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Safe Traffic Systems Ride Safer Vest

$99.99

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Our Review of the Safe Traffic Systems Ride Safer Vest

The law in many states requires that children up to 8 years old ride with some type of restraint system, but booster seats can be a bit of a pain to use - they're often bulky, heavy, and awkward. Plus, some kids hate having to ride in them, considering any such seat a "baby seat" that they're far too old and sophisticated to ride in.

Recognizing that some type of safe restraint is needed for older kids, and that boosters can be less than ideal for both parents and kids, Safe Travel Systems Inc (STS) decided to find an alternative. The result of their research was the RideSafer Travel Vest - easy to install, simple to carry, handle, and store - and kids think it's cool!

Essentially, the RideSafer Travel Vest System is a "wearable booster seat," which works by safely repositioning the car's adult seat belt on your child. In the event of an accident, the vest distributes crash forces over a wide area, while safely holding your child in place. The vest is simple to buckle on, and putting it into the car is as simple as buckling your child with the car's seat belt, and then slipping the lap and shoulder belts into the guides. The RideSafer can be used in the left, right, or center rear seats, moves easily from vehicle to vehicle on your children, and best of all, it meets or exceeds all standards of the FMVSS 213 (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard).

All in all, I'd say that STS is not exaggerating when they call the RideSafer Travel Vest a "Revolutionary Child Restraint System."

*Note: The RideSafer Travel Vest includes a headrest that can be velcroed onto the vest for added support. This is for comfort while the child sleeps, NOT safety. If your toddler's seat in your vehicle has no headrest, then you need a high-back booster seat. Placing them in a seat without a headrest is unsafe, and the RideSafer Travel Vest's head support is NOT a viable substitute. 

**Available in two sizes: Small: 35 - 60 lbs  /  Large: 50 - 80 lbs

Brad's RideSafer Vest Review:

When this product first came to me, I admit I was pretty skeptical. My kid's going to enjoy walking around in this thing? The models in the photos on the box were a bit too happy. But like all products we get, I put it to the test with my now 4 year old son Huck.

From the get go, he loved it. He was running around in it. Good start. We got on a road trip for the weekend in my Saab convertible, and brought my regular booster in the trunk - just in case. His buddy was next to him in a car seat, and since he was sitting much higher than Huck, I thought for sure he wouldn't like the vest after long.

But I was wrong. He was proud of the RideSafer Vest. He actually felt older, because he didn't have a "car seat." He also slept well - I propped a pillow next to him and he was able to lean into it with his seatbelt on, much like an adult would sleep wearing in a seat belt. I never had to pull out the regular booster once during the 12 hours of road tripping over the weekend. Overall, I'm very impressed, and would certainly travel with it.

The main downside to it is that it's not super easy to get it hooked into the car quickly. To lean into the back seat of a small 2 seater car and put this on is a bit difficult. You have to make sure the belt gets in place properly, which takes a little effort. I wouldn't say its hard to do, but it's just not quite as simple as a traditional booster seat.

 

  • Safe Traffic Systems RideSafe Vest
    RideSafer Vest on Child
  • Safe Traffic Systems RideSafe Vest
    RideSafer Vest in Car
  • Safe Traffic Systems RideSafe Vest
    RideSafer Vest
Safe Traffic Systems RideSafe Vest
Click here to download instruction manual. (Adobe Reader required)

Car seat specs

Min child weight
35 lbs.
Max child weight
80 lbs.
Min child weight - Forward Facing mode
35 lbs.
Max child weight - Forward facing mode
80 lbs.
Minimum weight for booster mode
35 lbs.
Min child height
38"
Max child height
57"
Min child height - Forward facing mode
38"
Min height for booster use
38"

Car seat dimensions

Product weight
4.8 lbs.
Seat Base / Foot Width
n/a
Seat height
n/a
Interior seat width
n/a
Interior seat back height
n/a
Bottom to lowest harness slot
n/a
Bottom to highest harness slot
n/a
 
  • Includes Travel Vest, removable headrest, tether assembly, and crotch belt
  • Safe in any back seat - left, right, or middle.
  • Lap belt guides keep lap belt in proper position, away from vital abdominal organs
  • Removable, height-adjustable head pillow
  • Soft foam padding for comfort and force distribution in event of accident
  • Energy-absorbing tether rings and shoulder belt positioners
  • Reflective safety trim
  • Vest weighs only 2.5 lbs
  • Easy 1-2-3 step installation

    Pros:
  • Easy to travel with, fits in a suitcase much easier than any seat.
  • Nice head rest
  • Child sits lower, making it safer in a convertible.
  • Works with older cars with lap belt only seats, (with a tether)
  • Allows for room with other kids

    Cons:
  • A bit of a hassle for quick in and outs, as it takes a minute or 2 to put it on.
  • Child sits low, and can't see out as much.

    • Safe Traffic Systems Ride Safer Vest Reviews

    Safe Traffic Systems Ride Safer Travel Vest

    All Customer Reviews

    Average Rating:
    Star Rating
    Highest Rating:
    Star Rating
    Lowest Rating:
    Star Rating
    Number of Reviews:
    8
    Distribution of Ratings
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    Distibution of Ratings
    Submit A Review
    Showing 1 to 8 of 8

    Didn't work for us

    1
    Reviewer: Anonymous , Monroe, WA Date: September 10, 2008
    We bought this to use on a trip where we would be flying and in several different vehicles. The directions where not as straight forward as directions for a carseat. For example, in some senarios it needs to be tethered, but not tethered in others. It never seemed very tight on our child, and her dresses were crumpled by the strap between her legs. Turns out we couldn't use it in any of the vehicles we rode in during our 2 week trip. We ended up buying a booster seat just for use while we were there. It was frustrating, to say the least. Part of the problem was that we were riding in vehicles without anchors to teether to, and our daughter was just barely tall enough to use the vest in the first place. I am sure it is usefull for some, but I prefer a foldable booster set.
    3 of 4 people found this review helpful
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    Excellent and well designed product!

    4
    Reviewer: Kylie , New York, NY Date: May 07, 2007
    This is an excellent and well designed product. We constantly use taxis in New York (where we live) and travel frequently, and were not comfortable with our 4 year old using the adult seatbelt without a booster. We have used this vest numerous times and I am very happy with the ease of use and its apparent safety. We use the lap belt and the top tether in a taxi and my son seems very secure. He also likes wearing it. Regards Kylie
    13 of 13 people found this review helpful
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    Great for travel and carpooling

    5
    Reviewer: Tracey , Woodland Hills, CA Date: November 01, 2005
    I bought this for my 4-yr-old daughter for a vacation and it is one of the best investments I've made. She loves to use it because she's not in a car seat plus it fits in our carry on bag for the plane and allows enough room for a third person in the car. We also use it for carpooling and between the grandparents' cars.
    17 of 18 people found this review helpful
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    Fantastic System

    5
    Reviewer: Paul Sutters , Ohio Date: November 01, 2005
    I use the on my 8 yr old Son he loves it. Its his big boy car seat to keep him safe he says. Buy it you wont be dispionted...
    5 of 5 people found this review helpful
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    Easy to use in and out of different vehicles.

    4
    Reviewer: Wendy A , Bono, AR Date: November 01, 2005
    I purchased this just before we flew to Michigan. It was such a breeze on the planes. My special needs child wore it through the plane terminals so I wasn't carrying a big diaper bag, a car seat and misc items while traveling out of state. I had no worries if this vest was going to work in my friend's car, my son's Jeep or their Durango. It takes up minimal space (the size of the child) so you can sit 3 on a bench seat which is nearly impossible to do with a traditional car seat. My ONLY complaint is that the shoulder clasp doesn't allow enough movement for easy placement of the car's shoulder restraint belt. A minor adjustment to that and it would be perfect. NOW if I could get my child to NOT help me buckle her in it would be awesome. I had no worries whether she could manipulate the clasps and get out of the vest, which was why I needed to switch from a traditional car seat.
    10 of 10 people found this review helpful
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    The best for travel!

    5
    Reviewer: Bonnie , Marin, CA Date: November 01, 2005
    We loved this product for our twins and packed them easily into their suitcases and put them into our rental car in Hawaii. We wish we had them went we went to Europe when we had a vastly inferior product. Back at home, it's great back-up should a little pal from preschool need to go home via our car, too!
    6 of 7 people found this review helpful
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    Better than a booster!

    5
    Reviewer: , Michigan Date: November 01, 2005
    We bought two boosters, a Graco and a Britax, and within a month my son could get out of both easily. With two family cars, we still had to move the seat in and out of the car for the babysitter, aunts and grandma. I always worried about it being installed properly. The RideSafer Travel Vest was the answer. My precocious 3 1/2 year old calls it his
    14 of 16 people found this review helpful
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    probably good for toddlers, not ideal in this case

    3
    Reviewer: Anonymous , Unknown Date: November 01, 2005
    Initially I thought the seat would be beneficial for our special-needs client, because it was tight fitting like his weighted vest and client does well with the security of his weighted vest. However, he only has the weighted vest on for a short period of time and the car seat was too confining for client. With his larger size (72 pounds), he reported that it rubbed and bothered him, due to rising or lowering into his neck or lower hip area - he also said it didn't stay still.
    13 of 23 people found this review helpful
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