Evenflo Maestro Sport Harness Booster Car Seat, Crestone Peaks

Editor's rating:
9.5
Reviewed by Brankica Ivanova
User's rating:
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We like

Lightweight

Approved for air travel

Easy to install and use

Budget-friendly

Harness and booster mode

Removable seat cover

We don’t like

Booster mode can be outgrown pretty fast

No option for recline

How it works

By now, we are all aware that having and investing in a good and quality car seat is not a luxury but a simple must for safety during the car rides, as well as the comfort of the child. Among many of the brands selling different types of car seats is the company Evenflo known not only to offer affordable options for your family but also seats that meet all the safety requirements and provide practical solutions. Evenflo Maestro car seat belongs to the type of car seats that can be used in two modes: harness and booster. If you have a child that is older than 2 years and you are in a need of a lightweight, portable convertible seat that will last long, this seat might be a good option to think about. The seat is versatile and can be used as harness seat and a booster with high back support.   

Product Specifics

Product Specifics

This car seat can be used once your baby reaches two and can be used until he/she is ready for sitting by himself/herself on the vehicle seat and use the vehicle seat belt comfortably and safely. The product with its dimensions of 19 x 19 x 29.5 inches is not so big and it is pretty narrow, but compared to the other related seats with similar dimensions it is one of the lightest with 9.6 lbs in weight. Based on the dimensions, the car seat is suitable for families who own standard and middle-sized vehicles as there will be no problem to fit the seat easily. Some of the customers who have used the seat also say that this seat is great also for airport travel as it is not heavy for transport and very easy to install. The seat can be installed only in forward position and in a mode of a booster. The use of this seat in aircraft is approved for the forward position installation. The seat comes with instructions of use that are detailed and useful for installation of the seat and its use. This seat is with expiration date and the span is 6 years from the date of the manufacturing of the seat and there is one year of warranty.
Design

Design

The particular seat that we are reviewing today is in the design of Crestone Peaks, that features neutral plain colors and it is a combo between grey and black color. This seat would be ideal for boys and girls and it fits for almost any car interior design. However, if you want to see what are the other options on the market then Amazon offers this very same product in two other designs that also feature a combination of two colors. The car seat features two cup holders on both of the sides of the seat, which is very convenient as the car seat is probably going to be used for a longer period of time during the childhood and on lots of trips and journeys so the cup holders are going to be used a lot for sure. Kids can put their sippy cups, bottles, or drinks in one of the cup holders and some snacks in the other. The cup holders are with great depth and hold the drinks in its place, the only common complaint about the cup holders is that you have to install some screws in the cup holders, compared to the other similar car seats where these usually come ready-made. The fabric of the car seat is removable and it is machine washable, customers do not have major complaints regarding the quality of the fabric and in a great deal, it is stain-resistant.
Height and Weight Requirements

Height and Weight Requirements

Whenever we are talking about seats that are versatile in their function and thus they can be placed in a number of positions, the manufacturer gives clearly defined requirements regarding the height and the weight of the child who is to be seated. One important notice that we also noticed with this company, is that besides the clear recommendations made by them, still, Evenflo recommends consultation with the physician before deciding that your child should change the position from rear into forward-facing cause every child is different and every parent want to the what is the best and the safest for the child. The starting age for the recommended use of this seat is at least 2 years of age. What is more important than maybe the age itself is the weight limit of the child that is in the range of 22 and up to 110 lbs (from 10 kg to 22.6 kg). When we talk about the height the requirements are in the range of 28 to 50 inches tall (71 to 127 cm). These requirements are valid only when we talk about using the seat with the harness that has 5 points of restraint. When the child grows up then the manufacturer sets other requirements for the seat to be used as a booster seat that will no longer use the harness system. The minimum recommended age for this is 4 years, and again the child should be at least 40 lbs and a maximum 110 lbs heavy with height from 43.3 to 57 inches. The manufacturer recommends the users to abide strictly to the requirements when using the seat, changing the position and stop using the seat if the child has overgrown and is heavier or taller than the recommended.
Installation

Installation

The installation of the seat can be done by LATCH system when the seat is used in harness mode and by a vehicle seat belt when the seat is used as a booster. The installation is quick and does not require a lot of steps in order to be completed. It is an easy process because it is a narrow seat so actually you can install three in standard vehicles. The seat when used in the harness can be used on different types of vehicles and among all of them is the use in the aircraft. Most users complain about the use as a booster seat especially because the shoulder guide cannot be set higher than 19 inches and it makes the use of the booster a little bit difficult for taller kids and does not offer much space for growing and using the seat as a booster, especially for taller kids, so you might have to change the booster seat with another type of model. The seat may be more complicated to be installed in some sports models of cars but in general, it is not time-consuming.
Versatility

Versatility

As this seat can be used by kids who are at least 2 years old, it can be installed and used in forward-facing position according to the requirements for weight and height. Later when the child grows up it is transformed into a booster seat with high back support. Only when the seat is used in the forward position (for the younger kids) you can make use of the harness system. The harness is a 5 point restraint that offers safety for the child and keeps the body in the proper upright position. The buckle can at times be difficult to operate with and the child will often need help from an adult. Once the seat is used in a booster mode than you cannot use the harness system but just the shoulder belts from the vehicle. Customers have positive feedback regarding the restrictions for the height and for the weight when the seat is being used with the harness, which restrictions compared with the other seats are much higher and it is positive because experts recommend longer use of a harness for the safety of the child. It would have been nicer if in booster mode there would be an option for low-back support.
Comfort

Comfort

The padding of the seat provides a comfortable place for sitting of the child. The head can be laid comfortably on the headrest that has a support that is wide enough. When used in a booster mode, it has to be used with back support that is sturdy and provides good support for the child's back. The comfort is also enhanced with the cup holders on both of the sides of the seat although there are some comments that it is easy for the cup holders to pop-up from their base. The seat is narrow and provides space for the legs of the kids so there is enough room for comfortable sitting, without getting the feeling of being smashed or squeezed. The seat is comfortable for kids as it leaves them room to grow in weight but not as much in height. When used in a booster mode it does not leave much space for growing because the shoulder adjuster cannot go more than 19 inches. Extra padding will only be plus for comfort. Another thing that would have provided greater comfort for the child is reclining positions of the seat or headrest which is not available with this car seat and padding or covers on the restraint straps that sometimes can cause discomfort for the kids.
Maintenance

Maintenance

The seat contains plastic and parts of metal which are easily cleaned and maintained if you wipe them clean. If you want to use some washing liquids then some mild soap is enough. After the cleaning with water, it is advisable to dry these parts with a dry and soft cloth. The restraint system with the shoulder, waist and crotch belt can also be wipe-cleaned and should be left to air-dry. The seat cover that is made of fabric can be removed from the seat and it is ok to wash it in the machine on a low temperature. The fabric can also be spot cleaned as you cannot remove every time it gets dirty and can be kept maintained by regular spot cleaning. Both of the cupholders as said previously are easily detached and if something this is good for cleaning.
Price

Price

The Evenflo Maestro car seat has a reasonable price that is very much affordable for most of the families and especially taking into account that this seat is convertible one and that the period of use can be even for 6 years. The price tag of the convertible seat is within the low-range so the seat can fit in the budget of every family. The product is worth the value especially knowing that it is a good quality seat, maybe it lacks some of the finishing touches such as extra padding but it is a decent seat. For this price, you get 5 point harness seat that later can be converted into a booster with high back support. As a harness seat, it is even recommended for aircraft and many of the users are satisfied with this use and have no complaints regarding it.

Bottom line

The Evenflo Sport seat is a convertible seat that can be used as a forward-facing harness seat and a booster seat. It is pretty narrow and lightweight so if you have smaller or middle size family vehicle or you are in a need of a seat that will be moved from vehicle to vehicle it might be a good option for you. This seat can be used from 2 years of age in forward position and the child is safely secured with the 5 points of a restraint system that you cannot use in the booster mode. Unfortunately, when used in booster mode it does not provide much space for the growing of the child (regarding the height) and there is probably going to be a need to buy another booster seat for the grown child. The installation is easy and simple and you can use the LATCH system or the seat belt. It is a convertible seat that has an excellent price tag acceptable for everyone’s budget. It is especially recommended for air travel and maybe as an extra additional seat.
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