In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician
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Booster seats are the last car seat safety hoop to jump before you're done with car seats forever. While you might be tempted to skip it or your child might be begging to go without, this is not the time to give in. Studies show a great booster seat that helps align the vehicle seat belt in the proper position help keep kids safe while riding in cars. Are you curious about which products offer the best safety features? Are you confused by the high-back vs. no-back options? We can help!
We've tested more than 90 car seats, including the 16 boosters we purchased for crash testing and extensive side-by-side comparison in this review. We spent several months testing and using each booster, including a crash test analysis, ease of use, weight, moving from car to car, and more. Let us help you discover which seats offer additional protection and work best for different situations and budgets to find the right seat for you and your family.
Our favorite booster seat is the Nuna AACE. This high-quality choice has the best crash test analysis, rigid LATCH connection, and is easy to use. It also has a reasonable price compared to convertible car seats, even if it is higher than average in our lineup of boosters.
If your budget is tighter but you still want a high-performing option with better-than-average crash test analysis, we love the Chicco KidFit Air Plus 2-in-1 and think it could be a great fit for most families. This comfy booster includes a leg support lounger and is very easy to use for parents and kids.
We've tested more than 90 car seats in different categories. If you are unsure which type of car seat is right for your child, check out our Best Car Seats Review to get more information. We also have reviews for infant car seats for a new baby and top-ranked convertible car seats for older babies. If you are looking for other baby gear, we've compiled a list of award winners for easy browsing.
Editor's Note: In February 2025, we updated this review with 4 new boosters. In January 2024, we conducted new testing on 14 compelling booster seat options.
The Nuna AACE is a standout booster seat with exceptional crash test analysis. It earned some of the lowest sensor data for the HIC and chest clip in the group (lower is better). It is a relatively narrow seat at only 16 inches in our tests, and it sports rigid LATCH connectors to keep the seat in position when no one is sitting in it. The AACE is easy to install, and the headrest and seat bottom are easy to adjust. We love the padded headrest, with our child tester stating, “I could totally nap here.” The belt path and shoulder positioner are easy to use, but you do need to lift the headrest for best access. Buckling is a mixed bag that requires ensuring the seat is pushed to the opposite side away from the buckle, but once it is, our tester had no difficulty getting the job done on her own.
The AACE is not a lightweight booster at a measured weight of 15.9 lbs in our tests. While it isn't as lightweight as the BubbleBum, weighing in at 0.9 lbs, it isn't as heavy as the Britax Grow With You ClickTight+, which weighed over 26 lbs in our tests. The Nuna also did not have the best padding in the seat or back area, with our child tester complaining, “It feels like a rock with a blanket on it.” But not many of the boosters offered much for comfort padding. If comfort is a priority (and why wouldn't it be), the Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1 was a huge hit with our tester thanks to extra padding and leg support we didn't see on any competitor. Overall, the Nuna is impressive and the option we think is right for most families with the right budget and an interest in crash test analysis.
The Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1 is a great seat for most families. It offers better crash test analysis results for a price that feels like a steal. These factors make it great for those on a budget or as a second seat. With nice features for comfort, like supportive padding and additional leg lounge padding, it is easy to see why kid testers gave it a big thumbs up in our review. Our child tester stated, “I could sit here all day; so relaxing.” The Air Plus is an easy-to-use option for parents and kids, and the higher quality materials imply it will last as long as you need it to. In our tests, the Chicco was easy to secure to the car via push-style LATCH connectors and a quick tightening strap in the front. It sports dual cup holders and a snack accessory box with a flip-top lid. The Chicco can switch to a backless booster for easier travel, but is still one of the lightest high-back boosters in the group, weighing only 11.8 lbs in our tests. Given that the Britax Grow with You weighs in excess of 26 lbs, the Chicco feels like a feather in comparison.
The Air Plus headrest and fabric cover aren't our favorite, and the Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120 offers a more comfortable headrest and adjustability to help ensure better napping comfort. Our tester reports, “I don't like the fabric; it is weird to have the rougher fabric in the head area where cheeks would rest.” The Chicco is also somewhat wide, with a base that measured 18.2 in in our tests. While this is nothing compared to the Britax at 21.5 in, it is still wider than options like the UPPAbaby Alta v2 with a width of 16 in and similar crash test results. Overall, this Chicco is an impressive option that offers something for everyone with better quality materials and a design that clearly considers passengers and parents.
The UPPAbaby Alta v2 is a better seat at a great price. This booster earned better than average crash test analysis results, with one of th lower chest clip (g score) results in the group (lower is better). It is a high-quality option with super soft fabric, EPP foam in the headrest, and features that work as they should. Our kid tester gave the material a 9 out of 10 score, stating, “This fabric is almost too soft for a car seat.” The Alta v2 has a rigid LATCH connection to keep the seat from moving and it was easy to use and didn't get in the way of the vehicle buckle. In our tests, the Alta v2 belt path was easy to use, even with the seatback/headrest in the topmost position.
While similar to other booster seats in the group, our kid tester didn't like the comfort of the Alta, stating, “I think it feels like a rock with a blanket on it.” We agree it could use more support padding or padding for comfort, but it isn't alone in this. If comfort is your jam, or you want to limit kid complaints on longer trips, the Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1 is the better bet with its ample padding, comfy headrest, and leg support lounger. Our child tester felt the armrests got in the way of fitting the belt in the buckle but still managed to get the job done without help. If armrests feel unnecessary, the Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120 is a highly adjustable seat that doesn't have armrests, and none of our testers seemed to miss them. The Alta v2 is also somewhat heavy, with a measured weight of 17.4 lbs. It isn't one you'd want to take on travel, and the back is not removable to cut down the size. Alternatively, the Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1 is lighter, with the back in place by almost 6 lbs, and the back can be removed for a more compact travel companion. The Alta v2 is a high-quality choice we really like, with a reasonable price and better crash analysis, it is one most families will appreciate.
The Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120 is an impressive high-backed booster we really love. This booster earned better results for crash test analysis than the average booster in our tests, bringing a combination of better sensor data for both the head and chest sensors to the table. This booster is highly adjustable for kids of various sizes, it is easy for parents and kids to use, and it is a high-quality option that got good marks for comfort. Our tester says, “This is a great option for kids of different sizes because it has so many adjustment points, including width.”
The Peg is on the expensive side for the group, and for families on a budget, the Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1 could be a better fit with similar scoring overall and a price of almost half. The Chicco could be a good choice if your budget is tight. The Nuna AACE earned better crash test analysis results, so it could also save you money and bring somewhat better safety potential to the table. The Peg also doesn't offer armrests. While we didn't think this was a huge problem, and our child tester didn't miss them, it is something to consider if your child wants them or will use them. The Peg Perego Viaggio Shuttle Plus 120 is similar to the Flex, but it has armrests and the same crash analysis score and price, making it a potential choice if armrests feel like a deal breaker. Overall, if your budget allows, the Peg Perego is a great all-around option that we think doesn't disappoint.
The BubbleBum is a booster we love for what it is, but we encourage you not to ignore what it isn't. This option is lightweight, weighing only 0.9 lbs in our tests, rolls up in its own travel bag, and is one that is uber-easy to take on travel or for little ones to carry for carpooling or camp. The similar Hiccapop UberBoost weighs slightly more at 1.1 lbs. The BubbleBum is easy to use, and the inflated bottom is comfy enough. Our kid tester remarked, “I like the blow-up cushion over the harder plastic boosters.” The BubbleBum earned an average score for crash test analysis, beating out the other travel and backless options we tested. We love that this seat provides potential protection in situations where little ones might not use a safety seat at all, and we think it is an excellent choice for a second seat or frequent travel.
This booster has a tendency to shift under passenger weight and could cause trouble for some passengers with chronic adjustments or longer thighs. Kid testers report, “You can't shift around very much, or you'll need to adjust the booster a lot.” The Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1 used in a backless configuration could be the better solution if comfort is paramount. The Chicco provides more versatility since it can be used with the high back when it is convenient to do so. However, if your little one needs a booster for travel, camp, or carpool situations, it is hard to find something better suited for the task than the BubbleBum.
The BubbleBum performed better than other backless boosters, but it was not a top performing in our testing commissioned through MGA Research. However, it has passed federal guidelines and is consider safe.
Credit: GearLab & MGA Research
Compare Products
We tested popular booster seats from various brands.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
How We Test Booster Seats
We purchase 2 of each booster car seat in this review, one for crash testing and one for in-house and real-world use. We install each product in multiple cars to see how well they fit and how easy they are to install and use. Children utilize the seats in real life, and we record their opinions and feelings as part of the test process, giving us insight into comfort and ease of use without adult help. We combine all test results, including analysis of the crash tests, to rank the competitors and give awards.
We had kid testers use each seat to add information to our review for ease of use and comfort.
We tested the installation of all boosters that offered some way to secure the booster to the case.
Testing for booster seats is divided across five rating metrics:
Crash Tests (35% of overall score weighting)
Ease Of Use Tests (30% weighting)
Weight/Size Tests (15% weighting)
Comfort Tests (10% weighting)
Quality Tests (10% weighting)
We tested each booster in multiple vehicles to get a better idea of how well they fit and to identify any problems with installation or size.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Over time, we've purchased and tested more than 20 booster safety seats. Our testing puts each booster seat through a multi-point performance analysis that considers everyday functionality and more. We've spent years and hours using and testing boosters to determine what makes one better than another.
We tested the quality of the materials and design for potential concerns like the Evenflo cup holder popping off without too much effort.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Boosters are put through more than 24 individual tests to rank and score their performance compared to the competition. The most critical booster metric is crash testing analysis, which is 35% of the overall product score. This metric's overall result is derived from the crash test results from the crash test dummy's head (HIC) and chest (G) sensor data. Our reviews also utilize research and observations from various testers to compare each seat's performance. The second most important metric is ease of use, as many crash-related injuries are a result of a seat not being used as intended or outlined by the manufacturer.
Our testing includes assessing every component and feature of the seat like those that help with comfort or functionality.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Why Trust GearLab
We've been testing safety seats since 2014, including commissioning crash testing with the same facility (MGA Research) that works with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) for their car seat tests. Our team is led by our founder, Dr. Juliet Spurrier, a board-certified pediatrician, uses her experience in the medical field to choose products with safety and ease of use in mind, the two factors that play a key role in keeping little ones safe during a crash. In-house testing is performed by and under the guidance of our onsite Certified Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Technician, Bob Wofford, father of 7. Bob works with Senior Review Editors, Wendy Schmitz and Jessica Riconscente, Senior Review Analyst. Wendy, a mother of 2, uses her science background to analyze crash test results and ease of installation. Jessica has an Industrial Technology degree from California Polytechnic State University, which gives her insight into product development and a critical eye for testing and how the manufacturing process impacts the final product.
We tested a variety of booster types and brands for our review.
Under the guidance and supervision of a NHTSA Certified Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Technician, we spent several months testing and rating every product in this review. We created a set of comprehensive tests derived from our convertible car seat review and used these results together with the crash test data to determine the scores and rank for each option.
Booster Time
Experts agree children should stay rear-facing until at least age 2. The recommendations from both the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and NHTSA are that babies stay rear-facing as long as is allowed by the seat, and at the very least until they are two years old. Children can move to a booster as young as four years old. Still, despite the convenience of a booster, BabyGearLab agrees with the experts that children stay in their 5-point harness car seats as long as the manufacturer's recommendations allow. Depending on the car seat, this shift from a 5-point harness usually happens between 40-65 lbs. While parents love marking milestones as their little ones grow, transitions from one level of safety seat to another should not occur until your child has reached the maximum limits of the seat as defined by the manufacturer. Each time you move to a new level of safety seat, there is a reduction in the protection it provides. Don't be in a hurry!
Also, don't be in a hurry to ditch your booster (even if your kid complains and begs). Safety regulations are there for a reason. The recommendation is 4'9" tall before moving from a booster to the vehicle seatbelt. Once again, we recommend you keep children in the booster until they reach the limit advised by the manufacturer.
Each booster we test is compared side-by-side to the competition. While each option has met the minimum safety guidelines outlined by the federal government, they are not equal in form or function, nor do they all offer an additional margin of protection compared to the competition (according to crash testing).
What's the Best Value?
While safety seats are not the gear categories where you should sacrifice potential safety for a lower price, there are budget-friendly boosters with impressive performances across metrics that most families can afford. The Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1 is a great value booster with one of the better crash test scores in the group. While it isn't the cheapest, if you can stretch your budget or might use it for multiple children, this booster offers a lot for a below-average price. The UPPAbaby Alta v2 is the only value option. While still on the spendier side for a booster, this seat has the same crash test score as the Chicco but offers a somewhat better ease of use. It isn't as comfy as the CHicco, so which is best for you depends on your goals. The BubbleBum is also inexpensive, but given the lower scores in most metrics, we think it should be a travel and carpool-only option. However, the lower price means saving yourself the hassle of moving your everyday seat or carrying a high-backed booster while on travel.
Last, the Nuna AACE could be considered a value seat depending on what you value and what your budget is. While it is more expensive than many competitors, it is less expensive than other top performers. In comparison to the prices of convertible car seats, it is about average. We love that the crash test results are the best in the group, and the quality indicates it could easily last through multiple children. While not the choice for those on the tightest budget, it justifies its prices in the ease of use and high performance in every test metric.
The Peg Perego Viaggio Flex offers better crash test performance than much of the competition.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Crash Test Analysis
We contracted with the same crash test facility used by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) to conduct our booster seat crash tests. We test the products at a faster rate than the speed outlined in the federal requirements (FMVSS 213) and on a sled that better mimics modern-day vehicle seats.
Crash Test Performance Ratings
Product
HIC
Chest Clip
Nuna AACE
9.0
9.0
Peg Perego Viaggio Shuttle Plus 120
7.2
7.3
Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120
6.9
7.5
Clek Oobr
6.8
7.1
UPPAbaby Alta v2
6.6
7.3
Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1
7.0
6.7
Diono Cambria 2
6.7
6.7
Britax Grow With You ClickTight+
6.7
6.3
BubbleBum
6.2
6.5
Chicco KidFit
6.3
5.9
Maxi-Cosi RoadiSport
6.5
5.7
Hiccapop UberBoost
6.4
5.3
Graco Tranzitions 3-in-1
5.1
5.3
Graco TurboBooster Backless
4.0
5.7
Safety 1st Grand 2-in-1
5.0
4.4
Evenflo Maestro Sport 2-in-1
5.1
4.0
We analyzed the crash test sensor data from each booster's crash sled dummy to determine how they performed compared to each other. To help you understand crash tests better, we've included comparison graphs using the actual crash test results in each booster's gear review and summarized them below.
What are the most critical details from crash tests for analyzing results?
The risk of head injury
The risk of chest injury
A detailed analysis of automobile crash injuries for children indicates that head and chest injuries are the cause of the most significant risks of severe or fatal injuries.
All Tested Products Provide a Basic, Safe Level of Protection
All seats included in this review earned sufficient scores to pass the minimum Federal safety standards. Therefore, all of the boosters we tested provide at least a basic level of crash safety protection. Our primary focus for crash testing is to identify boosters with crash test performance results that exceed the Federal requirements by a wider margin. The crash test sensor data implies that these seats potentially provide an additional level of protection compared to other booster seats in the group.
You can compare the lower g force recorded in the HIC sensor using the Nuna to that in the Graco TurboBooster, a lower line is better.
Credit: GearLab & MGA Research
Understanding the Head Injury Criteria (HIC) Score
For the crash tests, they buckle a crash test dummy into the booster secured to a sled to simulate the forces experienced in an actual crash. This dummy has sensors in the head and chest that record the force exerted on those areas during testing. NHTSA crash studies show that the risk of injury is higher for forward-facing children. Head Injury Criteria (HIC) score is the factor used in the federal safety standards. This sensor data is a measurable way to assess the likelihood of injury arising from an impact. Better performance results yield lower scores as the force exerted on the child is less (less is better, like golf). The Nuna AACE had the most impressive results with our tests' lowest recorded sensor data, by far. No really, no one comes close to this performance. The Peg Perego Viaggio Shuttle Plus 120 had the second-best results, but it isn't even close to the AACE. The highest recorded sensor data for the most g forces was found in the Safety 1st Grand 2-in-1.
This graph shows a comparison between the highest-performing seat, the Nuna, and one of the lowest-performing options, the Graco TurboBooster.
Credit: GearLab & MGA Research
Understanding the Chest (G) Clip Score
The test dummies include sensors that measure impact forces in the chest. The results from the chest sensors are used to calculate the Chest (G) score, which attempts to numerically determine the likelihood of an injury occurring to the organs located in the chest cavity. The best chest clip score for the group is once again the Nuna AACE, with the lowest recorded g force in our booster testing. The second-best results were obtained by the Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120, followed super close by Peg Perego Viaggio Shuttle Plus 120 and the UPPAbaby Alta v2.
The backless design is not our favorite.
The KidFit Zip Air Plus is an example of a high-backed booster.
High Backed vs. Backless
We prefer a booster with a back instead of a backless option because we believe they are intrinsically safer. Studies indicate that a high back booster can result in lower odds of injury compared to a seatbelt or a backless booster.
Comparing these injury risks to those of children restrained in seat belts, the adjusted odds of injury were 70% lower for children in high back belt positioning booster seats (OR=0.30, 95% CI=0.13–0.68), while the adjusted odds of injury were not statistically different for children in backless belt positioning booster seats (OR=1.17, 95% CI=0.40–3.43).
While there are no agreed-upon safety tests for side-impact collisions or other kinds of crashes to prove this theory definitively, we feel it makes logical sense that a protective shell (similar to that found on a convertible car seat) will provide additional protection for little ones depending on the type of crash and possibility for the intrusion of foreign objects into the passenger area. The difference is evident in both crash test videos and in examining the actual crash test dummy sensor readings.
Also, a high-backed booster seat is better at keeping children positioned correctly, especially if they frequently enjoy sleeping in the car. A backless booster doesn't offer the support required to keep little ones correctly positioned if they should fall asleep and slump or fall forward. We believe this theory makes sense, and it is why we recommend using a booster with a back whenever possible. However, we think any belt-positioning booster is safer and, therefore, preferable not to use a booster at all.
The Nuna AACE earned some of the best crash results data we've seen in boosters.
Credit: MGA Research
Best Booster Based on Crash Test Analysis
We rank each product compared to the competition based on an analysis of the crash test reports using a 1-10 system.
This scoring method guides our assessment of the products that we believe offer an additional margin of protection above and beyond the basic level of protection present in every other seat on the market (as outlined by US Federal guidelines). The best crash test score in the group and the best combined sensor data in the test group is the Nuna AACE. The Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120 and Peg Perego Viaggio Shuttle Plus 120 come in second place, followed by the Clek Oobr, UPPAbaby Alta v2, and then the Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1. We believe that the crash test details indicate that these higher-scoring options potentially offer an additional margin of protection over the average seat.
The lack of armrests and bulky lower seat make it super easy for kids to buckle themselves using the Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Use
Booster seats seem relatively straightforward and virtually the same. Some parents might even be tempted to forgo them (Do not do this!) However, they are very different in how easy they are to use.
Ease of Use Performance Ratings
Product
Belt Placement
Buckle Ease
Install/Transfer
Cup Holder
UPPAbaby Alta v2
9.5
9.5
9.0
7.0
Chicco KidFit
8.0
8.5
8.0
10.0
Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1
8.0
8.5
8.0
10.0
Peg Perego Viaggio Shuttle Plus 120
9.0
9.5
9.0
6.0
Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120
9.0
9.5
9.0
5.0
Maxi-Cosi RoadiSport
8.0
7.5
8.5
7.0
Nuna AACE
8.0
8.5
9.5
5.0
Graco TurboBooster Backless
6.0
8.0
9.5
7.0
Graco Tranzitions 3-in-1
8.0
6.0
6.0
10.0
BubbleBum
8.0
8.0
9.5
1.0
Britax Grow With You ClickTight+
8.0
6.0
5.0
7.0
Safety 1st Grand 2-in-1
3.5
5.0
6.0
10.0
Evenflo Maestro Sport 2-in-1
3.0
6.5
4.0
10.0
Diono Cambria 2
6.0
3.5
5.5
7.0
Hiccapop UberBoost
4.0
8.0
9.0
1.0
Clek Oobr
6.0
2.0
6.5
7.0
This metric includes buckling, attachment, reclining, and additional features. Booster seats aren't as convoluted as convertible or infant car seats, but that doesn't mean they are universally easy to use. For this type of gear, one of the most important regular activities is buckling in and whether or not little ones can do it for themselves. Other ease-of-use-related features would be attaching the seat to the vehicle (if applicable), adjusting the headrest and recline features, and moving the booster from place to place.
The shoulder belt placement on the UPPAbaby Alta v2 has a simple slide in mechanism with a small latch that catches and prevents the belt from easily sliding back out.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Shoulder Belt Placement
The main goal of a booster is to help position the vehicle belt in the right position to help restrain a child during an accident. This placement is important to provide the most protection possible. The shoulder belt pathway helps ensure the belt stays where it is supposed to be in relation to your child. The best options thread easily and have adjustability to help ensure the belt is where it needs to be for children of different heights and shapes. The easiest options for adjustment and placement were the UPPAbaby Alta v2 and the two Peg Perego seats. The clear pathway does not require snaking it through a convoluted path and keeps the belt contained, while the adjustable height ensures that the belt is correctly positioned on the shoulder and across the lap. The most challenging were the Evenflo Maestro Sport 2-in-1 and the Safety 1st Grand 2-in-1 because they were not adjustable enough, and getting the placement right for every height was a struggle.
Our passenger tester didn't think the Nuna was as easy as some competitors, but still managed to buckle without help.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Ease of Buckling
The ease of buckling a child into the booster should be simple for parents and the passenger. Booster-age kids are often able to do it themselves, and many demand too; after all, they aren't babies anymore. This makes it crucial that the task can be done without parental assistance and without an emotional breakdown that can come from challenging independent tasks. The easiest in our review for kids to buckle themselves were, once again, the two Peg Perego seats and the UPPAbaby Alta v2. The two Peg seats have narrower seat bottoms, making access to the vehicle buckle insert easier. The Alta requires pushing the seat as far to the side away from the buckle as possible before sitting down, but once you do, the narrow width helps provide open access to make the connection.
The Maxi-Cosi rigid LATCH connectors make for easy installation you can accomplish with one hand.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Overall Booster Ease of Use
Overall, ease of use encompasses the daily considerations and functionality that make using a booster a non-issue or a point of chronic frustration.
During testing, the UPPAbaby Alta v2 is the easiest booster to use. With straightforward rigid LATCH installation and easy-to-use adjustment features, this booster does what it should without a problem. Following closely are the Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120 and the Peg Perego Viaggio Shuttle Plus 120, both of which offer easy-to-use seat adjustments that go beyond the competition to create seating suitable for most children. This was followed closely by the Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1, Chicco KidFit, Nuna AACE, and the BubbleBum. All of these options offer features that are easy for parents and kids to use and installation methods that are straightforward. The hardest-to-use boosters are the Clek Oobr, Evenflo Maestro Sport 2-in-1, and the Safety 1st Grand 2-in-1.
We weighed and measured every booster seat in the review for side-by-side comparisons.
Credit: Natalie Nealan
Weight/Size
We checked the weight and width of each seat at its widest point. The booster's weight can be crucial if you use it on travel or carpooling.
Transporting the seat easily from car to car is essential if you plan to do it regularly. Also, the width of the booster can play a factor in your decision if you need to fit multiple safety seats across your vehicle's back seat.
A narrower width could enable installing three across for multiple children. However, if your seat isn't going to move cars often, and you don't have a space limitation, then the weight and size metric are probably less crucial for your family.
Weight and Size
Weight
Width
Backless
BubbleBum
0.9 lb
11.3 in
Chicco KidFit
10.3 lb
18.4 in
Possible
Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1
11.8 lb
18.2 in
Possible
Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120
15.7 lb
16.3 in
Possible
Hiccapop UberBoost
1.1 lb
15.0 in
Nuna AACE
15.9 lb
16.0 in
Possible
UPPAbaby Alta v2
17.4 lb
15.5 in
✖
Another consideration is that some high-backed boosters will work without the back, creating a much lighter and smaller package. These features give you a backed booster that does double duty for travel when you remove the back.
The BubbleBum is a compact and lightweight choice that kids can carry without help.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The BubbleBum booster can't be beat if your goal is compact and lightweight. This inflatable option rolls up and fits in its own stuff sack that can be stowed in almost any backpack or carry-on. It weighs under a pound, and kids can carry it themselves. The top scorer in this metric for high-backed boosters is the Safety 1st Grand 2-in-1, but it is not an impressive seat nor one we'd recommend to a friend. The Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1 is relatively lightweight with the back in place but can also be used without the back for those occasional carpooling or traveling adventures where smaller is better. The lowest-scoring option is the Britax Grow With You ClickTight+ because it is both heavy and large at over 26 lbs and 21.5 in wide.
The Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120 has several adjustable features that can better help little ones find a comfortable fit.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Comfort
Considering comfort factors, we compare the foam support, fabric feel, the seat's design, the depth of the seat bottom and headrest, and the potential for napping. Some boosters offer denser padding, a cushy feel, softer fabric, or a steel frame. Boosters are tested side-by-side by adult testers and children for general comfort compared to the competition. After all, who knows booster comfort best? Tiny testers.
The Air Plus has a zip-off cover and leg padding that is super easy to remove for cleaning or to flip around and refit for the leg lounger feature.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120 and the NUna AACE earned the top scores for comfort in our tests. They both have an adjustable headrest and back height, but the Peg has adjustable side wings for comfort and to help ensure a great fit for kids of different sizes. It also has supportive padding and a headrest that offers a great napping design.
There are several adjustments on the Peg that can make it more comfortable for kids of different sizes and needs.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The Peg Perego Viaggio Shuttle Plus 120, Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1, and the Maxi-Cosi RoadiSport come next for comfort in this group. The Chicco includes an optional leg lounge cushion for support of shorter legs. The Graco TurboBooster Backless and the Clek Oobrare the most uncomfortable options. The lack of a back and napping headrest hurt the score for the backless options (Graco TurboBooster, Hiccapop, and the BubbleBum), as none offered suitable padding that was supportive or a headrest for napping, leaving kids leaning or curled up in a way where the shoulder belt would not be properly positioned for safety.
It is noteworthy here that our kid tester wasn't a fan of many of the seats and described more than one as being a “Rock with a blanket over it.” We considered this in our scoring, but it might not reflect how you'd expect. Because so many of the seats have a hard plastic bottom seating area and minimal padding, and our scores are a comparison of the seats side-by-side, not to an ideal imaginary seat, their scores could feel generous and possibly undeserving. Think of it like grading on a curve: if no one is that good, then no one is that bad either, and the final result could seem artificially high. That being said, if a booster scored particularly low in this metric, you can bet it was an uncomfortable seat since none of the competition was that impressive.
The Britax ClickTight is one of the better quality options in the group, with components that are designed well and use nicer materials.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Quality
For quality, we consider the materials and construction of the final seat. We analyzed the padding, foam, fabric, and attention to detail of our purchased competitors. Each component influences the longevity and stability of the booster.
The highest scorers for the quality metric are the Nuna AACE and the Britax Grow With You ClickTight+, followed closely by the Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1, Chicco KidFit, Peg Perego Viaggio Shuttle Plus 120, and the Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120. The lowest quality scores go to the Hiccapop UberBoost Inflatable Booster Car Seat and the BubbleBum. Both have a flimsy feel and use cheap, thin fabric with the BubbleBUm being ever so slightly better. The overall fit and finish look sloppy and somewhat incomplete, with stray threads and uneven stitching. However, the lower price tags make the quality level feel acceptable, even if it is disappointing. Also, quality is less of a concern since we think of the BubbleBum as an occasional seat for travel or carpooling.
We purchased and tested each booster seat in our review for crash testing, ease of use, weight/size, comfort, and quality to determine which options were the best of the bunch.
Credit: GearLab Staff
How to Pick the Best Booster Car Seat
Booster seats are an important part of your car travel safety journey. They are not a gear type to skip or a safety seat you can do without. Because booster seats help position little ones properly for vehicle seat belt use or can keep them retained in a 5-point harness for longer, we think it is good to consider what you need and how much you can afford to ensure they are as safe as possible when traveling in a car.
How and Where
Often, when your child is booster age, they are on the go and participating in carpools or camps. This can mean a lighter weight or more portable booster is necessary or preferred. Alternatively, your booster might live in one car, and your need for travel will be infrequent. Deciding early how and where you will use your booster can help divide the field into heavy and substantial seats vs. more portable, smaller seats and prevent future frustrations. It might be that using two seats is the right solution for your family: one for everyday use and a second for travel or carpooling. Often, it is the only way to meet all of your needs. Many of the travel-friendly options are also relatively inexpensive, making two a potential solution.
Consider Safety
For our review, we commissioned independent crash testing on all safety seats. While installing and using your booster seat is key to creating a safer environment, the results from crash testing can also help guide you to options that might offer an additional margin of safety. You should consider which seats performed the best and how the results work with the size and type of booster that will best meet your needs.
What to Spend
Like all other safety-related gear, we think this is not a time to save or let money drive your decision. While we understand you need to stick to what you can afford, we encourage you not to go for the cheapest option but instead look for the best option within your budget and worry about saving money on other gear.
With so many boosters to choose from, our testing makes it easier to find the right one for your needs.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Conclusion
Selecting a safe booster seat is equally as critical as other car safety seats. It is the last safety seat your child will use before transitioning to a vehicle seat unassisted, so your search for the perfect car seat is almost over. However, it is as vital as their infant car seat (you likely agonized over) to provide much-needed protection until they are tall enough to ride safely without a safety seat. Therefore, we encourage you to consider carefully finding the best booster for your child. We believe there are competitors in this review for every child and need. The details we provide will help you narrow the field to find the right booster for your family and budget.
—Juliet Spurrier, MD, Wendy Schmitz, and the BabyGearLab Review Team
