Whats the scoop on forward facing seats nowadays?

fyrfightermomma

New member
Ill probably be turning my son FFIng for good this summer. So it's time to think about seats

It's been quite a while since we used harnessed seats. Back when we did the nautilus and frontier were about it. So that's what we had. I'm hoping newer ones have come out since then

He's been FFing in the ex's car since he was 2.5. He used a kiddy seat and now is in a peg convertible. That thing is huge. He can't even see out the window! Def don't want that

He's not a huge kid so I probably don't need anything too huge.

So my requirements are low profile, no short crotch straps (it weirds me out digging for it once they are older), no twisty harness and Thays about it.

So what new seats are out in the past year or year And a half that might fit the bill?
 
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joolsplus3

Admin - CPS Technician
Frontier 90. Not because it's huge, which you don't need, but because it has the same crotch strap stander-upper belly pad that the G3 convertibles have, ie, *definitely* no digging for anything. Also the coolest seatbelt installation of any carseat, ever. Recaro Performance series looks good, too... uh.. is it the prosport still? Anyway, Performance is better than regular. Nautilus and most Gracos/Evenflos have horrible buckles lately, so meh on those.
 

Epcot

CPS Technician
+1 on the Frontier 90. If I had to buy a combo now, it would be that seat hands down. Like the G3 like features and ClickTight is awesome (looking...haven't seen in person). I'm a little biased, as I have 2 FR85s....but I love them. My DD loves hers - very comfortable...went all the way to NC from CT.

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Kac

Ambassador - CPS Technician
I still do love my Nautilus. It's the same old, same old though. A Frontier 90 sounds way more exciting.
 

MommyShannon

New member
Yeah FR90 for sure. I hate the Evenflo and Graco buckles. My kids liked their nautilus seats (old buckles) but are more comfy in their FR85s. I love the belly pad buckle thing on the G3 so that's a great feature on the FR90. The installation looks amazing compared to LBP on the 85. There is um "speculation" that there will be a lower cost version of it later but it looks like it won't have the awesome install "Click Tight" and a little smaller headwings.
 

BookMama

Senior Community Member
Yeah FR90 for sure. I hate the Evenflo and Graco buckles. My kids liked their nautilus seats (old buckles) but are more comfy in their FR85s. I love the belly pad buckle thing on the G3 so that's a great feature on the FR90. The installation looks amazing compared to LBP on the 85. There is um "speculation" that there will be a lower cost version of it later but it looks like it won't have the awesome install "Click Tight" and a little smaller headwings.

Didn't the Britax release *say* there will be a lower cost version of the seat? (Or maybe I read it on CarSeatBlog.)

OP, are you on a budget? I'd suggest checking out the new Evenflo SureRide, for less than $100 I believe. It goes to 65 lbs. harnessed and has top slots of slightly more than 19", so should get your DS safely to booster age/size. It's a convertible, but doesn't feel like a bulky baby seat when used FF. :) I'm not 100% sure that it meets your other requirements but at that price and size, it would be worth checking out.
 

msg221

Well-known member
I definitely will be buying a FR90 (Zebra!) at some point. That super easy installation won me over in addition to not having to un-install the seat to adjust the harness. Not having to dig the crotch strap out from under the kid is icing on the cake!
 

fyrfightermomma

New member
So what's the difference between the frontier 85 like my daughters used and the 90? I'm so out of the loop. Is it just that click safe thing and higher weight limit? (Not that I need it. He's pretty scrawny)

Budget is an issue, but not that huge. I have till summer to save and the ex has to pay half anyways. But ill check out that evenflo one

Yeah at seat checks I've noticed the new graco buckles. I didnt like them at all! My friend just had a baby and I buckled her baby once into his snug ride (or whatever name they decided to use this month) and it was awful.


That new chicco seat is on a base right?
 

nataliem257

New member
It has improved EPP foam, higher arm rests, an extra half inch of harness (although slight less booster height), push forward buckle, slightly more narrow profile, traditional recline, redesigned headwings, and obviously the coolest seat belt install ever! Not to mention Zebra and cactus flower :-o

ETA: oh and safe cell in the base. I knew I forgot something
 

MommyShannon

New member
Didn't the Britax release *say* there will be a lower cost version of the seat? (Or maybe I read it on CarSeatBlog.)

Yes, it mentioned it on here but it wasn't supposed to be released yet. Another site has a picture of it in their release info too so more details were figured out from it. It hasn't officially been announced so details are just from people (including me) obsessively analyzing a picture, lol.

OP, Evenflo is using the same buckles as Graco so if those are a no-go for you, you are basically left with Britax and Recaro. There's the Harmony Defender too but there are lots of complaints about how short the crotch strap on the buckle is. I really want the convenience of front adjust harness on the FR90.
 

tiggercat

New member
Maybe I am missing something, but why not just use the Radian and symphony you have until he outgrows them?

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fyrfightermomma

New member
Maybe I am missing something, but why not just use the Radian and symphony you have until he outgrows them?

Sent from my iPod touch using Car-Seat.Org

I don't have Internet, just my phone so I can't see signatures. But I know mine is ancient lol. I haven't had the symphony in close to a year. He outgrew that a long time ago. What else does my siggy say? Lol. Im curious now how old my siggy is. It's gotta be close to two years old I would think.

I have one radian left he's in now but forward facing its a mess in my car. I tried when the girls were little and just hated it. I don't remember specifics but do remember it didnt last long before they went to other seats
 

tiggercat

New member
I don't have Internet, just my phone so I can't see signatures. But I know mine is ancient lol. I haven't had the symphony in close to a year. He outgrew that a long time ago. What else does my siggy say? Lol

I have one radian left he's in now but forward facing its a mess in my car. I tried when the girls were little and just hated it. I don't remember specifics but do remember it didnt last long before they went to other seats

Your siggy has him at 2y0m. So what is he in now?

E Probooster
S GN/frontier
J RXT/symphony e3

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