My boyfriend and I have two toddlers. We both have jobs, and we both have our own cars. Depending on the day and our schedules, either one of us can be dropping the kids off and picking them up from daycare on any given day. About a year ago we purchased a second car seat for my boyfriends son so that we wouldn't have to keep doing the car seat exchange each time his son went to his mother's house. I quickly figured out why on one of the return trips she swapped out the car seat we had purchased for him for a car seat she already had, which happened to be the Cosco Summit seat. Unless you plan to put the car seat in your vehicle and never move it to another car and never plan to use it on an airplane, do NOT purchase this seat!
I know when I get off work and pick the kids up from daycare, I'm exhausted. I just want to get them in the car and go home. The problem is, I have to carry the car seats from the daycare center to my car, put both of the seats in the car, then go back for the kids. I'm not a weak woman by any means. I lift weights with my boyfriend and can bench quite a heavy amount. However, putting the Cosco Summit car seat in my car takes it's toll on me! I have an Audi A4, which is NOT a quote/unquote "family" car, and maneuvering this big, heavy, bulky seat into my car is a chore. The Cosco website says that this seat weighs in at 15 pounds, but at the end of a long, hard day I could swear it weighs closer to 50 pounds!
Having split families and an ex husband and ex wife that live in a different State, my boyfriend and I are frequent fliers with our children. Every other month, he takes a trip to CA to pick up his son. Every other month, he has to drag this car seat through the airport. It's not so bad for him, he's much more muscular than I am.
When I take my daughter to CA to see her father and sibblings, I NEVER use the Cosco Summit seat. I'm usually pushing a stroller with my daughter in it, pulling a suitcase or two with the car seat buckled on top and carrying at least two carry on bags. Trying to maneuver the Cosco Summit seat would be near impossible.
When we have to move car seats from one car to the other it's a pain in the BEHIND! The car seat I purchased for my daughter is much LIGHTER, much less BULKY, and just as SAFE as the Cosco Summit seat. We typically take turns with which vehicle we use when we go anywhere, but if my boyfriend doesn't feel like driving on any particular day he knows all he has to do is put the Cosco Summit seat in my car, and I'm not going to hassle with moving it!
The seat is plenty comfortable for the kids. It has plenty of cushioning in the seat. The seat cover is fairly easy to remove to be washed. The seat is very sturdy and has held up extremely well. The arm rests are a bonus, as the kids like to have somewhere to rest their arms other than just on their laps. The cup holder on the seat is somewhat useless, as the cups or drinks have to be the perfect size in order to maneuver the drink around the edge of the chair and fit it into the drink holder. The buckles on the seat are fairly easy to adjust, actually, they are just as easy to adjust as any other car seat buckles/straps. The seat has a five point harness, which is one of the safest you can have on a car seat. The seat is for children 30-100 pounds, so it can be used until the kids are old enough and weigh enough to no longer need car seats. The seat holds up well, is very durable and sturdy. It's made extremely well. For all the reasons I dislike this seat, there are just as many reasons to like it. However, I want ease of use and convenience along with the particular benefits.
The specifications of the seat are as follows:
5-point harness with 2 piece harness retainer for child 22-40 lbs
Equipped with the new LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system
Tether is included
Belt-positioning booster for child 30-100 lbs
Easy A-lok adjuster allows you to secure harness with just 1 hand.
crotch positions for proper fit
3 position recline with 1 hand release
Slide out cup holder in base
Removable, washable pad
Approved for use on aircraft
Accommodates children up to 52 inches tall
Dimensions: 21 x 19.75 x 28.25 inches
Seat weight: 15 lbs.
Interior dimensions: 12 x 12 x 24 in.
Seat bottom to lowest harness slot: 10 in.
Seat bottom to highest harness slot: 10 in.
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 130.00
Age Range of Child: 3 to 5 Years