Value Meets Versatility (& Buys It a Drink)- Evenflo Comet 5 High Back Booster w/LATCH
Written: Mar 10 '03 (Updated Mar 10 '03)
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Pros: Easy to install, long life and reasonable price
Cons: -
The Bottom Line: I have finally found a car seat that installs without making me curse! The Evenflo Comet 5 High Back Booster Seat is a winner.
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| jenb123's Full Review: Evenflo Comet Booster Car Seat |
I hate buying car seats. I dread it. I have returned as many seats as I have kept, and when it came time to buy my petite preschooler a high back booster, I cringed.
I first bought a Cosco High Back Booster and returned it because the 5-point harness was not easy to adjust. My tiny, 35 pound daughter kept riding in her Century Smart-Move, but I knew I would need to replace it soon. After spending an obscene amount of time moving the Century seat into a rental car, I decided now would be a good time to get a new seat. I had no desire to try to put the old seat back in my car when it came back from the shop. If I was to wrestle with another seat, I might as well do it now, I thought.
To be honest, I didn't know what seat to choose, even with Epinions reviews to consider, I was at a loss. Thanks to some Amazon.com/BabiesRUs discounts and promotions, I came upon the Evenflo Comet 5 Booster Car Seat and was impressed with the features. Amazon.com customers rated the item highly and the price was right.
Obligatory nuts-n-bolts, bells and whistles...tethers and LATCHes...
The Evenflo Comet 5 is a sturdy car seat chock full 'o features. Since it is a "big-kid seat," there is no cutesy pattern. The Aztec design is a conservative blue color, with soft material for comfort.
I am using the seat with the internal 5-point harness which is appropriate for children between 20-40 pounds. There is a 3-position adjustable harness as well as an additional 3-position (crotch) buckle strap. The BuckleRight buckle clicks and indicates it is properly secured when the yellow part of the buckle disappears.
There is an easy access up-front harness adjust knob. Though the booster must be removed from the car to change the harness and belt positioning settings, the know allows for easy tightening and loosening of the 5-point harness. There is a 2-piece chest clip to prevent little hands from removing the harness, and to keep parents on their toes.
From 30-80 pounds, the seat can be used as a belt-positioning booster. There are two positioners on each side of the seat to thread the car shoulder belt through. This makes it possible to use the seat with most shoulder seat belts.
This seat can be used for children who are 24-54 inches tall.
The Comet 5 meets or exceeds all applicable U.S. or Canadian safety standards. It is equipped with both the new LATCH system, compatible with newer cars that feature special lower anchor tethers. Since my car is not furnished with LATCH, I utilized the car seat belt, a locking clip and the included top tether strap. there is an area within the seat to store the belt for the LATCH system when it is not in use.
Miscellaneous other features include:
~BeltTrac flap lifts for quick and easy access to car seat belts
~SeatGuardŽ base protects upholstery
~Detachable soft cup holder (the instructions warn not to use this for hot coffee, something few tots would be drinking from a sippy cup, right?)
~Certified for airplane use (but only with 5-point harness)
~Removable washable pad
~Made with an energy-absorbing foam for safety and comfort
Our "Comet-Tale"
The seat arrived before my car was ready, so I read the owner's manual and set the harness to fit my daughter comfortably. The seat sat on the living room floor where Emily sat comfortably, impressed with the "big kid" seat...and the attached cup holder.
When my car was ready, I pulled into the garage and prepared to wrestle the Comet 5 into my 2001 Suzuki Esteem, a car I have been less than thrilled with. Past experience made me dread the acrobatics and incredible feats of strength necessary to properly secure the child restraint. With locking clip in hand, black Sharpie (wish I'd thought of that sooner) ready and the new high-back booster, I crossed my fingers and climbed into the back seat of the car.
Once I had placed the seat where I wanted it, I threaded the shoulder belt through the proper path and then put my full weight on the seat to tighten the belt as much as humanly possible. I used my Sharpie to mark the spots where the locking clip would need to go, that way I could let go of the belt to do so without fear of losing the position I needed.
With locking clip in place, I secured the seat and was astounded that it wasn't budging. Could it have really been that easy? Just for giggles, I redid the same sequence and again had perfect results. I then secured the tether strap for extra safety and was giddy to find that I had a snugly belted car seat installed, and I didn't swear, scream or hurt myself trying to pull the belt tight.
Minutes later, Emily happily climbed into her big kid seat and I fastened the 5-point harness. The chest clip was slightly tricky and was not something that could be unfastened with only one hand. A minor inconvenience is fine where safety is concerned.
So far, so good...
Though it will be quite awhile before we will abandon the 5-point harness to use the belt positioning feature, I am very pleased with this seat. The fact that the positions of both the shoulder harness and the crotch buckle area can set in any of three positions for each allows for a custom fit, easily changed to accommodate seasonal clothing.
The Comet-5 is roomy without swallowing up a smaller child, Emily says it is comfy as can be. The many features, reasonable price and easy installation have impressed me. The detailed owner's manual helps with clear instructions and repeated requirements for various uses of the seat. My questions were answered and the ease of use makes a real difference.
Emily is most impressed with the soft cup holder that can be placed on either side of the seat. If only everything was this easy!
Final thoughts
I would highly recommend the Evenflo Comet 5 Booster Child Restraint for children over the age of one year who meet the height and weight requirements, though I think a younger child, under 25 pounds, might be more comfortable remaining in a standard or convertible front-facing seat as long as safe and practical.
I have no need for the LATCH feature at this time, but am glad to know that if we purchase or ride in a newer car, we can use the new system. The design of the seat seems to simplify installation, it sits snugly in the rear seats of my car. I would feel comfortable taking this seat out of my car, maybe for an outing in Grandma's car, knowing I will easily be able to reinstall the seat later.
I am pleased that I can use an extremely adjustable 5-point harness system before switching to the belt-positioning option to keep Emily safely secured now and in the years to come. Emily, on the other hand, was merely sold on the cup-holder.
So there you have it, safety, value, versatility, easy to use and great for toting a cup of apple juice without making a mess. That being said, with the Evenflo Comet 5, everyone wins.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 64.00
Age Range of Child: 3 to 5 Years
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jenb123
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Location: IL
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