Super Extended Rear-Facing Carseats: ERF to the MAX

The Best Extended RF Convertible and All-In-One Carseats with the Highest Rear-Facing Weight and Height Limits

Want to keep your child rear-facing until 2 years for safety?  Almost any current convertible carseat in the USA will allow that for most kids.  A decade ago, Extended Rear Facing meant keeping a baby rear-facing beyond 1 year AND 20 pounds.  Britax set the trend of ERF convertibles over 10 years ago with the original Britax Marathon and Wizard that allowed kids to remain rear-facing well beyond 2-years old.  Today, other models have set the bar even higher.

Here are some of the top contenders for Super-ERF carseats that have among the highest weight and/or height limits in the USA.  They can all accommodate even the tallest and heaviest kids rear-facing beyond 2 years old and many kids rear-facing until 3, 4 or even 5 years old.  These aren’t the only great ERF carseats; we update our complete list of rear-facing convertible carseat height and weight limits periodically.  In no particular order:

Britax Boulevard CT

Britax Boulevard ClickTight, currently under $300 at Amazon.com.  Britax has a super-easy seatbelt install system on their latest convertible carseat.  Check out our review of the Boulevard CT.  While only a 40-pound weight limit rear-facing, the shell height is around 28.5″ tall and along with a 44″ standing height limit, that makes it effectively the tallest rear-facing model available at the time of this update in terms of seated torso height.  Early models included a tether for rear-facing use.  The Advocate CT has identical rear-facing limits.

Diono Rainier

Diono Rainier, currently around $300 at Amazon.com.  Diono’s newest upscale all-in-one carseat.  Check out our review of the Diono Rainier.  Along with the Clek convertibles, it offers an industry-leading 50 pounds rear-facing limit for kids up to 44″ standing height.  The shell is only a hair over 25″ in torso height, however, and will be outgrown by tall kids before competitive models.  Includes a tether that can be used rear-facing to reduce rebound.  The Diono Pacifica has similar ratings. The Diono Olympia and slightly narrower Diono Radian RXT have a 45-pound rear-facing weight limit and similar rear-facing height limits as well.

Clek Foonf

The Clek Foonf, currently starting around $449 at Amazon.com.  It matches Diono’s Rainier with a 50 pound rear-facing weight limit, but has a slightly narrower profile and an anti-rebound bar.  A taller 26.5″ shell and a slightly higher rear-facing seated height limit than the Diono models, but a slightly shorter 43″ standing height limit. Please see our full review of the Foonf.  The newer Clek Fllo has similar ratings and is less expensive.

Graco Extend2Fit

Graco Extend2Fit for $199 or less at Amazon, Target or Walmart. It has the highest rear-facing weight limit of Graco’s convertible line-up at 50 pounds and has 4 rear-facing recline settings. A 27″ shell height with a height limit of an inch below the gray adjustment handle gives plenty of growth room. Perhaps the biggest feature is the 4-position extendable tray for leg room. Deluxe push-on LATCH connectors and a 10 year lifespan give the Extend2Fit make this seat a true competitor. Read our review of the Extend2Fit here.

Graco Size4Me 65

Graco Size4Me 65, around $150 at Amazon.com.  A more typical 40-pound rear-facing weight limit, but is among the taller usable rear-facing seated height limits on the market with a 27.5″ shell.  Here is CarseatBlog’s full review of the Size4Me (Previously known as the Size4Me 70).  The Graco Headwise 65, Graco MySize65 and Graco Fit4Me 70 have similar ratings.  All are great values for Super Extended Rear-Facing.

Graco 4Ever

Graco 4Ever, around $300 at Amazon.com.  A more typical 40-pound rear-facing weight limit, but is among the taller usable rear-facing seated height limits on the market with a 27.5″ shell.  An all-in-one seat, it also converts to a high-back and backless booster.  Here is CarseatBlog’s full review of the 4Ever.  The Graco Milestone (convertible + high back booster) has similar rear-facing ratings.

Safety1st Grow&Go EX

Safety 1st Grow and Go EX Air 3-in-1 for $199 and Advance EX 65 Air+, on sale at $119 at BabiesRUs.  Two carseats with an industry-leading 50 pound weight limit rear-facing, plus a ~28″ shell that offers a seated height limit similar to the Britax Boulevard ClickTight.  With a 49″ standing height limit, they will fit most kids beyond 4 years old rear-facing.  On the downside, they are among the larger models on the market and may not work well in smaller vehicles.

Evenflo SureRide

Honorable Mention (Value):  With a ~26″ shell, the Evenflo SureRide is a bit taller than average, but it definitely isn’t one the tallest seats on the market.  The 40 pound weight limit and 40″ standing height limit are average.  But at around $100, or under $80 on sale, it’s an inexpensive way to keep your child rear-facing for at least a few years.  The Graco Contender 65 fits kids a little taller for $100 to $120 on sale making it another great budget pick.

Updated March 21, 2016