TIme for a Convertible - Recommendations Appreciated

[HappyWoman]

Our son is quickly outgrowing his infant carrier seat, so we're looking to purchase a convertible soon.

- DS is tall and thin

- We'd like to RF as long as possible

- We'd like to install the seat in the car once, and leave the seat in the car. We'll purchase a Cosco Scenera for travel/back-up seat

- We drive a Honda Civic

- We live in the US

- We would like to purchase it from BRU, as we have gift cards and store credit there

Based on what I've read on this forum, I'm interested in the True Fit, the Radian 65, or the Complete Air.

Thank you very much.

[DahliaRW]

Either of those 3 are a fine choice.  What vehicle are you using it in?

The radian is a great tall seat, but it's very hard to install more upright in a lot of vehicles so it takes a lot of space front to back.  It also has installation and overreclining issues in some vehicles.  On the plus side, it's steel reinforced and has a rfing tether.

The CA is taller than the radian.  Has less install issues as well.  Also cheaper.

The True Fit has a very tall shell, but only rfs to 35lbs.  For a tall, skinny kid, that might not matter so much. 

I would try to find these seats in store (the true fit and radian are only carried at boutique stores for the most part, hopefully there is something near you) and try them out.  The CA is carried in store at BRU.

[TiredX2]

This isn't a recommendation and you probably already know, but just in case you don't...

I just saw that BabiesRUs is having their "trade in" sale where if you bring in a used baby item you get 25% off a new one.  This could come in handy!

[TheGirls]

I own a TrueFit and just purchased two Complete Airs at the BRU trade-in event.  DD is tall & skinny but was about to outgrow the TrueFit rear-facing (at 2.5, by weight) and the twins will need convertibles for a long time to come.  They're also looking to be tall & thin. 

[redvlagrl]

The complete air is very large and won't fit in our mazda3 if that helps you. No other experience with the others.  

[BathrobeGoddess]

I have both radians and True fits...my daughter was RF in the TF until 3.5 years and she is a big girl...40lbs now at age 4 which is 75% for weight. My 7 year old ds is only 45 lbs lol. My youngest ds is in a premier TF. I like how much impact foam is in it, it is all around her body and it is really deep so I like it for both kids. DD is now FF in it and I like it FF as well. We have radians in my DH car, one RF for ds the younger and one ff for dd. They aren't my favorite seats and if I didn't need them for space issues, I would have other seats. The seat is so small for my big girl's bum. I have heard the CA is a great seat but I have never owned one.

[allisonrose]

My 2.5 y/o is riding RFing in a True Fit in my '06 Civic. When I purchased it, the Complete Air wasn't on the market yet and Radians were still only 35 lb RFing. I've been happy with the TF. It's a cushy seat. The install is relatively easy and rock solid. I just wish the RFing limit was 40 lbs.

I met a mama locally who has a Complete Air and two Radians. Her infant was RFing in the CA and her 3 y/o twins were FFing in the Radians (she mentioned that they had outgrown them by height) at the time. She said she wasn't too thrilled with the CA because the wings were a bit annoying to manuver around. (She drives a minivan.)

[an_aurora]

Any of those would be fine.  I own all three   and I have to say my favorite of the three is the Complete Air.  The Radian is great if you can get it installed upright in your vehicle (in my car it's stuck pretty reclined and takes up too much room; in our Explorer it installs beautifully upright and allows the front seat to be all the way back).  I have heard the Radian installs well in the Civic.  

The TrueFit is nice but it's just a bit bulky, and that darn 35lb weight limit!  Granted, my 5.5 yo is only 38 lbs, and my very-nearly-4yo is only 27lbs, but it bugs me ;)  It's a great seat though.  It takes up more room RF than the Complete Air does.

My 5.5 year old was RF'ing in the CA until this past month, when she outgrew it by height.  She outgrew the Radian by height at about 4.75.  She has also outgrown all three of these seats FF by height. 

For an average kid, any of these seats would be a totally fine choice.

[~savah~]

Um thread crashing-sorry . an_aurora are you saying that the radian doesn't need to be installed at a complete recline?

[mama2soren]

Originally Posted by ~savah~ 

Um thread crashing-sorry . an_aurora are you saying that the radian doesn't need to be installed at a complete recline?

All convertibles can be as upright as 30* (with the exception of the True Fit, which requires at least a 35* angle) for older babies and toddlers.  However, the Radian can be difficult to install more upright because of how the RF foot is shaped.  In some cars, it's impossible to get anything but a 45* angle.

[~savah~]

Originally Posted by mama2soren 

All convertibles can be as upright as 30* (with the exception of the True Fit, which requires at least a 35* angle) for older babies and toddlers.  However, the Radian can be difficult to install more upright because of how the RF foot is shaped.  In some cars, it's impossible to get anything but a 45* angle.

thank you. for some reason I thought the exception to the rule was the radian. 

[kalamos23]

My friend has a Civic and got a Complete Air and a True Fit installed rock solid in there. I have a Radian and frankly, while I appreciate that it goes to higher weights RFing (which I needed for DD badly), I hate that it doesn't have lockoffs. Then again, I don't have LATCH, so I always have to do seatbelt installs. It's also a pain to get it installed at an upright enough angle BUT this really depends on the car and how the seat is made (is it really squishy? leather or cloth, etc etc). 

[HappyWoman]

Thank you everyone for your recommendations. Because of your input, we purchased a Safety First Complete Air from Babies R Us a few days ago. We haven't tried installing it yet, but will do so soon. BRU has a 90 day return policy, so we thought it would be best to install it at home and take it back if necessary. I'm hopeful it will fit though. Thanks again. 

[Lisa1970]

I got my Evenflo Triumph from BRU. I think they altered the name a little bit. It is really a great seat. I love it.