A quick blog with photos of the upcoming Clek Oobr and Britax Advocate. This should quell some anticipation before Heather or I can write more about the ABC Kids Expo! Both of these should be available by the end of this year or in early 2009. Not much else to report from the wine and cheese media reception for new products that Heather and I attended tonight. Only the Oobr was on display; almost everything else was in other baby product categores. We will hopefully have more to report tomorrow! So, without further ado:
Worried that True Side Impact Protection isn’t enough? Worried that child in a booster sitting next to the child in the carseat might bruised or worse if they strike it during a crash? Worry no more with the Britax Advocate CS, just announced at the Britax USA website for the ABC Kids Expo debut. For the most part, it’s pretty much the same basic seat as the Britax Boulevard. The noteworthy change is the addition of side impact cushions on each side of the shell. These air filled, rubber cushions can absorb crash energy from a side impact. They’re also a lot softer for an adjacent child to hit in a crash, compared to a hard plastic shell, anyway.
This is a true innovation from Britax in the area of side impact protection. There’s nothing else like it on the market. While it’s impossible to say how effective these cushions would be in a crash, on paper any type of energy management is a good thing. Considering side impact crashes are the most deadly to properly restrained occupants, any innovation is a step in the right direction.
So, everything is a trade-off, you say? Well, no drawbacks here in terms of safety. There is a drawback, though. The side cushions make it a bit harder to access the shoulder belt lockoff and harness height adjustment knob if space is tight. The cushions also make the Advocate wider than the Boulevard. It’s enough of a difference that it could be problematic fitting the Advocate next to another child restraint. This would be something to consider if you have a 3-across or side-by-side installation. If not, the Advocate CS is a top choice for side impact protection!
The “CS” stands for “Click & Safe,” a feature introduced on the Boulevard CS. Carseatblog.com will have a full review when we have a production sample, but the prototype (shown above) looks like a winner!
While we haven’t met with Magna Clek yet, we did get to snap some photos of the Paul Frank Julius inspired Oobr on display! The Oobr looks like a very nice booster overall and a nice companion to the Clek Olli. There’s no secret that I love rigid LATCH on child restraints and the Oobr is one of the few models in the USA with this feature. The LATCH system looks even a bit easier to use than the Jane Indy Plus! It also has a nifty height adjuster more like an automobile head restraint than a typical booster. More details when one of us has a chance to write more, but you can see some basic measurements in the photos!
We also hope to have a full review of the Oobr as soon as we have a production sample to evaluate!
Our full review of the Advocate CS can be found here-
https://carseatblog.com/?p=2454
The oobr is rated for 33-100 lbs. with the back, 40-100 lbs. backless up to 57″.
I am wondering what the height and weight limits are for the Oobr. Do you have that information? Thanks.
Thanks Darren – some really interesting products there – LOVE the cover on the Oobr
I love the skull and cross bones!
oobr will be $239.99 for the standard colors.
Paul Frank oobr’s are $254.99
There are also 2 new Paul Frank olli patterns that will retail for $99.99.
Thanks for all the great feedback.
Thanks for the info! The Oobr looks great- I’m glad they are changing the light pink to a hot pink. Much better at hiding dirt, lol. Any scoop on the “new” Radian?
I will check on the Oobr price point.
Also, I need to emphasize that the Advocate (especially the side impact cushions design) is a prototype, even what is shown at ABC Kids Expo and currently on the Britax USA website. The final design will probably vary somewhat, especially in regards to improved access for the shoulder belt lockoff and height adjustment knob.
Any idea about price for the Oobr? Ballpark figure?
More photos of other patterns coming shortly and YES, it does come in a black shell in addition to the white one!
Keep in mind these are all prototypes. The fit and finish of the shell, fabrics and other parts may not be perfect, but ultimately will be the same quality as the Olli. Thinks like the steel head restraint posts will eventually be chome plated along with other touches on the final product. Also, the final colors may vary somewhat. For example there is a lighter pink cover that we were told will probably have more red added to make it a much brighter pink that is more appealing to booster age children.
I wasn’t in love with previous pics, but I LOVE the looks of the Oobr now! My 8yo loves animals, so I’m guessing this booster would be right up her alley. I’d really like to try it out for ease of use because dd still has some trouble buckling herself in a booster. My only issue now is that I’m really afraid of the price tag.
The Britax Advocate looks like a great idea, but I’m worried about how wide it is, and fitting another car seat next to it. But it would be AWESOME if those pads could be purchased seperately and moved to the left / right etc. to suit your needs. Ooh, and be retrofitted onto the Boulevard and Marathon!
I LOVE, LOVE the Oobr and so does my nearly 3 year old. Almost makes me wish he was like 6, just so I could get that for him.
SO loving the OOBR!!! RIGID LATCH!!!! WHOOHOO!!!! I was so disappointed that the Jane (when released, finally) was not a HWH seat, because I have wanted to get my hands on ISOFIX forever! And well, with a 43lbs almost 7yro, the Ollie is not in my future anytime soon. So this will certainly be on my must buy list. I prefer the solid colors displayed on another site, but the one above is not bad… lots complained about the shell color, but it does not bug me!?
I find this Advocate VERY intriguing, having only 2 little ones, it has never occured to me what happenes to the ‘3rd’ passenger btwn two hard-shelled restraints. I will be watching for it for sure! Thanks for sharing! Any stroller pics (or do we have to wait for SQ??!!!!! LOL!)
Looooove the Oobr! Thanks for the pic with the measuring tape. I’m definitely getting one for DD when it comes out.
I’m wondering of Latch-able boosters will be a stardard thing in a few years?
I LOVE the looks of the Oobr! My 7yo daughter is very tall for her age, so I do wish the Oobr adjusted slightly taller, but overall it looks like a fabulous seat. The cover looks like high quality fabric, the padding and comfort look good. I have some small worries about the comfort of the metal rods on the higher settings (will a child’s back touch those at all? will the gap be uncomfortable for kids?), and about how the seat bottom slopes at the knee (it looks a little different from the Olli, which seems to angle upward at the knee, offering great leg support), but overall it’s very nice-looking, and I can’t wait to be able to try my daughter in one. Off to contact the only baby store in my area that carries the Olli, to ask if they will also have the Oobr.
I am in LOVE with that Oobr! The light blue even matches my van, and the headrest is tall enough for my 9 year old daughter to sit in. I’ll be rolling my pennies and secretly ebaying off my husband’s junk so I can afford it, no matter what it costs, lol.
I like the looks of the oobr except for that giraffe neck thing that it does, like most boosters, as it grows.
But, unless it is just way too expensive or something better comes out for the narrower set, I think it is looking perfect for when my daughter outgrows the Nautilus harness… because the Monterey is just way too wide for her on its narrowest settings.
The Oobr looks FANTASTIC! Much better than the boring brown on the magnacleck web site. Can’t wait to hear the rest of the scoop!
Thanks for scoping out the Julius pattern! You’re a doll! 🙂
I’ve got to say that’s the best character print booster I’ve ever seen.
interesting concept on the retooled Advocate. I know the concern for adjacent passengers comes up somewhat regularly. I’ve also wished for something like that on flights and a recent road trip where I tried to sleep leaning on my son’s Marathon. those lock-offs are not comfy!