Safe Traffic System Inc. brings us the Ride Safer Travel Vest, which we love as a travel option or when we need to squeeze a kid in a very narrow 3-across situation where nothing else will fit. They continue to expand their product line to make the vests more useful and mainstream. Let’s start with the new backless booster. It’s made almost completely of EPP foam, which makes it about as lightweight as you can get. It does have some metal in it to reinforce it, but it’s still pretty flexible. The booster, which doesn’t have a name yet (ETA: It now has a name: the Delighter), can be used with or without the vest. When used with the type 2 vest with tether or the type 3 vest, limits are 3 years and 30 lbs. When used without the vest, limits are 4 years and 40 lbs. Size-wise, the booster is about 9″ at its narrowest on the bottom at the back, 14″ at the armrests at the back, and 14″ at the front. Initial models won’t have LATCH, but it will eventually be phased in. The booster can also be used in conjunction with the type 2 vest and the airplane strap on an airplane. Say what?
Yep. STS has also developed an airplane seat strap á la the CARES harness. It will be a brightly colored strap–color to be determined–that wraps around the airplane seat to secure the top of the vest to the seat. The tray will be able to fold down for the person sitting behind, just like the CARES harness. Just like the Ride Safer Vest weight limit, the upper weight limit for the airplane strap is 80 lbs. Booster use with the airplane strap/vest isn’t required on the plane. No release date for the airplane strap yet since it’s being held up for approval by the FAA, which is currently closed due to the government shutdown. Price is expected to be around $25 for the accessory plane strap.
Release date for the booster is 1st quarter 2014. Price is expected to be around $40.
ETA: Additions made are colored red.
I have an almost 8 yr old, a 5 yr old, and a 3yr old. And I have a toyota camry. I just bought two vests for the younger two (the oldest is on a backless booster) and use them everyday. I too was concerned that others only use them for travel and would like to be reassured that they are a safe choice for everyday (as opposed to when you have no other option). My daughters are getting used to “threading” them themselves and we leave the shoulder threaded and they leave the vests in the car. A concern is that they will wear out and are not durable for years of everyday use. Any feedback on that? My almost 8yr old desperately wants one as he thinks his booster is for “babies” and that the vests are cool (which they are). Can I get him one and let him wear it until he reaches the upper weight limit (he is only 50 lbs now, so he might not reach 70 until he is 10yrs!)?
@April, there are folks who use the Ride Safer Vest every day, but I believe most find it to be too cumbersome for daily use. Like everything else, if it’s your only option, you make due and get used to buckling it in each time. Is there a reason you don’t want to use boosters for your older kids?
We are using a Diono RXT with both my 42 lb. 6 year old and 44 lb. 7 year old , but due to the new regulations we are concerned about using the LATCH up to the 80 lbs. that Diono states we can. We have not been able to get a good install with the safety belt so that leaves us wondering what is the safest option for them. We have two other littles in Dionos, but they are well within the 65 lb. LATCH limit. I’m not crazy about a high back boosters, and this looks safer in crash testing videos than the high back boosters. Would this be a good option for everyday use? I have looked all over and feel like it is a viable option for everyday, but most people are only using it for travel. Do you have any thoughts on this?
Thanks,
April
I’m super excited for this… people in busy cities and people who take trips on planes a lot will really love these changes that make this product even better!
Thank you Heather!
Thanks, Wendy! I’m actually going to go back and edit the post since we got some more information today–changes literally occur daily at ABC!
@HRice, they developed the booster to satisfy parents who felt their kids were sitting too low on the vehicle seat; the kids couldn’t see out the window. Vera, their expert, prefers the type 2 vest to the type 3 vest because it offers the tether, which does lower the chest Gs. Using the booster with the vest wouldn’t lower head excursion; in fact, it would raise it because you’re raising the child’s center of gravity. But especially if using the type 2 with the tether, it’s all good.
What benefit would the vest/booster combo offer over just a backless booster for a child that is mature enough to maintain position? Does it offer additional SIP or does the vest distribute crash forces better? Less head excursion?
There are G2 and G3 Type 2/Type 3. Confused?
G2 is the current model out (colored. G1 was the silver one). G3 is coming.
Type 2 is usable with the tether and has a crotch strap. A Type 3 has no crotch strap and requires a lap and shoulder belt since there is no top tether.
Heather, how tall is the booster? It looks to be three to four inches tall?
Which vest is the type 2? When was it released? Just trying to figure out if the one we have would be type 2 or not. We bought it maybe 3-4 years ago and is the colored version.
Cool – like a cam wrap on a bus seat then? I wish we had this option in Canada. Sigh.