Evenflo’s newest addition to their child restraint lineup is the much-anticipated Secure Kid LX and Secure Kid DLX combination harness/booster seats. Here at CarseatBlog, we know it’s our job to give you the kind of thorough, professional, parent-perspective reviews that you’re just not going to find anywhere else on the Net. And we take that responsibility seriously, so here it goes…. First, let’s clarify the differences between the LX and DLX models:
- Secure Kid DLX: This is the premium model with Evenflo’s patented, self-ratcheting SureLATCH lower LATCH connectors and their “e3” side impact protection technology which utilizes 3 different types of energy-absorbing foam in the headwings to minimize crash forces.
- Secure Kid LX: This model offers nice, push-on lower LATCH connectors (Evenflo calls them “Quick Connectors”) and EPP energy-absorbing foam lining the headwings. This is NOT a low end, stripped-down model by any means. And the price point is about $20 less than the 400 model.
- “Platinum” Secure Kid DLX: This model is a BRU exclusive. It offers all of the features of the DLX model plus buckle pockets and OUTLAST performance fabric. We have a separate review of the Platinum SecureKid DLX model here.
The sample used for this review is the Secure Kid LX. It’s definitely a gender-neutral pattern that should appeal to most grownups and look good in most vehicles. If you know me, you know I’m a fan of fun, colorful and kid-appealing. This falls a little short on those counts but the integrated dual cupholders are bound to be a hit with almost any kid so that makes up for the basic, neutral fabric in my opinion.
Secure Kid LX/DLX Specs:
- With 5-point harness: Forward-facing only for kids 20-65 lbs, at least 1 year old, height of 50″ tall or less (shoulders must be at or below top harness slots and top of ears must be below the top of CR headrest).
- In booster mode with vehicle lap/shoulder belt: 40-100 lbs, at least 3 years old, height 43.3 – 57″ (top of ears must be below the top of CR headrest).
Features:
- 4 sets of harness slots
- 2 crotch strap/buckle positions
- Premium lower LATCH attachments (either push-on “Quick Connectors” or “SureLATCH” connectors)
- Energy-absorbing EPP foam or e3 foam that lines the back and sides of the headwings
- Adjustable height head support
- LATCH attachments can still be used in booster mode
- Dual integrated cup holders
- FAA approved for use in aircraft (with 5-pt harness)
- 6 year lifespan before expiration
Measurements:
- Harness slot heights: 12″, 14″, 16″ 18″
- Crotch strap positions: 5 1/2″, 7 1/2″
- Seat pan depth (leg room/thigh support): 11″
- Booster height: 19 1/2″ to bottom of headwings with headrest in tallest height position
- Weight: 12.4 lbs (according to my digital bathroom scale)
Fit to Child Comments: On the bottom end of the size range it fits small toddlers well although I wouldn’t recommend this, or any other forward-facing only seat for children less than 2 years old for obvious reasons. I did try a petite 22 month old (22 lbs, 31″) in this seat just to check fit and the harness fit her well on the lowest harness slots. I am choosing not to include the pics of her in this seat because I really don’t want to promote a forward-facing only seat for children under 2 years old who should still be rear-facing in a convertible seat. Secure Kid was a good fit for a thin 48 lbs, 49″, 6 year old. With the 5-pt harness and also in booster mode (on my vehicle demo seat). She still had a little bit of growing room height-wise in the harness. Forgive me for cheating with the demo seat but it was cold outside that day and we decided to “play” indoors in the storage room where it was nice and warm.
With 5-pt harness:
With lap/shoulder belt as a belt-positioning booster:
My son who is now 7.5 years old, 60 lbs and 50″ was just slightly too tall for the harness (his shoulders were a few cm above the top harness slots). Considering the max stated height limit of this seat in harnessed mode is 50″ – I’d say that’s a realistic expectation. Kids with long torsos will always be the exception.
The Secure Kid fit my son very well in booster mode although he only had about an inch of growing room left. The shoulder belt was positioned perfectly and the lap belt was nice and low, touching the tops of his thighs. Note that the lap belt (and just the lap belt portion) must be threaded under the “lip” on both sides of the lower belt guides. The manual really doesn’t make this clear but I have clarified this information with Evenflo and this is the correct way to route the seatbelt in booster mode. 
Installation Comments: Based on 300/LX model with push-on “Quick Connectors” I’m happy to report that installation with either lower LATCH anchors or seatbelt was easy and straight forward in the several vehicles that I tried. All of the vehicles I installed in (including the vehicle demo seat) had head restraints that were adjustable and/or removable so I was able to install the Secure Kid flush against the vehicle seat in each case. Evenflo recommends adjusting or removing the vehicle’s head restraint if it interferes with the carseat’s ability to rest against the vehicle seat back. I’m not sure what they would recommend in cases where the vehicle’s head restraint was fixed and angled but this is a problem we’re running into more and more often with newer vehicles. If you have a newer vehicle with head restraints that tilt forward and are not adjustable or removable then the best advice would be to “try before you buy”. For the record, Evenflo allows installation of the Secure Kid in the center seating position with LATCH if the lower anchors bars are spaced 11 inches or wider AND if vehicle manufacturer permits.
Attaching the top tether strap on the carseat to the tether anchor in your vehicle is strongly recommended regardless of the child’s weight or installation method but Evenflo states to switch from using the lower LATCH anchors to a seatbelt installation (plus tether) once the child reaches 50 lbs. Since this seat does not have a lock-off device for seatbelt installations, please read your vehicle owners manual for information on how to lock your seatbelt when installing a child restraint. The seatbelt MUST be locked to keep the carseat from wiggling loose after it’s installed. Not sure how to lock your seatbelt and missing your vehicle owners manual? Visit our forum at www.car-seat.org and we’ll help you figure it out! Or find and visit a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician in your area. Since my son is over the 50 lbs. weight limit for the lower LATCH anchors in my vehicle – I installed the SK300 using the seatbelt and the top tether strap. The lower LATCH connectors should be stored on the sides of the seat (as pictured) when not in use.
Secure Kid Advantages:
- Lightweight
- Very tall top harness slots and 65 lbs. weight limit
- Generally easy to install properly with LATCH or seatbelt
- Easy to tighten/loosen harness straps
- Harness straps are thick and not likely to twist
- Deep headwings are good for sleeping and for enhanced side-impact protection (SIP)
- Design doesn’t promote “head slump”
- Can use LATCH in booster mode
- FAA approved for use in aircraft (with 5-pt harness)
- Good value for the price
- Good fit on my models when used in booster mode
- Cover is relatively easy to remove and machine washable (cold water, delicate cycle)
- Harness and crotch strap are replaceable if necessary
- Made in the USA!
Secure Kid Disadvantages: (In all fairness, these aren’t necessarily problems but I list them here to inform potential consumers of specific Secure Kid issues)
- Continuous harness
- Lacks harness strap covers
- No recline setting
- No lock-off device to help with seatbelt installation
- Seat needs to be uninstalled to move harness straps to a different height
- Short tether strap may require separate tether extender from Evenflo if your tether anchors are further away than average
- Shoulder belt guide in booster mode is easy to miss and will be impossible for most kids to navigate on their own
- Lap belt guide requires some maneuvering to get the lap belt tucked under the “lip” of the guide
Summary: Overall, the Evenflo Secure Kid has a lot going for it. With very high top harness slots and a 65 lbs weight maximum, both the LX and DLX models will accommodate kids in the 5-point harness longer than most other seats currently on the market. It’s also a good value for the price and made in the USA! I love that it’s lightweight yet doesn’t feel cheap or flimsy. It’s easy to install and use correctly in harnessed mode which is how most consumers are going to use the seat. Honestly, my biggest complaint has to do with the guides for booster mode and the lack of clarity in the instruction manual regarding correct seatbelt routing. Yes, the belt fit in booster mode appears to be excellent but it’s too easy, in my opinion, to misuse the seat in booster mode. It’s also too difficult to “do it right”. I would wager that the vast majority of older kids (I’m talking age 6+) will not be able to buckle themselves properly in this seat in booster mode. Now, if you don’t mind helping your older child each and every time or if you’re only planing to use the seat in booster mode occasionally then this shouldn’t be a deal breaker – just consider yourself warned. On the plus side, even when I misused the seat in booster mode (shoulder belt not placed in the upper guide and lap belt not tucked under the lip in the lower guide) I still found great belt fit. Obviously that’s not an excuse or justification for not routing the seatbelt correctly in booster mode when you know better but I’m definitely not going to lose any sleep over accidental misuse in booster mode. In fact, even when the lap and shoulder belt portions aren’t routed perfectly, the belt fit is still way better than most other combination seats in booster mode. And that’s progress in my book!
The Evenflo SecureKid is on our updated list of Recommended Carseats!
Thank you Evenflo for providing the Secure Kid LX used in this review. No other compensation was provided and the opinions and comments are entirely those of CarseatBlog.
What is the width of this car seat? Thank you!
Hi. I came across your review for this car seat but I see now that it is discontinued. Amazon is still selling it, though. Is there anything wrong with purchasing a discontinued seat?
I am referring to the DLX model.
Thanks!
Hi Sarah, in this case there is nothing wrong with purchasing a discontinued DLX model. Evenflo is still manufacturing the SecureKid so they will still be able to support the product in case you need a new cover or have some issue in the future. I hope you get a good deal! This is a great, easy to use seat and the installation with SureLatch is amazing so I’m a little bummed that they are discontinuing it. Maybe they are just discontinuing this particular fashion and not necessarily the DLX model itself? I’m going to try to remember to ask them about this next time I talk to their reps.
It looks like the belt will hurt the boy’s crotch.
Hi Shanth – no, it’s not possible to add a base. Sorry! If you want a seat that sits higher up you will have to purchase a different seat. Most combination seats (including the SecureKid) one have a lower profile because they are designed for older kids. A younger child might be better off in a convertible seat which can be used rear-facing as well as forward-facing and often sits higher up. HTH!
I have this car seat. but i m looking for car base so that my kid can sit little high height to watch from the window. Is there any car base seat available for this car seat? I wish i should have bought that combo when i purchased this last thanksgiving.
Hi, can strap covers be added? I worry that my 2,5 year old moving from a Diono Radian would find the straps rubbing on her neck
Hi Katalin, to my knowledge strap covers cannot be added but you should call customer service (aka parent link) to ask about that because manufacturers sometimes update their stance on things without sending out a memo to everyone else.
I have the secure kid 400 and in my manual it says both the lap and shoulder belt need to be under the lip and has a picture to confirm it.
It is possible that Evenflo made a running change to the instruction manual. I can ask them confirm. In the mean time if you have any questions please call Evenflo Customer Service (aka Parent Link).
How wide is this? I’m replacing a Radian that expires this month and need to do 3-across. I currently have a Nautilus (also expiring this month), Bubble Bum, and Radian and it just fits. I’d like to replace the Nautilus with a Frontier (5.5 yo is nowhere near ready for a booster.) and find a cheaper replacement for the Radian if I can that will last 2-3 years until I can pass down the Frontier.
This will be my first time purchasing a combination harness/booster seat. It sounds like at 50 lbs you must switch from LATCH installation to seatbelt installation, but aren’t you using the seatbelt to secure your child in booster mode? Do you go back to the LATCH then?
I’m trying to figure out the same thing. Did you ever get an answer?
Okay, let me try to clarify. If your child is using the seat with the 5-point harness and the child weighs more than 50 lbs. then you need to install the seat with seatbelt plus tether. If your child is using the seat as a booster with the vehicle’s lap/shoulder belt then you can go back to “installing” the seat with LATCH. The reason I put “installing” in quotes is because now the LATCH attachments are serving a very different function. LATCH weight limits don’t apply to booster seats because in this case the LATCH connectors are only securing the weight of the carseat while the seatbelt (buckled over the child) does the real work, restraining the child in a crash. Hope that makes sense!
Does this fit well in smaller cars like the new small Toyota Prius? It looks quite tall. Have you ever had a problem with it obstructing the driver’s view out of the rear window?
On Evenflo’s website they state that the max shoulder height is 17″, while you measured 19 1/2″. Do you think Evenflo is being conservative in their measurement? I have 2 kids with long torsos (3 yrs & 16 mo both 15″ right now) and the youngest will grow out of his Britax Boulevard in less than 2″. I’m guessing around his 2nd bday, so I want to get another harness booster. I really like the Securekid over our current Pioneer (which is being replaced by Britax b/c it’s defective). However the Britax boosters seem to be unbeatable on harness height. If I have to, I will upgrade to the Frontier, but I really don’t want to spend that much this time. That’s why the Securekid is so attractive. Just not sure it’ll work if the harness is really maxed out at 17″. Thoughts?
@Heather – we have a review of the “Platinum” version of the Secure Kid here: https://carseatblog.com/27491/evenflo-platinum-securekid-dlx-review-be-safe-stay-cool/
Unfortunately, the only Evenflo seats that currently feature the infinite slide harness system are the Symphony & Triumph convertibles and one of their infant seats.
Can you provide any info on the updated version DLX all in one booster? Do the buckle pockets really work? Also, any other harnessed boosters that have something like the “infinite slide” like our evenflo symphony? We are so spoiled with that!!
More/still about the nonremovable headrests … I know you can legitimately put a rolled up towel under the seat to make it level, but can you put a rolled up towel behind the seat to make it flush with the seat back if you’ve got a nonremovable headrest? (I’ve got a toddler in a Symphony 65 e3 and a baby in a Chicco Keyfit 35, and I want move the baby into the symphony and get the securekid for the toddler. But I’ve got a 2009 Altima and a 2013 Sentra, both of which have nonremovable headrests. The nonremovable headrests on both cars are really mucking up my efforts to get a new seat for the toddler.)
Oh, the side wings have never been problematic with regards to looking out of the window or seeing other riders in the back seat
My husband has this seat (400 dlx) in his silverado truck and we have always LOVED this seat. Numberous times we have been able to easily remove the seat and quickly install it in someone else’s car SAFELY for a fun day….without needing 2 cars. We loved this seat so much that when my son wanted a “big boy car seat” for my car we asked Nana to gift a new one to him for xmas. We received the seat and were very dissappointed that the lower latches would not tighten enough for my Honda Accord. Unfortunately we had to return the car seat and I now just can’t find another seat I like, as I was spoiled by the ease of the SecureKid.
Hi,
I just bought one of these. Do you think the deep head wings may obstruct the childs view out the window, or of his brother sitting beside him if both are forward facing? Not sure if he’ll care, but I thought it would be nice if the kids could see each other on long road trips… thoughts??
Great review! I am considering this for our secondary seat since our marathon expires this month 🙁 Not sure about the lap belt having to go under that “lip” very confusing.
I wanted to write because I see you discuss the non removable headrests on new cars. The new GM Tahoe and silverado have these which disappointed me. I wasn’t able to get a good install with the frontier, marathon or turbo booster. I did some research (even GM said they are not removable) there are tiny pin holes in each plastic part that holds the headrests in. The part that connects them to the vehicle seat. If you use a paper clip or other firm item (I used a toothpick once!) you can press into the holes and release the headrests! It usually takes two people to depress and pull up on the headrests at the same time. This may be true for other makes of vehicles I not sure on that though. I hope you can spread the word for me I’m sure this would help a lot of people!
Are the shoulder straps closer together than most other seats? In several reviews that I have read, parents are commenting on how close they are to the neck (rubbing the neck). We currently have a Britax Marathon and a Graco Nautilus if that would help with a comparison.
Sorry,
How does this seat compare to the Graco Argos Elite?
@Sara – yes, the way the hip straps on the Secure Kid (and the Maestro) harness are routed through the shell are a little closer together than on some other seats. This is typical of Evenflo seats. It’s perfectly safe and I can tell you from personal experience that it’s a non-issue. I’ve never had a kid complain about that – even a bigger, older kid like my own. So don’t worry about it. HTH!
I just got two Secure Kid LX in the mail for my almost 40 lb , 38 in twins. The waist belts of the 5-pt harness goes under their thighs and sits on their thighs instead of their waists. Do you know anything about this? It fits differently from all of the other car seats I’ve had (Graco snugride Combi coccoro, sunshine kids radian). I want to make sure 1) it’s safe, and 2) they’ll fit into the harness for the next 20lbs. Thanks!
@Pablo – the Symphony is a 3-in-1 seat that can be used for a younger child because it can be installed rear-facing. The Secure Kid is forward-facing only so it’s more appropriate for kids over age 2. Both seats can be used as a booster when the harness is outgrown. How old/tall/heavy is your child right now? The 5-point harness on the Secure Kid is taller than the harness on the Symphony so it will last longer before being outgrown. Most kids will outgrow the 5-pt harness by height before reaching the 65 lbs weight limit.
Could you please tell me the difference between this model and the Symphony DLX? The Symphony is convertible to rear-facing but forward-facing and booster limits seems to be the same as SecureKid, which calls my attention.
Thank you.