Best Price: Check Here
Weight Range (RF): 14 – 50 lbs (5 lbs+ insert)
Weight Range (FF): 20 – 65 lbs
Height Range (RF): 25 – 43″ (19″+ insert)
Height Range (FF): 30 – 49″
Seat Width: 13″ at base, 17″ at widest part
Anti-Rebound Bar: Yes
Steel Sub-Structure: Yes
The Good – Longer rear-facing weight limit than most of its competitors. Very narrow and should fit 3 in a row within standard saloon car; Rigid LATCH; Steel Sub-Structure; Crumple-REACT Safety System; Lots of nice color options; Multiple recline positions; Newborn infant insert.
The Bad – It is expensive.
The Bottom Line – If you can afford its hefty price tag, the Clek Foonf Convertible Car Seat is an excellent option that will certainly give you peace of mind when driving around with your precious baby onboard. Clek have included all of the most important comfort and safety features and their previous models have always received fantastic reviews from parents. I particularly like the extended rear facing option which, on its own, greatly increases the safety potential of this seat.
Clek Foonf Convertible Car Seat – The Key Features
#1 Child Height and Weight Limits
As I have already stated, the Clek Foonf convertible car seat allows you to enjoy the benefits of extended rear-facing up until your child’s weight exceeds 50 pounds. Very often children outgrow their seats by height long before they reach the maximum weight limits. With the Clek Foonf seat, your child has a better chance of reaching the upper weight limit than other comparable seats provided that they are not unusually tall for their age.
It also has a generous overall maximum child weight limit of 65 pounds (forwards-facing) and a child height limit of 49 inches (forwards-facing).
Although the minimum child weight requirement is 14 pounds of you use the seat straight out of the box, this can be reduced to 5 pounds if you purchase the Clek Infant-Thingy Insert. Clearly, if you wish to use this seat from birth, you will need to buy this Insert.
This seat has the highest rear-facing weight limit of any convertible car seat on the market – an important safety feature since the American Academy of Pediatrics advises that rear-facing is more than 4 times safer than forwards-facing. The AAP recommend rear facing until at least 2 years of age and preferably longer. This seat ought to be usable rear-facing for about 4 years or so, which is normal for kids in countries like Sweden where the child death rates in road traffic accidents is much less than the USA.
#2 Advanced Side Impact Protection (REACT)
The Clek Foonf’s advanced side impact protection system comprises an energy-absorbing foam-lined headrest that is attached to the main seat frame using steel rods to better protect the child’s head area in the event of a side-impact collision. There are also foam layers on the inside and outside of the metal seat frame to absorb energy and prevent those impact forces from reaching your child’s body.
There is a slight difference in the overall energy-absorbing crumple systems used by Clek’s cheaper alternative seat (Clek Fllo) and the Foonf when installed in the forwards-facing mode (explained below).
The Foonf is fitted with “REACT” and the Fllo is fitted with “EACT” – the only practical difference being that the Foonf comes with a rigid-LATCH installation system and the Fllo does not. This explains why the Foonf gets an extra “R” at the front of the abbreviation since it stands for “Rigid LATCH”.
Aside from the “Rigid-LATCH” difference, both have the same Energy Absorbing Crumple Technology. This EACT/REACT system comprises a series of events which occur during a collision to control the transfer of forces to your child by causing any abrupt change in momentum (i.e. the crash) to occur over a longer period of time.
#3 Anti-Rebound Bar and Steel Sub-Structure
The Foonf comes fitted with a steel and magnesium sub-structure and a steel anti-rebound bar to provide added seat strength, stability and reassurance in the event of a collision.
The Anti-Rebound Bar (ARB) is attached to the foot-end of the seat and is designed to manage the rebound or reactive motion in the opposite direction of the impact during a collision.
If the vehicle in which the seat was installed drove into collision with the rear of the vehicle in front, for example, the initial forces involved would compress the seat into the back of one of the front seats. The secondary reaction, however, would cause the seat to rebound back towards the rear of the vehicle and, without an anti-rebound bar, there is a real risk that the child’s head would be thrown into contact with the vehicle seat upon which it sits.
The anti-rebound bar effectively cushions this secondary reaction and reduces the risk of the child occupant injuring themselves as a result of their head striking the seat.
Note: The Anti-Rebound Bar is only used when the seat is in the rear-facing position.
#4 Seat Dimensions and Weight
The most important thing to note is that the Clek Foonf is an exceptionally narrow for a convertible car seat.
It measures just 13 inches at the base and 17 inches at its widest part, which makes it ideal for smaller vehicles and those who need to fit 3 seats in a row.
Yes, it is quite heavy at 33 pounds (forwards-facing) and 38 pounds (rear-facing). The difference between the 2 modes is that the ARB adds about 5 pounds extra weight to the seat. Bear in mind, however, that these seats are not designed to be carried around like infant seats. They cannot be used as part of a travel system, do not come with a carry handle and are designed to remain installed within your vehicle pretty much most of the time.
#5 GREENGUARD Select Crypton Super Fabrics
The GREENGUARD Select Crypton Super Fabrics on the Clek Foonf seat manage to pass all relevant flame retardancy tests whilst at the same time being FREE FROM bromine and other chlorine-based chemical retardants.
In addition, the fabric of the seat is resistant to stains and liquids.
Full Seat Specifications
The full specifications of the Clek Foonf are:
- Advanced SIP with REACT
- Steel Frame and ARB
- Extended rear-facing
- Multiple recline positions
- Rigid LATCH
- Built-in Lock-offs
- Adjustable headrest
- Crypton Superfabrics (waterproof, wipe clean, anti-bacteria)
- Height adjustable crotch belt (2 positions)
- Side Impact Tested
- NCAP Tested
- Certified for use of aircraft
- 9 year seat expiration
Video Comparison Review of the Foonf and Fllo Seats
Value for Money
This seat will cost you in the region of $450 (depending upon fabric color).
That makes it one of the most expensive car seats on the market today. It does, however, come fitted with pretty much every conceivable safety and convenience feature and allows you to enjoy the benefits of rear-facing for longer than most (if not all) of its competitors.
This is an excellent premium convertible car seat. I’m sure that you won’t be disappointed with this seat, but you will have to decide for yourself whether or not the extended use and great features are worth the extra money.
Where to Buy the Clek Foonf
Check Best Price of the Clek Foonf
Clek Convertible Seats in Canada
Find Clek Convertible 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.
Do You Need More Help?
Click here if you remain undecided and want to read some more user reviews of the Clek Foonf Convertible Car Seat.
If you need any further advice or assistance whatsoever, please feel free to contact me and I will do my very best to help.
If you have any other feedback about my “Clek Foonf Review”, please just leave a comment in the box below or send an email to kristian@kidsafetyfirst.com
Leave a Reply