Until now, there have been a lot of things your child shouldn’t sit on in the car: phone books, pillows, table saws, backpacks. The first three still aren’t a good idea, but the fourth one is ok, as long as it’s the Trunki BoostApak by Safety 1st.
Years ago, Trunki introduced the…well…Trunki, a combination suitcase and wheelie-toy that makes it easy for parents to pull their children through an airport. It was only a matter of time before this led to another bag you can sit on, this time in a car.
Although it sounds unorthodox, the BoostApak is a federally approved child restraint, and a version is already available in Europe.
BoostApak Specs:
- 40-80 lbs, and 43-52 inches.
- At least 4 years old
Measurements:
- External base width: 14″
- External base depth: 15″
- Widest point (armrests): 14.5″
- Height to top of armrests: 8.75″
- Internal seating width: 10-12″
- Internal seating depth: approximately 11″ before the seat slopes down
- Belt guide max height: 22″
- Weight: About 3.5 lbs
Features:
The BoostApak features adjustable padded shoulder straps for carrying, reflective “ears,” and an incorporated ID tag.
The BoostApak is probably best suited for travel, carpools, and other occasional trips rather than as an everyday seat. The advantage of the BoostApak is that you can put stuff inside of it, so your kid doesn’t have to worry about toting the booster separately.
We’ll get to the backpack aspect shortly, but since this is CarseatBlog, let’s start with the booster features.
Converting the BoostApak from a backpack to a booster is pretty simple, and any kid mature enough to ride in it can probably do most of the set-up him/herself. Here’s a demonstration:
As you can see, there are a few aspects that are different from what you normally encounter:
1) The BoostApak’s belt-positioning clip is required (usually it’s optional on other boosters). Kids will likely need help with this.
2) The belt positioner goes on the side closer to the buckle. On other boosters, the clip goes in the center or on the side where the shoulder belt comes out.
3) The bottom edge of belt positioning clip needs to be level with the shoulder closer to the buckle, then runs diagonally across the child’s back and clips onto the shoulder belt. This results in the belt positioner sitting below the child’s shoulder.
4) The lap portion of the seatbelt goes under both armrests, but the shoulder belt stays outside the armrest. Although this isn’t the only booster that requires the shoulder belt to stay outside, typically the shoulder belt goes under, too.
I suspect those are all things that could easily be overlooked if people don’t read the manual, and we know people often don’t read the manual. The back of the booster does have cute little illustrations, but people tend not to look at those, either (especially for something as straightforward as a booster), so I could easily see misuse occurring, just because it doesn’t follow the typical expectations.
Some of the standard rules do apply: The BoostApak can be used only with a lap AND shoulder belt, it’s not approved for airline use, and head support is required up to the middle of the child’s head.
The BoostApak provided a good fit on my 8-year-old. He thought the seat was a bit hard, but didn’t complain much. It offered more leg support than I would have imagined.
As a backpack, the BoostApak won’t hold everything you need for a vacation, or even a day at school, but its capacity is fine for incidentals. The cavity measures approximately 4.5″ x 10.5″ x 13″. I was able to comfortably fit two workbooks, an iPad, a bottle of water, and a small doll. The manual contains warnings not to overstuff it.
So, how do I feel about the BoostApak overall?
Pros:
- Very portable!
- Serves a dual purpse
- Provides good leg support
- Fairly easy to set up
Cons:
- Belt-positioner required at all times
- Unusual rules about belt-positioner and seatbelt routing
- Not well padded
- Low standing height limit. Hopefully they’ll reconsider the 52″ height limit in the future, as my tall 8-year-old has technically outgrown it by height, even though he has plenty of room left before he maxes out the belt clip.
Conclusion:
If you’re looking for a part-time seat your child can easily carry with her, the BoostApak could be an excellent option. The belt guide probably requires an adult’s help to set up, but other than that, the booster is simple to convert and easy to use. This seat is very different from anything else currently available on the US market, but that’s a good thing. Sometimes it’s fun to think outside the backpack!
The BoostApak retails for $69.99 but can usually be found on Amazon for considerable less.
Thanks to Safety 1st for providing a BoostApak to sample!
More info on the BoostAPak can be found on the Dorel website here: http://safety1st.djgusa.com/en/djgusa/safety1st/booster-car-seats/boostapak-bc062
Everything in the backpack stays in place. The kid actually sits on the outside of the main compartment of the backpack. The part that flips up is separate from the compartment.
I love the concept, but what does one do with all the stuff in the backpack once it’s unfolded to become the booster? Put it in another bag? Or can it stay inside the compartment without causing discomfort to the child’s back?
My daughter has a Bubble Bum for the occasional ride in a taxi or friend’s car, and I like being able to just pop the Bubble Bum in and out of a larger tote bag or backpack without disrupting everything else that may be in there.
Wendy, the belt guide can be left in place, though you’ll want to check each time to make sure it’s properly positioned, of course.
Thanks for the info, Jennie and Darren! Glad we already have a BubbleBum, then.
It’d be cool if they had a BoostaPak Sr, something more wide and flat and plain colored for kids up to 11-12 who still need boosters.
Last year at KIM I was told $60 for the price. I’m not sure if that’s changed at all in the last nine months. The BubbleBum is $40, goes to a higher weight limit, but doesn’t offer the leg room, the storage, or even the easy transport of the BoostaPak. We have two BubbleBums for Piper to travel with and she likes them for travel in that she doesn’t need to lug a booster. Otherwise she feels tippy, they don’t offer a lot of support, and the belt guides are annoying to do. When it comes time to get Laine a travel booster I’m leaning more right now toward the BoostaPak rather than another BubbleBum. We’ll see what’s out in two years.
Question, though. Can the belt guide be left on the belt in between uses? That way after the first time the child can just buckle back in and not have to redo it, or is it something that’s redone every time?
I had read that the price point would be $60-80. I’d rather the bubblebum for a little less.
Great review, Jennie! Jools- We have a comparison blog in the works already! The BoostApak is relatively narrow, too, making it handy for 3-across or use next to another carseat or passenger. It fit neatly in the “40” section in the 3rd row of a Chevrolet Traverse. There was enough room to spare between it and a rear-facing Radian in the middle of the third row, allowing a child to have room to buckle. I have a photo of this without a child, but I routed the shoulder belt under the arm out of habit, so I didn’t want to include it! I personally think the 52″ height limit isn’t a big drawback. I think it’s targeted mostly for kids in kindergarten and preschool. I think by 8 years old, most kids that tall wouldn’t be using one anyway?
Not sure on price point yet, but maybe another blog writer knows. My son found the BubbleBum to be cushier, and therefore more comfortable.
Need a quick comfort comparison: Bubble Bum vs Boostapak? Not that the Boosta would probably make it in time for dd2’s train trip adventure (and rental car) with her grandmother in a few weeks, and she does love her BB, but I’ve been dreaming about one of these things since I saw them yeeeeears ago online, and this seems like a good excuse to get one. 😀
I think it’s nice for kids in big cities who take public transportation… it can stash a few things or their game with their video game player and games in a smaller bag inside and/or a book… I think it’d be great for people who fly a lot because it is a carry on AND a booster… but I’m just not crazy about how narrow it is… how tall it is… even though if it weren’t that tall it wouldn’t hold as much… I guess I wish it were available in more than one size of dimensions… for different ranges of builds/sizes of kids and cars. But it does fit a niche.
Nice! Any idea of price point yet?