Booster seats were designed to keep the child occupying the seat safe from any harm, whether the lack of support infants had in cars, the threats of car collisions, or simply the misuse of the traditional seat belt.
Harness booster seats take this one step further by securing the child in place.
Here are some of the best harness booster seats out there right now. This is extremely useful for fussy toddlers who are always moving.
Keeping them secured in one place allows them to be in an advantageous position in the event of a crash, where the harness system also helps in distributing the force of the crash over a large area.
Table of Contents
- 1 7 Top Rated Harness Booster Seats Comparisons
- 1.1 1. Diono Radian 3R 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat
- 1.2 2. Britax Grow With You ClickTight Plus Harness 2 Booster Car Seat
- 1.3 3. Cosco Highback 2-in-1 Booster Car Seat
- 1.4 4. Graco Tranzitions 3-In-1 Harness Booster Seat
- 1.5 5. Evenflo Maestro Sport Harness Booster Car Seat
- 1.6 6. KidsEmbrace 2-In-1 Harness Booster Seat
- 1.7 7. Chicco MyFit Harness + Booster Car Seat
- 2 What To Look For When Buying A Harness Booster Seat
- 3 How To Install A Harness Booster Seat Using The Vehicle Seat Belt
- 4 Frequently Asked Questions
- 5 Conclusion
7 Top Rated Harness Booster Seats Comparisons
IMAGE | PRODUCT | EDITOR'S RATING | PRICE |
---|---|---|---|
TOP PICK | 9.7 | CHECK ON AMAZON | |
Britax Grow With You ClickTight Plus Harness 2 Booster Car Seat | 9.5 | CHECK ON AMAZON | |
BEST BUDGET | 9.1 | CHECK ON AMAZON | |
8.8 | CHECK ON AMAZON | ||
8.6 | CHECK ON AMAZON | ||
8.2 | CHECK ON AMAZON | ||
8 | CHECK ON AMAZON |
1. Diono Radian 3R 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat
Diono has produced various high-quality products from their establishment 20 years ago. This makes them some of the most reliable products available today.
Their product under my observation today is the Diono Radian 3R 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat.
This three-in-one convertible booster seat is present on this list in the first spot due to various reasons, which I will go over.
Firstly, the product is convertible, seamlessly switching from rear-facing to front-facing.
This is very convenient for parents who are unsure what type of product they want, catering to a larger audience of parents who want either of the two types.
The product is a slim fit by design meaning. It does not take any space while not compromising on capacity and weight.
The product is 16 by 17 inches in dimensions, with the height being linked to the mode it is being used in, and has a total weight of almost 26 pounds.
With a high back, the normal rear0facing mode can hold up to 50 pounds, while the high back booster mode goes up to 120 pounds.
The product also promises three across, meaning you can easily fit 3 of them in one car without cramming your children.
This is very light considering that the product has a reinforced steel core made of high-density plastic and steel.
This, along with reinforced sidewalls, offers the ultimate protection to your child.
Apart from this, the Diono Radian also comes in a wide variety of colors. This allows parents to choose the color based on the child’s preference or their car’s interior.
Parents can also decide to color code the seats based on child count; each child has a seat with a different color to avoid confusion in settings.
The product is tailor-made for families who have quite multiple children and require slim and fit booster seats so that they may fit them into their car.
- Wide range of colors
- Slim fit design & lightweight
- Made with reinforced steel
- Not easy to install
- Questionable safety
Despite a rather difficult installation phase, the slim fit design and strong and durable material used to make the product and its convertibility make it a good product overall.
2. Britax Grow With You ClickTight Plus Harness 2 Booster Car Seat
Britax has been a brand protecting children on the road for years. It is a brand that works for manufacturing products for child care related to traveling.
They provide the best car seats that too with various options. A booster seat that grows with your child is the best type.
The Britax Grow With You ClickTight Plus Harness 2 Booster Car Seat does exactly this. It is not only meant for your toddler but also when he is a grown-up child.
This is a 2 in 1 booster seat. With this feature, you’re not bound to use the seat only when your child is a toddler but also when he grows up.
Since it is advised to keep children in a belt or harness to ensure maximum safety, this booster seat is designed while keeping that in mind.
You can install it confidently in just three easy steps. Open, thread & buckle, close. And that’s it! No unnecessary hassle.
The quality is fully trusted as Britax uses the finest materials. Premium, soft-touch fabrics are used, and a 4-way stretch fabric leads to a modern look that’s easy to clean.
Hence the materials they use are trusted that will last you a long time.
In this way, you do not have to worry about the quality. It has a 5-point harness along with two different recline positions.
Also, let me mention that this seat supports children between 25 to 120 pounds which is an amazing weight range.
That means you can make the most out of it over the years as your child continues to grow.
Hence, you will have to keep the seat’s weight and the size of your car in mind as it might be a little big for a small-sized car.
- It can be used for toddlers and grown-up kids, both
- Hassle-free use
- Finest quality materials used
- 5-point harness with wide weight range
- Not suitable for a small car
Despite not being suitable for small cars, the Britax Click Tight offers hassle-free to use and ease of adjustability, making it a good choice for growing children.
3. Cosco Highback 2-in-1 Booster Car Seat
Cosco is a company that has been around for the past 70 years and has a great lineup of products for the whole family.
It is only natural for them to expand their reach into the children’s market by releasing a few booster seats.
This one is the Cosco Highback 2-in-1 Booster Car Seat, yet another convertible booster seat that switches from front to rear-facing without any delay.
I mentioned that Cosco creates products for the whole family. The 5-point harness mode is specialized for smaller children, while the belt-positioning mode is perfect for bigger children.
This allows the sea to be used throughout the child’s growing years without needing a replacement.
Even in products centered on a single family member, Cosco thinks about the whole crew, so their booster seats are machine washable.
The removable seat can easily go into the washing machine and come out clean as a whistle, making any mess created by the child seem trivial.
The product also does not compromise safety.
Despite already being a 5-point harness system, which is already very secure, the product takes it one step further by helping secure the other mode.
Moreover, the belt-positioning mode is aided with shoulder guides which help children of different heights fit better with the belt.
The product also allows for ease of access; accompanying the durable frame of the booster seat is a removable cup holder where the child can store their drinks without the risk of dropping them.
This cup holder is also dish washable and does not pose any risk in joining other dishes in the washer.
Other than this, the seat belt has been called into question, unable to buckle up.
- Machine Washable
- 2-in-1 convertible
- Detachable cup holder
- The product is bulky in size
- Seat belts may not be as advertised
The large size may be a downside of this product, but the sheer ease of access and quality of life the product provides makes it deserve a spot on my list.
4. Graco Tranzitions 3-In-1 Harness Booster Seat
Graco is an international company that has been creating baby essentials for over 65 years.
The company places a huge focus on safety, durability, comfort, and convenience, making them one of the world’s most trusted baby gear companies.
The Graco Tranzitions 3-In-1 Harness Booster Seat offers a wide range of space and positions for children from toddler to youth.
This makes it more versatile, allowing it to last longer and conveniently. It has two modes, each of which allows for different ranges of weights to be set for the child.
The range for the forward-facing harness for children of around 22 to 65 pounds and the high back or backless booster seat for kids weights around 40 to 100 pounds.
This booster seat is equipped with a special harness system. This allows for the adjustment of both the harness and the headrest simultaneously.
Hence, the product can easily handle children of different heights and weights. This makes it extremely easy and convenient to use, especially if you are in a hurry.
The headrest and the harness on this seat will easily help you set it up for your growing child as it is adjustable to 8 positions.
It is quite lightweight because of the blow-molded plastic used to make the frame.
This allows for easier portability and can be easily moved from one vehicle to another when traveling from car to car if and when needed. It also helps in the un-installation process.
The installation can also be different from one vehicle to another. Some cars with the shoulder belt on the side may have issues using this.
- Simultaneous adjustment of both harness and headrest
- Is durable and long-lasting
- Comfortable for the child to sit in
- It can be a bit tricky to install
If you are a busy parent and active a lot, then this booster seat might be just the right thing for you. This is mainly because of the sheer convenience that it provides.
5. Evenflo Maestro Sport Harness Booster Car Seat
Evenflo is a brand that works to produce travel gear for children. This includes strollers, car seats, and all other travel gear. They work for the protection of children.
It’s quite an old brand headquartered in Ohio. Not only do they manufacture travel gear, but baby bottles and pacifiers.
This Evenflo Maestro Sport Harness Booster Car Seat belongs to the snug fit category, designed to keep your child safe, cozy, and secure!
It has a front harness adjust and access to the harness adjuster, which provides an easy way to adjust a child’s harness for an accurate fit.
This means the seat is safe, but the system is easy to use. The seat weighs only 9.6 lbs which is light.
This is impressive, considering it can support a child weighing 22 to 110 lbs. This means the seat can fit in a smaller size without any inconvenience.
So, the super lightweight seat will be effortless to transfer to different vehicles.
Considering parents’ busy lives nowadays, the seat pads are removable and made up of a wipeable and machine washable, making the cleaning very easy and hassle-free, setting aside all your cleaning tensions and providing parents with the peace of mind they deserve.
Furthermore, it also has a shoulder belt guide installed which ensures support. This belt automatically positions the vehicle belt in the proper position for your child.
The child won’t ever get out of place while sitting in the car, thus enabling parents very easy, tension-free, smooth drive as they won’t have to worry about it the child at all.
Comfort long with security is something parents always put first while buying products for their kids.
If a child doesn’t feel comfortable, he will get cranky, and the parents would get disturbed.
- Ensures safety
- Lightweight
- Easy cleaning
- Support
- Concerns about comfortability
The product is lightweight, safe, and easy to maintain. The only downside to it is the questionable comfort it claims to provide.
6. KidsEmbrace 2-In-1 Harness Booster Seat
KidsEmbrace is a brand that features products from Marvel, Disney, Nickelodeon, and much more.
The KidsEmbrace 2-In-1 Harness Booster Seat, as like the others, features a 5-point harness, which has points at each shoulder, at the hips, and one between the legs.
This keeps the child fully protected, keeping the child firmly gripped while sitting on the seat in the event of a car crash.
The points help to redirect the force of the crash to prevent injury. The seat is also a wonderful change from the average booster seat from a child’s perspective.
The seat can be chosen according to your child’s favorite character by resembling various characters. This makes the child enjoy sitting in what would otherwise be a dull chair.
Coming in characters such as the Hulk and Spiderman, this is a very good idea to attract children and help convince them that the seat is fun, safe, and comfortable.
I think that the Iron man seat is the best of the bunch. Parents love a convertible car seat. Hence, there is no reason not to love the seat feature that has two mode options.
The seat can be toggled between a forward-facing mode that takes advantage of the harness and a belt-positioned mode for older children.
It can handle children weighing 22 to 65 and 40 to 100 pounds in the respective mode. Height can be adjusted accordingly as well to provide maximum comfort.
I cannot forget to mention how convenient this seat would be to use due to the presence of the three-position headrest with adjustable height.
This headrest comes with special foam, which absorbs energy. Along with safety, the product has two cup holders, giving convenience to hold drinks.
Probably due to its design and because the cleaning process would be a little high maintenance.
- The harness provides full security
- Maximum positions
- Convertible
- Convenient
- Difficult cleaning
Despite being a bit high maintenance, the product is worth considering. It offers a wide array of appealing features and the added benefit of resembling your child’s favorite characters.
7. Chicco MyFit Harness + Booster Car Seat
The Chicco brand has become world-renowned has provided its customers worldwide with exceptional products, being regarded in quality and features alike.
In this list, I will be showing you the Chicco MyFit Harness + Booster Car Seat.
Starting, the product comes with toggles the seat between two distinct modes, a 2-in-1 booster seat capable of converting from the harness to belt effortlessly.
The booster seat is suitable for children of all ages, toddlers, and infants alike. When the product is set to the forward-facing mode, the maximum weight capacity is 25 to 65 pounds.
However, when using the seat in its belt-positioned mode, the car seat can withstand the weight of children ranging from 40 to 100 pounds.
The product doubles down on being available to a larger target audience.
It has the added benefit of accommodating a market of young children and those moving towards a booster seat without aback.
In addition, the ChiccoMyFit comes with a recliner mode is back booster model, which is a great feature when considering the comfort of the ride—being capable of adjusting to 4 distinct positions and offering nine positions for the headrest.
The product also has two dish washable cup holders, which can be removed with a single button, adding accessibility on top of comfort.
The harness is padded with a one pull-tightener that will keep the children relaxed and safe in this seat designed for growing children.
This, along with premium latch connectors and a belt-tightening system, leads to easy installation and added safety of the child.
A shell has two layers that further protect the child. This, combined with a layer that absorbs energy and a side impact layer, protects the given product from all sides.
These inconsistent results do raise a few eyebrows when talking about the product.
- Extreme protection
- Cup holders and further accessibility features
- Convertible
- Inconsistent performance across users
The product sets itself up to be well made and offers many good, top-of-the-line features but has a varied amount of problems from user to user.
What To Look For When Buying A Harness Booster Seat
Harness booster seats are sought after the most due to the level of safety they provide.
This is to the point that many states require them in some form.
If you have a toddler and your state pressures you to get a harness booster seat but don’t know what to look for, this guide has you covered.
Here are the main features you should try to include in your car seat:
- Easy To Use
- 5-Point Harness System
- Easily Adjustable
- Perfectly Safe
You might be wondering why I am prioritizing these features. I will explain why these features should be at the top of the search list regarding harnessing booster seats.
Easy To Use
Harness booster seats come in many different types, which can make using them quite difficult as each seat has its way of operation, especially regarding harnesses.
You should attempt to get a harness booster seat that is easy to use when it comes to the harness system.
5 Point Harness System
The main thing that many states prioritize when it comes to harnessing booster seats has a 5-point harness system.
You might see options such as a 3-point harness system, but a 5-point system is the better option.
Easily Adjustable
As your child grows, you are bound to adjust the harness system so that sitting in the car seat does not become uncomfortable.
You should be on the look for a harness system that is easily adjustable as well; otherwise, you might struggle to get it into the proper position.
Perfectly Safe
The main purpose of a harness booster seat is to perfectly secure the child in the seat. That being said, you should get the car seat with the most secure harness system.
In some cases, it has been known to give out, which is why safety and reliability should be a top concern.
How To Install A Harness Booster Seat Using The Vehicle Seat Belt
If you do not know how to properly install a harness booster seat, follow the steps below:
- Start with removing the headrest of the car seat.
- Check and make sure to see if the lower anchors are properly stored.
- Unhook the tethers and put them at the back of the seat.
- The booster seat should be flat on the car seat and have 80% of itself on the car seat.
- Expose the belt path and route the seat belt through it, keeping it flat.
- Lock the seat belt by pulling it until it goes back to the retractor.
- Push on the center of the seat and pull the seat belt to tighten, all while removing any slack.
- Attach the tether to the car’s tether anchor and tighten it.
- Check the tightness of the car seat; it should not move more than an inch.
This should make the booster seat ready for your child. If you are in the market for a booster seat, you should ensure that it comes with a capable harness system.
It is usually the safest and most effective means of transportation for your children as it offers the most security. Getting one will also do you good if you travel to a state where it is required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Are Harness Booster Seats Safer Than Traditional Booster Seats?
Short answer: harness booster seats are often safer than the traditional ones.
Long answer: The harness system is designed to protect your child at shoulders and hips during the ride, especially during a car collision.
The harness redirects the force away from the child to restrained areas and the back of the seat, cutting risks of potential injuries. It also keeps the child in an optimal position.
Q2. When Can A Child Use A Harness Booster Seat?
The optimal age to place your kids in a harness booster seat is between eight and twelve years old. This is as stated by most experts.
However, depending on the height and weight of your child, they may require the use of a harness booster seat much sooner.
Q3. How Long Should My Child Use A Harness Booster Seat?
There is no set point where children can stop using the booster seats. The seats exist to provide further protection to your child in the vehicle.
An optimal time to consider stopping the use of the seat is when the child is grown up and ready to use the in-car seat belt.
You should consider this idea when the child outgrows, and more importantly, out-weighs the seat. Once the child goes over the weight capacity of the seat, the seat should be removed.
Q4. How Should I Know If My Child Requires A Harness?
Harness booster seats are for older children from 8-12 years of age.
If your child is at this age and requires a booster seat, one with a harness should be considered. If your child is younger than this, harnessing capabilities is a bonus.
Conclusion
Booster seats exist to further protect the child and keep them comfortable.
While it is useful only for grown children, it is good to have a booster seat that supports the system when it needs to be used.
The harness takes this one step further in giving them an extra layer of protection in a vehicle collision or crash.
Moreover, when it comes to the best harness booster seat, I recommend the Diono Radian 3R 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat.
It is slim, lightweight, durable, and provides comfort and security in various colors that appeal to its younger audience.
I am Tahir Azam, and I have been writing amazing articles for TaxiHack for as long as I can remember. I know everything that is to know when it comes to automobiles and is always on top of industry news and developments. While I am not an expert by any means, I pride myself on knowing the ins and outs of many different problems and, of course, their solutions. The articles on our website are some of the best and well-researched content that you will find, and I spend countless hours making sure this remains to be true. This is why I ask you to take your time out and read some of my articles, especially if you find a topic that resonates with you or is something you are looking into. This way, you will find the perfect mix of information and tips on your desired topic. Learn more about Tahir.