Britax B-Safe 35 Britax B-Safe Ultra
The Britax B-Safe Ultra Seat Arrives April 2018!
At the time of writing this comparison review, the Britax B-Safe Ultra infant car seat has not yet been officially released onto the US market.
It is, however, due to be released at the end of April 2018 and Britax are taking Pre-Orders now.
Although the Britax B-Safe Ultra seat looks almost identical to the older B-Safe 35 infant seat (and it is in fact almost the same seat), there are some important differences for you to consider prior to making a purchasing decision.
So, what exactly are the similarities and differences between the Britax B-Safe 35 and the Britax B-Safe Ultra car seats? Is the “Ultra” model worth the extra money?
Britax B-Safe 35 vs B-Safe Ultra – The Similarities
#1 Child Weight Limits
The B-Safe 35 and B-Safe Ultra seats both come with maximum child weight limits of 35 lbs.
#2 Child Height Limits
The maximum child height limit is also 32 inches for both seats.
So, both products are amongst the best infant seats available on the market when it comes to maximum child height limits. Children very often outgrow their infant seats by height before they outgrow them by weight and so this is a very important number to consider when choosing a seat.
NB: Looking at the maximum height limit is usually more important than looking at the maximum weight limit.
#3 Seated Shoulder Height
Again, both seats have the same seated shoulder height of between 6.5 and 11 inches.
#4 Built-In Lockoffs
For those parents that need to install their seat using the adult seatbelt rather than LATCH connectors, both seats come with built-in lockoffs to make it much easier to get a snug and secure installation.
The Britax B-Safe Ultra seat, however, has a different option to consider when installing it using the vehicle seat belt rather than LATCH connectors – see below.
#5 Dual Level Indicators
Both seats come with dual level indicators to confirm when the seat has been installed at a safe and correct angle within the car, which provides much needed peace of mind to parents of young babies.
Other similarities include:
- 5-Point Harness
- Comfortable Energy-absorbing Foam Inserts
- Newborn Insert Cushion
- Stroller Compatible
- Certified for Aircraft Travel
Britax B-Safe 35 vs B-Safe Ultra – The Main Differences
#1 Side Impact Protection
Both seats come with premium Side Impact Protection features that significantly exceed the federal minimum safety standards.
However, they are slightly different.
The B-Safe 35 comes with Safecell Complete Side Impact Protection.
The B-Safe 35′s Safecell Complete Side Impact Protection system comprises 3 elements:
- Rigid Shell (plus integrated steel bars) with Deep Side Wings
- Energy-Absorbing Foam
- Impact-absorbing Safecell Base
The Britax B-Safe Ultra comes with Safecell Complete Side Impact Protection Plus.
This Safecell Complete Side Impact Protection Plus system comprises 4 elements:
- Rigid Shell (plus integrated steel bars) with Deep Side Wings
- Energy-Absorbing Foam
- Impact-absorbing Safecell Base
- Extra-padded Head Restraint
The impact-absorbing Safecell base found on both seats comprises a red “honeycomb” structure that help to absorb crash forces (see video below)
#2 Seating Adjustments
The Britax B-Safe Ultra seat has 2 more harness slot height positions than the B-Safe 35, but both have 2 crotch buckle strap depths.
The B-Safe 35 options are:
- Harness Slot Heights at 5/7/9/11 inches
- Crotch Buckle Strap Depths of 4 & 6 inches
The Britax B-Safe Ultra options are:
- Harness Slot Heights at 5.5/6.5/8/8.75/10/11 inches
- Crotch Buckle Strap Depths of 4 & 6 inches
Britax have also re-positioned the strap-adjustment button so that it is no longer hidden underneath the seat fabric. The button is now very easy to find and operate without having to fish around underneath.
The benefit of having the extra harness slot positions is that you are more likely to be able to get the perfect fit to your growing child with the B-Safe Ultra seat than the standard B-Safe 35.
#3 Seat Weight
The B-Safe 35 seat weighs 10 lbs.
The B-Safe Ultra seat weighs slightly more, at 11.5 lbs.
So, the additional features on the Britax B-Safe Ultra seat mean that it is 1.5 lbs heavier. Unless you have physical limitations, this additional weight probably won’t make much difference when carrying the seat around.
#4 Harness Adjustments
The B-Safe 35 harness requires re-threading each and every time that you want to adjust it’s height.
The B-Safe Ultra’s harness, however, can be adjusted very simply and without needing to re-thread it.
Personally, I would always pay extra for the convenience of being able to make these seat adjustments without having to re-thread the harness each and every time.
#5 European Belt Path
The Britax B-Safe Ultra seat also comes with a European style Belt Guide.
This means that you have the option of being able to safely and securely fit the B-Safe Ultra seat in your vehicle without using the LATCH connectors. Whilst most modern cars are fitted with LATCH connectors and it is much more convenient to simply click the seat in and out of the seat base on every journey, there are situations in which this additional belt path option is very useful.
If you need to use the seat with multiple vehicles and cannot afford to buy multiple seat bases, or if you have grandparents or other occasional carers that need to transport your baby in their vehicles, the option to install the seat using an easy European style belt method is very convenient.
#6 Ultra Cool Mesh Fabric
The B-Safe Ultra seat is an excellent choice if you live in a place that experiences hot temperatures. Unlike the other Britax infant seats, and other competitor seats, the B-Safe Ultra comes fitted with a special cool mesh fabric that allows the hot air to circulate more freely around your child when they are seated.
This makes it much easier for them to remain cool, especially during long journeys.
The Ultra seat is a cool and comfortable option for your child.
#7 Flip-Forward Belly Pad
The Flip-Forward Belly Pad that comes with the B-Safe Ultra provides extra padding around the front part of their body for extra comfort.
It also makes it easier to access the harness buckle for easy loading and unloading.
Some Useful Videos …
Here is the Britax B-Safe 35 Promo Video:
Here is the “BabyGizmo” Video Review of the Britax B-Safe 35 & 35 Elite:
Buy the Britax B-Safe 35 and Ultra Seats
The B-Safe 35 and B-Safe Ultra models are both premium infant car seats, but as you can see from my comments above, the Ultra has many more safety and convenience features than the older B-Safe 35.
There are 7 important differences between these seats and I certainly wouldn’t hesitate to pay the extra money for the B-Safe Ultra seat over and above the B-Safe 35 model.
Check Best Price of the B-Safe 35
Check Best Price of the Britax B-Safe Ultra
If you remain undecided, you can read more user reviews of these seats here:
If you want the extra safety features found on the B-Safe 35 Ultra seat, but don’t want to pay extra for the Cool Mesh fabric, flip-forward belly pad, and European Belt Path, you should take a look at the Britax B-Safe 35 Elite seat instead.
Britax B-Safe 35 & Ultra Seats in Canada
Find Britax infant seats in Canada here.
Safety Information
After purchasing any child car seat, you should always read the User Manual thoroughly before using it. It is also advisable to visit your local Fire Department or NHTSA Child Car Seat Inspection Centre to ensure that the seat is definitely suitable for your child’s specific requirements and that you have installed it correctly. These services are usually provided free of charge.
You can find your nearest NHTSA Centre here.
Get in Touch
If you have any comments to share or questions to ask about my Britax B-Safe 35 vs Britax B-Safe Ultra Comparison Review, please leave a comment in the box below or send me an email.
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