Britax Grow With You ClickTight Review
Our Verdict
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This Product
Britax Grow With You ClickTight | |||||
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Awards | Best Crash Test Booster | Best Booster for Most | Best Booster for Travel and Carpooling | Best Booster on a Budget | |
Price | $350 List Check Price at Amazon | $300 List $319.99 at Amazon | $160 List $159.99 at Amazon | $40 List $37.98 at Amazon | $120 List $99.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | Quality choice with easy installation, but little ones needed help to buckle up | This booster offers the best crash test analysis results and performs well in all metrics making it a favorite among testers | Great choice for most families with better crash testing analysis, easy installation, and cozy seating for kids | Great for travel and carpooling, but the quality and crash results make it less appealing as an all-the-time booster | A comfy headrest and good crash test results make this lightweight choice an option that won't break the bank |
Rating Categories | Britax Grow With Yo... | Peg Perego Viaggio... | Chicco KidFit Zip A... | BubbleBum | Diono Cambria 2 |
Crash Test (35%) | |||||
Ease of Use (25%) | |||||
Weight/Size (15%) | |||||
Comfort (15%) | |||||
Quality (10%) | |||||
Specs | Britax Grow With Yo... | Peg Perego Viaggio... | Chicco KidFit Zip A... | BubbleBum | Diono Cambria 2 |
Modes | 5 Point Harness, High Back Booster |
High Back Booster | High Back Booster, Backless Booster | Backless Booster | High Back Booster, Backless Booster |
High Back Booster Weight Range | 25-65 lb | 40-120 lb | 40-110 lb | N/A | 40-120 lb |
High Back Booster Height Range | 34-49 in | 39-63 in | 38-57 in | N/A | 38-63 in |
Width | 21.5 in | 16.3 in | 18.2 in | 11.3 in | 19.9 in |
Weight | 26.4 lb | 15.7 lb | 11.8 lb | 0.9 lb | 12.0 lb |
Backless Booster Height Range | #REF! | N/A | 38-58 in | 40-57 in | 38-63 in |
5 Point Harness Weight Range | #REF! | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
5 Point Height Range | #REF! | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
LATCH Equipped | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
#REF! | #REF! | #REF! | #REF! | #REF! | #REF! |
Recline Positions | 2 | 5 | 2 | N/A | None |
Foam Type | EPP | EPS | EPS | None | None |
Seat Lifespan | 9 Years | 12 Years | 8 Years | 4 Years from purchase date | 8 Years |
Aircraft Certified |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Britax was a popular car seat maker in Europe when it launched in the US in 1996. Britax has been making baby gear for more than 70 years and works with other genre manufacturers to create innovative products like strollers and car seats.
Performance Comparison
Crash Test
The Grow with You performed better than the average seat in our hotter crash testing at MGA Research.
We commissioned independent crash testing in the same facility used by NHTSA but ran the test somewhat hotter and on a sled that better mimics modern vehicles.
This Britax performed better than the average seat in our lineup and had better sensor data results from the crash test dummy than much of the competition. This seat had good results for both the HIC and chest clip sensors, which is better than those with higher recorded G-forces for one or both sensors. However, there are competitors with higher results that cost less or offer more.
Ease of Use
The Grow with You has a lot going on compared to the typical booster, and it only earned an average result for ease of use.
The bottom of the seat is wide, and this makes it harder to find the vehicle buckle. Our child tester was almost out of the seat before she could reach the buckle, and some little ones will likely need help making the connection.
The strap repeatedly fell out of the shoulder guide when pulling out the slack in the belt. There was no trouble unbuckling, but again, our tester was almost fully out of the seat to reach it. Threading the belt is easy and obvious, with red color coding to help and encourage moving the belt under the armrest.
Our passenger reported that the shoulder and lap belt felt comfortable but we struggled with the way the belt folds in the guide, and we couldn't really get a snug feeling. It felt like either the shoulder strap or the lap portion was loose, no matter what kind of adjustments we made.
This booster is big and cumbersome and hard to move without bumping into anything around it. While we could get a good grip on the headrest for carrying, it still felt like it was a lot to manage. It is straightforward to install using the LATCH straps and the ClickTight press-down seat bottom. The tensioner allows for easier removal of the hooks when you are ready to uninstall. We like that it secures to the car so it isn't free floating. The recline handle is somewhat sticky, but we are excited it reclines, so maybe it is a worthwhile trade-off.
This booster has dual cup holders incorporated into the seat itself, not hanging off the side. You can pull them out for dishwasher cleanup easily. Our test water bottle didn't fit all the way to the bottom, but it didn't fall out either. Wider cups and bottles might not fit. It also has a 2 X 2.5-inch pocket for important treasure storage. The pocket is not removable unless you remove the entire cover, so it is probably not the best for snack holding.
Weight/Size
The Grow with You is one of the heaviest options in the group. So, if you need to carry this option or frequently engage in carpooling or camps where a booster is required, this is not a good contender at 26.4 lbs.
It is also unbelievably wide at over 21 inches, making it wider than even convertible seats. This will make it challenging to get multiple seats across one row or to have multiple passengers and a booster in one row.
Comfort
This option has some of the most padding, and that padding is comfortable without being too soft. There is extra padding in the headrest and side wings than most of the competition, so slouched napping is sure to be cozy.
The padding over the ClickTight opening could be better, given that the flap opens, and you might be able to feel it under your tushie, but it is still significantly better than most competitors. The fabric is a bit scratchy and rough with a ribbed design that seems like a flaw, given the chance for messes and bare skin on the fabric, but overall, it appears to be cooling and durable. This seat sports integrated cup holders and armrests.
Quality
The Britax is an impressive, high-quality booster unmatched by most seats in this review. It has nice thick padding where kids need it for comfort in both the seat and headrest areas. The cover is sewn without errant stitching; it lays flat and fits the shell nicely. The ClickTight mechanism is made with some metal components, indicating it is likely to last as long as the seat.
Should You Buy the Grow with You?
The Grow with You is one of the more expensive options in our lineup and it doesn't offer much to justify the price, in our opinion. It didn't impress in any with close-to-average crash test results and average ease of use. While we get why parents are still attracted to Britax, for us, there isn't enough here to justify the hype or the price, making it an option we don't love.
What Other Booster Seat Should You Consider?
If you want the absolute best crash test results or ease of use and don't want to sacrifice quality, the Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120 is the one to beat. This seat performed well in every metric and was a favorite for children and parents. It also costs less than the Britax. Alternatively, if budget is a concern and the price is hard to meet, the Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1 is about half the price and has cool features like a zip-off cover and better quality and ease of use performance over the Britax.