Top 8 Belt-Positioning Booster Car Seats

The Sunshine Kids Monterey booster has some fantastic features that make it a great choice for long-term use or bigger kids. This booster is packed with EPS foam to absorb crash forces around the head, torso and armrests. It adjusts high enough to fit a child up to 5' tall, and has a max weight of 100 lbs. A dial on the back allows you to adjust the width of the shoulder portion for bigger kids, and the seat depth is more than an inch longer than others to accommodate longer legs. The Monterey booster is LATCH compatible, so you can hook it into your vehicle's lower anchors and it will stay put when your child gets in and out, and won't fly forward if you're in a crash when the seat isn't occupied. Can be used as a backless booster.

The wide head wings on this booster are adjustable for a good fit and for comfort. I like that the side wings also adjust up and out to fit kids of various sizes. The well-padded seat is comfy for kids, and it is lined with plenty of EPS foam for impact protection. The KeyFit Strada booster can be used from 33-100 lbs. with the back on, but it can also be used as a backless booster if need be, from 40 lbs.

If you travel a lot by plane and need a booster that can easily be hauled through an airport, the Compass B510 is a great choice. This booster performs well in the car and then folds quickly for easy transport elsewhere. The Compass B510 also has the EPS foam head wings that I prefer for their side impact crash protection. It's wide enough at the top to be comfortable for bigger kids, but the bottom has narrow sculpted rails that help it fit better in narrow bucket seats. This seat has six height positions to accommodate children up to 57" tall. The B510 also has quite a bit of seat padding, so it should be comfy for long rides.

Jane is one of few companies with its own car seat crash test facility, and they run far more than the minimum crash tests. The result is a really nice booster with good safety features, but it comes in at a higher price. The standout feature of the Indy Plus is its rigid LATCH connections, which lock the booster in place in the vehicle. This not only keeps the booster stable as the child gets in and out, but some crash data shows that rigid LATCH in boosters may also add protection in side-impact crashes since it reduces the side to side movement of the seat. The Indy Plus booster also has EPS foam at the head and torso for side-impact protection. You can adjust the width at the head and torso for added comfort.

The Recaro Start booster has very good side-impact protection and most of the comfort features found on other high-quality boosters, as well it should for about $350. The height and width of the back is adjustable, as is the seat depth. The seat is designed with a slight ramp to reduce the possibility of "submarining," or sliding underneath the lap portion of the belt in a crash. The Start booster can be used with the vehicle's top tether anchor to add stability upon entry and exit and when going around sharp turns. The seatbelt guides are very well designed to be easy to find and use correctly. The aluminum frame is actually made to bend in a crash, absorbing crash forces. This booster folds for storage or air travel.

Graco's AirBooster is a perfect seat for bigger kids. It's a bit roomy for smaller riders, though. If you're hoping to keep an older child in a booster as long as possible, the AirBooster is worth a try for it's width, depth and reasonable height adjustments. The seat of the AirBooster is mesh, like you would find on an ergonomic office chair, so it's comfy to sit on for long rides and allows air flow for comfort. This booster also has EPS foam in the head portion of the seat and the head wings are decently deep, particularly for a booster that comes in just under $100.

The Graco Turbo Booster is a good, basic booster at a low price - around $50 for the high-back version. It carries children from 30 to 100 pounds and features Gracopedic Memory Foam in the cushions for a comfortable ride and increased impact protection. Kids will like the drink holders and padded armrests, as well as the fun designs and characters available on the cushions. The adjustable headrest is nice and maintains proper fit and comfort as your child grows.

Lots of fit adjustments make the Evenflo Confidence booster comfortable for a wide range of children. The headrest and back adjust for a good fit, and the seat depth is adjustable. There are recline positions to help the booster fit the vehicle seat better, too. There is EPS foam throughout the seat but the side wings are not very deep and don't provide true side-impact protection. However, this is a great seat for under $100 and is said to be extremely comfortable, which may make the booster battle a little easier with older kids. The belt guides are very well-designed. I especially like that you don't have to route the lap portion of the belt around armrests, which may provide a closer fit for the belt. Converts to backless booster.