I have all 3 of my boys, ages 7, 4 and 1, in car seats. First and foremost I want their car seats to be safe. Second, comfortable so my child won’t mind sitting in them. Third, I want a car seat that will hold up and accommodate them for a long time. The RECARO Performance SPORT meets all my requirements and then some! It offers a car seat with an EasyAdjust no-rethread harness and an upper weight limit. In harness mode it can hold a 20 pound to 65 pound child, which is the weight of an average 9.5 year old child. In booster mode it can accommodate a child up to 120lbs (59 inches), talk about accommodating! Important to note, the RECARO Performance SPORT is for forward facing ONLY. This car seat is not for babies that need to be rear facing but it is great for extended harness usage, as well as, a booster seat. I strongly encourage you to keep your child in a rear facing car seat for as long as possible because it is the safest option for children. Once your child outgrows their rear facing car seat the RECARO Performance SPORT is a great option.
RECARO recently sent me their RECARO Performance SPORT Harness to Booster to review. My son and I are extremely happy with it! My son was very excited when we received this car seat; I guess he was ready for an upgrade! Immediately, he was commenting on how soft it was. This is because the seat cushions are equipped with a memory foam for enhanced comfort. He also likes the pockets on each side, which are actually the cup holders. I was concerned they would not hold a cup, but they do hold cups, bottle, sippy cups, snacks and toys just fine.
Talk About Safety!
One of the first things I thought about this car seat was it looks like a race car seat, right? Well, I was totally right because many of it’s features are racing-inspired. The RECARO company actually has over 100 years of history designing seats for the world’s most prestigious automobiles, airlines, and race cars.
Side Impact Protection: Holy cow, those are some big side wings! First, thing you notice when you see this car seat are the big and deep wings. Actually, they are the deepest side wings on the market with metal reinforced side walls for racing-inspired full body side impact protection. It’s designed to distinctly protect 5 vulnerable areas of a child in a side impact collision – their head, neck, face, torso and pelvis. I love that RECARO are pioneers in child seat side impact technology, going beyond any side impact requirements as tested with the ADAC European standard.
Upper harness weight limit of 65 pounds– accommodating an average 9.5 year old child. I personally plan on keeping my children in harness mode for as long as possible because 5 point harness is all around safer. I tell all parents don’t rush to a booster! Use the 5 point harness until reaching the height/weight limit. The harness also features HERO harness system technology and comfort enhancing memory foam. The built-in and unmovable shoulder pads ensure proper fit on the child’s neck, head and shoulders. I really like that the shoulder pads don’t move; with other car seats in the past I have had shoulder pads that constantly moved down and weren’t in the proper position. The HERO harness system also keeps the harness from twisting and ensures proper chest clip positioning.
I think the Safety Stripe System is such a genius yet simple design. Why don’t all car seats have this feature? This one-of-a-kind racing-inspired white stripe is clearly visible on the outside edge of the 5-point harness. If the strips are not on the outside edge it alerts parents to improper harness alignment. It is so easy to tell when the strap is twisted, I just love this feature! The Safety Stripe System has been great for teaching our son how to buckle himself in and keep the straps straight. We always supervise and verify he is strapped in correctly.
Made with Comfort In Mind:
My son is loving his new car seat because it is so comfy. RECARO really designed this seat with your child’s comfort in mind. This car seat has many great comfort features; ergonomic shell structure that offers support for your child’s body, the soft pads on the the harness system, four zones of CoolMesh Air Ventilation and the improved comfort pad with memory foam. All these features create a very comfortable ride for your child on short or long car trips.
Important Features for Parents/Installers:
Easy installation and removal from your vehicle! The push-button LATCH system makes it very simple to secure or remove. Also, the car seat offers a universal top tether system as an added anchor. There are pockets to store the LATCH buttons when not in use. RECARO states to stop using the LATCH system (only use seat belt) at 40lbs for the Performance SPORT Harness to Booster Car Seat. Remember to read you manual before installation and if you have any questions schedule an appointment with a CPST (Child Passenger Safety Technician) at your local fire department or police station. The CPST can help you install your car seat or check that you have it properly installed.
NO RETHREADING!!! If you have ever owned a car seat you had to rethread every time your child had to move up in the seat, you know what an awesome feature this is! With an easy to use lever lift on the back side, you can adjust the head rest into position to allow for proper alignment with the head without the hassle of rethreading any straps, YAY! The only negative with this system is the car seat does have to be uninstalled to adjust the lever lift, but like I said before this car seat is easy to remove and install. This is a great feature if you are a grandparent with grandchildren you can easily adjust this car seat to fit different size grandkids.
Narrow Design: The Performance SPORT is only ½ inch wider than the narrowest seat on the market and can fit 3 across in some mid-sized vehicles. It measures 18.5 inches wide and 14 inches deep. It is pretty heavy compared to car seats I have owned in the past. It weights 25 pounds, but remember it does have metal reinforced side wings for your child’s safety. Getting a little work out to carry it a few times is well worth the extra safety feature in my opinion.
Additional features include Energy-absorbing EPS foam, EasyGuide Belt Guide, QuickFlip recline mechanism, enhanced cup holders and stylish trim details.
- This harness to booster car seat meets all new FMVSS213 standards
- Tested to international standards
- Certified for air travel when used in harness mode with the plane’s seat belt
- Weight: 20 to 65 pounds in harness mode; 30 to 120 pounds in booster mode
- Height: 27 to 49 inches tall in harness mode; 37 to 59 inches tall in booster mode
Whether designing, engineering, and manufacturing seats for luxury, high-performance race cars or seats that carry the most precious of passengers, RECARO is dedicated to combining smart design with the highest quality of materials.
We are extremely happy with the RECARO Performance SPORT Harness to Booster Car Seat and definitely recommend this car seat for any child ready for forward facing. I love knowing my son will be safe and comfortable for many years to come!
BUY IT:
The RECARO Performance SPORT has a suggested retail of $299.99.
You can purchase it through Amazon. (affiliate link)
Connect with RECARO:
Enter the RECARO Performance SPORT Harness to Booster Car Seat Giveaway!
Winner will receive ONE RECARO Performance SPORT Harness to Booster Car Seat, this is a $299.99 value!
This giveaway is open to US residents, 18+ only. The giveaway will end at 11:59 pm CST on 8/01.
Disclosure: rays of bliss received the products mentioned above for free. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. rays of bliss is not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill prize obligations. This post contains affiliate links.