Great seat...not perfect...
Written: Oct 11 '08 (Updated Jan 06 '09)
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Pros: 5 point harness to 65 pounds, sturdy, lightweight, easy to install, and roomy
Cons: Doesn't recline, immovable armrests,won't make it to 65 pounds for tall or thick kids
The Bottom Line: I would recommend this seat because it does have the 65 pound harness, it has good features, and kids of average size will fit comfortably for several years.
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| shamel_21's Full Review: Cosco Juvenile Apex 65 Booster Car Seat - 22531 |
I bought this seat for my 3.5 year old daughter when she reached 40 pounds and outgrew her other booster's internal harness maximum. I was debating between this seat and the Graco Nautilus. They both have the 65 pound maximum internal harness limit without the $200+ cost found in Britax and the other pricier brands. I chose this seat because of the excellent reviews it received on Epinions.
I am mostly happy with the Apex 65. It's very comfortable and roomy. The Apex 65 is exceptionally well padded. Although this padding in the seat can make the crotch strap a little too tight for some kids. It has an easily adjusted headrest. You will have to re-thread the seat straps to adjust the height. I was a little spoiled by the Eddie Bauer deluxe high back booster she had before, because it never needed re-threading when your child grew taller. The Apex 65 isn't any harder than other carseat/booster seats to re-thread; I just prefer the Eddie Bauer seat in this way.
The Apex 65 is very easy to install. I use our vehicles seat belts and not the LATCH system. I have an extended Chevy TrailBlazer with the 3rd row seating and there is plenty of room for the seat.
It does have a few cons though. Your vehicle will need headrests in order to safely use this seat. I wouldn't recommend it for use with bench seats without headrests. The Apex 65 does not recline! This was a big factor for me as my daughter often sleeps in the car. However, in my TrailBlazer with the middle seat reclined, the Apex 65 sits comfortably and safely semi-reclined, so it wasn't an issue for us.
The armrests are fixed, so you can't move/remove them to place your child in or out of the seat. This can cause issues with things getting caught on them. Also the armrest covers slip off. This is good for washing them, but not good when your child discovers that she can pull them off at will.
My daughter is quite tall for her age. She is approximately 41 inches standing. This puts her at the tallest slot on the Apex 65. I do have the concern that she will outgrow the seat in height well before she reaches 65 pounds in weight! The crotch strap is a little short, both in the length overall (it can pinch legs) and in the placement forward in the seat (not sitting far enough forward from the child's crotch). It hasn't caused an issue for us yet, but again, I don't know how long my daughter will fit in it!
So far, it has been an excellent seat for our current needs, although more consideration for "tall" or "thick" children could be put into future models.
**Update- January 2009** I have had the Apex 65 for 3 months now, and while it is still a great booster seat, my daughter has outgrown it! She is 42 inches standing and 16 inches sitting. She will be 4 in April, but as I mentioned before, she is very tall for her age. She was at the top slot when I bought the seat, and in just a few months is above the "at the shoulder or higher" limit on the internal harness.
I want her to be in an internal harness as long as possible for safety's sake. This unfortunately, has forced me to buy one of the "upper end" booster seats to keep her in the 5 point harness. Had I realized this before the purchase of the Apex 65, I would have put the money toward a booster with a taller height limit.
I still highly recommend the Apex 65 booster to parents with younger or more average height children. The booster is going to be passed down to our youngest daughter who will be 2 in April, and also, who is in the average height range. The Apex 65 is an excellent seat. It is safe, inexpensive, simple to use, and comfortable. Overall, it is a great investment.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 140
Age Range of Child: 3 to 5 Years
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Epinions.com ID:
shamel_21
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Reviews written: 3
Trusted by: 1 member
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