Question about Radian headwings

[alexandra.p]

Looking at radians and trying to decide between getting an RXT or the Sunshine Kids 80sl for a $100 savings. I'm not concerned about the extra year or so of use with a newer seat bc I'll likely need all my kids in convertibles at once, so no concerns about passing down to a sibling and I'll just buy a dedicated booster when the time comes.

I can't help but feel the head wings are safer even though I know there is no testing that proves one way or another. It just makes sense to me that something around his head would be safer. But I'm wondering a couple things.

1) Will the head wings make it harder to puzzle? We picked the radian because of it's ability to do three across.

2) I've read that the seats with head wings tend to be outgrown sooner. So if that is the case, would it be safer for me to get the non headwing seat in hopes he can stay harnessed in it longer? How much sooner are we typically talking (I realize all kids are different).

 

[armywife12]

If you want the headwings without paying the extra $100, why don't you find an XTSL? I think they are still selling them and shouldn't be much more than the 80SL.

I had the XTSL but never did a 3 across while the seat was FF but I can't see it being any different than the non headwing versions. SK/Diono allows the Radians to be used FF even when the child's shoulders are above the top slots so long as the child is still under the stated height limit. Because of the headwings, a child who's shoulders are above the top slots pretty much has no more room because the wings are in the way...clear as mud? I'm not comfortable using a seat if the child's shoulders are above the top slot regardless of what the company says so it didn't matter to me. However, I didn't like the headwings because they would slip down when FF. I would have gone with the 80SL had I known how annoying it would be

 

[alexandra.p]

Trying to buy on Amazon bc we have gift cards there and last I looked the XTSL was more than the RXT.