Product Review: S1 Rumi™ Air Harnessed Booster Seat

This was Bunny’s car seat as of last week.  It’s the same one she used from the time she outgrew her infant seat.  It was big and bulky and she wasn’t really fond of it anymore.

I was asked to review Safety 1st’s new S1 Rumi™ Air Harnessed Booster Seat.  We had been looking for a new seat for Bunny anyway.  She was getting close to the max height for her current seat and the weight only went up to 40 pounds (Bunny is at 34 pounds now).

From Satey 1st:

The first car seat to feature the revolutionary FlexTech™ Energy Management System, the S1 Rumi™ Air is designed to absorb external crash forces, providing an extra layer of protection for children. This new technology was developed by engineers at the Dorel Technical Center for Child Safety.

A first in the industry, the FlexTech™ Energy Management System features an internal truss design, a methodology employed by architects to provide flexibility and distribute forces within structures.  With FlexTech™, DJG has translated this trusted design methodology to car seat engineering, providing families with one of the safest, most secure car seats on the road today.  The Rumi™ Air’s truss design absorbs and mitigates external force or impact, so children have more support and protection in the event of a crash.  

The Rumi is designed to be used as a forward facing 5 point harness seat (up to 65 pounds) and then converts to a belt positioning booster (up to 100 pounds).  This means we can use this booster for Bunny for years.  It was tested and rated a Booster Seat Best Bet by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety.

Did you know side impact collisions are among the deadliest type of collision for children, accounting for one in three child crash fatalities, nearly all of which are caused by head trauma?

The S1 Rumi™ Air also features Air Protect® Side Impact Technology, an advanced system that exceeds all safety testing methods to provide the greatest amount of protection to a child’s head in the event of a side-impact collision.  The headrest adjusts to your child’s height as well, ensuring the safest fit for your child.  It’s supposed to be a one-hand adjustment, but I found it took both hands to get the headrest to move.

Installation of the Rumi was super simple.  We installed using the LATCH system.  I had read reviews online regarding a large gap between the seat and car seat due to a steep recline, but I did not have that issue (We have a 2009 Toyota Camry).   I could barely fit my hand behind the seat.  We checked, double-checked, and triple-checked the level of the seat for correct installation (I would recommend a better leveling line/tool for future models) and never found the seat to have a dramatic recline.

It’s also much less bulky than Bunny’s previous seat.

I think it blends in better with the car.  Her last seat spilled out into the middle of the backseat and was jammed on the sides.  This seat really only takes up her seat space, leaving the middle of the backseat open for a passenger.  (and by passenger, I mean me during long road trips when Bubba decides to have a scream-a-thon).

The most important thing is Bunny loves her new seat.

She says she feels more comfortable and she definitely looks more comfortable.  She even showed us how she’ll be able to take naps in her new seat with the new “seat pillows”.

She was begging us to get her a sippy cup so she could test out the new cupholders.  Before, we had a clip-on cupholder which was awkward for her to reach and slipped off constantly.  Now, she has a sturdy, built-in cupholder that is easy for her to access.  The snack cup is a bit shallow, but we wouldn’t put snacks directly in it anyway.  She’ll probably use it to house a couple of crayons on our next roadtrip.

Overall, we are very happy with her new S1 Rumi™ Air.  At a price point of $180, it is more expensive than any car seat we’ve ever purchased, but it will last for a very long time.  If you’re just now turning your child around at 2 years, this would be a great seat to switch to and avoid having to buy another booster later on.

You can learn more about the S1 Rumi™ Air on the Safety First website.  It’s available for purchase at Babies R’ Us.

**UPDATE 1/28/2012**

We have been using this seat since June and I have to say we are about to get rid of it.  It was wonderful for the first three or four months.  Bunny is not at the 40 pound milestone yet, so we want to keep her in a harnessed booster (I’ll keep her in one past 40 pounds if I can).  We’re having a major problem with the way this seat now fits Bunny.  The harness straps are very close together.  It wasn’t an issue six months ago, but now that Bunny has grown broader, the straps dig in her neck.  After every trip in the car (and even if her shirt is pulled through), there are red marks on her neck and she complains of being uncomfortable.  Also, the buckle (crotch strap area) is extremely short.  It is impossible for us to adjust the straps so she has a good, safe fit at the top and bottom of the harness.  After doing some research I found we are not the only people to face these issues once the children are just below the 40 pound milestone.  I could not see any child being in this seat as a harnessed booster until they outgrow the height and weight requirements, which they claim to be 65 pounds.

Seeing as I will not switch her to the seat belt positioning booster function prior to 40 pounds (or even at 40 pounds) and we can not continue to have her uncomfortable and in pain on each and every car ride, we will be replacing this seat with another harnessed booster seat.

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