I sit here in the Dorel exhibit, waiting for the start of the press conference. I’m in an air filled cozy chair with a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and live blogging wirelessly. It just doesn’t get any better than this! Please refresh your page to get the latest updates from the Dorel Air Protect press conference. There will be some new product notes and photos coming, too!
Lorrie Walker from Safe Kids USA is discussing the importance of side impact protection. There is an emphasis on putting kids in the back seat and in a restraint that is appropriate for their age and weight. She is also stressing clear instructions and labels for ease of use and improved LATCH system hardware for ease of installation. Finally, she advocates color coding manual and label information to distinguish the various modes of installation.
Janet Brelin-Fronari from Kettering University is showing videos of crash footage, showing typical crushing of vehicles and the physics of a frontal crash, with the passenger compartment remaining well protected. In comparison, a federal side impact test video shows the serious nature of a 33 mph side impact with the door structure intruding into the occupant space. At the moment of impact, the occupant moves toward the impact with the door moving in toward the occupant. Kettering and Dorel have a crash test method that emphasizes the necessary protection from door intrusion. They simulate the same crash energy on a crash test sled with a simulated door striking the child seat.
David Amirault from Dorel is discussing how the two chamber Air Protect cushion will help dissipate the energy. A strong punch to the cushion showed how well it helped his hand from being injured, as it would have been if he had hit the table instead. He followed up with side-by-side video of Air Protect vs. no Air Protect. It showed a reduction in peak forces in the neck by up to 30%.
In the Q&A session, someone asked how the Complete Air varies from other competitive products with side impact protection. Dorel said their crash test methodology is the only one that simulates door intrusion on their test sled.
Dorel will soon release the Safety 1st Complete Air LX, coming in the 4th quarter of 2009. It is very similar to the standard Complete Air, but has a recline feature that allows for a greater recline angle for newborns and infants. The lack of recline was one of our complaints, so it’s great to see this improvement.
Also coming soon is the Safety 1st OnBoard 35 Air, coming in the 1st quarter of 2010. It’s a sharp infant seat that has the Air Protect feature that extends a good length of head area to cover small infants and larger babies. It also has a wide range of adjustments for the harness straps (4 slots, 5″ to 11″) and crotch strap (3 slots with adjustable length). The base has a nice lockoff system and a very nice recline foot. Plus, the depth is greater than average allowing for more legroom for older babies.
It was also implied that other Air Protect seats will be forthcoming soon, including a booster seat product.
Also, as many of you know already, Safety 1st will now be marketing the Go Hybrid Booster (formerly from SafeGuard). It will debut next month in October. It is essentially unchanged, with the exception of new fabrics and minor padding changes.
That’s it from the “Live” Blog! We’ll fill in the gaps with more photos and videos later today or later this week!
Hi,
Wondering if a new version of the Air 65 LX Convertible is coming out. Trying to buy the LX for my 10 month old, but it is discontinued. I’ve been researching and trying to order it for 2 months; was put on an email list to be notified when available. Are there any recalls, new models or … I don’t see anything with my online searches or at their site.
Thanks any info would be appreciated
Will it be released in Canada as well?
The recline feature is handy for rear-facing installations, a drawback we noted in our review of the original Complete Air here – https://carseatblog.com/?p=3698
Safety 1st Complete Air is very heavy, a feature I love which means it can hold it’s own. I also like the harness feature, my 2 1/2 can’t get out of it, well aleast for now. I also like air protection, that will help keep my son safe.
the LX version seems a little over board, seems to me to have it secure it should be snug to the carseat, plus most cars back seats don’t recline either.
The Infant one looks great to look into. I’ve always used safety first products and they are top on safety.
That’s understandable. Personally, I’m thankful to have had the Apex at its current price point even with the head support restrictions. It’s currently the only HWH seat that I can convince my local CPS program buyers to purchase in bulk although hopefully we’ll have some more affordable options from Evenflo soon.
True. I was told, though at a show, that if they added stuff to the Apex, to make it that it did not need a vehicle headrest, it would have made it too expensive. hmmm
As someone remarked to me at the press conference, we’ve come a long way in ten years, since the Cosco High Back Booster that was highly touted by Consumer Reports. Even compared to 5 years ago, today’s products are generally much improved.
Kat – keep in mind there is a good reason for those vehicle head support restrictions (mid-point of the child’s head must not be above the top of the vehicle seatback or head restraint) on most Dorel boosters. Dorel has been running rear-impact testing on their seats for several years and they obviously don’t like the results if there isn’t sufficient head support provided by the vehicle. Rear-impact testing for CRs isn’t required and even if CR manufacturers go above and beyond by testing for rear-impacts chances are they just ignore the results. We need to be realistic about the amount of whiplash protection that a flimsy plastic booster is going to provide in a rear impact. Even though Dorel’s prohibition limits the number of vehicles and seating positions that their seats can be used in – I actually applaud them for putting the child’s safety and best interests first even knowing that it wouldn’t be a popular stance.
Okay… before we all start getting excited (knowing that dorel produces inexpensive boosters that are easily affordable)… PLEASE tell me that this is ONE booster they make that won’t have that HORRID height restriction where the seat is outgrown by the vehicle seat height, not the booster’s height
We do have pics of the OnBoard!
The LX does essentially use an AO Elite type of base, though I’m not sure if it’s exactly the same or not. That was the main change, I didn’t note any other issues addressed.
I can’t wait to see the new Onboard Air in person. It sounds like it’s pretty nice.
Any word on whether they plan to add any EPP or memory foam until the covers to make them a little more comfy? For a $250 seat I was pretty disappointed that the ONLY padding it had was the Air cushions.
I am very happy to hear about a Complete Air Booster seat in the works! Thanks for the news :^)
I really like the look of the CA infant seat.
Interesting about the LX model, it almost looks like they’ve put an AO style base on the seat, but it looks like it’s not wide enough that it will create the same install challenges that the 3in1 bases do.
I don’t really mind the fabric on the CA. It’s not plush, but it’s not irritating to the skin either.
I hope you post more today!
That’s a cool looking infant seat, IMO.
Yup KQ, it mentioned on the ad page for the CA that the Air Protect would be found on more dorel seats in the future.
So, is the material all like the material on the original CA? I hate the feel.
I really do like the OnBoard. 🙂
The “Complete Air” name– does that mean they’ll eventually have a complete line of seats with this technology? Like, a nice tall booster? 😀
Will the LX with more recline have a lower set of slots as well to fit younger babies better?
Can wait to see pics of the new OnBoard!