Diono RadianR100 Concertible Car Seat Review
The RadianR100 is a highly versatile car seat that could be the only seat you’ll ever need. It comfortably seats rear-facing children from 5-40 pounds, forward-facing children from 20-65 pounds in 5-point harness, then converts to a booster for children up to 100 pounds Built for strength and safety, the RadianR100 has a steel alloy frame, reinforced sidewalls, SafeStop energy absorbing harness, thick EPS foam panels for side impact protection and our unique Superlatch system for easy installation.
The RadianR100 is NCAP crash tested, the industry benchmark for verifying child seat performance in severe accident conditions, and rated for latch use with a child up to 65 pounds The R100 sits low on a vehicle seat for easy child boarding and with expandable sides and a longer seat bottom there plenty of room and comfort for your growing child. Option to add up to 4 cup holders (sold separately). It also folds flat for travel and storage, has a 10 year life, and offers amazing safety, comfort and convenience your child won’t outgrow.
Learn more about Diono RadianR100 Concertible Car Seat
Diono RadianR100 Concertible Car Seat Features
- Rear facing 5 to 40 pounds
- Forward facing 20-65 pounds (up to 57″) in 5 positions harness
- Booster to 100 pounds
- Steel alloy frame and aluminum reinforced sides
- 5 shoulder and 3 buckle positions for custom fit
- Model number: 16615
- Minimum weight recommendation: 5 Pounds
- Maximum weight recommendation: 100 Pounds
- Additional product features: Adjustable Head SupportCup Holder
- Number of items: 1
The key selling point for both the Diono and the Graco for us was that we can buy one car seat to last our kids all the way to 100 pounds. Otherwise, you end up buying several as they outgrow the different ones. They both work very well for that and have served our kids well from toddlers to little kids to bigger kids.
How good is Diono RadianR100 Concertible Car Seat
Admittedly, although we have three car seats to last the kids all the way from birth (for the Diono not the Graco) to 100 pounds, we prefer the classic Graco (or other brand) SnugRide for when they were very, very small because they can sleep in the bassinet, which just clips into the car base that is permanently attached to the car. Very easy to move them into or out of the car without awakening them. However, they grow out of those pretty quickly, then the Diono (or Graco Nautilus) is great because it works when they are reclined or when they can sit up. [Edit: JaneeNoel's comment that that the Diono allows for both forward and rear facing infants whereas the Graco starts at larger, forward facing sizes is absolutely correct. Please see her comment for useful details. Our usage pattern and the general weariness of parenthood with wee ones clouded my memory on the nautilus b/c we always liked using the Snugride for our kids as infants. While the Diono's ability to function for infants is an advantage over the Graco's larger, minimum size requirement, it just doesn't matter to us, only because, in our minds, you can't beat the convenience of a Snugride (or equivalent) for hauling around an infant.]
So … why did we switch from the Nautilus to the Diono — size. First, the Graco is wider, and includes a cup holder and arm rest that are not removable. The Diono can accept cup holders, but that’s not the standard. Couldn’t fit three of the Graco’s in the backseat of the trusty minivan. Second, the Diono is much, much better for air travel. While the Graco’s have fit into the airline seats for us, we stopped taking them because they are so, so hard to carry through an airport while also herding kids through terminals. The Diono folds flat and is relatively easy to take through airports, install into a plane seat (or store overhead), then install into the rental car.
Don’t mean to rip on the Graco, because we would give it very high ratings, too. Just saying that if we had considered the possibility of needing to install three kids seats into the backseat AND had known that we’d be flying with the kids two or three times per year, we would have found it easier and safer (taking car seats on vacations) to just spend more for the Diono’s (and their removable cupholders). If those aren’t really considerations for you, pick based on color or price, and you’ll be happy with either.
