Moved: Choosing a Radian 65 SL vs. 80 SL vs. XT SL

[psygrad]

Hi. My son is 13 months. He weighs 23 pounds and is 34 inches. I drive a Honda Accord 2009. After all your help from this site, I have decided to get him the radian car seat. After finally making that decision, I now have to decide which radian to get! Any recommendations?
thanks!

 

[ulrich7]

Re: Choosing a Radion 65 SL vs. 80 SL vs. XT SL

I don't know a whole lot, just what I've found on here and in my own research. The 65SL still only rf to 40lbs., so if you don't care about the super latch it probably isn't worth the extra money. The XT have the headwings, some people like them others not so much. Then there are all the colors to choose from.

 

[ctbcleveland]

Re: Choosing a Radion 65 SL vs. 80 SL vs. XT SL

I continue to buy the 65s because I don't see myself rear-facing past 40 lbs. I don't like the headwings on the XT and most kids don't use the higher weight capacity of the 80.

I like the idea of SL because my car has the lowest latch limit out there. I don't know if I would use it to the weight limit of the seat, but would be comfortable in the mid 40 lbs range (my car is a 40 lb latch limit).

 

[P1ally]

Re: Choosing a Radion 65 SL vs. 80 SL vs. XT SL

I really really love my XTSL.

 

[LP Mom]

Re: Choosing a Radion 65 SL vs. 80 SL vs. XT SL

I really really love my XTSL.

:yeahthat:

 

[clmchrissy]

Re: Choosing a Radion 65 SL vs. 80 SL vs. XT SL

If I had a girl I'd be all over the 80 or XT, but I don't so the 65 works for us. I prefer the SL too since my latch limit is 40lbs & my passenger side seatbelt is twisted (the latchplate is). I really don't think a child would use either FF past the same age/wt versus the other (65 or 80lbs), but for a heavier younger child the 80 & XT offer a great rf limit.

 

[kathysr98]

I'm very happy with our XTSL so far. In fact, the second one arrived today. My major reasons for getting the XT were that we were moving from a seat with large headwings, and I liked that part of the previous seat, and I felt like it wasn't much more money to get the XT versus the 80. I wanted the 80 or XT because I wanted a 45lb RF limit because I want to go from RF to booster if possible, and a 45lb limit makes that more likely.

 

[nomatt]

I really liked our Radian80, and I don't think that I find the wings on the XT that we have now to be all that great. I think they are a pain to adjust and move.

Don't know if anyone else has this problem or not and I seem to have more issues figuring out the XT than I did the regular 80. Take this for what it's worth... when my son moved up to the top slot on the seat, the wings have to be moved up really high and now don't really do all that much. The wings have to be up equal to the top slot and it gives a lot of time that the wings are not really doing their job. I'm sure someone will chime in if I'm wrong.

The seat is still my son's favorite and we have room left in it and he'll be 6 in April.

Good luck,
Sandy