FR85 vs FR90 comparison with my 4.5 yo pic heavy

tracee877 · May 14, 2013

Decided to compare these seats today and share my findings. DS2 is 4y8m and is 38-39 lbs and 41". Unsure on torso height but he is very leggy.

Seats are installed in a 2006 Honda Odyssey. FR85 on the left, FR90 on the right.

In the house. FR90 on the left, FR85 on the right. (Please ignore the banana bribe lol.)

Growing room:

Adjusted all the way up:

Now for some measurements. FR90 on the left, FR85 on the right.

FR85 is a bit deeper than the FR90:

FR85 is only about .5" wider at the widest point:

Continued in next post...

tracee877 · May 14, 2013

Difference in crotch strap depths:

FR90 harness is only about ¼” higher than FR85:

Difference in space under arm rests:

Difference in adjusters. No wonder you can hardly reach the one on the FR90:

All in all I prefer the FR85. The only thing I hate about it is the recline block which is what I love about the FR90, that it doesn't have one. I don't like the huge head wings on the FR90, it reminds me of the Prosport. I don't like how they don't completely surround the head. I wish the FR90 had 3 crotch depths. DS was on the outer one and it was too far out really. I like the idea of the FR90 belly pad but it's bulky and DS doesn't like it. I really love the click tight though, I wish every seat had that!

sb518 · May 14, 2013

Thanks so much for all your work on this! Awesome to see the comparisons!

love-pink · May 14, 2013

Great post! Thanks!

BrookysMommy · May 14, 2013

The 90 looks like its eating him lol

EmilyAnn86 · May 14, 2013

I don't like the huge head wings on the FR90, it reminds me of the Prosport. I don't like how they don't completely surround the head.

Can you explain what you mean by this? The part where you say the head wings are huge but do not completely surround the head. Thanks!

StillThankful · May 14, 2013

Thank you a million for your great pictorial! I am sure that your post will be very valuable for all the mamas and papas contemplating purchasing the 90! Great job! :thumbsup:

joolsplus3 · May 14, 2013

Looks like the armrests are at least useful on the 90, though, he's actually using them.

Athena · May 14, 2013

So jealous of that growth room!

tracee877 said:
I don't like the huge head wings on the FR90, it reminds me of the Prosport. I don't like how they don't completely surround the head.

I'm curious about this too. The 90 headwings seem like they'd surround the head better than the 85 because they're bigger.

tracee877 · May 14, 2013

EmilyAnn86 said:
Can you explain what you mean by this? The part where you say the head wings are huge but do not completely surround the head. Thanks!

Athena said:
So jealous of that growth room!

I'm curious about this too. The 90 headwings seem like they'd surround the head better than the 85 because they're bigger.

I think I just worded this wrong. What I mean is that the space between the harness slots and the beginning of the head wings is larger than on the FR85, unless the slots are even with the shoulders. Yes the wings are larger and more substantial than the FR85, which I DO like, but it just looks funny to me.

One of the reasons I hated the Prosport.

Jessica61624 · May 14, 2013

He's got miles of room!!!

Athena · May 14, 2013

tracee877 said:
I think I just worded this wrong. What I mean is that the space between the harness slots and the beginning of the head wings is larger than on the FR85, unless the slots are even with the shoulders. Yes the wings are larger and more substantial than the FR85, which I DO like, but it just looks funny to me. One of the reasons I hated the Prosport.

That makes sense. I like how they look substantial, but I don't like how much taller the wings are because it reduces driver visibility. Of course, it sounds like if they started lower, more in line with the harness, they might not be so tall, if that makes sense.

Frenchgirl · May 14, 2013

It looks like he has better leg support in the Fr85. Does he complain about it in the FR90? I would be interested to see a 9-10 yo kid using it to see if the leg support is still ok.

tracee877 · May 14, 2013

Frenchgirl said:
It looks like he has better leg support in the Fr85. Does he complain about it in the FR90? I would be interested to see a 9-10 yo kid using it to see if the leg support is still ok.

I think it's because the FR85 is kind if sloped where the FR90 is more straight up and down on that front edge. Plus the FR90 sits much more upright which he prefers. He hasn't complained about it.

bella_1818 · May 15, 2013

I'm surprised to see that you have the vehicle headrest on? I have a 2013 Odyssey with "active head restrain" and because they slope in, I've always taken them off to get a decent install with the Frontier.

Does the 2006 have more upright headrests or do I need to try harder/get to a seatcheck and put mine back on?

MommyShannon · May 15, 2013

bella_1818 said:
I'm surprised to see that you have the vehicle headrest on? I have a 2013 Odyssey with "active head restrain" and because they slope in, I've always taken them off to get a decent install with the Frontier.

Does the 2006 have more upright headrests or do I need to try harder/get to a seatcheck and put mine back on?

I also have a 2006 and normally take them off. Its doable (obviously) with them on, but just because I'm pushing the seat in hard and I've changed the seat recline some. I just put one in booster mode and even with the block right, I had to remove the headrest and change the recline for it to sit right.

tracee877 · May 15, 2013

oops double post

tracee877 · May 15, 2013

I've never had to remove my headrests for any installs. I do have to move them up to adjust and route the tether but I always slide it back down.:shrug-shoulders:

Stelvis · May 15, 2013

So, according to your measurement, the top harness height looks virtually identical?

tracee877 · May 15, 2013

Stelvis said:
So, according to your measurement, the top harness height looks virtually identical?

Pretty much. I squished down the covers to get as much height as possible.

FR85 vs FR90 comparison with my 4.5 yo *pic heavy*

Active member

Active member

New member

Well-known member

New member

New member

New member

Admin - CPS Technician

Well-known member

Active member

New member

Well-known member

Member

Active member

New member

New member

Active member

Active member

New member

Active member

Car-Seat.Org Facebook Group

Sponsors

Forum statistics

FR85 vs FR90 comparison with my 4.5 yo pic heavy