Clek Foonf Review

Clek came from one of the world's largest automotive suppliers. They strive to develop safe and innovative gear that tries to think outside the standard gear on the market. The lineup of safety seats Clek offers is currently manufactured in North America.

Performance Comparison

Crash Test

The Foonf earned a below-average result in our hotter crash tests, resulting in a below-average analysis score compared to the test group. If you want a Clek seat, the other Clek in our review scored better in this metric.

The Foonf sensor results from our simulated crash testing show a higher result than the average for the HIC sensor (head sensor) and an about-average result for the chest clip.

These results are the G-forces recorded by the crash test dummy sensors and relate to the G-forces experienced by the sensor, so a lower value is better. While all seats in our test group should meet federal guidelines and are considered safe, and our test was a little faster than the federally designed test, this seat did arguably well. However, there are better-scoring seats to be had elsewhere that are also easier to install.

Ease of Install - LATCH

While this Clek isn't as hard to install as other Cleks we've tested, it is still below the average for ease of installation using LATCH.

Rear-facing installation has push-style LATCH connectors on a flexible strap, and forward-facing has rigid connectors. The level indicator is a line on a decal, and the other is a lock-off for forward-facing.

The recline adjustment is a large wedge on the bottom, which doesn't give much room for finessing based on the vehicle seat. It wasn't enough to get a good angle in either test car, and we had to use 1-2 towels, depending on the car. The towels block access to the anchors on the vehicle, making the need for the towel even more disappointing.

The entire seat bottom is removable to access the strap pathway and lock-off, and it requires rethreading the crotch strap when you put it back on. Don't forget to add the anti-rebound bar before installing rear-facing. Getting the strap tight enough is challenging, and the pulling angle makes it more awkward.

Two lock-off blue clasps work well, but they aren't tensioners, so the strap needs to be as tight as possible before engaging. We wish there were no need for towels on a seat in this price range, and we needed them for both test cars. You can feel them during the wiggle test, and they make an already long seat stick out more, which could be a problem in smaller cars. The manufacturer manual and online video have conflicting instructions, and we chose to follow those in the included manual, but we wish they would remove the videos to avoid ambiguity. It is stable but somewhat wobbly when you are done.

Rear-facing installation of the Foonf is so much easier because it has rigid LATCH connectors that require no threading or tightening. It is what it is, and there isn't much that can be done to make adjustments. It is harder to maneuver the seat in place than infant car seats with rigid LATCH, but it wasn't impossible. This is likely a result of the size of the seat and the angle required to get the seat in place. There is a color indicator, but the manual says it will be “mostly green,” which isn't as reassuring as totally green, and we wonder why it is designed this way. Once the LATCH is connected, you need to push the seat in to get a tight fit, and the seat feels stable, but oddly, it is not as stable as the rear-facing flexible LATCH connectors did on this seat.

Ease of Install - Belt

Installing the Foonf using a vehicle belt is one of the hardest in the test group, earning a very low score in this metric.

This Clek doesn't have a traditionally color-coded pathway for rear-facing installation, but the belt lock-offs are colored blue and are helpful in figuring out where everything goes. There is a decal sticker with a line to ensure the seat is installed at the right angle, and we had to use one towel in one of our test cars to get the right angle. To thread the belt, you have to sort of disassemble the seat and rethread the crotch strap. This is a pain as the slot is thin and not the easiest to use. You also need to install the anti-rebound bar and the base. The seat is long from front to back in the rear-facing position, which means working within a small space can be awkward. The belt lock-offs are obvious, but the thin plastic clamp design is flimsy, and we were very worried we'd break them.

Getting the belt tight on the Foonf is harder before you engage the clamps. It is wobbly in most directions, and while it passes the wiggle test, it is nowhere near as stable as the competition. We suspect many parents would be disappointed in a seat this expensive, requiring a towel for proper installation.

To uninstall, you have to remove the padding and undo the clasps to free the belt.

Forward-facing installation of the Foonf includes red lock-off clasps and no level indicator despite having two recline options in the forward-facing position. There is an exposed threading pathway on the back of the seat that is best accessed by tipping the seat toward you. The open back bars make it easy to fit your hand through, but you need to use caution not to thread the belt between the harness and the bars. Having these two straps crossing paths at all feels like a poor design. This Clek is slightly more stable in the forward-facing position than other Cleks we tested, but it isn't anything to brag about. Overall, it is disappointing that a seat in this price range provides such a frustrating experience when threading a belt and locking it in place, especially when you consider that proper installation is essential for safety.

Uninstalling is easiest if you unbuckle the belt first to relieve tension before undoing the clasp. Undoing the clasp made us knock our hands into something every time.

Ease of Use

While not the most complicated option, it is more challenging than the average seat in this review.

Harness

Using the Foonf buckle requires pushing the surrounding padding down to get the prongs fully in the slots. The buckle doesn't sit very high, which could be a problem for children with bigger legs. Pinching could happen if you can't clear the buckle of fleshy parts. The prongs slide down to the seating area every time, and you will need to root for them. The chest clip slides easily for proper placement and is easy to pinch to remove.

Tightening and loosening the Foonf harness is better than the average option. It takes little effort to tighten, and both sides tightened the same after we fixed some offset webbing in the back. Releasing is somewhat different than most, with a pull tab instead of a button push. It is easy to pull and functions well.

The harness height adjustment on the Foonf is a rethread operation with five height options and two crotch strap positions. The rethread is a pain and requires little ones to be out of their seat to complete. It takes more time and effort than a non-rethread style adjustment, and a seat in this price range should offer more here, in our opinion. The upper levels of adjustment are behind a chunky plastic part you have to remove, and the headrest movement could also be required and isn't as simple as it could be. The crotch strap is also a pain and requires some fancy finger gymnastics to make the switch in positions.

LATCH Storage

The Foonf LATCH storage is below average. The compartment is underneath the seat padding. We had trouble cramming in all the webbing and the connectors in the small space. It took multiple attempts to get the straps inside flush with the seat compartment so we could close the seat back.

Cover

Removing the Foonf cover is a disappointing operation. The manual says the seat cover should not be removed (wait, what?). No matter what else might be removable, this feels like a misstep when kids create messes, even if you never give them food in the car and they are really careful. The idea that you will never need to clean the seat or have a steam cleaner on hand feels like an oversight by Clek.

Comfort/Quality

The higher price of the Foonf should translate to better comfort and quality. However, it came in relatively low in this metric with firm padding that does not cushion.

The Foonf has fabric that is rougher but better than that of some of the competition. It is better than some and not genuinely rough. It isn't smooth, but rubbing on the skin didn't seem to be an irritant either. The more we touched it, the better it felt to us. However, the dense and hard foam and lack of comfort padding make us wish it were softer. The lack of comfort padding or an infant insert has us somewhat cringing at the idea of an infant in this seat, and we hope parents will purchase a dedicated infant car seat instead of a one-and-done solution. The cover doesn't come off completely, creating cleaning headaches should spills or sickness occur.

There is about a 1/4 of an inch padding on the tushie area, but there isn't much give or cushion for comfort. We suspect little ones won't be as comfortable here as some of the competition, but younger ones might not know enough to complain. Other toddlers might.

The shell is not all-encompassing, and there are exposed bars that leave it looking sort of undone and industrial-looking. In rear-facing mode, there is even more of the seat exposed that could get messy. It has no cup holder. This lack of a holder isn't a deal breaker, as most cupholders on seats are relatively useless, but for the price, it feels like an oversight.

Weight/Size

The Foonf is a beast and weighs more than any other convertible in our lineup. With a measured weight of 33.7 lb, where the average is 24.3, we don't think any parent will want to lug this beast around for long.

Alternatively, it is the most narrow in the group, along with the other Clek we tested, with a width of 16.9 inches.

If either one had been easier to install or did better in our crash test analysis, they would be good contenders for small cars or limited seating areas. The average option we measured in our lineup was 18.6 in wide.

Should You Buy the Clek Foonf?

The Clek Foonf is not an impressive option compared to the competition. While it scored better than the Clek Fllo because it is easier to install than the Fllo, it did not earn an average overall score or crash test analysis result, making it a seat we didn't love. Adding the difficulty of keeping it clean, since the entire cover is not removable, we aren't even convinced it is a practical seat for messy toddlers. Given the higher price, we think most families should look elsewhere.

What Other Convertible Car Seat Should You Consider?

One of our favorite options is the Graco 4Ever DLX, which has one of the group's best crash test analysis scores and is easy to install. It comes with dual cup holders and easier-to-use harness height adjustment. It is lighter in weight than the Foonf and offers better features for comfort and quality. If you want the highest quality or comfort, then the Nuna Rava is one for your shortlist. While this seat has one of the highest prices, it delivers in every metric, including crash test analysis, ease of installation for both types, and ease of use. We think you'll love the Rava if your budget allows a higher price. If you are looking for super narrow, the Britax Poplar S is only 17 inches wide and had above-average test results in most metrics.

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