We were gracious enough to test the RSTV for all of one taxi ride with this young model. Sincethis model rides in a booster most of the time, she was able to sit properly in the vest. Thanks for all the details! Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Top picked items. Using the top tether was also pretty straightforward. Discount given for rentals of 8+ days. She declared it, impossible and not comfortable. This would certainly add to the usability of the vest; it would allow older children to be safely restrained on the plane without needing to bring a larger and more awkward harnessed seat aboard. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. It holds the seatbelt in place where it ought to go. Learn how your comment data is processed. Even for hardcore RSTV families, a lot of children will be fine in just a seat belt once the size L is outgrown. I think that for 99% of parent out there, the best practice is to use it with a lap-shoulder belt if one is available. Get it directly from Safe Ride 4 Kids for amazing customer service and fast, free shipping use coupon BESTPRICE to save $8 on your Ride Safer vest! I dont have the dimensions offhand (no soft tape with me while traveling!) It has always worried me about what to do with car seats and this seems like the perfect solution. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. View cart for details. It is still a booster seat, allowing much more mobility than a harnessed seat, so youll have to use your judgement regarding your young childs maturity and ability to stay in the proper position for the whole car ride. Image Credit: JM Gonzalez Photography@jmgonzalezphotoon Instagram. Noted. ie what is the smallest it can be? Here are the basic steps to install the Ride Safer vest: Bottom-line upfront: we liked it enough to take it with us for a full year of travel. The Walmart (Rakuten Marketing) Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn commissions by advertising and linking to Walmart.com. The combination worked well overall, but read on for the highs and lows of using the Ride Safer Delight nearly every day for a year. It says its not approved for use in Europe? We love the blue and pink currently available, but the newly created yellow and green colors are awfully sharp! They could then transition directly to a vehicle and be safely transported, unlike other airplane harness products that are only suitable for the airplane itself, not the car ride after. Here you can see a 9 year old, 53 and 54lbs wearing the large and a 5 year old, 46 and 44lbs wearing the small. Maybe you are dealing with a seating position with only a lap belt. -Design has multiple fail-safe mechanisms, -Extremely compact (takes up less than half of Jacobs preschool-sized backpack), -Easy to use, takes less than 3min to put on the vest and get the seatbelt in place (assuming your kid is a willing participant), -More torso support than a backless booster, avoids booster rider slumping when asleep, -Adjustable sizing so it can last for several years, -Can take some practice and tweaking to get the fit of the car seat vestjust right, -Crotch strap is almost too short for Jacob at 41, though its use is not required, -Fit on kids at the bottom end of the stated range isnt great, -Getting the vest on the kid and then the kid in the car can get to be tiresome if youre doing it several times per day, every day, for a whole year, -Lots of parts to keep track of (for a city family using the vest in a taxi, you can leave the headrest at home and save tons of space), -The optional headrest seems more trouble than its worth and takes up valuable luggage space; it wont travel with us again, -Not permitted to use on an airplane, so for a child under 40lbs youd need to buy a CARES harness to make the airplane seatbelt safe. Now for my full thoughts: The Ride Safer Delight vest is an awesome product that really delivers on its promise to make traveling with preschoolers and older kids easier without compromising safety. If you do not have another available anchor, contact Safe Traffic Systems for a kit to install in your car (or two kits, if you are using a lap belt and have no tether anchors at all). Weve certainly spent our fair share of time lugging car seats through airports, which is why were delighted (see what I did there?) The Ride Safer travel vest is a great choice for preschoolers for travel, taxi rides in the city or even three-across situations at home. to introduce the Safe Traffic Systems Ride Safer Delight travel vest to your family. The manual, really, a folded and highly durable piece of paper, comes tucked in a clever hidey-pocket in the front of the vest. Definitely a game-changer if you dont need to carry a car seat or a booster. At 8 years old, a backless booster is a safe and appropriate choice for most children her age; but for this child, some special developmental needs make sitting still in the car a challenge, especially for longer rides. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The Delight travel vest is a booster seat alternative for kids who are, How to put on the Ridesafer vest for kids. This will almost always involve some drilling so you may need to consult with a mechanic or a NMEDA-certified shop that is familiar with safety retrofits for vehicles. Read our comprehensive guide to travel with car seats. I had no idea anything like this existed! While he is within the height restriction of the seat by several inches, he misses the weight cut off by 6 pounds. If you buy the model without the tether and decide later that you need it, the dual tether can be purchased separately, just like it is today for kids weighing more than 60 lbs. Nat.x, This is so interesting Ive not seen one of thes ebefore .So much lighter than a car seat and having to lug around. Sometimes thats the reality. We kept our older one rear-facing until 4 and the younger one until 3.5, but at that point we went off traveling full-time and the Ride Safer was by far the best option for that lifestyle . Do you think the Ride Safer travel vest is right for your family? Definitely something we will invest in when we go abroad with the girls. 2010-2019. Here she is, all ready to ride in the car in her Ride Safer Travel Vest! If you are using the vest with a lap and shoulder belt, the tether is optional. Thanks again to Safe Ride 4 Kids for helping us get around safely! -Price shown is for a DAILY rental rate. The Ride Safer Travel Vest is a wearable booster. ALL ITEMS ARE PORCH PICKUP AND DROP OFF ONLY. Im glad we waited until our daughter was old enough to use the vest. I cant imaging doing a gap year with a regular car seat you guys are troopers! The expansion panel is now available for purchase. We opted to bring the Ride Safer travel vest for her and this amazing booster seat for Jacob (check out our full review). 2011 Toyota Sienna Review Part 2Mommy Fun? Ready to buy your own Ride Safer Delight? For our Europe trip, I slid it into the front elasticized pocket of my new travel backpack (it buckles shut, so I wasnt afraid that it would slide out). They make a small size, too! We took it to Europe without ever testing it at home, which was a risk for sure, but I figured it out pretty quickly. The vest isnt just for bigger kids. The material has changed including a gorgeous blue color. The shoulder portion of the belt goes through this clearly marked loop. In 2019, they started shipping the RideSafer Travel Vest in a size XL! Can also be used with a lap/shoulder belt. The final step is to the thread the Y-shaped crotch strap through the two slots on the back of the vest on the bottom (one on each side), then pull between the legs and fasten snugly through the slot at the bottom of the front. Then she got to walk around like an astronaut! wearing the vest before we got into the car. By booking a rental, you are agreeing to all of the terms listed in the rental agreement. Nevertheless, the vest fits him comfortably and provides a perfect belt fit. Why (or why not)? Sadly I see so many pictures of booster riders who fall asleep and basically lay down sideways not adequate protection in a crash, not even close. They have introduced new energy absorbing material, including in the vertical straps adding padding to the inside of the vest. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Getting her into the vest is a snap its only one buckle and a strap between her legs. Ive been keen on using Hertz with AAA code to get a free car seat with each rental. We got one for our older girl when she was 3, traveled in Kenya with it Now waiting for our youngest to hit the age/weight requirements so she can start using it too! Doesnt take up any more space than the childs body does, Can be tricky to thread the seat belt through. That means that the only safe way for a child to ride in a car is in an approved, age-appropriate restraint. Eastern Washington's #1 Selection of baby products, Lightweight and easy portability, which is great when, Easy to put on and use correctly every time, Lightweight to carry when traveling with children, Safety and convenience in taxis or ride shares. I live in San Francisco and think just about every friend here has one of these. Youve got two kids, you commute, and you didnt want a car payment or a second mortgage to cover fuel costs. I love that it doesnt take up too much space. YOU MUST ENTER YOUR CHILDS WEIGHT AND AGE TO RENT THIS ITEM. What a greta piece of travel kit. ress_js("https://small-meadow-8465.ck.page/b6d133a36c/index.js"); Overall were very satisfied with our decision to bring the Ride Safer Delight rather than our usual travel car seat and we stand by our recommendation for its use on children 3.5yo and up who are mature enough to follow the rules of booster riding in situations like ours where traveling light is the only practical solution. The lap portion of the seatbelt goes through these loops. Copyright 1995-2022 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. Our model here weighs 76 lbs, just under the weight minimum of the vest. There are two sizes available. He practiced some short rides at home in a high-back booster, so he knew the rules about staying in position and followed them. Best July Car Seat Deals, Sales & Coupon Codes + Strollers & Baby Gear. Fasten the Velcro so that its snug but not uncomfortable and then do the same with the buckle theres no way that vest is coming undone on its own! Ive updated the review to show those changes. Also, it seems like the child wouldnt be able to see out of the window. Thanks again for the post! We generally opted to use the crotch strap for Shoshana, as shes at the lower end of the size range. Ride Safer Travel Vest- 8 years, 75 pounds., 4 ft 9.25 inches. The previous buckle was intended to be kid proof but it turned it out to be a bit more adult proof instead! Adjustable straps allow for growing children up to the next size. Our daughter was 3 years and 4 months old and weighed in at 35lbs. _______________________________________________________________________. Vehicles with lap-only belt positions who are trying to get a little more time for their kids to ride before they have to upgrade vehicles if your car has or can be retrofitted with tether anchors (available upon request from Safe Traffic Systems), this vest can turn a lap belt into a safe restraint for your older child. Thats what makes this new size option so exciting for usdriving on vacation is back on the table once she grows into the vest a bit. We have mifolds for our older kids but they complained that the seat area was uncomfortable. While the RSTV is more restrictive than a traditional booster, it is still a booster and requires the child to have the maturity level to stay somewhat in position for the entire ride. Thank you so much for this post! What to wear for travel (and how to pack it), purchase the Ride Safer Delight on Amazon, comprehensive guide to travel with car seats, Summer Travel Capsule Wardrobe: What to Pack for Croatia in June, Central KY & Lexington With Kids: Weekend Itinerary, Renting a Car in Mexico: An Insiders Guide, 10 Amazing Things To Do In California With Kids, Alaska Travel Tips You Should Read Before You Go, 2 Weeks in New Zealand Itinerary: 14 Days of Adventure, Scenery and Culture, Your Complete Packing List for Alaska in Summer: Tried and Tested Advice, Fall capsule wardrobe for travel: what to pack for Italy in October, The minimalist Hawaii packing list for female travelers, The best snorkel gear for kids of every age (+ how to teach your kids to use it), Packing for Mexico: The List You NEED to Read (2022), Put the vest on the child, making sure that the lower panel is over the tops of the thighs, Have child sit in the car and fasten seatbelt as normal, Feed the lap belt through both metal guides in the lap panel of the vest, then pull snug across the lap, Open the Velcro shoulder pad on the side where the should belt crosses and feed the shoulder belt through that metal guide, then pull snug and close the shoulder pad. Its a really innovative solution. She is 56 tall. First, we buckled the seatbelt in, then threaded the belt through three loops on the vest itself. Car Seats for the Littles is a participant in: Car Seats for the Littles is a service mark registered in the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. She was 37 pounds, 38 inched tall, and just shy of 4 years old, when we quickly discovered that for a kiddo her age, using the vest properly was beyond her abilities. #familytraveltips. Since I dont think that we would use them much after the trip and since they are pretty pricey, Ill try asking around to see if anyone in my area has one that I could borrow to test fit. These cookies do not store any personal information. Any time you have a tight fit situation where you cant squeeze in a booster and your child isnt quite big enough or mature enough to safely use the seat belt alone but has outgrown the size Large RSTV. Hopefully youll get a chance to try it out! The vest is really great for families whose kids are riding in a forward-facing harnessed seat, but who are basically willing not to squirm too much in the car. Instructions are printed right on the vest. The first time you put the Ridesafer Delight travel vest car seat on your kid, youll see a few different parts and youll need to make some adjustments. That kind of convenience is hard to beat! When weve borrowed one though, she seemed like she was swimming in it (at 34 pounds). Thanks, Vera! Our older model was7 years old, 49 pounds and 48 here. Excited to see how it compares to lugging a big seat with us. I was especially pleased that, when used with the top tether, the Delight prevented slumping out of position while sleeping; if we had just brought a booster seat, he would have been in an unsafe position. These are the rules you must follow to restrain your children safely. Most 3- and 4-year-olds will fit best in a small size vest. But for a more normal family travel schedule, I think the Ride Safer vest is a great choice starting around 4yo . We started using the Bubblebum for our older one at 6yo. CSFTL is staffed entirely by volunteers - please consider supporting us. CarseatBlog makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. This review looks at an older version of this vest.