, every other company has been doing this forever, you'd think the harness people would have some input....? Too bad it's such a bust :thumbsdown:

This is not their first harnessed seat. They have one in Canada, called the V7, i think. I think I remember reading about install issues with that one.

Someone contacted Harmony about the crotch strap and was told it was purposely designed to be short for crash protection.

I'd guess that the seat would have a higher price point if it came assembled and Harmony aims to make budget-friendly seats.

amyd · Feb 15, 2013

christineka said:
This is not their first harnessed seat. They have one in Canada, called the V7, i think. I think I remember reading about install issues with that one.

Someone contacted Harmony about the crotch strap and was told it was purposely designed to be short for crash protection.

I'd guess that the seat would have a higher price point if it came assembled and Harmony aims to make budget-friendly seats.

Yep, the V7. Walmart exclusive. It's nice & narrow and lightweight (blow molded), but yes, install issues and assembly required. I have one, although I've never done more than played with it.

skylinphoto · Feb 15, 2013

I assembled one in the store and didnt find it too challenging.

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Phineasmama · Feb 15, 2013

Maybe I've just assembled way too much Ikea furniture in my day, but I just thought it was a complete no brainer. Two screws with bolts? I mean come on...

I don't think you can compare it to the Turbo armrest screws either, because I don't think it's OBVIOUS that you need screws in a plastic armrest of a booster. This comes out of the box obviously needing the big huge screws with black round screw-on-y thingers and you have to put them on otherwise you wouldn't be able to use the seat.

Turbo with no screws just looks...like a turbo.

arly1983 · Feb 15, 2013

I don't know. I thought it was impossible to miss that the nautilus headrest needed to actually go on the seat. We hear of headless nautilii pretty often.

kelkel2090 · Feb 15, 2013

Buy the Sureride. Aside from not becoming a booster it's a fantastic seat for $100. 19.5 inch top slots. It's a great budget friendly seat!

OMG, I hate the Defender

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