Harmony Defender 360° 3-in-1 Harness to Booster Combination Carseat Review
Harmony Juvenile Products brings us the Defender 360° combination harness-to-booster seat, a solid performer alongside Harmony’s excellent line-up of booster seats both in Canada and the US.
US customers can purchase from Walmart.com for less than $100, and Canadian customers can purchase from Walmart.ca for $169. The Defender is a well-priced seat that comes with features seen more often with a higher price tag.
Samples shown in this review are primarily Canadian. Differences between countries will be noted where relevant.
Defender 360° Specs:
- With 5-point harness: forward facing from 22-65 lbs. and 27-57″ tall
- As a booster (high back or backless with lap/shoulder belt): 30-110 lbs. and 34-57″ tall (US) / 40-110 lbs. and 34-57″ tall (Canada)
Features:
- No-rethread harness height adjustment through nine positions
- Smooth harness adjuster
- Two crotch buckle positions
- EPE energy-absorbing foam in headrest, backrest and base
- Harness covers included
- May use lower LATCH anchors in booster mode
- Cup holder swivels and can be used on either side of seat
- Infinite recline system to best mesh with the vehicle seat shape
- IIHS Best Bet Booster rating
- Approved for use on aircraft (in harness mode)
- Machine washable cover
- Ten year life span before expiration
- Available in Moon Rise in the US – black/grey/red, and in Midnight in Canada – navy
Measurements:
- Lowest harness height: approximately 12″
- Highest harness height: approximately 18.5″, plus an extra 0.5″ if the seat pan pad is removed after a child weighs 50lbs (optional)
- Highest high back booster belt guide: approximately 20.5″
- Crotch strap positions: 5.25″, 7″
- Seat pan depth: approximately 13.5″
- Exterior width at arm rests: approximately 18″
- Exterior width at shoulders: approximately 17.5″
- Weight: 18.4lbs says my luggage scale
Fit to Child Comments
Fit in harness mode is truly excellent through the entire range of the harness height and weight requirements. The harness is height adjustable through nine positions, and can be done on the fly when the seat is installed. The squeeze handle to access the adjuster is hidden in the head pad but once you know where it is – voila! Easy peasy. The head pad/head rest piece adjusts as the harness is raised or lowered and is always optimally positioned relative to a child’s head provided the harness is at or slightly above the shoulders as directed.
Carseatblog recommends rear facing as long as possible and there are many seats on the market that can accommodate your child and vehicle with ease. However, once your child is ready to forward face — ideally not before age two — you can bet that they will be comfortable and fit well in the Defender 360°. A range of models shown here demonstrates the range of fit with the easily adjustable harness height and crotch buckle; the youngest at just-turned-two and 24 lbs. through a 7.5 year old at 45 lbs. Great fit, including a nice place to rest a sleeping head!
Booster mode provides excellent belt fit but kids may require some practice or adult help before they are able to buckle the lap/shoulder belt with ease. The arm rests of the booster are quite close to the seat pan and so there isn’t much space for a child to thread the seat belt across the lap – but, once it’s there, it’s nice and low and well-positioned. The arm rests are also situated quite far forward of the seat belt buckle so shorter kids will have a harder time reaching to buckle. Booster mode is best for kids who are consistently over the weight minimum and who have the maturity to remain seated properly at all times. For most kids this isn’t until at least age 5-6. The harness height of the Defender will easily allow harnessing until well past that point.
Installation Comments:
The Defender 360° comes with an “infinite recline system” that allows for easy adjustment of the recline of the seat. In my experience installing in many vehicles I found the best fit is usually with the Defender most upright. Having the option to adjust it is always a nice feature though, if needed! Use the up-front knob and rotate to find the sweet spot to best mesh with the vehicle seat shape. Note that it may be possible for a child to disrupt the seat’s installation if they fiddle with the knob so teach them to leave it alone, and check your installation regularly (good advice for all seats!).
The Defender 360° comes with basic hook-style lower anchor (LATCH) attachments, and a push-button tether hook adjuster. The instructions require tether use when installing in harness mode (a legal requirement in Canada, a strong recommendation in the US). The seat can be installed with lower anchors until a child weight of 46 lbs., unless your vehicle states a lower limit. After that point install with the seat belt.
When installing the Defender 360° I found it easiest to peel the cover back to expose the belt path. This gave me maximum leverage for minimum effort and is a handy technique to use on many seats.
Up to 2″ of overhang is permitted when installing this seat. Its slim design and low profile meant it installed well in a wide variety of vehicles. The way the head rest sits relative to the seat’s shell means it doesn’t tend to get in the way of the fixed or forward-leaning head restraints in many vehicles. I was able to fully raise the head rest and still avoid hitting the ceiling of my Civic, a common issue with high capacity seats, and something to test in your own vehicle.
2010 Jeep Patriot – slim enough to fit three across.
2011 Honda Odyssey “8th” seat – fits like a glove and allows adjacent seats to tilt out of the way for access to the 3rd row.
2012 Ford F-150 SuperCab (extended cab with suicide doors). Shallow enough to fit on the bench seat, and narrow enough to avoid the “60” side of the split.
Additional Comments:
The Defender 360° comes partially assembled. Instructions for complete assembly are clear, but must be done with care and attention because unlike IKEA furniture, all parts are important. You will need two Phillips screwdrivers, 15 minutes, and a clear spot on your floor to work. Once assembled for harness mode check the tightness of the screws periodically to make sure they’re secure.
Conversion to booster mode requires harness removal, and should be done slowly and carefully. Store the unused harness in a labelled bag for future reference. Conversion to backless booster means more tools – but at that point we figure most parents would prefer to save the Defender for its fabulous harnessing abilities and instead pick up a dedicated backless booster instead, possibly even one of Harmony’s other great offerings.
Removal of the cover for cleaning is unnecessarily complicated as described in the manual, but Harmony has approved this alternate method as outlined at the bottom of the page here.
Final thoughts:
Pros:
- great value for the price
- long lasting fit in harness mode means even the tallest kids can remain harnessed until booster readiness
- smooth harness adjuster
- narrow, making it a good option for three-across
- widely available online or in-store
- IIHS Best Bet Booster rating
Cons:
- assembly required
- conversion from harness to booster mode is tedious
- limited options for covers
- more practice needed as kids learn to buckle due to shape of arm rests
- made in China
Harmony has done a nice job of producing a slim seat with long term harnessing capabilities, complete with features seen most often on pricier seats. While some assembly is required it isn’t difficult – but this may put some parents off. The Defender 360°’s place in the market in the US compared to Canada is largely dependent on what else is out there. Americans have more options and may not pay as much attention to the Defender as they could as the US market is more saturated with options; Canadians have less to choose from and the Defender 360° stands out as a star with outstanding value in its class and available at Walmart.com. However, it’s narrow design makes it very appealing for anyone on either side of the border.
Updated May 2019
The easily adjustable straps are a bonus, but I thought I would be able to easily adjust strap height for my 30lb boy and my 48lb girl depending on the needs of the day. However, apparently the latch system cannot be used anymore for kids over 46lbs. Can I just use lap belt method all the time even though my son is still only 30 lbs?
Thanks for such a detailed post!
Sharon
Hi Sharon. Yes, you can install the carseat with the seat belt at any weight. Just be sure to also attach the top tether too, since that’s always used no matter which installation method you use.
When using as a high back booster, do you use the upper tether?
I’ve had 2 of these for 2 years now and have used them in different vehicles. Got nothing but praise and frequently recommend them for their longevity and ease of adjustment.
I am not able to install it securely (in harnessed mode, with seat belt, because LATCH can’t go above 45lbs). I am able to rock back and forth more than an inch. Tried this on both the 2nd row and the 3rd row of a microvan (Mazda5) and the back seat of a couple (Mitsubishi Eclipse).
The very curvy bottom portion of the backrest is to blame. It is simple geometry. Even if the belt is fully tightened, unless the lap belt is at exactly 45 degrees the seat can either slide upward or slide forward, and requires something else to stop it from sliding. In all other car seats I have experience with that something else is simply a sharp angle between the base and the backrest. Harmony Defender has a curvy back that smoothly transitions from the backrest to the base. With infinite recline this shape doesn’t make any sense – such smoothness does not aid installation but would only cause skidding.
If you can’t get a tight install with the seat belt, adjust the car of the vehicle’s seat to more of a recline , tighten the seat, then unrecline the vehicles seat a little.
Has anyone else had issues with the buckle behind the seat that connects the straps getting stuck? Requiring a hefty tug to overcome the plastic lip it rests on and get strap tight? If no kid in seat it overcomes no problem, but with kid in seat putting tenstion on straps as you tighten it gets stuck on lip behind rear back plate instead of gliding past effortlessly.
Thanks.
I am transitioning this seat from high back booster to backless booster. The instructions aren’t perfectly clear to me and I believe I’m missing a part. Is there a website or video with step by step instructions on to do so?
Can anyone tell me if this is possible to put in a Honda Civic Sedan? Thank you for any input.
Hi,
Does the car seat recline? My current convertible car seat has 3 positions – 1 straight and 2 reclined position for a sleeping child. Does Harmony 360 recline easily?
There’s a knob on the front of the seat that controls recline. It’s more for adjusting it to fit the vehicle seat than it is to adjust for child’s comfort, though.
Their customer service sucks. Been trying to contact about broken head rest and frayed adjusted strap for 2 months! Seat in question was purchased just a year from issues. Also booster mode does not work in my van.
For my 19 lb little girl who has only now gotten too long for the Graco bucket seat – can I get her a Harmony Defender and install rear facing?
Hi Bonita, no, the Harmony Defender can NOT be installed rear-facing. It is a forward-facing only car seat. Look for a convertible seat that can be installed rear-facing and forward-facing. You can find our list of recommended convertible seats here: https://carseatblog.com/safest-recommended-car-seats/#CONVERTIBLE
I am purchasing another one of the Harmony Defender to install in our 2016 Honda Oddessey minivan. If I am using the lap and shoulder belt for installation, I understand that by law (in Canada) I also need to use the top tether. Do you know where I can find that top tether point in this vehicle? I’ve never used it before… Thanks!
Hi Sara, the top tether anchors in a 2016 Ody are on the back of the vehicle seat, near the bottom. Look for a small black metal bar on the back of each seating position. Your vehicle owners manual will show the locations as well. HTH!
Am I remembering correctly that this seat does NOT have a seatbelt lock-off?
Hi Tammy, you are correct – this seat does not have a lockoff. You are still able to install with seatbelt but you must understand how the seatbelts in your vehicle lock before you attempt to install the Defender. Most vehicles (but not all) have switchable retractors – after buckling the seatbelt through the beltpath on the carseat, you put the seatbelt in locked mode by pulling the shoulder belt all the way out and letting it retract until all the slack is fed into the retractor and your seat is installed tightly with less than 1″ of movement when you test for tightness at the beltpath. If this is clear as mud, I suggest finding a CPS Tech in your area that can help.
How do you raise the headrest on the car seat? It is now getting to the point where it needs to be moved up for my 5 year old and I can’t figure it out.
On pg. 25-26 of the manual, it describes how to raise the headrest. There’s a red button on top of the headrest that you press while lifting or lowering the headrest. https://www.harmonyjuvenile.com/media/wysiwyg/Instruction_Manuals/Canada/HMYD3HBB-F3.pdf
Just so I am clear…my 3 yo rides in this seat. When she is using the harness and the lat h system is being used as a bottom anchor….the tether strap on top MUST be used? Correct?
Hi Lila. Yes, always use the top tether.
Just to clarify again: if I am using the seat in harness mode but with the lap belt installation, do I need to use the top tether?
Hi Sarah, sorry for the delayed reply – I am just seeing your comment now. If you hava a top tether for that seating position in your vehicle, you always want to use it for a forward-facing seat. It is a critical safety feature. If you are in the U.S. and your vehicle doesn’t have a top tether anchor, you can still install the seat, it just isn’t ideal. If you are in Canada, tether is required by law. What are you driving? Most vehicles made after 1999 will have top tethers but their location might not be obvious.
I purchased this car seat so I could fit three across in my Prius. I’ve been using it for about a year and today I was buckling my four-year-old son into it when I noticed that the bolt holding the back of the seat to the base had completely fallen off and was lying on the seat of my car. It would have been easy to miss because the seat still appeared to be attached, but in a crash it would have completely broken apart. Very dangerous situation. I’ve decided not to use it anymore but if you do, please check the bolts frequently! It’s easy for busy parents to forget.
Oh nice, it’s good to see more narrow options to recommend.
Maybe if it gets popular enough, there will be more color choices. Graco seems to usually start with new seats in Gray and Pink-with-Gray, and then evolve it into prettier seats over time, so there’s hope 🙂
Great review!
I want to clarify, since this probably didn’t occur as a review difference to a Canadian reviewer- up to 2 inches overhang is permitted when using the tether. If the tether (always recommended but not required in the U.S.) is not used it may not overhang.
Also I am not sure but THINK that rule is only for harness mode. I believe they want no overhang in booster mode.
KQ, Jen and I actually discussed this point and decided to leave it as it was in the review. The online manual only specifies no more than 2″ of overhang and that the tether must be used at all times when in harness mode. There was no overhang specification for booster mode, so I interpret that to mean that it can hang over 2″ as a booster.
The bullet point in the manual specifically reads:
“The front of the child restraint MUST NOT hang over the edge of the vehicle seat by more than 2 inches (5 cm).”