Product Description

Radian is a Convertible Car Seat for rear-facing children 5 to 33 lbs. and forward-facing children up to 65 lbs in a 5-point harness. Maximum child height is 51 inches. It features a high-stength steel alloy frame and 5 harness slot positions that are all reinforced for forward-facing use. Includes SafeStop, which absorbs harness load energy in an accident. It's also the only car seat in the world that folds to just 7". Advanced safety and performance features set new standards since it exceeds current regulations used to measure safety, convenience and comfort for the car seat industry. Champagne is tan and charcoal gray.

Features:

• 5 lbs. to 80 lbs. in 5-point harness
• Highest capacity convertible car seat
• Steel alloy frame
• Strongest convertible car seat made
• SafeStop harness system
• Absorbs impact energy in an accident
• 4-panel system EPS safety foam
• Total side-impact protection, more than any other seat
• V-shaped top tether
• Can be used rear-facing
• 5 shoulder and 3 buckle positions
• Proper harness fit for all ages and weights
• Narrower outside width
• Fit three seats across the back seat
• Infant body support
• Converts to pillow cushions for older child
• Folds to 7" (17.8 cm) thick
• Travel and storage convenience
• Easier to get child in and out, plus safer positioning for child
• Dimensions Open: 17"W x 16"D x 28.5"H
• Dimensions Folded: 17"W x 7"D x 28.5"H
• Weight 22.99 lbs.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7612 in Baby Product
• Color: Granite
• Brand: Sunshine Kids
• Model: 16580
• Released on: 2006-06-02
• Dimensions: 9.00" h x 17.90" w x 30.00" l, 25.80 pounds

Features

• 5 pounds to 33 pounds rear facing, Forward facing up to 65 pounds
• 5-point harness and 3 buckle positions
• 3" longer seat bottom
• EPS safety foam for side-impact protection with steel alloy frame
• Folds flat to a compact 6.5" for easy travel and storage

From the Manufacturer
Radian65 is the seat that started a revolution. As a high-capacity convertible seat with advanced safety features, impressive crash test performance and great ease-of-use, Radian65 has forever redefined the concept of child car seat design. The first of its kind, Radian65 was conceptualized and designed around a set of strict safety and performance parameters. With a steel alloy frame, Radian65 is the strongest, most advanced car seat available, and it's the only one in the world that folds flat. Radian65 positions the child's center of gravity as low and as far back as possible on the vehicle seat for optimal restraint performance, especially in oblique-angled crashes, which is how most car accidents occur. Radian's patented steel frame means no bulky plastic structure. Compared to other car seats, Radian offers more shoulder room, more leg support and fits three across in a car. SafeStop harness is a patented, energy absorbing harness system for added safety. SafeStop is a load-limiting harness device that absorbs crash energy impacting a child in an accident by reducing peak forces on the chest and neck by up to 30%. This is especially important because smaller children have higher head weight to body weight ratios.

Customer Reviews

GREAT SEAT
REVIEW
- Foldable seat - This is the key reason that we purchase this as opposed to buying another Britax Marathon. Once the seat is folded, it is about 7" thick. There are tabs on the frame to allow you to carry it with a strap (sold separately).
- Carry bag (sold separately) - We also purchased the bag/backpack to carry the seat onto planes. It fits the seat like a glove and can be converted from shoulder-carry to backpack. BTW, if you want to go minimalist, you can also unbuckle these straps and hook them onto the seat's frame. Very convenient.
- Steel frame - Although the Radian is slimmer than the Britax, it is still quite heavy (20 lb.) due to its steel frame. Since we only plan to lug the seat on infrequent plane trips, this was not much of an issue for us.
- Fabric - Suede feel, less velour-like, more fitted than Britax. Padding is about the same thickness as Britax but looks less as the suede fabric is more tailored (not as puffy).
- Seat Size - definitely a narrower seat (many board members have reported that you can fit 3 of these seats in the back seat).
- Comfort - My 3 year old son has not had any complaints about the seat. I did notice that the seat belts are a bit closer together when buckled and thus making the padded epaulettes (comes with the seat) essential to prevent seat belt burn on the neck.
- Chest Clips - They do feel a bit flimsier than Britax (has extra rubber pad (HUGS in their lingo)).
- Rear Facing - We are using it forward facing so we did not need to install the additional based for rear facing. I am annoyed that the car seat is not all in one piece but I suppose it lowers the weight for traveling for those who only need forward facing.
- Recline - There are only 2 options - recline or upright with very little recline. We chose the recline position and my son is comfortable napping in this position. It is also not overly reclined to prevent him checking out the road.
- Installation - Some people complained of installation problems. We used LATCH (forward facing) on our 2006 Mazda5 and did not have any problems with the installation. We have yet to try installing it with a seat belt. Overall, I think the Britax is easier to install with its clip locks for seat belt installation and versa tether to allow for front tethering options. However, if you plan to use LATCH forward facing, both the Britax and the Radian65 are equally easy to install.

CONCLUSION
The Radian65 is a very nice seat that is far more portable due to its folding seat than the Britax Marathon. I especially like its innovative portable features with the carry bag and the tabs on the seat for carrying it. This is a cool feature that I did not find in any other seat.

The ONLY car seat that works in my situation.
My car ('95 525i) has a lap belt in the center back seat, making a belt-positioning booster impossible. Additionally, the only seats I have seen that accommodate a 44# child are GIGANTIC! Since I have 3 kids in the back seat, two already in boosters, a huge car seat was not an option. I have been at a loss, keeping my big kid in his Britax Advantage for waaay longer than he should have been. I was so happy to find the Radian65! I could install it with the lap belt, the weight limit is 65#(!), and it actually fits between the two boosters without crowding my other two kids. This would have been enough for me, but I am also very impressed with the quality of the seat. The design details were very thoughtful, and the workmanship is on par with Britax. It looks like a much more expensive seat. Which brings me to my final point: I live in Hawaii, and shipping is always a killer. Amazon's price for this seat was not just $20 less than anywhere else (and believe me, I did plenty of research), but they shipped it to me for free - which, combined with the lower price, ended up saving me around $100! I couldn't be happier.

Very difficult to get a good installation.
SKJP was on the right path with this seat. It's narrow, it's made from quality components, it has the potential to be user friendly.

However, this seat typically runs in the 40-60% of acceptable installation range. In other words it's VERY possible that this seat may NOT work in your vehicle. Remember, a properly installed carseat should not move more than 1" side to side when checked for movement at the beltpath (where the seatbelt/LATCH strap is route through the carseat).

I purchased one of these directly from SKJP when they were first released for my then 4yo son who was too tall for pretty much every harnessed seat on the market with the exception of the Britax Husky, yet he was too thin (33lbs soaking wet) to be placed into a traditional booster seat.
This seat was completely incompatible with the vehicle that I needed to use it in.

Buyer beware...make sure that this is going to work in your vehicle, or that you have the option of returning it if it does not install properly in your vehicle.

Keep your kids safe, make sure that their seat is properly installed and used each and every trip!

strollerfreak - Mom of 4 and Child Passenger Safety Technician