Help, please: Britax Hi-Way, Multi-Tech or Two-Way? English speakers??

[Hobo Mama]

Hello! I hope someone here who speaks English will help me. I know some other Americans have posted here and have appreciated your input.

I'm in the USA, and my son is 17 months old and about 15.7 kg (just under 35 pounds). The rear-facing seats here go up only to ~15.8 kg (35 lbs), but I worry about turning him forward facing so young!

I have a person in Sweden who will buy me a seat and send it to the US, but I have to decide which one. It's illegal for me to use, but I've decided better safe than legal.

The seats I'm deciding between are the Britax Hi-Way, Multi-Tech, and Two-Way Elite. I'm leaning toward the Hi-Way, but would love recommendations.

Here are my reasons why:

1. Hi-Way looks more like a RF American seat so will be less obvious to the police. I'm worried about getting in trouble! Can be used from 0 kg on up, so we can use it with a second child. It's shorter than the other seats, which isn't as good. I like the foot prop and that it doesn't have to lean against a seat in front of it. I've heard it installs more easily than the others.
2. Multi-Tech is more expensive, and we're poor. I know it has a higher seat back, but I've heard the head rest gets in the way of the shoulders at higher heights? But, truly, the price is the big obstacle with this one, since we already have to pay shipping + customs.
3. Two-Way Elite looks more like an American FF seat, so I worry it will stand out as being foreign when turned RF. Higher seat height means we might be able to use it longer RF. Uglier colors. (ha ha! I love the Marcel green of the Hi-Way!)

Our son is also tall (~87.6 cm) and has a long torso. But I think he could make it till at least 4 years old in the Hi-Way. Since most Americans turn their kids FF at 1 year old, that sounds amazing to me! I don't mind buying him a new FF seat or booster at that point and passing on the old RF one to a younger sibling (if we have a second child).

I see that a lot of people love the Multi-Tech and Two-Way. Is there a reason not to love the Hi-Way??

We have a 1997 Ford Escort, which is a small four-door car with shallow back seats. I wanted to put the seat in the middle if possible (our car doesn't have good side-impact protection), where there's only a lap belt.

Thanks so much in advance for your help!! Since I don't speak Norwegian, I've been trying to make do reading your forum using Google Translator, but it's not very good. (Try it sometime, and be amused!) I finally decided just to post and trust that someone can help me out. Thank you!!

[Blesha]

Since it is illegal to import these seats (stupid, I know!) there is very little experience with this.

The Two Way Elite and Hi-Way seats both have good side protection. Two Way Elite can be fastened in the middle, but then it has to lean on both front seats. I have no experience with MultiTech, so can't tell you much about that.

[Ariadne]

I have Britax Hi-Way, Multi-Tech, and Two-Way Elite and my kid likes the Hi-way best. He gets higher up and can see more. But it's shorter yes.

[snuppa]

All these are good seats.
Two way elite is the one you can use for longest time.
My son used muti-tech until he was 5,7 years old. He is about 113 cm and 21 kg. If we had'nt bought us a new car he would have sat rearfaced still.

He have also had Britax Secura (allmost the same as Hi-way) He used that one until he was 5.

Britax Secura can stand in the midseat without leaning towards the frontseats.

[Hobo Mama]

Thank you all for your responses! I'm glad to know that no one thinks the Hi-Way is bad. I think I'm going to go ahead with that one.

It would be nice if they were all available and legal here so I could test them out and return what doesn't work, but obviously I have to just choose long-distance what's best! So thanks for your input.

Opprinnelig postet av Ariadne

I have Britax Hi-Way, Multi-Tech, and Two-Way Elite and my kid likes the Hi-way best. He gets higher up and can see more.

That's a fun bonus! I think that will make my son happy.

If you think of any reason not to get the Hi-Way, you can let me know within the next week. They're out of stock right now, but then my contact there will be shipping it. I'm excited!

Thanks again!

[Kaegan]

Hi I have a similar question and I am really hoping someone can give me some feedback!

I live in US and I am looking for a carseat for my 7 month old. After much research it seems that the Swedish carseats, Britax Hi-Way, Multi-Tech or Two-Way are all significantly better than the US carseats. There is one carseat called the Radian XT SL that can rear face up to 45 lbs, and supposedly foward face up to 80 lbs. But I have some questions.

1. I have an old car (1999) that can not use the latch system of the Radian seat. Does this mean that the seat will not be as effective? I read that the seat will only be safe for up to 48 lbs that way.

2. Is it still worth it to buy the Swedish seats?

From the pictures and the online manuals the Britax Hi-Way, Multi-Tech or Two-Way all look like they are seriously constructed seats that are solid and safe. I like the way they seem to be installed, it seems much safer.

Anyone buy one from the US and have input? Anyone know the real difference?

My son's safety is first for me. Illegality (if it is) and cost are not my concern.

Thanks!

[Kummin]

Do you have a link to the Radian seat?

The non-latch/non-isofix RF seats "over here" are usually installed with the cars seat belt in one side, and on the back you secure with an extra set of tether straps and/or a support leg. This is needed to stabilize the seat - so that it won't rotate if you crash.

The belt-installed RF car seats are considered equally safe as the isofix/latch seats over here. As long as they are correctly installed.

I have no idea what to tell you when I don't know the chair you have as an legal alternative over there.

[Kaegan]

Thanks for your reply.

This is a link to the chair but I can not find a manual online.

Kiwi Kids Gear Sunshine Kids Radian XT SL Convertible Car Seat also called my insurance company yesterday and they said that if there was an accident it wouldn't matter what country the car seat came from. They did not say anything about it being illegal. Also, as there is a website I can purchase it from and have it sent to me, I don't see how it is illegal at all.

I personally feel that I would much rather purchase a carseat that was designed with long-term rear facing as it's starting point by a country who has been doing it that way for over 40 years than buy a car seat that is the 1st of it's kind (it just came out in Sept 09) in it's market and is still inferior (only 45 lbs rear-facing).

It won't even cost that much more to get the Swedish seat, I think I am sold, but I still would love to hear any input. Thanks!

[Kummin]

I don't know what I would do. But the other way around: I know people who've bought car seats in the US and brought them home and used them here. Of course it's not ECE-approved, etc.. But their philosophy is that a car seat is a car seat - if it's safe enough "over there" it's safe enough over here.

If you want to take a look at some of the seats available, and get a bit more info about them - check out Rear Facing - the way forward and/or CarSeat.se | Rear Facing Car Seats | Trusted Car Seat Advice. Last one's got a shop as well - and he ships world wide, as far as I know.

Good luck!

[Lille-mamma]

I have both Hi-way and twoway for my 4 year old.
I recomend hi-way. Like someone else mention before she gets a nice view because of the hight of the seat. She also is very comfortable in it.

May I ask the reason these seats are illegal in the states?