So the Frontier only gives 3/4" more than the Radian. I wonder how the Nautilus will compare when it arrives.
So if you took the rf'ing tether out of the equation, do you think that the MA is worth the $300 it is in Canada with other options that cost less and harness longer? (assuming all other options install well)
I suspect that the Nautilus will be around the same height as the Radian when installed. From the few pictures I've seen, it appears to have more of a recline when installed and that generally means you are losing some of that harness height (similar to the TruFit). We'll see once the seat actually makes it here.
I was really surprised at the slight difference in the Radian and Frontier... I thought it was more. I installed both seats two separate times just to be sure it really was only that small of a difference.
My thoughts on all the seats (sorry, this is probably going to be long)...
TRUFIT
I still can't stand the straps on the TruFit.
Sorry, they are just difficult to use compared to the other seats... I had to do the side to side adjustment to straighten them out with both kids. With Aiden, they got stuck when I was tightening. I gave a pretty sharp tug and they did pull tighter, but the average parent would probably think that was as tight as they go.
They were also pretty folded over in the buckle tongues after just two kids in the seat and I can't stand folded straps. This was the second TruFit I've tried out (from different stores, with different covers), so I don't think it was just a case of I got a difficult seat.
Yes, it can be worked with... but the parent needs to decide if the other features make that worth it to them.
I also think the recline is way too much FFing for an older kid (from a comfort point of view) and I really tried hard to get it as upright as possible... both for less recline *and* for higher strap height when comparing the seats. Aiden's legs were actually coming slightly up (instead of straight out) because of the deep recline of the seat. I think on a long trip that he would complain about legs falling asleep. The sides are a little higher, so I think he would also have a little trouble with crossing his legs in this seat.
Height adjustment was *slightly* finicky thanks to the slightly sculpted vehicle seatback, but it was still easy enough to change.
I like that the headrest comes off for rear facing, but it doesn't really matter for me. I like to have an infant seat that lasts a long time (preferably for the first year). With older kids and running in/out of school pick-up/drop-off, I prefer to have a carrier so I don't have to keep disturbing the baby for a 5 minute trip in/out and I *won't* leave my baby in the vehicle.
TRIUMPH ADVANCE
Straps could possibly twist (since they are the thinner, silkier material), but the buckle tongue is wide enough that they don't fold over at all. So as long as the parent is making sure the entire strap is straight when they buckle the child in, you're good to go. I could live with these straps with no issues.
Straps are also super easy to adjust with the knobs... but I know they can be a possible issue when rear facing.
Love the height adjustment, but the tabs were bugging Aiden on his neck. Mikkel didn't even notice them. I'd like to see a strap cover idea around the red tabs to solve that problem... some soft material permanently attached with *no* seams on the inside by the child's neck would be really nice.
High base, which I'm not totally fond of, but again, could live with this. I prefer baseless once kids reach about age 4... easier for them to get into and looks a little sleeker (yes, I'm slightly vain, sorry
).
With this seat having the same strap height as the TruFit (as long as the knobs work for rear facing), this seat would win out over the TruFit... especially once you factor in the cheaper price of the Triumph Advance.
MARATHON
Still easy to adjust the harness, straps definitely do not twist... I think the hugs help with the non-twist as well.
The inside shoulder width is on the narrow side once kids get older, wish it was wider like all the other seats.
Again, another high base seat... so don't particularly like it for the 4+ crowd, but *my* 4+ crowd doesn't really fit in this seat anyway.
Top slots are shorter than the TruFit and EFTA... about .5 - 1 inch shorter... which could be quite a bit of torso growing room. For us, it would have meant outgrowing the Marathon at 4.75 vs. outgrowing the EFTA/TruFit at about 5.5 - 6 years old... big difference when we're talking about putting our children in a booster once they outgrow the convertible.
To be fair, my children have long torso's... so a child with a shorter torso would probably make it to 5 or 6 in the Marathon and be just fine. For kids with long torso's and parents wanting to go straight to a booster after the convertible, I'd choose one of the other options.
*Love* the rear facing tether... I'm just in the camp that would prefer to RF tether my children. IF the rear facing tether is out of the equation *and* the Radian does not fit rear facing in the vehicle, then the EFTA would win out.
RADIAN
I need to preface this by saying I
this seat. As long as it fits into your vehicle rear facing, it wins hands down in my book.
I rarely change strap height, so I don't really care if it's the typical one sided splitter plate... no big deal to me, once you've done it a few times, it's pretty easy.
Straps are fairly non-twist now that they have the wider buckle tongues on the seat (mine got switched out for wider tongues within weeks of getting the seat... all new ones come with wider tongues). Fairly easy to adjust straps once the seat is broken in a little. FFing definitely has a trick of holding the strap straight out with 1st hand and pushing straight down on the strap with the 2nd hand (between adjuster and first hand).
Tallest top slots of all the Canadian convertibles. I have no issues with telling parents this seat *will* last them until their child is ready for a booster. At 6.5 yo with a tall torso, Aiden still has some growing room in it!
Incredibly easy to install and use on an airplane and I
the backpack straps for carrying through an airport... and yes, I've made the trek with it on my back through a few different *large* international airports.
Tons of legroom rear facing and low sides to drop long legs over the edge if need be.
FRONTIER
I'll add this one as well, since I'm on a roll.
Silkier straps, so you need to be careful with twisting... but the buckle tongue is wide enough that they do not fold over in the buckle tongue. Clearly folding in the buckle tongue is a deal breaker for me... I just don't want to deal with that on a daily basis.
I wish they would put velcro tabs on the bottom of the straps, ala Marathon/Blvd/ect. It would stop the buckle tongues from falling all the way down to the hips, but I can deal with that.
Fantastic top slot height and even better in booster mode. With a 9 year expiration, combined with the incredible height in booster mode, this really can be the last seat you'll purchase until they are ready for seatbelts alone.
Same exterior width as the Marathon (even though it looks much bigger). Nice and wide interior... lots of shoulder room space for older kids and incredibly easy for older kids to cross their legs when driving on longer trips. Nice seat depth for older kids as well. I love this seat and would happily pay $300 for it again even though I would never want to take it on a plane with me... too heavy to lug around and would be on the wide side for an airplane seat. This is the exact reason I kept a Radian in my possession... it's the spare seat for Mikkel in dh's car *and* it's my airplane travel seat.
VERDICT
If I was only having one child and needed a seat to last all the way to booster age, the Radian wins hands down... providing it fits rear facing in the vehicle I drive.
If it does not fit and I'm only having one child, then the Marathon would probably win out. No straps folding over in the buckle tongues, no tabs at the neck to bug my child and easy to install anywhere. If they outgrow it before they're ready for a booster, they go into a Frontier and I'm set. This is a more pricey option, but I really
my rear facing tethers. If I have more than one child, then this option works even better since the MA can be passed down to child #2.
If the Radian does not fit, the MA is too pricey (or I don't care about the RFing tether), then the Triumph Advance wins out (provided the knobs don't get in the way RFing).
The TruFit has a few issues that need to be worked out before I'd be putting it closer to the top of the list...
- adjuster strap is too low and gets caught in the vehicle seat when rear facing
- buckle tongues need to be wider to stop the folding/twisting
- less of a recline for forward facing (especially for older kids)... maybe if the foot would flip back and stay at a 90 degree angle to the seat (ala 3 in 1 seats when used baseless) it would be more upright and work better
As you can see it really does depend on the individual person buying the seat. There are so many different needs/wants that no one seat is perfect for every parent.
ETA: WOW! That's a long post. Sorry!
