The Britax Frontier 85 is a great improvement from its already stellar predecessor, the Britax's Frontier.
The Frontier 85 is a forward-facing child restraint and belt-positioning booster seat.
Depending on whether or not it is used as a harness or a booster, the car seat is suitable for children ranging from 2 -5+ years old weighing 25 to 120 pounds.
Many parents have stated their desire to keep their children restrained in a 5-point harness for as long as they can and the Frontier 85 helps make this possible by increasing the minimum height and weight limits for the seat.
The raised heights and weights aren't the only things that Britax have changed, overall they have made great improvements to the product that is perfect for parents who want a car seat that their child can grow into.
Installation: Some people may find the installation be a bit more difficult than the original Frontier.
Here are a few tips: Read the directions, Britax has a pretty explanatory and extensive installation guide.
New design of the LATCH/seatbelt routing path should make LATCH installations easier for many vehicles, but you must keep in mind that the LATCH system is only compatible for children weighing under 40lbs in most vehicles.
Another tip in some vehicles is to recline the vehicle seat back first, then install the child seat as tight as possible.
When you have finished, bring the vehicle seat back upright to secure the car seat a bit better.
Here's a quick preview of what makes the Frontier 85 standout and what Britax has improved upon.
Pro: Side Impact Protection- These days, most child restraints are very effective in frontal collisions when used properly.
However, with an increasing amount of fatal side collisions, Britax has continued to keep the addition of the side wings for protection against side collisions.
The wings around the head are padded with energy absorbing foam that help reduce impact in case of a side collision, they also have the added bonus of being head rests for children who sleep in their car seat.
Instead of bobbing from side to side, the head is cushioned by the headwings.
Multiple Harness Height Setting- The harness adjuster has ten height settings that can adjust to a growing child.
The Frontier 85 can fit children between 30 to 57 inches tall.
Another notable benefit is that adjustments can be done with the seat still attached to the vehicle, without having to rethread the car seat.
5-point Harness to 85 pounds- Most children over 40lbs meet the height requirements for a booster seat with a lap and shoulder belt, however, many parents prefer a 5-point harness restraint over a lap and shoulder belt for varying reasons- mainly safety.
A 5-point harness offers more restraint in rollover and side impact situations and also helps keep the more rambunctious kids in their car seat.
Additional pros: -Cup holders for easy access to drinks or crayons! -Adjustable padded crotch strap -9 year life span (barring damage) -Easily changes into a booster once your child as outgrown the harness setting Con: Weight & Bulk- The Frontier 85 is only a few pounds lighter than it's predecessor.
It's heavy! But you have to realize that the steel reinforced frame makes the product incredibly durable.
One of the only problems with the bulk of the car seat is the limit of how many car seats can fit in a row.
If you have limited space in your car, this is something to consider.
-Armrests do not fold up/move out of the way and can break if too much pressure is applied to them.
Britax will replace these for free if this occurs.
-Mesh seat material snags easily -You can only tighten the LATCH system on one side instead of both sides.
-Price- Britax is one of the more expensive brands on the market.
The Frontier 85 is about $100 more expensive than other leading 3-in-1 brands.
Conclusion The Britax Frontier 85 is an amazing choice for your growing child! The Frontier 85 really is the last seat your child will ever need and the dual harness/booster capabilities are a real plus, especially with the increased height and weight limits.
This product is definitely an upgrade if you have similar products like the Britax Marathon or Roundabout convertible car seats.
Although many might be turned off by the upfront costs, the cost works out about the same given the number of years this product can last as a booster after the child has grown out of the harness.
The Frontier 85 is a forward-facing child restraint and belt-positioning booster seat.
Depending on whether or not it is used as a harness or a booster, the car seat is suitable for children ranging from 2 -5+ years old weighing 25 to 120 pounds.
Many parents have stated their desire to keep their children restrained in a 5-point harness for as long as they can and the Frontier 85 helps make this possible by increasing the minimum height and weight limits for the seat.
The raised heights and weights aren't the only things that Britax have changed, overall they have made great improvements to the product that is perfect for parents who want a car seat that their child can grow into.
Installation: Some people may find the installation be a bit more difficult than the original Frontier.
Here are a few tips: Read the directions, Britax has a pretty explanatory and extensive installation guide.
New design of the LATCH/seatbelt routing path should make LATCH installations easier for many vehicles, but you must keep in mind that the LATCH system is only compatible for children weighing under 40lbs in most vehicles.
Another tip in some vehicles is to recline the vehicle seat back first, then install the child seat as tight as possible.
When you have finished, bring the vehicle seat back upright to secure the car seat a bit better.
Here's a quick preview of what makes the Frontier 85 standout and what Britax has improved upon.
Pro: Side Impact Protection- These days, most child restraints are very effective in frontal collisions when used properly.
However, with an increasing amount of fatal side collisions, Britax has continued to keep the addition of the side wings for protection against side collisions.
The wings around the head are padded with energy absorbing foam that help reduce impact in case of a side collision, they also have the added bonus of being head rests for children who sleep in their car seat.
Instead of bobbing from side to side, the head is cushioned by the headwings.
Multiple Harness Height Setting- The harness adjuster has ten height settings that can adjust to a growing child.
The Frontier 85 can fit children between 30 to 57 inches tall.
Another notable benefit is that adjustments can be done with the seat still attached to the vehicle, without having to rethread the car seat.
5-point Harness to 85 pounds- Most children over 40lbs meet the height requirements for a booster seat with a lap and shoulder belt, however, many parents prefer a 5-point harness restraint over a lap and shoulder belt for varying reasons- mainly safety.
A 5-point harness offers more restraint in rollover and side impact situations and also helps keep the more rambunctious kids in their car seat.
Additional pros: -Cup holders for easy access to drinks or crayons! -Adjustable padded crotch strap -9 year life span (barring damage) -Easily changes into a booster once your child as outgrown the harness setting Con: Weight & Bulk- The Frontier 85 is only a few pounds lighter than it's predecessor.
It's heavy! But you have to realize that the steel reinforced frame makes the product incredibly durable.
One of the only problems with the bulk of the car seat is the limit of how many car seats can fit in a row.
If you have limited space in your car, this is something to consider.
-Armrests do not fold up/move out of the way and can break if too much pressure is applied to them.
Britax will replace these for free if this occurs.
-Mesh seat material snags easily -You can only tighten the LATCH system on one side instead of both sides.
-Price- Britax is one of the more expensive brands on the market.
The Frontier 85 is about $100 more expensive than other leading 3-in-1 brands.
Conclusion The Britax Frontier 85 is an amazing choice for your growing child! The Frontier 85 really is the last seat your child will ever need and the dual harness/booster capabilities are a real plus, especially with the increased height and weight limits.
This product is definitely an upgrade if you have similar products like the Britax Marathon or Roundabout convertible car seats.
Although many might be turned off by the upfront costs, the cost works out about the same given the number of years this product can last as a booster after the child has grown out of the harness.