UPDATED Omg I hate the Diono Radian so much

[pugz]

I'd look into the clicktight seats! Supposed to be easy to install!

[penguingrrl]

Ugh, I'm sorry! I can't wait to kick my radian to the curb and plan to when DS turns FF since I've tried everything and can't get it installed FF in my car. I haaaate this seat. I'm getting him a britax frontier clicktight to replace it.

[mrsGreeko]

We use a Cosco alpha omega elite that I adore.

We have a radian in my moms car and I thought it was a giant PITA to reconfigure all the straps and crap to forward facing, but once we reconfigured the straps it installed fine.

[Deleted]

My mom has a Britax Frontier ClickTight in her car for DS, and installed it. Yes, it's SUPER easy. Wayyyy easier than installing the Nextfit FF with the seat belt in my car.

[Deleted]

I hear you! I have no experience with your seat but I just threw out DSs Maxi Cosi for this very reason. I can't get it tight in my car no matter what I do for some reason.

He's now in a Graco and click, click, tether done....so easy.

[indylady]

Damnit I just bought a Radian!

[pinotgrig]

We have a britax CT marathon. H still struggled to get a tight install. It was easier than my the guide 65 we bought for my parents but it still took about 15 minutes vs. the 30 seconds the videos show.

However, we do like it once it's installed.

[londoncalling]

Does she meet the weight and size requirements for the Frontier? If I was buying a pricey replacement seat, I would get a combo booster. Fwiw I love our frontiers. We own 3. I can install it in minutes in every car I've tried it in.

[bowies]

Can you try to switch seats first?

[carolinagirl831]

I so do not get the love for that seat. We had it for one week before returning it and getting the next it.
I think I'd get a cliktight

[rxbeth]

I hate our radian. Takes up way too much space rear facing (even with an angle adjuster) and the strap covers you need to use forward facing are fricking ridiculous.

[karinothing]

Sept 23, 2015 19:56:01 GMT -5 @cookiemonster03 said:

What's the problem with the tether forward facing?
I think the Forward install is like 10472743% easier than RF. top tethers should be snug but not "tight".


Eta: until someone else has a seat that will fit side by side with another in small cars, I will forever be a radian lover

We can fit our Boulevard next to our infant seat in our corolla, but I am not sure how it will work with two convertibles.

[jena]

I have 3 radians in 2 cars and have installed them in probably 6 cars over the years. While RF install can be challenging, I've always thought FFing was simple, so I don't get it. If the latch are not in a good place, use the seatbelt (and I think seatbelt is usually easiest). The tether isn't part of the main install. Yes you have to do it, but just pull the strap out so it's not tucked behind the seat and install as normal then attach the tether and take the slack out (but not tight).

[rxbeth]

I also hate that since the radian is so heavy that you have to stop doing a latch install pretty early.

[patbutcher]

Sept 23, 2015 18:09:01 GMT -5 pugz said:

I'd look into the clicktight seats! Supposed to be easy to install!

I love love love our click tight marathon!

[MamaMaui24]

Sept 23, 2015 18:41:57 GMT -5 indylady said:

Damnit I just bought a Radian!

Same! I thought it was a well loved seat!

[robot]

Sept 23, 2015 20:44:12 GMT -5 MamaMaui24 said:

Sept 23, 2015 18:41:57 GMT -5 indylady said:

Damnit I just bought a Radian!

Same! I thought it was a well loved seat!

I like ours!  I've never owned a Britax though, so I may be missing something, ha.

[sent]

This thread is making me love my Nextfit. I don't even know what a tether is. And to think I looked into buying a Radian because I see it on here so much but went with the Maxi Cosi (big fail for us!) instead.

[redheadk]

Sept 23, 2015 23:12:37 GMT -5 sent said:

This thread is making me love my Nextfit. I don't even know what a tether is. And to think I looked into buying a Radian because I see it on here so much but went with the Maxi Cosi (big fail for us!) instead.

Are you FFing yet? You are supposed to use a tether when FFing.

[sent]

Oh crap then, never mind about those damn tethers...I'll have to read the manual tomorrow.

[redheadk]

Sept 23, 2015 23:34:43 GMT -5 sent said:

Oh crap then, never mind about those damn tethers...I'll have to read the manual tomorrow.

FWIW, we have both a Clek Foonf and a Britax and I don't find tethering to be a bit deal for either. The clek is easier due to the design of the strap and buckle itself but that's no shock.

[sent]

Sept 23, 2015 23:36:14 GMT -5 @fivedogs said:

Sept 23, 2015 23:12:37 GMT -5 sent said:

This thread is making me love my Nextfit. I don't even know what a tether is. And to think I looked into buying a Radian because I see it on here so much but went with the Maxi Cosi (big fail for us!) instead.

You'll get to know all about tethering once you start forward-facing your Nextfit.  Until then, the google.  Diono and some Britax seats allow tethering RFing though.  

I did FF her.  Somehow I skipped this part about the tether when I read the manual. I just looked it up on the online manual.  Seems easy enough but can anyone tell me where the tether anchor is located on an Acura RDX?  It took me over a year to find the LATCH thingys when we were RF. 

[karinothing]

Sept 23, 2015 20:33:26 GMT -5 @cookiemonster03 said:

Sept 23, 2015 20:02:59 GMT -5 karinothing said:

We can fit our Boulevard next to our infant seat in our corolla, but I am not sure how it will work with two convertibles.

With another person back there?

Maybe the issue is I am not that small

Yeah, another person can fit back there. Infant seat in middle. I mean it is not luxurious but I can fit back there. It doesn't really seem to encroach on the other seat at all. My cat is old though, maybe it is, wider than cars now

[ryry]

I just want to add to the pro-radian team we have one and it's probably 2 years old, but I find it so easy to install. I've only done it FF and with the seat belt, and only in my CRV or Odyssey, but it hasn't brought me to tears yet, unlike some other seats (I'm looking at you, Safety First).

Anyway, I'm sorry it isn't working for you. But every time I see this post it makes me feel sad because we love ours and I didn't realize not loving it was an option!

[ilikedonuts]

The install isn't my complaint about the Radian. I hate the damn ratchet tightening or whatever its called. Haaaaaate it! DH uses it in his truck because I hate it that much.

[penguingrrl]

Sept 24, 2015 8:20:36 GMT -5 ilikedonuts said:

The install isn't my complaint about the Radian. I hate the damn ratchet tightening or whatever its called. Haaaaaate it! DH uses it in his truck because I hate it that much.

I agree. It's fine in the dead of summer or dead of winter when he's wearing the same thickness all day, but this time of year when I need to adjust for a sweatshirt in the morning and thin t shirt j. The afternoon it's such a huge PITA.

[BirdGirl]

Sept 23, 2015 18:53:19 GMT -5 @this said:

HOLY CRAP. I just watched like 18 Britax Frontier clicktight installs. Fucking sold! That is amazing!

Is she big enough for a Frontier? We didn't have DD in the Frontier until she was almost 4. Before that it was the Marthon, which now comes in a Clicktight version.

[curbsideprophet]

Sept 23, 2015 19:30:59 GMT -5 rxbeth said:

I hate our radian. Takes up way too much space rear facing (even with an angle adjuster) and the strap covers you need to use forward facing are fricking ridiculous.

I don't think the strap covers are required.

[badtzmaru22]

I never feel like the Radian straps are tight enough. We are car seat junkies (ok, me, more than DH) and I like the idea of the radian, and it seems comfy and it's easy to get DS in and out of. We also have a Cosco AFT and a couple of Sceneras and a Nextfit and a Britax Marathon. I have complaints about all of them from time to time, but DS is enormous, so we went with the Radian for him.

[londoncalling]

Sept 24, 2015 8:31:35 GMT -5 @this said:

Sept 24, 2015 8:28:02 GMT -5 BirdGirl said:

Is she big enough for a Frontier? We didn't have DD in the Frontier until she was almost 4. Before that it was the Marthon, which now comes in a Clicktight version.

She's 31lbs and almost 40in. Looks like it's 25lbs min & 30in minimum? So we should be good, right?

You should be good.  DD2 rides in a Frontier at 35# and 40" and has been riding in one for a good number of months. 

ETA:  I love how wide and open the front is.  I can lift DD2 into the car and she can climb into the seat without having to use a ton of leverage and get her straps on herself.  I leave her straps adjusted to the right tightness because the straps are so accessible and easy.