Britax One4Life ClickTight Review

Britax, a European company, is more than 70 years old. British Accessories and Romer joined in Germany in 1971. They launched the company's first car seats in 1973. Britax acquired other safety seat companies in Australia and New Zealand. Britax began selling seats in the US in 1996. Britax sells multiple types of car seats, top-ranked strollers, and accessories.

Performance Comparison

Crash Test

The crash test analysis result for this Britax is below the average, with sensor scores that weren't impressive compared to better-performing options. While all of the seats in this review are considered safe and should have passed the federal standards, we ran our tests a little faster and on a more modern sled to find the best of the bunch.

While the One4 Life was not a standout in our tests, it also wasn't a disappointment; there are simply better options in this review if your main goal is the best crash test analysis result.

This Britax had higher G forces recorded on the HIC (head sensor) and chest sensors in the crash dummy than the average seat in our tests. A lower value is preferable, and the higher results hurt its overall analysis result.

Ease of Install - LATCH

The LATCH installation method isn't too shabby, with a better-than-average result than the other convertible options we tested. This seat has hook-style LATCH connectors, a dial level on both sides, and a lock-off.

The recline adjustment is a side button that is much easier to operate than the typical handle on the foot portion, making adjustment after installation difficult. The indicator is confusing with color coding based on your child's neck control and rear vs forward-facing directions, and it isn't obvious. The diagram for threading the LATCH strap is also unclear, and we think they've made this more complicated than needed. The hook connectors easily get twisted, and we hate how hard they are to remove. It feels like a backward direction to take from the easy-to-use push-on connectors we usually see on higher-end models.

The lock-off is a pinch-style button that is wide enough for most fingers, and the tensioner helps you get a tight fit you couldn't otherwise get without it. The final installation was stable and passed the wiggle test handily.

The forward-facing installation of this Britax has a wide angle range with an easy-to-thread strap and angle rotation. The pathway is clear under the seat, and the seat bottom stays out of the way. Removing the LATCH hooks is a chore, and for the price, it is a miss for us. It is something more acceptable on seats at half the price. The seat bottom doubles as the lock-off tensioner again and is easy to operate. There is minimal wiggle when installation is complete. We accidentally installed it incorrectly on our first attempt, so follow directions closely and double-check.

Ease of Install - Belt

While installing using the LATCH method is not challenging, using the vehicle belt is easier, and this Britax performed better in this metric than LATCH. It would be our chosen method for this seat.

The One4Life has a dial-style level indicator on both sides for easy viewing. It includes a color-coded belt pathway with a lock-off. The level isn't as smooth moving and could take a little patience to use, and we often felt like it wasn't moving or adjusting when the seat did. We wish it had a wider range of acceptable positions. This seat has a button adjustment for reclining, which is much easier to use than most. The seat rotates back and forth smoothly. This seat has the ClickTight tensioner, and a button pops up the seat bottom. The pathway is wide and easier to identify and thread than other Britax options we tested. The seat was larger, and we had to get in the car to buckle the belt. Closing the seat bottom to engage the tensioner is easy, and the seat feels stable. There is some resistance pushing the seat bottom of the One4Life down as the padding collides with the vehicle seat. Overall, we felt the process was smoother than some of the other Britax options.

Uninstalling the seat is easy enough with the pinch open of the belt lock-off/tensioner. It is easy to unbuckle the belt and to unthread it from the pathway.

For forward-facing installation, it includes the same dial on both sides, pathway indicators, and the ClickTight lock-off/tensioner. The pathway is not truly color-coded, but there are colored sticker indicators that have arrows. You must raise the seat bottom first before you initiate the installation. Everything threads easily without too much finagling, and the slots are large and easy to access. The recline rotation is smooth, and the seat bottom pushes down without a problem locking the seat in place. It feels tight, and there is no wiggle in our tests.

Ease of Use

While it isn't “hard” to use, it is more complicated than most, with a below-average performance in this metric compared with other seats.

Harness

The prongs slide down the harness straps all the way to the bottom with nothing to hold them up or out of the way. The process is below average for the group and the One4Life as it seems thinner than most, and it was challenging to get the straps around our baby with the smaller working space and shorter webbing. We had trouble fitting little arms back to go under the shoulder straps. The buckle and chest clip were easy to use.

Tightening and loosening the One4Life is below average compared to the others in our test group. Tightening was difficult, and the right side tightened more than the left. There is tension on the straps, and we had to give it somewhat of a jerk to get it tight enough. Loosening isn't much better, and we had to tug hard on the straps to get them to release. Both processes were such a pain, and it just doesn't need to be this hard, in our opinion.

The harness height adjustment is better than the average for the One4Life, and it has a non-rethread height adjustment with 15 positions and a crotch strap with three positions. It is different than the other Britax we looked at. The assembly moves smoothly up and down after clasping the button fully. The button is super easy to operate and not a workout. The three crotch strap positions sound nice but have a similar range to those with two, so we think it is more of a minor help than a useful one for bigger kids.

LATCH Storage

Latch connector storage is under the seat, which flips up for installation. The space is big enough and easy to access and feels like a better design than other Britax options we looked at. The connection hooks are within reach and not too far back.

Cover

There are a lot of loops and pegs on this cover, and most are in tight spaces where it can be hard to find or reach them. If you want a finished look, the sides also require pushing in the material.

Comfort/Quality

This seat has a somewhat better-than-average result for comfort and quality. While these results might be impressive for a cheaper seat, this option is on the spendy side and feels like a disappointment compared to other options.

The main seating material isn't as comfy as the infant insert. The shoulder pads are seen together, so there is no adjustment as little ones grow. The seating area has breathable material down the side, which might be useful in hotter weather without adding anything abrasive. The infant insert has separate head and body components. The head padding isn't as much as the remainder, but the outer headrest is well-padded. It feels like a great combination of comfort and cooling.

Overall, the padding is significant and better than that of most of the competition. It has padding on padding on padding. The back padding can be halved and folded in infant mode or unfolded for bigger children. The two layers slide over one another, and there is great padding in the back area where many competitors skimp.

The shell itself is relatively smooth, but the Britax Safecell red design below the seat has a bunch of small honeycomb-type exposed areas where messes will likely migrate. You'll have a heck of a time getting vomit out of this area or a spilled smoothie. The seat has two integrated cup holders that sit pretty flush with the seat shell and twist out for cleaning. If you don't show your little ones how you remove them, you might get some extra time before they figure them out.

Weight/Size

With a weight of 28.1 lbs and a width of 19.4, the ONe4Life convertible seat is neither lightweight nor narrow. Depending on your car seat goals, this might be a poor fit for your car or travels.

The average seat in this group weighs 24.3 lbs and is 18.6 in wide. Given that the low for the group is a smidge over 9 and the width closer to 17 in, you can see why this option did not stand out in our review.

Should You Buy the Britax One4Life ClickTight?

The Britax One4Life is a generally average seat with a higher-than-average price. This seat offers below-average crash test analysis, and the terrible clip-style LATCH connectors we equate to cheap and frustrating. Why would a brand with this history of quality make this choice on a seat priced above the average? We don't know, but frankly, it is somewhat of a deal-breaker. Installation is hard enough without making it harder to save money while not passing the savings on to the user. Overall, the lackluster performance of this seat results in just about the average score for the group, with no actual standout features or reasons to recommend it. It is the highest-scoring Britax in this lineup. Still, higher-scoring options from other brands cost less and provide an additional margin of safety, as indicated by their crash test results.

What Other Convertible Car Seat Should You Consider?

If your goal is quality, safety, or ease of use, the Nuna Rava is a top performer. This option has higher crash test scores, is easy to install, has straightforward features, and has a comfy seating spot. If the price is out of your budget (as it is one of the most expensive options), then the Graco 4Ever DLX is a good choice that excels at just about everything. The high crash test score is reason enough to love it, and the price is lower than the Britax. No matter your goals or budget, there is a top-ranking option in our lineup that is probably a better fit for you.

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