Customer Reviews

Compass Adjustable Folding Booster

5 star:		(42)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Reviewer: T. Hepple wrote
"I returned this chair because it lacked tethers and LATCH. Although tethers and LATCH are not required for boosters at this time in regulatory history, I'd feel safer when I find a booster with at least the tether."

Whoa! Jeez! NO "booster" seat is EVER supposed to be used with a latch system and that is why the newer ones do not have them.

As the transportation Dept says: "Never install a car seat using both the LATCH strap and the vehicle safety belt. This restricts the belts from absorbing crash energy."

Boosters are for use with the car seat belt, meaning you NEVER use the latch. Some older systems could be used by consumers who NEVER READ THE MANUAL with both. But these are called "toddler seats." They could have both a latch which you use when you are using the integral harness , as well as guides for the shoulder belt to use later as a belt adjusting booster type seat, but in that case the manual aways says to DISCONNECT the latch system - and for good reason.

Without getting to deeply into the specifics, if you use both the latch to secure the seat, and the seatbelt over the child the child will move forward alone in a crash and the belt will not be in the right position relative to the child when it reaches stop point. When done properly with NO latch the seat (which is light) moves with the child holding them in the correct position for the two to four inches of increasing tension travel until the belt stops.

Again:
1) Booster seats NEVER have a latch, and it is not a questin of them not being required "at this time," there will be no such requirement ever, since it it is a known danger.

2) If you buy a toddler seat that has a harness and later booster capability, use the latch with the harness, but when you change to seat belt, disconnect the latch...AS ALL MANUALS emphatically state.

We have this booster and it's wonderful. The seat is very thick and soft and my son looks very comfortable. The headrest holds his head just right when he sleeps. He likes the cupholders. It folds up so I can get it into the back seat of the minivan. The seat adjusts to his height.

One thing that's not mentioned which I thought was a positive safety feature is there's a reflective cording around the seat and it shines brightly in dim light. Whenever I go into the garage in the dark, the only thing I can see is the booster seat. It's so clearly marked. I was amazed the first time I noticed it. In an accident at night, a rescuer could more easily locate my child.

We bought a Compass Booster about a year a ago - we travel a lot and liked the idea that it folded for easy transport. My son has loved this seat - it's cushioning especially. Recently we were in a very serious car accident - in a brand new, large SUV that will be a total loss, such was the severity of the collision. After impact our first thought was for the safety of our son - we turned around and found him to be safe and sound - upright in the seat - which had hardly even moved. The paramedics were amazed he had no injuries after such a serious collision - and attributed a lot of that to his car seat construction. Needless to say we'll be replacing his Compass booster with a brand new one (as you should always do after a car seat is involved in an accident) - and will feel assured that he will be as safe in this one - as the last.

I recently had to purchase a booster seat for my 3 1/2 year old daughter who has recently outgrown her convertible car seat. When I went out searching for booster seats, I thought that they were mostly all the same. The first booster I purchased was by Evenflo and cost about a third of the B500. It worked great, but it was not well padded and I later found out that it did not contain any EPS foam. So back to the store it went. The second time around I compared the Britax Parkway with the Graco Turbo Booster with the extra cushioning. My daughter sat in the Britax and immediately complained about the head wings, so the Turbo Booster came home with us. After using the seat for a couple of days I realized how much I disliked the armrests. They did not pivot and my daughter had a hard time buckling her seat belt without it twisting or she would end up buckling it above the arm rest, which was a big no-no. So back it went. I went for the third and last time and purchased the B500. I love it. It contains the EPS foam, the pivoting arm rests and the best cushioning available. It actually fits the best out of all three in the 3rd row of my Honda Odyssey. Yes it is one of the more expensive models available, but it is worth it.

I believe that you have to try each product out in each of your vehicles and with your child to make sure it is a perfect fit all around.

I wanted to respond to a users comments regarding this booster seat not being FAA approved so that it does not discourage a potential buyer of this product. I went on the manufacturers website and the FAA does not approve of any belt positioning booster seats as airline setas only have a lap belt. Most boosters on the market are of the belt positioning type so this is not unique to the compass model. Also it is highly rated by consumer reports. It is great for carpooling after school too- easy to fold up and leave for the mom who is picking up your child after school! Highly reccomended.

I have been doing research on the different booster seats on the market and couldn't decide on one. It seemed that each booster I was looking at had one or more things that I didn't like. Some of the seats had flimsy backs that bent too easily when adjusting, some of them barely had any padding, and some of them didn't look as though they would hold the seatbelt securely at the shoulder. Then I found the Compass carseat and was immediately sold. The padding on this seat is thick and durable. The padding in my son's last seat flattened and the plastic on the back and seat was very uncomfortable for him. He LOVES how comfy this seat is. The back is adjustable and when adjusted to a higher setting you can feel it lock into place and the back does not start wobbling. It has a place to run the seat belt through that doesn't twist or pinch the belt. It makes it easy enough to fasten that my 4 year old does it. The arm rest are great in that they can be flipped up for buckling and put down when they want to use them. I also love the fact that this seat folds for travel. We returned on a trip before we bought the seat and from experience it is a pain to lug around a booster seat in an airport. I can't wait to travel again with this seat though. It'll be a breeze. Overall, this is an awesome seat. It is in my opinion one of the safest ones out there. Keep in mind I am a penny pincher, but it is worth EVERY penny!!!

My 5 year old daughter is thin for her age. She had problems with her bottom and legs falling asleep or going numb in her previous seat. She was always crying/complaining. Not anymore. The seat bottom is so nicely padded she hasn't complained once not even once on long car trips. Manufacturers always make car seat padded on the sides and are skipping one of the most important aspects - cushioning your bottom! I should also mention I am a car seat technician and I have done a lot of clinics the past four years. I have seen a lot of seats and none so far compare. I just consider the folding feature an added bonus. It has been great to travel with and send through luggage on an airplane. If your child complains about being uncomfortable then consider this seat the solution to your problem!

Unfortunately, my big 2 3/4 year old recently needed to give up his Britax Marathon (in my opinion, the absolute BEST booster seat out there for up to 65lbs.) to his little sister. I wanted something that my son would get the most use/time out of. Due to my past experience with Britax, I thought the Parkway would be the one...but the headrest seemed too confining and the height adjustment unsupportive. I also took a good look at the Graco TurboBooster which seemed poorly made & fell apart. I was reluctant to even consider a FOLDABLE seat -- how sturdy could it be? VERY! Extremely well made - strong frame - height adjusts from the lumbar area - deep cup holders - strong, comfortably placed, retractable arm rests (not fabric covered, which I think is a plus) - 'head wings' comfortably supportive but not confining - easy to install & buckle. Unlike other reviews, I find that the fixed seat (which is plenty wide & deep for a big child) is adequately reclined for snoozing & it provides more cushion than ANY other seat I looked at. Although I haven't had to launder it yet, the fabric seems very durable.

The Compass Booster Car Seat is outstanding! It is extremely light weight and easy to transport with its convenient carrying handle at the top of the seat and its ability to fold up. Kids love the dual cup holders, arm rests, and head/back rest that adjusts according to their height. The material is easy to clean and the cushion padding makes for a comfortable ride.

I do like this car seat. We just got it for our 4 year old. Easy to clean...easy to move between cars. We had the Britax Marathon so it feels a little big and not as secure as that but it is a booster. He likes it and is comfortable. I can definitly see it lasting a long time. I am getting ready to fly cross country and bring it in the bag with me as carry on luggage so we will see how that goes. Love that it folds. I do wish it had some sort of lock off sometimes he leans forward and it just doesn't seem secure but I have heard that with lots of boosters. I think it has great padding. So many like the Graco ones feel hard and uncomfortable. Some have commented on the fabric choices I guess I don't really care...it is neutral and easy to clean. Compared with other boosters I have used or looked at this one is great and I would recommend it. The other I considered were the britax but I travel by plane a lot and wanted something I could bring with me easily as carry on (so it doesn't get lost) I think that this booster will fit a kid for a longer period of time than the britax, it is roomy. I don't know that I would have wanted to use this when my son was three, I don't think he would have had the discipline to sit in it properly at that age so keeping in a car seat like the Marathon as long as possible is a good idea. But overall I am very happy with this booster seat and my son loves it. I love the arm rest that move up and down easy to buckle in and secure. The back also moves up and down and it is a full back so no moving up the back and having a narrow area around the head which I like. He has fallen asleep in it and been fine, just lean on the side wings. I have a subaru outback and the belt works perfectly across his shoulders. I have and would recommend this seat to others.