Britax GWY ClickTight Plus Britax Grow With You
The Britax “Grow With You” series of harness-to-booster car seats replaces their previous range, which included the Pinnacle 90, Frontier 90, and Pioneer 70 seats.
There are still 3 different seats in the Britax Harness-to-Booster range and it can still be quite difficult for parents and carers to work out exactly what the differences are between the 3 models. The 3 seats are:
Britax Grow With You ClickTight Plus.
Britax Grow With You ClickTight.
Although the Britax Grow With You ClickTight Plus seat looks very similar to the Britax Grow With You seat, there are a couple of very important differences between these seats that you need to consider before deciding which one to buy for your child (see below).
So, what exactly are the similarities and differences between the Britax Grow With You ClickTight Plus and the Britax Grow With You Harness-to-Booster car seats? Is the “ClickTight Plus” model worth the extra money?
Britax Grow With You ClickTight Plus v Grow With You – The Similarities
#1 Child Height & Weight Limits
Both seats come with exactly the same child height and weight limits for use in the harness and booster modes, which are as follows.
The overall weight limits are between 25 and 120 lbs.
The overall height limits are between 34 and 63 inches.
You should, however, pay careful attention to the limits for each of the 2 different modes of use.
Harness Mode – 25 to 65 lbs / 34 to 49 inches.
Booster Mode – 40 to 120 lbs / 44 to 63 inches.
It is best to try to keep your child in the harness mode for as long as they are within the weight and height limits, even if they are technically eligible to use the seat in booster mode.
#2 Safecell Technology
The bases of both seats are manufactured with Britax’s Safecell crumple zone for added protection in a collision. In short, the impact-absorbing Safecell base comprises a red “honeycomb” structure that helps to absorb crash forces in the event of an accident.
Here is a video that explains the Britax Safecell Technology in a little more detail.
#3 Harness & Headrest Adjustment
Both seats come with a 5-point harness.
There are 9 different harness height options and you can change the harness position as your child grows by simply pressing the handle at the top of the seat and moving it upwards or downwards as required.
Once your child has outgrown the harness, it can be conveniently stowed away so that the vehicle seatbelt can be used to restrain your child while sitting in the booster seat.
#4 Seat Recline Options
Both seats have 2 different recline options.
Other similarities include:
- Removeable SafeWash cover naturally flame-retardant
- Patented V-Shape Tether
- High Strength Steel Frame
- 1-Hand Harness adjustment
- 4 x drinks/snacks holders
- Certified for Aircraft Travel
- 9-year seat expiration
Britax Grow With You ClickTight Plus v Grow With You – The Main Difference
#1 Seat Installation Options
One of the main differences between the Grow With You ClickTight Plus seat and the standard Grow With You seat is how they are installed in your vehicle.
As the product names suggests, the ClickTight Plus version comes fitted with the Britax ClickTight Installation System, whereas the standard Grow With You model does not.
Instead, the standard Grow With You seat is installed using the lower LATCH connectors and then, later on, the vehicle seat belt.
The ClickTight Plus model can also be installed using those methods, but comes with the added option of being installed using the Britax ClickTight Installation System.
The Britax ClickTight installation system is not an entirely new concept as they have used it very successfully on their range of convertible car seats for many years before adding it to their harness-to-booster seats.
So, what is the Britax ClickTight installation system?
The ClickTight installation system involves a simple 3-stage process. You open the compartment, feed the seat belt through the appropriate route, and then close the compartment until you hear the “click”.
The ClickTight installation mechanism on its own does not make the car seat any safer, but there is a very important indirect safety benefit for some parents in using the ClickTight system.
Installing convertible car seats using the vehicle’s seat belt can be difficult for many parents and, as a result, mistakes are often made. Research suggests that up to 75% seats are installed incorrectly, which makes them unsafe.
So, any mechanism that makes it easier to achieve a safe installation is to be welcomed.
Watch this video, so see how easy it is to install a car seat using ClickTight …
#2 Side Impact Protection
The main difference between these 2 seats is that the ClickTight Plus seat comes with a total of 3 layers of side impact protection, which is one more layer than the standard Grow With You model.
The 2 layers of side impact protection that are found on both seats are located in the headrest and torso areas.
The extra layer of side impact protection that comes with the ClickTight Plus seat is called Side Impact Cushion Technology and can be seen in the image below. It is what makes the Plus model look so much wider at the head/shoulder part of the seat.
The Side Impact Cushion Technology – So, what is SICT and is it important?
SICT comprises energy-management cushions that are positioned on either side of the seat. Britax claim that they reduce side impact collision energy transfer by 45%. The cushions are said to absorb side impact forces before they reach your child, thereby reducing the risk of serious head injuries.
These extra SICT cushions certainly do look reassuring and Britax claim that they make a significant difference in side impact collisions.
One thing to bear in mind though is that, even if you do think the SICT cushions are worth paying for, it makes the Plus seat wider than the standard Grow With You seat and would probably make it impossible to fit 3 seats in a row within a normal sized vehicle.
#3 Seat Dimensions
As I briefly mentioned above, the rather obvious consequence of the additional SICT that is found on the Plus model is that it is wider than the standard seat.
The ClickTight Plus seat is 23 inches wide, whereas the standard Grow With You seat is just 19 inches wide.
So, there is a difference of 4 inches in width at the widest point.
Some Helpful Video Reviews …
Here are some useful video reviews of the Britax Grow With You ClickTight Plus and Grow With You seats:
Buy the Britax Grow With You ClickTight Plus v Grow With You Seats
The Britax Grow With You ClickTight Plus and Grow With You models are both premium harness-to-booster car seats, but as you can see from my comments above, the Plus version has a couple of extra features. You will have to decide for yourself whether or not those extra features are sufficiently important for you and your child to justify the slightly higher cost.
Check Best Price of the Grow With You ClickTight Plus
Check Best Price of the Grow With You
If you remain undecided, you can read more user reviews of these seats here:
Grow With You ClickTight Plus User Reviews
Buy Britax Grow With You Seats in Canada
Check Best Price of Britax Grow With You Seats in Canada
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 Grow With You ClickTight Plus vs Grow With You Comparison Review, please leave a comment in the box below or send me an email.
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