Once your child has grown past the forward-facing harnessed seat stage and is ready to safely use a booster seat, you might find yourself wondering which seat to choose from. I’ve reviewed some of the best ones on the market, including the Britax Frontier 90 and Pinnacle 90, my absolute favorite combination seats, Clek Oobr, my favorite dedicated booster, the Maxi-Cosi RodiFix, and the Kiddy Cruiserfix Pro. I believe high-back boosters are safer than low-back boosters, that high seat belt guides, height limits, and weight limits are better than low ones, and that children should remain in boosters until they can pass the 5-step test. The Peg Perego Viaggio HBB 120 booster is a great example of a booster I’m happy to recommend. Let’s find out why!

Peg Perego USA Viaggio HBB 120 – Quick Review

The Peg Perego Viaggio HBB 120 is a high-back and backless booster that can be used to keep children safe in vehicles when they’re in between the forward-facing harnessed stage and the adult seat belt stage. It features a number of creature comforts including lower LATCH anchors, an adjustable high back, and an optional booster recline. And yes, there are cup holders so your little ones can carry their beverages with them on long road trips.

Being a booster seat, it doesn’t come with a harness of any kind, and isn’t designed to be used with infants or very young children. You’ll want one of the many infant or convertible car seats I’ve reviewed and recommended here. Once your child has outgrown a rear-facing convertible seat and front-facing harnessed seat, it’ll be time for a booster seat like the HBB 120.

Buy the Peg Perego USA Viaggio HBB 120 on Sale at Amazon here.

Peg Perego USA Viaggio HBB 120 Height and Weight Limits

High-back: 40 to 120 pounds. Your child must be between 39″ and 57″ tall. The highest available position for the seat belt guide is 19″ tall, and you are required to have some kind of head support behind the seat.

Low-back: 40 to 120 pounds. Again, your child must be between 39″ and 57″ tall, and some form of head support is required in the vehicle seat at all times.

Dimensions of and Stats for the Peg Perego USA Viaggio HBB 120

The HBB is 27.5″ tall, 16″ wide and 16″ long front to back. This means it’s narrow enough to make 3 across installations feasible in nearly any kind of vehicle, whether small, large, or somewhere in between. You can view a range of 3 across options for your car, minivan, SUV, or pickup truck here. If there’s a vehicle you drive I haven’t reviewed yet, send me an email and I’ll add it to the queue.

Weight-wise, the HBB 120 is also a pleasant car seat, weighing only 12 pounds. Boosters tend not to be nearly as heavy as convertible or harnessed seats, but it’s always nice to come across a high-back that’s comparable to infant seats in weight.

When the booster is used as a high-back booster, it is considered to be a “2014 IIHS Best Bet” by the IIHS, which simply means they feel the booster is likely to fit children well in a range of vehicles. Personally, I don’t take the IIHS’ booster ratings too seriously, but it’s always nice to see us in agreement, such as in this case.

The HBB 120 has a 7 year product life, after which it will need to be replaced, regardless of its condition. Remember that every car seat has an expiration date, which is one of the reasons new car seats are worth investing in now and then.

Using the Peg Perego USA Viaggio HBB 120

Installation and LATCH anchors

One of the first things I noticed (and liked) about the HBB 120 out of the box was that it came with lower latch anchors. These anchors aren’t used to secure the seat to the vehicle while the seat is in use (that’s what the seat belt is for, since this is exclusively a booster seat), but they are useful for keeping the booster secured to the vehicle seat when a child isn’t using the seat.

If you don’t have lower LATCH anchors present, you need to buckle your booster seat in even if your child isn’t sitting in it, or else the seat can and will become a large and dangerous flying projectile in the event of a collision. To put it simply, seats that come with LATCH anchors can be secured 24/7, which means you’ve got one less thing to remember to do, which is great.

It’s easy to use the anchors; you simply push the button beneath the fabric in the center front part of the bottom of the booster seat. The lower anchors are on a strap that you can extend by letting out slack by pressing the push button in the front bottom part of the seat. As you let out slack, you pull out the anchors, attach them to your vehicle’s LATCH points, and then pull the strap in the front to take out the slack. Presto! That’s all there is to it.

Adjustable high back

Something else I’m fond of in the HBB 120 is the adjustable high back portion of the booster. It’s the equivalent of a no-rethread harness in convertible, infant, and combination seats, except that a harness isn’t involved. You can, however, raise or lower the height of the back (and as a result, the seat belt guide) without removing your child from the booster. This is a great time-saver and is also a convenient way to check your child’s fit and make sure she or he can pass the 5-step test before moving on to the adult seat belt.

Booster recline option

As long as we’re talking about nice things, another feature I enjoy about the HBB 120 is the ability to recline the booster. Believe it or not, most booster seats don’t let you recline them, which doesn’t make sense when you consider the fact that booster seats are designed for children, and that children very often fall asleep in cars while in their car seats. We have reclines available for younger children in infant seats, convertibles, and combination seats, so why not in our boosters?

The recline is adjusted by a handle in the front part of the seat that you pull on while simultaneously lifting up the seat. When you do this, a spring-loaded adjustable recline foot pops out and helps you set the recline. Changing the position of the seat is easily achieved by pulling the handle and pushing the seat toward the ground instead of lifting it up.

Buy the Peg Perego USA Viaggio HBB 120 on Sale at Amazon here.

Fit and Feel

The HBB 120 has a gentle and plush fabric that calls to mind the leather in a luxury vehicle. It feels great against the skin and it’s attractive to look at. My daughter found the seat quite comfortable and often chose to sit inside it while reading a book when I had it lying around the house. That’s a pretty strong endorsement.

Best practices suggests keeping children in booster seats until they are at least 10 to 12 year old and pass every element of the 5 step test. The HBB 120 is designed to make this feasible with its 120 pound weight limit. It also comes with EPS foam to provide protection from high crash forces in the event of a collision.

Peg Perego notes that using the high back is best for providing additional side impact protection for your child’s head and shoulders in the event of a side collision, which is absolutely correct. I’d take things a step further and state that ideally, booster seats should never be used in a low back or backless position when a high back position is available.

Drawbacks and Downers

Overall, it’s hard to think of features I don’t like about the HBB 120. Perhaps the most significant one is that you can’t use the seat in a vehicle that doesn’t offer a head rest directly behind the booster. The reason this is essential is because the booster by itself doesn’t provide enough head support. This is the case even when you’re using the booster in its high back mode.

Besides that drawback, something else to keep in mind is that the cup holders are bottomless, which means that you can’t store food in them or things like crayons. This isn’t an issue you’re likely to notice as an adult, but it’s something my daughter pointed out after using the seat, so it’s worth keeping in mind. Drinks sat inside the cup holders just fine.

Why Buy the Peg Perego USA Viaggio HBB 120

When it comes to car seats, we buy them to keep our children safe. Infant seats and convertible car seats help us rear-face as long as possible, while converitble seats and conbination seats help us keep them harnessed as long as possible. After our children outgrow these seats, combinations and boosters are the next stage. Boosters that do a good job of keeping children boosted until they are ready for the adult seat belt are good boosters, and the HBB 120 fits this qualification. I’d heartily recommend it, and you can buy it from Amazon with free shipping here in Aquamarine, Licorice, Crystal Beige, Crystal Black, Crystal Red, Fleur, Fucsia, Panama, and Sport. Canadians can buy it here.

—

If you find the information on car safety, recommended car seats, and car seat reviews on this car seat blog helpful, you can shop through this Amazon link for any purchases, car seat-related or not. Canadians can shop through this link for Canadian purchases.

Maxi-Cosi has been building great car seats for years now, and I’ve had the chance to review a few of them over the last several months, including the newer Pria 85 and older Pria 70 with TinyFit. As a result, when they announced they were coming out with a cheaper version of the Pria convertible line, I put in my pre-order on Amazon. It arrived today! In short, it’s called the Maxi-Cosi Vello 65, and this review is about how it should be high on your list for a safe, modern, and comfortable car seat for your little ones.

Maxi-Cosi Vello 65 – Quick Review

The Maxi-Cosi Vello 65 is essentially a simpler version of the Pria 85, which is a great convertible car seat in its own right. It comes with a number of unique features including a crotch strap adjustable in 3 positions, 3 recline positions, a no-rethread harness, ergonomic push button lower LATCH connectors, an easy to remove cover, storage pockets, and cup holder, as well as a removable body pillow.

Because the Vello 65 is a convertible car seat, you can install it in two different positions: rear-facing and forward-facing. When using it in the rear-facing configuration, it’s suitable for toddlers and preschoolers, while the forward-facing configuration is suitable for keeping preschoolers and elementary-aged children safe and properly restrained. As a rear-facing seat, it’s not suitable for most infants due to the height of the harness in its lowest position (10″).

Buy the Maxi-Cosi Vello 65 on Sale at Amazon here.

Maxi-Cosi Vello 65 Weight and Height Limits

Rear-facing: 9 to 40 pounds. Your child must be 40″ tall or less. There is also the standard 1″ requirement, which means that the top of your child’s head must be at least 1″ under the top of the seat shell. Despite the 40″ height limit, this is the practical height limit of this car seat and the realistic limit of most car seats on the market, since the amount of height you’ll get in a seat will depend on whether your child’s height is primarily in his or her torso or legs. The lowest harness position is 10″ while the highest is 17.5.” The shell height is 26.5″, which is identical to the shell height I measure in the Pria 85 and Pria 70 with TinyFit.

Forward-facing: 22 to 65 pounds. Your child must be between 29″ and 49″ in standing height. The lowest harness position remains at 10″ while the highest position holds steady at 17.5.”

While Maxi-Cosi allows you to forward-face your child as soon as she or he turns 1 and weighs ant least 22 pounds, I’m a staunch advocate of extended rear-facing, which means I recommend you keep rear-facing as long as possible. This means rear-facing if you can even into the preschool years (when your child is 4 or more)! The reason I advocate this practice is because rear-facing is safest for young children when transported in a car, and reduces their risks of serious and fatal injuries. When you decide to forward face, you’ll want to forward-face in harnessed seats for as long as possible until your child is ready for a booster seat.

Dimensions of and Stats for the Maxi-Cosi Vello 65

The Vello 65 is around 20″ wide and close to 20 pounds in weight. There are lighter convertibles available, but this is still a manageable weight, especially considering the fact that the seat will probably live in one vehicle permanently as a convertible.

The date in which the Vello 65 was manufactured is located on the side of the seat on a white sticker that also includes the model number. The seat’s expiration date is on the seat bottom engraved into the plastic. The seat has a 10 year product life and is approved for aircraft use by the FAA.

To see which car seats are likely to fit well in 3 across configurations in your car, pickup, SUV, or minivan, you’ll want to check out the full 3 across car seat installation guide. It covers vehicles of all sizes, makes, and models, and if a vehicle you’re looking for isn’t there, send me an email and I’ll add it to the list of vehicles to test.

Using the Maxi-Cosi Vello 65

Rear-facing installation and adjustment

Installing the Vello 65 in a rear-facing configuration is pretty straightforward in most vehicles. You simply place the car seat on your vehicle’s seat and look at the recline angle. There is a black molded plastic line above a lime green sticker to the side of the seat, close to the top head rest. That line must be parallel, or level, relative to the ground. To do this, you’ll need to set the recline foot to either position 2 or 3. Once you have the recline angle that works for your vehicle and vehicle seat, you’ll either run the lower LATCH anchor strap or your seat belt through the indicated path for rear-facing belts. This path is marked on the sides of the seat and is beneath where your child’s feet sit in the seat.

You’ll want to set the crotch strap in the closest of the 3 available positions to your child. You’ll then run your seat belt or lower LATCH anchor strap in front (ahead) of the crotch strap so that the slot furthest away from the child is covered.

If you’re using your lower LATCH anchors, you’ll first thread your connecting strap through the rear-facing belt path on each side of the seat before tightening it.

If you’re using the seat belt, you’ll thread the lap belt through the rear-facing belt path while the shoulder belt follows it. From that point on you simply buckle the belt and tighten it.

To ensure you have a securely tight installation and aren’t making one of the most common mistakes when using a car seat, make sure you do the 1″ test for movement, as described here. That goes for every car seat, not just the Vello 65.

Forward-facing installation

The forward-facing installation is about as simple as the rear-facing installation. You’ll need to use either recline positions 1 or 2. You’ll use 1 for children who weigh between 40 and 65 pounds and 2 for children who weigh between 22 and 40 pounds.

Child fit

Generally, the Vello 65 does a great job fitting children it’s designed to fit, and features like the no-rethread harness make it easy to adjust both the harness and head support for your child without removing your child from the seat or having to uninstall and reinstall the seat. However, there are some important points to cover regarding fit.

The Vello 65, unlike most convertible seats on the market, is not designed to fit newborns on their way out of the hospital (or birthing center). This is important to note, since the 9 pound lower weight limit might make parents of large babies think they’d be fine. The issue isn’t just the weight, it’s also the harness height. The lowest harness height of 10″ is still going to be too tall for most infants, which is why I’d suggest waiting until your child is close to 1 before beginning to use the Vello 65. Before that, an infant seat like the Evolution Pro or one of the many others I’ve reviewed and recommended here would be a much better bet.

Comparison with the Maxi-Cosi Pria 85 and Pria 70 with and without TinyFit

Compared with the other members of the Maxi-Cosi convertible family, there are a lot of similar features across the line. All four seats have a 40 pound, 40″ weight and height limit, respectively, while rear-facing. However, when forward-facing, the Vello 65 has the lowest upper weight range at 65 pounds. The highest belongs to the Pria 85 at 85 pounds. The Vello 65 is also the only seat with a 49″ height limit when forward-facing. The lowest harness height setting is the same at 10″ for all seats except for the Pria 70 with TinyFit, which has a 4.5″ lowest height setting when the TinyFit is installed. The highest harness height is the same across all models at 17.5″, as is the shell height at 26.5.”

The Vello 65 and the Pria 85 are the only models to include an easy remove cover, while the Vello 65 is the only model to not include the air protect feature. All models except for the Pria 85 include a body pillow.

Buy the Maxi-Cosi Vello 65 on Sale at Amazon here.

Why Buy the Maxi-Cosi Vello 65?

When it comes to buying car seats, I try to keep things simple by looking at how well of a job seats do at keeping kids safe. For me, that means looking for seats that keep kids in the safest positions possible for as long as possible, which means rear-facing as long as possible, then forward-facing in a harnessed seat for as long as possible, then using a booster until the 5-step test is passed, before finally switching to the least protected and most vulnerable position for both children and adults: forward-facing in an adult seat with the adult seat belt.

The Vello 65 justifies itself by helping children rear-face until 40 pounds and then forward-face until 65 pounds. I wish it had a lower weight limit on the lower end, as the 9 pound lower weight limit along with the high low harness setting means it’s not going to be useful for parents right out of the hospital, which, to me, is one of the big advantages of a convertible seat. However, if you’ve already got an infant seat and are looking for a convertible to switch to, the Vello 65 deserves a look. It makes installation and adjustment easy, which makes the seat safer by removing some of the biggest obstacles parents face in successful and safe car seat installations. I also love the plushness of the seat fabric, the ease with which I can strip the cover for washing it, the storage pockets and cup holders around the seat, and the narrowness of the seat in front-to-back measurements, which helps in preserving front passenger leg room.

Overall, i believe the Maxi-Cosi Vello 65 is a car seat worth buying. You can buy it here in Black, Grey, and Pink with free shipping and free returns.

Unfortunately, it’s not yet available in Canada, but Canadians can buy a similar seat, the Boulevard ClickTight, here.

If you find my information on best practices in car and car seat safety helpful, you can do your shopping through this Amazon link. Canadians can shop here for Canadian purchases. Have a question or want to discuss best practices? Join us in the forums!

I recently had the chance to review the Orbit Baby G3 infant car seat, which holds a rather unique position in the US car seat market as one of the only seats that can be swiveled while strapping in a child. It intrigued me enough to inspire me to buy the Orbit Baby G3 Convertible on Amazon this weekend in order to put it through its paces. Let’s see how it compares to the infant seat and to other, more traditional convertible seats on the market!

Orbit Baby G3 Convertible – What’s the big deal?

The Orbit Baby G3 Convertible is essentially the convertible version of the Orbit infant seat. Like the infant seat, you can actually rotate or swivel it on its base when loading or unloading your child. The seat doesn’t rotate when it’s actually being used, of course, but the theory behind the seat is that the rotation makes the seat a snap to use for comfortably getting your child into and out of your vehicle. Like the infant seat, the convertible is also compatible with the Orbit Baby stroller frame and Orbit rocker, and you can also install it without the car seat base.

Beyond the ease of use benefits, the Orbit convertible is also an ecologically-friendly seat, as it is made from allergen friendly and toxin-free materials. It additionally comes with detailed side impact protection elements that I’ll go into soon.

As a convertible seat, the Orbit Baby toddler convertible can be used both rear-facing and forward-facing. The rear-facing configuration can be used with infants, toddlers, and even smaller preschoolers, while the forward-facing configuration will help keep elementary-aged children safely restrained. Because of its decent weight limits, you will likely be able to use it with older children for at least a few years in elementary school before switching to a booster seat. Let’s take a closer look at the Orbit G3 convertible!

Buy the Orbit Baby toddler convertible seat on Sale at Amazon here.

Orbit Baby G3 Convertible Seat Limits for Weight and Height

Rear-facing: 15 to 35 pounds. Your child must have full head control and be able to sit up independently. There is a 49″ height limit for your child when standing, but for all intents and purposes you can go with the standard 1″ height restriction relative to the top of the seat shell.

Forward-facing: 25 to 65 pounds. Your child must again be under 49″ in height when standing. While you can forward-face from 25 pounds, I highly suggest continuing to rear-face until you reach the height and weight limits of the convertible in its rear-facing configuration, since rear-facing is the safest position for every child.

Dimensions and Lifespan of the Orbit Baby G3 Convertible

The Orbit Baby G3 convertible weighs 21.5 pounds. The interior height of the seat is 23″ while the interior width is 11.5.” The exterior width is 18″, which means this is one of the best seats out there for 3 across installation compatibility. You can view the complete 3 across guide for cars, SUVs, minivans, and pickup trucks here to figure out which car seats are most likely to fit whatever you drive. A 2 year limited warranty is included with the G3 convertible.

Using the Orbit Baby G3 Convertible

Installation and Use

Installing and using the G3 convertible is straightforward out of the box, whether you use the included LATCH straps or vehicle seat belts. Orbit Baby allows you to install it either with the included Side Impact Braces or through the Car Seat Base that was included with the G3 infant car seat.

Orbit Baby reasons that if you’re buying the convertible seat, you’ve already bought the infant seat, so they don’t include the base with the convertible. Personally, I would have preferred for them to have included it, as that is one of the biggest selling points of the G3 convertible (the fact that you can rotate it while getting your child into or out of the seat), but on the other hand, I do understand their logic. If for some reason you did buy the convertible without first buying the infant seat or would simply like another base, you can order one separately from Amazon here or buy the seat and base in a seat together here.

Side Impact Braces

The side impact braces are a unique feature of the G3 convertible designed to protect your little ones from side impact forces while simultaneously offering additional stability to the seat. Per Orbit Baby, they also work well with narrow center seating positions without getting in the way of your lower LATCH anchors or your vehicle’s seat belt buckles. I can’t verify how well they work in crash protection, having never crashed a vehicle while using the G3, but I can confirm that they don’t make it any more difficult to install the seat without the rotating base. The simple downside is that they don’t swivel.

Something important to keep in mind is that the base can only be used when installing the seat in a rear-facing position, so don’t buy it if you’re interested in the swivel feature while both rear-facing and forward-facing. However, if you can accept that limitation, the swivel feature is amazing, and I would agree with other parents who say it’s worth every penny.

You can dock and rotate the convertible seat on pretty much any car seat base, stroller, or rocker made by Orbit Baby, except for the 1st generation car seat base and the rear SmartHub that’s included in the Helix Plus Double Stroller Upgrade Kit. These are both very specific circumstances that aren’t likely to apply to pretty much anyone reading a review of the G3 convertible, so for all intents and purposes, if it’s something made by Orbit Baby, you can dock the G3 convertible to it.

Toxins, Environmental, and Allergen Concerns

Orbit Baby has taken a rather unique stand in the car seat industry by designing car seats with green principles in mind. Rather than follow the trends set by nearly all other car seat manufacturers of using car seats laced with Brominated Flame Retardants, Orbit Baby made the G3 infant and convertible seats from BFR-free materials. They’re still fire-resistant, but they did so without harmful chemicals such as PBDEs and PBBs and BFRs.

Similarly, they make use of fabrics that Oeko-Tex certified as healthy and clean when designing the seat, which simply means that the fabrics are going to be less abrasive and easier on the skin of your baby or toddler. These features might not mean much to you if you don’t suffer from allergies or if your baby has never suffered from rashes or chemical irritations, but if you have a baby with sensitive skin, you’d do well to consider seats by Orbit Baby, as they’re one of the only manufacturers paying attention to the issues of allergens these days.

Buy the Orbit Baby toddler convertible seat on Sale at Amazon here.

Why Buy the Orbit Baby G3 Convertible car seat?

For me, regardless of all the bells and whistles a seat might have, the meat and potatoes (or rice and beans, if you’re a vegetarian) have to do with how good of a job the seat does in keeping kids safe. For me, that starts with enabling rear-facing. When it comes to rear-facing, the G3 convertible isn’t going to win many awards; there are many seats out there that allow you to rear-face to 40, 45, and even 50 pounds, such as the Fllo, Foonf, Rainier, and Pacifica. And on the other end, it also isn’t a seat that can be used from birth, unlike the best infant seat, the Kiddy Evolution Pro, which means you’re going to need a different seat as your baby’s first seat, whether that’s the G3 infant seat or a different seat from a different manufacturer entirely. So why do I like the G3 convertible?

I like it because it makes it easy to get a young child into and out of a car seat safely and quickly. I like it because it’s compatible with the Orbit Baby stroller system, which includes the strollers they offer and the swivel base that comes with the infant seat. The swivel feature, if it matters to you, means this seat can do things that nearly no other seat currently sold in the United States can.

And if that weren’t enough, this is also one of the most ecologically-friendly seats money can buy, in terms of its low toxin count and low allergen design. This is something that might make a world of difference to parents of highly allergic children or to parents who simply want to make sure their children’s car seats have fewer unpronounceable toxic chemicals floating around inside them.

Finally, I’m also a fan of the fact that the seat is approved for airplane use and travel by the FAA, as well as of the use of EPP foam within the side wings. The side wings themselves include multiple zones of foam padding for additional protection.

Is it a seat for everyone? Not necessarily. Some parents will balk at the high price when looking at the weight ranges, and others won’t understand why it might be worth paying extra for a seat that’s made to low-toxin tolerances or that lets you swivel your child. But if these features matter to you, this seat is the sequel to the infant seat and is well worth considering.

I recommend  the Orbit Baby G3 convertible car seat, and you can buy it here in Ruby or Black. You can buy it in a set with the car seat base here. The G3 stroller frame is available separately here. The base by itself is available here.

Unfortunately, it’s not yet available in Canada, but Canadians can buy a similar seat, the Boulevard ClickTight, here.

If you find the information on car safety, recommended car seats, and car seat reviews on this car seat blog helpful, you can shop through this Amazon link for any purchases, car seat-related or not. Canadians can shop through this link for Canadian purchases.

I’ve reviewed more Britax car seats than any other due to how impressed I’ve been at their dedication to safety. Most recently, I’ve reviewed and recommended the Advocate ClickTight, Boulevard ClickTight, and Marathon ClickTight, as well as their equally excellent counterparts the Advocate G4.1, Boulevard G4.1, and Marathon G4.1. However, if you’re on a slightly smaller budget than that you’d need for the Advocate or Boulevard lines, you owe it to yourself to check out the Britax Pavilion G4, which shares many of the features of the six seats I just mentioned while costing a wee bit less. I ordered a Pavilion G4 with free shipping from Amazon three days ago and it arrived last night. Here’s why it’s worth getting this seat.

2015 Britax Pavilion G4 – Quick Review

The Britax Pavilion G4 is essentially an alternative to to the Boulevard or Pavilion lines. Since it hasn’t been updated to the G4.1 edition yet, you can often end up saving a bit of money when you buy it. It doesn’t feature a ClickTight alternative the way the Advocate, Boulevard, and Marathon do, but it’s definitely from the same factories and shares many of the same external and internal parts. It is an update to the Pavilion G3, and it’s a good one.

Because the Pavilion G4 is a convertible car seat, you can use it in two positions: rear-facing and forward-facing. The rear-facing configuration is designed to be used with infants, toddlers, and even preschoolers, while the forward-facing configuration is capable of keeping elementary-aged children safely restrained.

Some of the neat safety features built into the Pavilion G4 include an impact-absorbing base, steel bars within the frame of the seat, and an energy-absorbing tether for forward-facing tether. Let’s take a detailed look at the Pavilion G4 to figure out if it stands up well to its Advocate, Boulevard, and Marathon siblings.

Buy the Britax Pavilion G4 on Sale at Amazon here.

Britax Pavilion G4 Weight and Height Limits

Rear-facing: 5 to 40 pounds. Your child must be 49″ tall or less when standing. The standard 1″ requirement is also in place, in terms of how the top of your child’s head must not come within 1″ of the top of the seat shell. Practically speaking, this is the real height limit of this seat and of most car seats available, as what matters most is whether your child holds his or her height in the torso or in the legs. Your child’s seated shoulder height can range from 9″ to 16.75″, which is what you’d get from the Marathon G4.1. The harness  slot heights range from 8.5″ to 17.5″, again identical to that of the Marathon G4.1.

Forward-facing: 20 to 65 pounds.  Your top available harness height is 17.5″, which is the same as that offered in both the Boulevard and Marathon G4.1, while the lowest available harness height remains at 8.5″ with 1″ adjustable increments. Your forward-facing seated shoulder height ranges between 12″ and 16.75.”

Britax states you can forward-face your child as soon as she or he turns 1 and weighs at least 20 pounds, but as an extended rear-facing advocate, I suggest you keep rear-facing as long as you can, and ideally don’t forward-face until the preschool years (when your child is 4 or more). This is the safest position for young children when traveling in a car, and it makes them a lot less likely to suffer injuries that are serious or even fatal if they are involved in ca collisions. Once you forward-face you little ones, you’ll then want to forward-face in harnessed seats for as long as you can until your child is ready for a booster seat.

Dimensions of the Britax Pavilion G4

The Britax Pavilion G4 is 18.5″ wise, 26″ tall, and 21″ deep front-to-back. It shares the same platform, and therefore width, as that of the Boulevard and Marathon G4.1 seats, which means that for 3 across configurations, you can expect it to behave exactly the same way.

You can review the full 3 across car seat installation guide here to see which safe car seats will work in you car, SUV, minivan, or pickup. The Pavilion G4 weighs 19.5 pounds, which is substantially less than any of the ClickTight seats, although it doesn’t offer a weight advantage over the Marathon G4.1.

Using the Britax Pavilion G4

Installation, rear-and forward-facing

Out of the box, the Pavilion G4 closely resembles the Boulevard, Marathon, and Advocate G4.1 seats, with a plush and secure feel, a large and enveloping black shell. On the inside, it features integrated steel bars give the seat additional structure and strengthen how the seat connects to the vehicle.

Installing the Pavilion G4 is straightforward both through the seat belt system or through LATCH. I’m a fan of using the seat belt when I want as much room as possible to install 3 car seats across, but when I only need to install one or two seats, I go with LATCH much of the time because it’s usually faster and requires less effort. Premium lower LATCH connectors are used with push button connectors; they’re basically the same thing as the “easy-on, easy-off” connectors found in the Boulevard, Marathon, and Advocate. They include the same audible click alert to let you know you’ve got the connectors locked in securely. They’re designed simply and they’re easy to use, so I like them.

The Pavilion G4 base features what Britax calls “SafeCell Technology,” which is just a fancy way of naming their compressible impact-absorbing base. This is the same base technology found in their highest end seats like the Advocate and Boulevard, and it works like an anti-rebound bar to reduce your child’s forward motion n a collision while also absorbing crash forces that would otherwise pass through your child. Details like these are why I hold the Britax convertibles in rarefied air along with seats like the Fllo, Foonf, Rainier, and Pacifica; these are some of the best seats money can buy these days.

As with the Boulevard or Marathon G4.1, you can choose through multiple recline positions to help determine the safest rear- or forward-facing angle for your little ones. A side level indicator is also included, and you also have clearly marked rear- and forward-facing LATCH and seat belt paths, which is great for achieving safe installations. An energy-absorbing tether system is included for forward-facing tethering, which is highly recommended, and is also designed to help reduce rotation due to its two point attachment to the seat. Remember that even though forward-facing tethering isn’t required in the US, it’s a very good idea to use it if you can. It is the law in Canada, which is farther along in car safety than we are in the US in this respect.

Harness, Fit, Safety

The Pavilion G4 features a 10-position no-rethread harness, just like that in the Boulevard and Marathon G4.1 lines, that makes it easy to find the right harness height setting for your child. As always, keep in mind that when rear-facing, the harness straps must either be at your child’s shoulder height or below, while when forward-facing, the straps must be at or above shoulder height. You get a 2-position buckle strap in the G4, just as you do in the other seats.

As far as comfort is concerned, the Pavilion is a plush and padded seat that’ll definitely make it easier for your kids to pop off to sleep. I feel padding throughout the seat, such as in the body of the seat, in the no-tangle harness pads, in the buckle pad, and of course in the seat cover. I also like the inclusion of the infant positioning pillow to assure a good fit for even the youngest travelers.

The Pavilion’s harness has impact-absorbing padding in the harness along with an audible indicator to let you know when the harness is appropriately snug (not too tight, not too loose). Considering how a lack of sufficient harness tightness is one of the biggest mistakes parents make when installing car seats, I’m glad to see this feature in the Pavilion and would like to see it in more car seats. The harness is a 5-point harness while the seat cover is machine-washable and easy to remove. Overall, I don’t have any complaints here.

Buy the Britax Pavilion G4 on Sale at Amazon here.

Why Buy the Britax Pavilion G4?

For me, the crucial elements of what makes a car seat worth buying have to do with the basics, and the basics involve rear-facing as long as possible. The Pavilion G4 lets you keep your son or daughter rear-facing until he or she weighs 40 pounds. This is great because rear-facing is the safest position for every child.

It is important to note that there are several seats out there that will allow you to rear-face until your child weighs 50 pounds, such as the Fllo, Foonf, Rainier, and Pacifica. However, even though the Pavilion G4 isn’t one of the aforementioned seats, it’s still a solid seat that’s well worth buying. The overall goal is to keep our kids rear-facing as long as we can, which means rear-facing past 1, 2, and 3 until 4 or even 5 if we can. In Sweden, this is what parents do by default, and as a result, they have nearly zero child fatalities in car collisions each year. We have a lot to learn from them, and this is a great place to start.

For me, additional reasons to buy the Pavilion G4 include the wide range of energy-absorbing features built into the seat to tamper the huge crash forces a child experiences in a collision. I’m also a fan of the FAA approval for aircraft travel that the Pavilion has, as well as the fact that it’s basically made here in the United States and has a good product life. The biggest cons of the seat are that it doesn’t let you rear-face past 40 pounds and that it isn’t the best seat for taller children; you’ll want to look at seats like the Advocate ClickTight and Boulevard ClickTight for maximum height range.

In conclusion, am I a fan of the Pavilion G4? Definitely. It’s a great alternative to the Boulevard and Marathon seats and is still substantially cheaper than some of the highest end seats out there, while packing in good safety features. You can buy it here in Cub Pink, Onyx, and Gridline with free shipping and free returns. You can also buy it here in Calgary and in Bluepint with free shipping and free returns. Canadians can buy it here.

—

If you find the information on car safety, recommended car seats, and car seat reviews on this car seat blog helpful, you can shop through this Amazon link for any purchases, car seat-related or not. Canadians can shop through this link for Canadian purchases.

Britax has been releasing one excellent convertible after another over the last few years, which has given me plenty to review and recommend. I’ve already reviewed and recommended the Advocate ClickTight, Boulevard ClickTight, and Marathon ClickTight, and was also a fan of both the Advocate G4.1 and the Boulevard G4.1, which I also reviewed. The Marathon G4.1, the non-ClickTight version of the Marathon, was next on my list to review, but I had a number of 3 across tests to run first. After those, I ordered a Marathon G4.1 with free shipping from Amazon a few days ago and took a detailed look at it when it arrived at my doorstep. Here’s what I found!

Britax Marathon G4.1 – Quick Review

The Britax Marathon G4.1 is sure to please parents and caretakers interested in keeping up with the newest Britax convertibles while sticking to a budget. It’s the newest version of Britax’s popular Marathon convertible line, which Britax recently refreshed with the Marathon ClickTight, and which also featured the still-good Marathon G4. The Marathon G4.1 is an update to the G4, and a good one.

Since the Marathon G4.1 is a convertible seat, you can use it in both rear-facing and forward-facing arrangements. When it’s rear-facing, you can use it to keep your infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children safe, while when you use it in a forward-facing setup, it’s suitable for elementary school-aged children.

The Marathon G4.1, like the Advocate G4.1, Boulevard G4.1, Advocate ClickTight, Boulevard ClickTight, and Marathon ClickTight, is one of the newest convertible car seats available from Britax. But when you buy the Marathon G4.1, you get to take advantage of many of the safety features built into the Marathon and Boulevard ClickTight, such as those related to side impact protection, at a significantly lower price, which is something worth talking about. Let’s look at the Marathon G4.1 up close to see if it’s really a Marathon ClickTight (or even a Boulevard ClickTight!) on a budget.

Buy the Britax Marathon G4.1 on Sale with Free Shipping at Amazon here.

Britax Marathon G4.1 Weight and Height Limits

Rear-facing: 5 to 40 pounds. There is a 49″ height limit for children that’s based on the tallest part of the seat shell. This contrasts with the Marathon ClickTight height limit that’s based off the top head wing height, and means that you’ll be able to use the ClickTight version longer by height than the Marathon version. That said, you can still use the G4.1 for a good amount of time. Your child’s seated shoulder height can span 9″ to 16.75″ while you have between 8.5″ and 17.5″ in harness height.

Forward-facing: 20 to 65 pounds. Your harness height can extend to a top height of 17.5,” or .2″ shorter than the top harness height in the Marathon ClickTight, which is 17.7.” This means that your forward-facing time in the Marathon G4.1 will be, for all intents and purposes, about as good as it is in the ClickTight. In comparison, the Boulevard G4.1 top harness height is also 17.5,” while the Boulevard ClickTight top harness height is 19.4.” Your lowest available harness height is 8.5″ and you can adjust it in 1″ increments. The seated shoulder height ranges between 12″ and 16.75″ while forward-facing.

While Britax is fine with you forward-facing your child once s/he is both a year old and 20 pounds, I’d suggest waiting to forward-face for several more years. The longer you rear-face, the safer your child is, and if you can rear-face until your child is even 4 or more, that’s the best thing you do for your little one when it comes to car seat safety. Rear-facing children are less likely to suffer serious or fatal injuries if they’re involved in car crashes. Once you turn your little one forward-facing, you’ll then want to continue doing so as long as feasible in a harness until your child is ready for a booster seat.

Dimensions of the Britax Marathon G4.1

The Britax Marathon G4.1 is 18.5″ wide, 26″ tall, and 21″ in depth, front-to-back. The width is the same as that of the Marathon ClickTight, but the seat is 2.5″ taller and 2″ deeper than its ClickTight counterpart. As a result, you’ll have an easier time installing either the Marathon G4.1 or the Marathon ClickTight in 3 across configurations than you would installing the Advocate G4.1 or Advocate ClickTight, since both are 20.5″ wide. The Boulevard G4.1 and Boulevard ClickTight are the same 18.5″ width.

Have a look at the complete 3 across car seat installation guide to figure out safe seats compatible with your car, SUV, minivan, or pickup. A good reason to choose the Marathon G4.1 over its ClickTight equivalent is that the G4.1 weighs 19.5 pounds, or 9 pounds less than the 28.5 pounds of the Marathon ClickTight.

Using the Britax Marathon G4.1

Installation, rear-and forward-facing

The Marathon G4.1, like the Boulevard and Advocate G4.1, looks impressive out of the box. It feels plush and secure at the same time, with a steel frame that serves as a metal spine of sorts inside the car seat. The steel frame works to absorb a good amount of energy in a collision that would potentially harm your child if the frame were not present. This is the kind of technology present in the Marathon G4.1, the Boulevard G4.1,and the Advocate G4.1, and illustrates how the Marathon serves as a bargain seat in the Britax line while retaining many of the features of the higher trim seats.

Installing the Marathon G4.1 doesn’t take much work, whether you do it through a seat belt or through LATCH. I prefer using the seat belt when I need more room for 3 across installations, but I prefer LATCH when I only need to install one or two car seats. “Easy-on, easy-off” LATCH connectors are present throughout the new Britax convertible line, and these are basically audible LATCH connectors that let you know when the connectors are locked into place and that are also easy to connect and disconnect. They’re simple, and they work well.

The base of the Marathon G4.1 is designed to compress somewhat in the event of a collision while at the same time reducing how much your child moves forward. As a result, it’s kind of like an anti-rebound bar. There aren’t many manufacturers that build these kinds of safety features into their seats, which is why the only seats I typically compare to the Britaxes are seats like the Fllo, Foonf, Rainier, and Pacifica.

As with the Boulevard G4.1, 3 recline positions are available with a side-level indicator to show you if your rear- or forward-facing angle is safe for your little ones. The rear- and forward-facing LATCH and seat belt paths are clearly marked, which is another pro across the G4.1 line. Keep in mind that it is important to use a top tether when forward-facing, even though it’s not yet required in the US.

Harness, Fit, Safety

The Marathon G4.1 includes a 10-position no-rethread harness to make it easy to choose your child’s best harness height setting. Remember that when you’re rear-facing, the straps need to be at or below your child’s shoulders and at or above the shoulders when forward-facing. A 2-position buckle strap is also included.

In terms of comfort, there are several padded areas in the seat, including in the shoulder pads, buckle pad, and cover. An infant positioning pillow is also included to help provide good fit for the youngest infants.

The G4.1 harness is layered with impact-absorbing padding so the chest clip is more likely to stay in position in a collision. Just like the base and frame, the harness is also built to absorb some crash energy. It’s a 5-point harness that’s comfortable and snug against your child. The seat cover is easily removed and machine-washable.

The Marathon G4.1 shell is also packed with energy-absorbing foam to help keep your child safer in a collision. Similarly, the head rest is designed to absorb impacts while keeping your child’s head and neck in a secure position. However, you don’t get the external cushions present in the Advocate G4, G4.1, or ClickTight, or in the Pinnacle 90.

Buy the Britax Marathon G4.1 on Sale with Free Shipping at Amazon here.

Why buy the Britax Marathon G4.1?

A good car seat will do a good job of keeping your little ones safe, and to do that, it needs to have the basics in place. For me, the basics are about rear-facing for as long as possible. Thanks to the Marathon G4.1, you can keep your son or daughter in a rear-facing position until he or she weighs 40 pounds, which I love since rear-facing is the safest position for every child.

Keep in mind that there are a number of seats that will allow you to rear-face until your child weighs 50 pounds, such as the Fllo, Foonf, Rainier, and Pacifica. However, even though the Marathon G4.1 isn’t one of these seats, it’s still a great one to have. What we want to do is keep our children seated in the safest orientation possible, which means that we’re going to aim to rear-face past 1, 2, and 3 until 4 if possible. This is standard practice among parents in Sweden, and over there, nearly no children are lost each year due to car crashes. If they can make that happen with best practices, so can we.

Other reasons to buy the Marathon G4.1 for me include the large number of energy-absorbing components built into the seat to reduce the tremendous crash forces placed on a child’s body in a collision. Every ounce of technology used to keep a child safer and more likely to walk away from a crash is worth looking into, and there is plenty present in the G4.1. I also like the fact that the seat has FAA approval for aircraft travel, as well as the fact that it’s more or less made locally in the United States and has a long product life.

In conclusion, for me, the Marathon G4.1 is a great ClickTight alternative compared to the Marathon ClickTight. It’s a safe convertible seat with a number of features borrowed from the Boulevard and Advocate G4.1 at substantially less cost. You can buy it here in Kiwi, Onyx, Domino, Pink Giraffe, and Silver Cloud. Canadians can buy it here.

If you find my information on best practices in car and car seat safety helpful, you can do your shopping through this Amazon link. Canadians can shop here for Canadian purchases. Have a question or want to discuss best practices? Join us in the forums!