Hellobee Boards

We have two of them: the Graco and Britax.

I like the Graco for the straps. They are really easy to adjust properly; even newbies (think relatives, etc.) can do it right the first time. I also appreciate the narrow width and the materials of the cover. What I don’t like is the lack of lock-offs for easier installation. It’s more difficult to install on our leather seats. It can be done, if I’m the one doing it, but I don’t trust relatives to install this one tightly.

The Britax is easy to install tightly, for sure. It’s also heavy and bulky as fuck, which unfortunately negates some of that trading-cars convenience for me. I’ve decided that, for us, the straps are borderline dangerous because the uninitiated folks aren’t tightening them properly. The straps give a lot resistance long before they get tight, which makes them think the job is done when it isn’t. I also don’t love the material of the cover.

I feel comfortable with the Graco slimfit as my usual seat since I install it myself and leave it in place. But if it was switching cars much, I’d look for something with both easy install and easy straps.

How about a Diono? If I could buy all my car seats again I’d definitely go all Diono. My husband and MIL have Gracos for DD1 and they’re pretty eh when compared to the Diono Radian R100 and Britax Pioneer seats we have. We have had a really hard time getting the Graco seats securely installed, and also the straps tend to twist which after using the Diono and Britax seems baffling to me since they have literally never gotten twisted (why can’t all seats have Diono buckles?!). The Dionos are so narrow which would be good for sitting in the middle, and unlike the Britax ClickTight look like more of a big kid seat once you turn them around so that might help you keep them in it longer. Our Maxi Cosi was the worst baby equipment purchase I ever made. Sure it’s cozy, but the straps always get twisted and its so hard to tighten. We got our Diono for DH’s car but I immediately switched it into my car and gave him the Maxi Cosi after trying it out since I was driving around with DD1 much more often than him, and he’s stronger than me so can tighten to Maxi Cosi straps (I can’t).

@Silva: Do you find the crotch buckle on the MyFit to be long? I read a couple reviews complaining of that

I think it just depend person to person really. I have a Diono and I hate it, and most people love it. We have had a lot of seats. 2 for my car 2 for DH and then 2 for the babysitter. Ease of use with a cup holder, Britax Pioneer clicktight, a little bulky but we like it. we also have Britax blvd (older model) easy install, easy to adjust, but bulky and the fabric/ cover is too much/ too hot in FL. Favorite overall even though they are super heavy and no cup holder foonf, 2 in our minivan. love the fabric love the height of them in the car, pain to adjust straps because you do have to uninstall, but easy install. I got DS the Diono because he has always been very big for his age and everyone seems to love it. It is heavy, a pain to install, never got it right RF, there is an add on cup holder on ours, and everything is a pain to adjust. Even clicking and unclicking the crotch buckle is a PIA. Graco convertible for babysitter is light weight and for us has been an easy install and had a cup holder, no complaints. Maxi Cosi pria we had and it was in an accident so we had to replace. Big and bulky. Fabric stained with just water touching it. Cover was too much, we live in FL and it was just too hot. It was an easy install and easy to adjust and had a cup holder.

@justjules: I almost added this to my comment, but my kids have been used to pretty bare bones/no frills everything when it comes to transportation (no stroller tray/activity bar and few complaints during long runs; never any complaints about basic car seats being less comfortable than the Graco or Maxi Cosi) so that could be a transition if you have a souped up car seat right now. I wouldn’t make a decision based on that though because my girls go between 4 sets of car seats and never comment on them.

I have a Diono RXT (there is a recall relating to a forward facing installation), and I’ll need a second convertible soon and I’m planning on getting a Chicco Nextfit ($210 on Albeebaby.com right now!). I would love to buy a Clek I just can’t afford it right now.

I don’t hate the Diono but it’s not the easiest install (I really only trust myself for installs, definitely not ILs and I’m iffy on my husband’s installs). We rarely move it so it’s not a big deal, but we have a small car and the Diono is super long and it’s tough on my tall husband (which is partly why I got it, because my DD was super tall but is now average).

Edit: the Diono definitely has a small/short side so it’s easy for DD1 to crawl in by herself.

We have Clek Fllos and like them a lot. The kids are fine without a lot of cushion.