About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the booster car seat, which I purchased with my own money and have used for over a year.

My take

As the mom of five and seven-year-old boys, I have purchased eight car and booster seats over the years including the Britax Highpoint 2-Stage Booster Car Seat, our most recent purchase. Britax is a highly trusted brand, at a great price point and I’ve always been satisfied with their ease of use and safety features—and this seat is no exception. I also appreciate that the Highpoint can transition to a backless booster, so we’re already prepared for when my son is ready to move to the next stage in our car seat journey.

About the product

• Model: 2021 Britax Highpoint 2-Stage Booster Car Seat
• Configuration: Two - High Back Booster & Backless Booster
• Intended age group: 4 to 12 years old

Test conditions

• When I used the product: Over a year
• Child’s age range: 7+ years
• Lifestyle: Suburban
• Frequency of Use: Daily
• Vehicle: 2017 Chysler Pacifica Minivan
• Compatible products: N/A

How it performs

What I was looking for

I was looking for a safe, easy to use booster seat for my son, that could last through the rest of the time he is in a car seat.

Why I chose this car seat

When purchasing the Britax Highpoint seat, I looked at several other boosters that use seat belts, including the Diono Monterey and the Graco Turbobooster. I decided to purchase this seat because Britax is a brand that I have experience with and trust. I liked the safety features, such as the center color-coded belt path and the three layers of side impact protection. I also love that the Highpoint is two seats in one, meaning that it can also convert to a backless booster seat.

What I love about it

• Ease of use: My son can easily buckle himself into this seat, using the color-coded belt path over the shoulder and in the center.
• Weight: This seat is lightweight at just 12 pounds.
• Design: The plush material used in the design of this seat makes for a comfortable ride for my seven-year-old. The adjustable headrest provides the support he needs on longer road trips and the fabric is breathable, keeping my son cool during the hotter summer months. The attached cup holders provide him a place to store his water bottle within easy reach.
• Quality & Durability: We use this seat daily, it is very durable, and the materials are high quality.
• Versatility: This seat will grow with my son and can be converted to a backless booster when we are ready to transition to the last stage of his car seat use.
• Aesthetics: I enjoy the neutral gray color of this seat, which is called Asher. It does not show dirt and remains new-looking after a year of use. I only considered Asher, because I wanted something neutral, but there are four color choices. This seat also comes in Mulberry, which is a purplish pink color, as well as Cool Flow Teal and Cool Flow Gray, which feature a mesh fabric design.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Installation: I did not initially realize the Britax Highpoint could be latched to the car. So although following the color-coded buttons on the back make it relatively easy to install this seat, I would still highly recommend watching an installation video online. And always follow the safety manual for proper installation. Also in order for this seat to sit flush against the car, I had to remove the headrest from my car’s seat, which was somewhat challenging. Other users may need to adjust their headrests as well.
• Ease of Cleaning: I have not had to wash this seat, but I have vacuumed it with a handheld vacuum. The two cup holders are removable and can be cleaned in the dishwasher, but I’ve found them difficult to get out so I used the handheld vacuum to clean them too.

Value for the money vs. other options

This seat is priced in the middle of the “high back booster with a seat belt” options. The Graco Turbobooster is the least expensive and the lightest of the seat options, and features a front adjustable latch system. UPPAbaby Alta and the Diono Monteray are close in price, but the Nuna Aace and Clek Oobr are on the higher-end, with the Clek Oobr being the most expensive. None of the Graco Turbobooster, Diono Monteray, Nuna Aace or Clek Oobr options have a center belt positioner though. The most comparable seat is the UPPAbaby Alta, because it also features the center belt positioning feature and latch installation. However, this is a much heavier seat, weighing in at 22 pounds compared to the Britax which weighs 12 pounds. And although these two seats are very close in price, I went with the Britax seat despite it being a few dollars more.

Final verdict

I would highly recommend the Britax Highpoint 2-Stage Booster car seat to anyone looking for a booster seat for a child that uses a seat belt. Having used the seat for about a year now, my son and I have found it easy to operate. He can secure the belt through the center belt path allowing him to buckle independently and remain safe inside the car. This might be the final seat users will need to buy as it is durable, versatile, and works well for daily and long-term use.