Booster seats are the best travel partner for school-going children, preparing them to join the adults community. A child uses almost 3 or 4 types of car seats before a teenager, and certainly, they serve the purpose of safety and comfort. The best travel 5 point harness booster seat must protect the child in a crash or rollover, our listed products rightly serve the purpose of safety.
Adults are advised to fasten the car seat belt while driving or traveling because of its undeniable importance. An adult have very much control over his body yet he can’t control his forward movement in a crash or collision, it is the car seat belt that forbids the forward motion and saves him from serious injury.
A baby develops his control year by year and needs more assistance than adults. Newborns use an infant seat that is operated in the rear-facing position and gives the highest possible protection plus it grips the whole body of the baby gently and saves him from bobbing around.
When a baby crosses the age of 2 years, you can put her in a front-facing way and you need a bigger car seat that can accommodate your baby which you call a convertible seat, a convertible seat uses a 5 point harness system to grip the child.
A 5-point- harness system is safer than a 3-point belt-positioning system, many studies and researches disclose the importance of a 5-point harness restraint in deadly accidents. It distributes the jerk to the whole body instead of concentrating on a single point, which saves from major dislocations and injuries.
Booster seats normally have the shoulder belt instead of 5 point harnesses but there are a lot of booster seats that come with a 5 point harness car seat up to 100 lbs
They can be used as a forward-facing convertible seat for toddlers and can turn into a high-back booster seat. Products like these mostly are 3-in-1 or all-in-one car seats.
Best Travel 5-Point Harness Booster Seats
The NHTSA recommends putting your child in a harness mode as long as possible, in some countries, people stop using harnesses for their 4 years old child. We must say you should use harness mode till your child crosses the maximum weight limit specified on the car seat.
The harnesses hold the child in a proper and gentle way and stop his sudden forward movement in a crash. Be sure the seat you are buying has nice and comfortable padding around harnesses otherwise it is needless to use them.
Our picks have all the basic features and optimum specifications that a booster should have, all the seats include 5 point harness. Before that, you must know that a harness is only safer if it’s properly installed and it’s snugged up properly.
1. KidsEmbrace 2-in-1 Harness Booster Car Seat
Kids embrace a 2-in-1 harness booster that includes a 5-point harness system for high-level protection and comfort. It can operate in two modes; as a forward-facing harness option for kids in the weight range of 22 to 65lbs and a booster seat for a child from 40 to 100lbs.
This car seat is unique in its style and look that might create a doubt in your mind regarding safety and comfort, it is FMSV213( Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) approved and exceeds its requirements by a margin. 5-point harness enables it to pass the side-impact crash tests. The IIHS rates it among the top booster seats too.
It offers 3 positions of harness, so you can adjust it according to your choice and comfort. Kids with different heights and weights find it much more convenient to adjust the harness position depending on their needs.
3 positions of headrest heights can be adjusted easily according to the choice plus the EPS (Energy-absorbing foam) gives comfort along with the basic recipe of protection.
The most appealing feature is its style and colors that fascinate your child and he feels as he is sitting on his friend. Parents know the psyche of their child well and they might agree to the point that a design like this attracts the child.
This particular car seat is reasonably a good seat for kids but might cause some tightening issues depending on your car, you might not have this issue but a majority of people complain about its tightening.
Overall it is a very safe and sound car seat as it is approved by FMSV213 and IIHS, which means it is nevertheless a safe seat and you can trust it.
PROS.
- Very charming for kids
- Unique style and design fascinates kids
- Approved by safety agencies
- Gives a comfortable and smooth ride
- Offers 3 positions of headrest height
- Easy to install
- Easily maneuverable
- Hand shaped easy access 2 cup-holders
CONS.
- Not very durable
- Might have some tightening issues
2. Chicco MyFit Harness Booster Car Seat ( Best booster seat for long trips)
Chicco never disappoints, it is providing quality products over the years. Duo guard head and torso protection make it a very safe booster seat.
It is equipped with 5-point harnesses and can also operate in a belt-positioning booster. The harness can be tightened with a one-pull tightener. It offers multiple recline positions and 9 positions of the headrest.
This seat offers a great level of comfort and luxury that your kid won’t feel tired even on long trips. It is labeled as the best suit for long trips due to its soft and comfortable material. Your kid won’t find it difficult to sit on it even for 3 to 4 hours. Another plus point of it that makes it perfect for long journeys is its headrest that offers 9 different easy positions.
It is a very safe and sturdy car seat, high strong steel-reinforced frame is its main line of defense. It has a lot of padding foam around the head, neck, and torso.
Like most car seats it includes 2 dishwasher-safe cup-holders in addition they are removable with a push-button. Kids tend to have snacks all the time, cup-holders are necessary to have.
A major indicator for a car seat is the installation process, the most efficient and easy one is the LATCH system which is more secure and easy to operate also is time-saving. Chicco MyfIt has a built-in LATCH installation system that makes it a much better car seat.
If it comes to the seat, Chicco MyFit offers a contoured Ergo-Boost seat including double layers of padding foam that clears your mind if you have any doubt regarding the safety and comfort.
PROS.
- Offers secure and easy installation through LATCH connectors
- Has double-density foam on the seat
- Includes 2 cup-holders that are removable
- Built on the high-quality steel frame
- Fabric is dust resistant and easy to clean
- Compact and can fit 3 across
- The seat pad is machine-washable
- Offers extendable legroom for taller kids
- Adjustable head support gives you different options
- The padded harness holds the kid gently
CONS.
- A little heavier but not that much
3. Graco Nautilus 65 LX 3-in-1 Harness Booster Car Seat (Best booster seat for a child over 100 pounds)
Graco Nautilus 65 LX is a 3-in-1 car seat, it fits toddlers from 22-65lbs forward-facing in a harness, fits kids from 30-100lbs in a High back belt-positioning booster, and fits school going kids from 40-120lbs in a backless belt-positioning booster.
Graco Nautilus 65 LX offers a high weight limit of 120lbs and is quite an affordable option because it serves multi-purposes, you have to buy one car seat and enjoy it for years.
It is a relatively lighter seat and can be moved from one car to another with little effort.
Due to the high weight limit, it is a very good choice for an overweight child, due to its comfort and safety features it makes the list of the most comfortable booster seat for long trips. It is approved by AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) and is among the safest car seats.
It features an integrated harness storage compartment that stores harness when they are unused, which is an extra facility that gives your car seat a compact look. This also makes it easy to put your child in and out of the car seat.
The headrest is very comfortable and can be adjusted with one hand and up to 5 different positions, it also gives you the extra comfort of adjusting it according to your growing child.
The cup holders and armrest are very easy to remove and can be cleaned. Another great feature is the Click-lock connection between the bottom booster to the high back.
It can be operated in the harness mode for kids in the height range of 27-49 inches. The car seat on the whole can be adjusted according to the child’s growing body.
It gives your child an extra comfy ride as he is surrounded by comfortable and quality padding and body supports, your child’s neck, head, and torso are protected with high-quality perfectly placed foam.
PROS.
- Offers high weight limit
- Includes comfortable body inserts
- Fabric portions are removable and washable
- The headrest is adjustable to 5 positions
- Includes a harness storage compartment
- Affordable option
- Offers side-impact protection
- The shoulder strap pads are removable
- Allows different recline positions
- The harness gives a click sound to assure perfect connection
CONS.
- A bit difficult to pull the strap to tighten
- The Latch system has the old-fashioned hooks
- Not comfortable for tall kids
4. Diono Radian 3R, 3-in-1 (Best 5-point harness booster seat for tall child)
Diono Radian offers a full variety of car seats, 3R is the basic booster seat with a 5-point harness. Other variants are 3RX and 3RXT and in the 3Q series with 3QX and 3QXT.
Diono Radian 3R is a very affordable booster seat having all must-have features, it is a 3-in-1 car seat. The extended rear-facing mode is its biggest plus, most car seats have a maximum weight limit of 35lbs for rear-facing mode but Diono Radian 3R allows you to put your child up to 50lbs.
As mentioned before it is a 3-in-1 car seat which means it can be used in rear-facing mode, front-facing harness mode, and as a high back booster seat. The maximum weight recommendation is 120lbs/54kg.
This 3-in-1 car seat can serve your child from birth to teenager, almost for 10 years. Most car seats allow you to put your child up to 2 years in rear-facing mode but this particular seat gives you extra 2 years in a rear-facing way.
The slim-fit design is its basic feature because it is not heavily equipped with advanced features, so there is no reason to make it bulkier. Due to its slim design, it can fit 3 across in your car.
If we talk about manufacturing material, like the safest car seats it is made on a steel-reinforced core. The padding is high quality and long-lasting. The automotive-grade high-density plastic adds durability and safety.
Diono 3R offers extended high back booster mode as it gives you the option to put your kid up to 120lbs. Most car seats offer a maximum of 100lbs for high back booster way, for kids above 100lbs you have to look for a backless booster seat but thanks to Diono Radian 3R that it offers extended high back position up to 120lbs.
It can be operated with custom settings and adjustments to a large extent, other variants of Diono 3R give advanced features but you have to pay more to enjoy them. For reasonably good features Dino Radian 3R is the best and most affordable option.
PROS.
- Offers extended rear-facing up to 50lbs
- Manufactured of high-density plastic
- Very safe and comfortable
- Offers extended high back booster mode
- Slim fit design
- Lightweight
- Offers custom settings
- Offers high weight limit
CONS.
- Not good for wash
- Although it offers extended rear-facing but can push the front seat
Frequently Asked Questions
There are some questions and queries that people look for regarding the selection of booster seats.
Are there 5 point harness booster seats?
A single booster seat has only a belt-positioning system.
Many booster seats come with a harness such as the Chicco MyFit Zip harness booster. To be honest there are no 5 point harness booster seats but they come in a combination of 5 point harnesses and a belt-positioning booster seat.
They can be operated in two modes; Harness mode which has a maximum weight limit of 40-65lbs and a belt-positioning booster seat which has a maximum weight limit of 100 or 120lbs.
Is 5 point harness booster seat the best?
A 5-point harness booster seat is quite an affordable option as well as the safest choice. You can use it in harness mode for longer depending upon your child’s weight. Indeed the harnesses are the best child restraint against the rapid and sudden movement in a crash. They hold the child properly and restrict his forward motion which is the secret behind their usefulness.
How long should a child be in 5 point harness seat?
It mainly depends on the specifications and recommendations of the car seat manufacturer and in most cases, a 5-year-old is able to quit a 5 point harness seat but that should not be the rule of thumb.
Put your child as long as he can fit properly and sit easily, in some cases a 3-year-old outgrows the weight and height limit of the 5-point harnesses but you should look for another harness seat with higher weight limitations because your 3-year-old is not able to control his body on a booster seat with belts.
The best idea is to buy a 3-in-1 car seat or an all-in-one car seat, it would be the most affordable choice and a one-time investment. A multi-purpose car seat gives you the ease to switch from one mode to other whenever it is required instead of buying another seat.
Are 5 point harness booster seats safer?
There is no doubt, 5-point restraints are a safer option than belt-positioning systems.
A 5-point harness gives full support to the body and grips the child’s body perfectly, in case of a crash or collision the child will not wobble around in the car.
The impact energy is distributed to the whole body and the child stays away from dislocations and muscle pulls that can happen without a 5-point harness.
What is the best 5-point harness booster seat?
Chicco MyFit Harness Booster seat
It is the best booster seat with 5 point harness restraint, its different variants like MyFit Zip and MyFit ZipAir, etc. are among the top-rated booster seats having advanced and quality features.
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