Diono Monterey XT Fix Expandable High back Booster Car Seat with Expandable Height and Width, Group 2/3 (4 to 12 Years Approx, 15-36 kg), Gray Dark

Product Information

The Diono did its best to keep up with the big boys, and in some metrics, it rallied valiantly. However, in the end, there are better options available. It is suitable for little ones up to 120 lbs and 63 inches, one of the largest limits in the group. It also has good crash test results and is fairly narrow at 18.4 inches. If the Diono were somewhat better quality or somewhat lighter, there might be a niche for this better-than-average booster. What Other Booster Seat Should You Consider? Remember: Kids aren’t ready to ride with the seatbelt alone until they can fit properly. That’s usually between 10 and 12 years old. Sadly we see many more serious injuries in school age kids riding in the seatbelt than in young kids in car seats. Engineered with our most side impact protection - our rigid shell is reinforced with 8 layers of high-impact aluminum and EPS energy absorbing foam, to protect the head, shoulders, and torso. The other folding booster seat in our family’s fleet is the the hifold by mifold. You can read my full hifold review for tons of info. While the Monterey 5iST FixSafe is about making a traditional booster seat more compact and somewhat more travel-worthy, the hifold puts the travel aspect first. Be sure to review the rules for flying with a booster seat– the most important thing to remember is that your child can’t use it on board, just like any booster seat.

Diono won prestigious iF DESIGN AWARDS in product design for the Monterey® 5iST FixSafe™ chosen by the 98-member jury, made up of independent experts from all over the world in 2021 and 2022.For daily use my kids find the Diono Monterey 5iST to be very comfortable. My kids are spoiled by our fleet over extremely comfortable booster seats but they’re happy to ride in this one. It is a subjective matter, as some kids prefer a firmer ride or a squishier ride and different kids have different arm rest preferences. The underside of the bottom is not smooth and could cause wear on your vehicle seat over time if you don't use a protective mat. While some might argue that the quality is on par with the lower price, at least one competitor scored higher for quality and costs less. Should You Buy the Monterey XT? If you’re considering the Diono Monterey 5iST for kids near the upper end of the size range, you won’t be disappointed! The side wings automatically widen as you raise the head rest, giving lots of room for growing shoulders. Diono boosters are deservedly known as great options for broad kids and this one is no exception.

The car seat has ISOFIX connectors which help with the safety and performance of the car seat. We have always used car seats with ISOFIX attachments as in our opinion, it limits the risk of any of our children being injured in a collision. The seat is relatively simple to attach to the chassis of the car with ISOFIX and must be fitted prior to use. the base of the booster seat prior to fitting in the vehicle Child-friendly features The Monterey XT fits his frame perfectly. We can adjust the side wings to give his shoulders more room, and the internal width of the seat pan is a generous 12.5 inches wide, giving him plenty of room to maneuver the seat belt into position and ride in comfort. The depth of the seat is 14 inches — enough to keep even long-legged booster riders well supported. These are both great booster seats and they work as different tools in our family’s toolbox. Diono Monterey 5iST vs Baby Trend PROtect 2-in-1 I have to say that from a subjective perspective I’m really impressed with the Monterey 5iST, and my kids are as well. Nothing is perfect so here’s my personal list of Diono Monterey 5iST advantages and disadvantages: Diono Monterey 5iST advantagesThese lower anchor connectors are attached to the seat differently from those that are used for installation on harnessed car seats. They look like they are upside down and it will feel strange to install them this way, but it is correct. Our contoured premium soft fabrics - with layered foam padding that provide comfort and support can be easily removed for machine washing. Parents of bigger littles will understand the frustration in finding a booster seat that works for their kid. Most boosters seem to have very narrow seat pans, making them uncomfortable for littles with larger thighs or bums.