As the owner of a Roundabout, Marathon & Regent, there was no question as to what manufacturer I was going with when faced with replacing the Roundabout for my youngest (age 2). I admit that I was skeptical after having read mixed reviews on ease of installation, but while at Target today, there was one on clearance (someone must have ordered it from Target.com & then returned it b/c Target does not carry this in their stores) & I paid $20 less than the current promotion of $229 -- even w/ 8.7% tax factored in. My intentions were to just try it out & then return it. Much to my delight, I LOVE the seat & am keeping it!
Pros:
1) Installation: Yes, it is a tiny bit trickier to install compared to the Roundabout & Marathon, but like one reviewer said, make sure you read the owner's manual. In order to get a tight fit, you MUST pull the LATCH straps THROUGH the holes of the seat rather than from the outside of the seat. And honestly, compared to the Regent, this seat is a piece of cake to install (I own a 2008 Honda Pilot & have to use the long route method w/ the Regent). I'm sure that the next time I have to install this seat, it will become second nature & take no time at all. As it is, it only took about 2 minutes for me install to my satisfaction (I will still have it inspected at the fire dept. for peace of mind).
2) Sturdiness - The thing is solid, just like all Britax seats.
3) Size - It's smaller than the Regent yet offers the same weight limit on the 5-point harness, which is very important to me. Will my child reach the height limit sooner than 80 lbs? Probably, but I'm not concerned about it. I know that it will still keep her harnessed longer than a lot of other seats. Plus, I have the Regent (still have 5 years before it expires) that I can move her into & my oldest into the Frontier booster if need be.
4) Expiration: 9 years instead of 6 years.
5) Head rests: The Regent is very big & my oldest daughter will sometimes try to fall asleep in the car but can't quite get there b/c she doesn't have enough head support. The Frontier head rests are very supportive & I'm certain that my 2 year old will have many restful naps while in it.
Cons:
- Fabric. I imagine the mesh fabric will snag & possibly tear at some point. My engagement ring has already almost snagged it, so I will be mindful of that.
- Can't think of any other cons!
As for the twisting of the straps, which a lot of people have commented on: I have no complaints. Again, as the owner of a Regent, I'm used to dealing w/ it, I suppose (though it did take me some time to get to that point). I actually find that the straps on the Frontier twist less than the straps on the Regent. I just hang the straps around the armrests (basically put the armrests through the straps) & that keeps them out of the way.
Bottom line: this is a great seat & is one of the best impulse purchases that I've made in a long time. :)
(And sorry for the many comparisons to the Regent, but perhaps it will help someone who is considering both seats make a decision.)
Get more detail about Britax Frontier Booster Car Seat Rushmore.
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