Well, I have the photos now, but Heather still has the notes, so I can’t give up all the goods yet. I feel like I need to beg her to send me a copy of the notes before the big test! Plus, we need to stretch this Expo out into a good 2 weeks of blogs and giveaways lol!
Still, I can’t leave everyone with nothing new for today, so I will leave you with some photos of a few new products that are coming soon. I believe most are first quarter 2009 releases, but we will have to wait for Heather to know for sure. She also has more details on features, release dates, pricing, fabric cover names, etc. Yet again, please note that most of the products shown are prototypes. That means some may have been manually put together from parts that don’t have the final color or finish. Stitching may be loose, parts may not fit quite right, pieces may be missing, etc. You can be pretty sure they are close to the final version since they are being shown to buyers, but small changes are likely to be made before release. If Heather notes something is coming this month, then we probably saw a production version instead!
First up, the Sunshine Kids Radian XT. All Radians (including the 65 and 80) are getting a removable harness system, improved side impact structure, an improved base and a slightly revised shell (with smoother edges and bottom grips) to go with a larger chest clip that will also be phased in very soon. The XT will come later and adds some new fabrics and an adjustable head restraint.
Next is Learning Curve’s First Years (Formerly Compass Baby) True Fit. A couple new versions are being added. First, the 650 adds a front bubble recline indicator and a recline adjustment foot that pivots for forward and rear-facing. The 670 replaces the foot with an anti-rebound “bar”, the only one on a convertible seat in the USA! They claim the crash test performance is superior to a rear-facing tether because it absorbs more energy and reduces forces on the occupant. We got to see this in some crash test photos. It looks like a great safety innovation!
Combi is releasing a new convertible seat called the Coccoro. It’s very stylish and has the usual Combi assortment of built-in lockoffs. The advantage of this one is not superior harness weight limits or the ability to fit tall 6-year olds. This one is designed to accommodate the growing market of Mini Coopers, Honda Fits, Nissan Versas and other small cars. They claim you can fit 3-across in a Toyota Corolla (shown here) and still leave more legroom for the driver than many other models! The middle seat is on a small hump and I don’t think it was tightly installed for the photos, sorry! (Apologies to Ed and Pam if I broke an EPS insert on one of the Cocorro prototypes. Doh!). Oh, and for those of you who really like the Zeus Turn but want a higher rear-facing weight limit; your wish will soon be granted! The ZT should have a 30 pound or higher rear-facing limit by early 2009!
Graco is introducing the Snugride 32. It’s the evolution of the Safe Seat Step 1. The Safe Seat lineup will be phased out, though the models may remain with small revisions and new product names. The current Snugride models will also remain alongside the SnugRide 32, with all the variations found from retailer to retailer.
That’s all for now. There’s lots more full size photos of the carseats above and others, too! Plus, Heather will fill us in on today’s events and fine details from the last 2 days as well! Then, we’ll add some stuff on strollers, travel systems and other baby gear!
The ABC Kids show was overwhelming. It’s like football field after football field packed full of baby and kids stuff and then there’s another level one floor up! Just aisles and endless aisles of everything for kids that you can imagine over like 1 million square feet of exhibit space. I bet I browsed maybe 20% of it over the 12 hours I had at the show. You really need the full 6 whole days to take it all in. This show isn’t for everyone, though. Heck, even I almost broke down and said I needed another baby so I could buy some more stuff!
We hope to receive samples for review, evaluation and training of many of the products we discuss. So, as soon as they are in production and shipping and we are able to get one, we’ll post a full review! Maybe we can beg and plead to acquire some giveaways for our readers, too:-)
You guys didn’t happen to ask about Canadian releases, did you? 🙂
Any idea of the SR32 will ever make it to Canada? I know it isn’t always a question that’s asked but hoping you might have the magical answer Heather!
Man, I was hoping they’d make the RF Boot adjustable, so older RF children don’t have to recline so much, and so it’d fit better in smaller cars for older children. (Isn’t it only young infants to a certain age/neck strength and those with medical issues that need the 45 degree angle? My oldest didn’t even start in a Radian til he was out of the SafeSeat–which by the way, I”m upset about the name change and think it will cause more confusion not less–and my 9 month old won’t go into one for another month or so.) My “idea” was that they make it adjustable to 45 degrees and say 1/2 of that, or however the math works. BUt, at least making it narrower will help with LATCH installs.
We’ve never had an issue with slickness, but our cars are both cloth seats.
Is the RF belt-path any wider?
Excellent questions, Dillipop and Stephanie! My understanding of the SR32 is that it’s just a renaming of the SS1.
The Radian chest clip looks like a gray Britax clip, but it felt different. It wasn’t exactly the same.
Both pictures shown here are Radian XT. The XT is the only version that will come with the headwings. They aren’t removable and unfortunately, we didn’t get any measurements 🙁 . I’m sure we can get some measurements from Russ or Dave for you, though. The improved base probably won’t solve install issues, but the rubber strips on the bottom of the base will help with the slickness that is inherent with its current smoothness. Ahhh, the rf boot! Thanks for the reminder! Yes, that has changed a bit to be narrower so that it will fit easily between lower LATCH anchors.
Thank *you* for reading! You guys are why we do it 🙂 .
Thanks Darren and Heather for all the info. You guys are awesome!
Okay, I’ve been holding my breath on the Radians because we need to buy 3 in the near future. A few questions if you don’t mind:
1. Are the head wings just with the XT? Are both pictures of the XT?
2. Does the improved base solve any install issues? Any changes in the RF boot?
3. Does the XT have any other extra features?
4. Are the head wings removable (looks like it would push the head forward some) and how high and low do they adjust?
How can they make the radian chest clip any bigger? Are they switching to a more Britax/safeguard clip?
I wonder if the SR32 will fit my SS1 cover? I’ll need a new seat before baby #3 is born and want to reuse my cover.
And I love the anit rebound bar! What a great feature, esp. for those of us that don’t have a rfing tether point in our cars. Can’t wait for that to be released!
Hahaha! I have all the power!
Actually, Darren, you’ve done quite well. Perhaps you made it through college because of your fantastic memory while I made it through because of my fantastic penmanship.
SR32 ship date is next month.
Radians: the improved 65/80s should be shipping this month. The new chest clip, which we do have a pic of and will post in a later blog entry, will be (is?) available for purchase separately and will be phased in on the seats, again starting next month. The old, narrower chest clip really is superior for babies, whereas the new chest clip will work so much better for the older crowd. The XT headwings adjust just by pulling them up or down, easy peasy. As for the new pink cover, trust me, I abhor pink. Blech! But, I kind of liked this cover–it was more of a Hawaiian print, so perhaps that’s why I liked it (who doesn’t want to be transported off to the islands . . . aloha!). I’ve got a price of $280 down in my notes, but I’m not sure if that’s for the XT or the Radian 80 (ah, blame my poor note-taking abilities, sorry!)
The First Years True Fits: I clarified the name of the company, since it’s been confusing–are they The First Years?, Compass?, Learning Curve? Let’s compare it to a company with which we are already familiar: Dorel. Dorel is the parent company and its subsidiaries are Cosco, Safety 1st, Eddie Bauer, etc. Same concept here. Learning Curve is the parent company with The First Years being the car seat company. The only time you’ll see the name “Compass” is on the boosters and that’s because it’s part of the booster name. Phew. The basic model of the True Fit is the 630 and that will receive the front bubble angle indicator (which has a ball bearing in it, no liquids) beginning in January. The color of the anti-rebound bar facing the child is blue, but keep in mind that we were looking at a prototype, so that color could change. The 670 will be available in January and I don’t have a date for the 650, but October sticks out in my mind (don’t hold me to that!).
Combi Coccoro: I seem to be missing a page from my notes that included the Combi visit, but I remember the harness height being 15″. A good height for a small seat!
Nannymom- Sorry I can’t remember about the SR32 ship date. Where for are thou, Heather! I think it was this month or next, though.
Sunnymw- Heather also has the estimated ship date for the True Fit with the rebound bar.
Amy- Apparently, the Snugride is a very popular model for name recognition and they felt it was too confusing to have two separate product lines for marketing reasons, or at least that was my impression. They felt the SS1 was a good product and wanted to keep it, so now it’s more of a premium Snugride, if you will. I think the RF limit on the 650 and 670 is the same as the 630 at 35 pounds, yet again, perhaps Heather can verify. I think the Coccoro harness heights were pretty typical for a smaller convertible, maybe 15″ max. You know the routine. Heather has the details! The weight limits were 30 lbs. RF and 40 lbs. FF if I recall correctly. Nothing to say about a Britax infant seat yet, hopefully by Lifesavers we will have something we can share! Sorry no Cowmoo for the Frontier, but we snapped some other covers!
Smurf- I hear ya!
Trish- I think the near side was grey, we might have a photo but I can’t remember offhand. If we do we will post it this week.
Miasmama- I believe the new Radians are shipping this month, except for the XT which was late this year or early next year. Heather will have to confirm from the noties! We do have photos of a couple other colors and I suspect there are more that we didn’t see.
Keep in mind that these are all tentative, as we know very well, new products sometimes are delayed.
I’m dying to know exactly when the new Radians will be available, as well as the price. Any other colors coming out? That pink and red floral is hideous!!!
I’m almost thinking it’s time for a new baby so I can sample some of these products for real!
OK, I’m kidding, but it is tempting, no?
Oh my oh my!!! I love all the new seats, although seriously a Snugride 32? Why cant they just stick with the Safeseat and phase out the Snugride? But I detest most Graco’s so either way I wont be happy.
I love the new Compass 670- what will the rear facing weight limit be? Also do you have any more details as to what weight limits the Combi Coccoro will have? Also harness heights?
Did you guys see anything about the new Britax infant seat? Also where are the new Britax covers I hear you guys moo-ing about? (a Cowmoo cover for the Regent or Frontier would be sweeeeeet!)
I have to say I LUV the new Radian XT, I just wish the pink was a pink and black combo, but I still like the new cover!
Yeeeee!! I cant wait for these seats to be released!! I cant wait for all the details!!!
What colour is the recline foot on the compass 670 on the side that the child will see?
I can’t wait to see the new TFs with the rebound bar. I’m glad I didn’t buy one for DD yet. When will the SR32 come out? We need a seat in December, and a Radian soon too. SO exciting 🙂
OMG, OMG, OMG… << me freaking out 😮
Ok, that’s all I wanted to say. hehe.
So… when is that True-fit w/ the rebound bar coming out? I may have to sell my Radian to fund that!! =D
I know who that poster will be 🙂
I just want to know how in the world those radian wings adjust and then I will be SOLD SOLD SOLD!
I know at least one c-s.org poster who is going to freak out when she sees that the XT has headwings.
I totally forgot about the Galaxy lol! Better fix my wording!
The solid red Radian XT looks better in person, this photo picked up some type of distortion that over emphasizes the texture. Maybe Heather’s full size photo will be better. There are some other colors we got to see also- pics soon!
love, love, love that rebound bar! It’s like the britax galaxy with a higher weight limit! Awesome!
I agree with Bookmama.
That pink/red Radian is too busy. Cant they come up with a nice (non eye hurting) girly version? :sigh:
I really like the snugride32. 😀
wow! lots of great stuff. I can’t wait for the full scoop.
Can’t wait to hear more about that new Combi seat, and the Snugride 32!
But the new Radian covers … meh. The red one is OK, but the pink/red combination doesn’t do it for me. At all. (And I DO like pink seats, normally.)
Thanks for the Radian tease! The Combis look cool, too. Seems like they would make a good step between infant and HWH combo seats like the Nautilus/Frontier. I wonder if they’ll come to Canada?