Graco Contender 65 Convertible Car Seat - Brass Reviews
Graco Contender 65 – Overview
The Contender's recommended total cost is an incredibly low $139.99 but, in fact, yous tin actually notice them online at the moment for under $125 if y'all know where to expect.
The Contender is Graco's entry-level convertible machine seat, with a depression price tag to match, simply the compromises are largely to practise with convenience features rather that prophylactic features equally yous will read about beneath.
No Graco Contender 65 Review could fail to mention the Graco Convertible Auto Seat"clone issue".
There are a number of similarly named Graco convertible automobile seats that look almost identical and it can be quite difficult for parents to tell them apart and make an informed decision as to which one to buy.
Whilst it is certainly the case that there are no meaningful differences between theSize4Me 65,MySize 65 andFit4Me 65 car seats, there are a few differences between those seats and the Graco Contender 65 seat. There's non much in information technology, but y'all need to know about those small-scale differences.
And so, let'due south commencement with a list of the Graco Contender 65'due south principal features and then look at some of those all important features in more detail.
Graco Contender 65 at a Glance
| Full Price | $139.99 |
| Rear-Facing Weight | 4 - 40 lbs |
| Rear-Facing Height | 1" below headrest button |
| Forward-Facing Weight | 22 - 65 lbs |
| Forwards-Facing Pinnacle | upwardly to 49" |
| No-rethread Harness | Yes |
| LATCH Installation | Yes |
| Harness Height Range | seven - 17.5" |
| Infant Insert | Yes |
| Elevation Tether | Yes |
| Cup Holder | Yeah |
| Seat Expiration | 7 years |
| FAA Approved for Flights | Yes |
Graco Contender 65 – Main Features
#i Top & Weight Limits
The Contender 65 is suitable forutilise from four lbs, which makes information technology an fantabulous pick for those who take, or who are expecting, very pocket-size babies.
Most convertible machine seats kickoff from 5 lbs and upwards and and so the Contender (and the other Graco convertibles) have 1 upwardly on the contest in that regard.
Then, the Contender 65 tin be used right from birth and will continue to be suitable for your child until they are either more than65 lbs in weight or49 inches in height. These are pretty common maximum weight and peak limits for convertible car seats and so there has been compromise on this aspect in society to achieve the low cost point.
I slight downside with the Contender 65 (and the other Gracos) is that itsrear-facing weight limit is just 40 lbs. Again, this is within the normal range for convertible seats, but does non permit the sort of extended rear-facing that you lot can achieve with some other convertible seats on the marketplace.
Your child should nonetheless be able to rear-face until they are at least 3 years of age (which is a year longer than the minimum recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics), just if you are determined to rear-face even longer than that, you will demand to consider a genuine extended rear-facing seat. You lot will need to be prepared to pay a lot more money for this added option.
Remember, only because yous tin can switch your baby around to forwards-face at 22 lbs information technology does NOT mean that you lot have to. Rear-Facing is much safer than forwards-facing and I recommend that your child remains that mode equally long as they are within the required height and weight limits.
Unusually, the rear-facing height limit is not related to your child's standing height, but in fact requires the top of their caput to exist at to the lowest degree 1 inch below the headrest adjustment button when it is fully extended (see image above).
Almost kids will be able to use the seat for the full twoscore lbs weight limit, unlike many other convertible seats that have higher theoretical rear-facing weight limits but where, in practice, the height limit is reached long before the kid is able to have full advantage of any alleged extended rear-facing limits.
The overall limit of 65 lbs or 49 inches ought to hateful that most children could use the Graco Contender 65 seat until they are 6 or vii years of age.
#2 Harness Height / Adjustment / Baby Insert
The Graco Contender 65 comes with an infant insert which helps to provide added support effectually the vulnerable parts of your infant'south trunk and besides boosts them up then that they tin be seated in a safe and secure manner. (meet video below)
The Contender 65 also comes fitted with a harness adjustment system that you would unremarkably but expect to find on a much more than expensive seat.
The Elementary Rubber Accommodate Harness system allows you to increase the height of the headrest and the shoulder harness straps without having to rethread the harness or make any other bad-mannered and fourth dimension-consuming changes to the seat's configuration.
In gild to increase the acme of the headrest and shoulder harness straps, you simply have to squeeze and pull the red/gray handle that sits on the peak of the seat before pulling information technology upward until you get the right fit. And so, the harness and headrest adjust together with a unmarried movement without you ever needing to remove / rethread harness straps.
As someone who offset bought machine seats when these "no rethread" harness mechanisms didn't exist, I can tell you that this automatic adjustment organization is worth its weight in gold!
#3 LATCH Installation
Dissimilar the Size4Me seat (and the other clones), the Contender 65 comes with a standard LATCH installation system. Information technology does not come with the superior InRight LATCH installation arrangement that tin be establish on the Size4Me and which involves a simple push button LATCH method.
If you are confident nigh beingness able to utilize standard LATCH connectors, or know where to get assist, this won't be a problem.
#4 Recline Positions & Indicator
This is another area in which the Contender 65 has slightly reduced capabilities when compared with the Size4Me seats.
Yeah, it comes with the very useful recline level indicator on the side of the seat, which tells yous when your recline is in a suitable position, but no, it doesn't have as many recline options every bit the Size4Me.
Whereas the Size4Me comes with 3 recline positions, the Contender 65 has but 2 and this is reflected in the price.
If you demand any extra amount of recline, you can always consider using pool noodles or similar to achieve a safe position.
#v Safety Test Results
The seat comes with EPS energy-arresting cream for enhanced impact energy direction.
Graco boasts that the Contender 65 seat has achieved or exceeded all applicable US safety standards during side impact testing.
During the New Car Cess Program (NCAP) tests, its Peak Crash Force scores were evidently constitute to be 2 x the applicable auto seat standard.
#6 Other Features
The other features found on the Contender 65 car seat are pretty self-explanatory.
They are:
- EPS cream lined head wings for side touch protection
- Loving cup holder
- Shell height of 28 inches
- Machine washable seat pads
- iii-position recline with indicator
- seven-twelvemonth expiration
- FFA approved for aircraft use
Video of the Graco Contender 65
Graco Contender 65 – My Verdict
This is an excellent convertible car seat for those on a tight budget, or for those who need a cheap and low-cal extra seat for use in a 2d vehicle or other occasional carers.
Information technology lacks some of the convenience features that are found on the Graco Size4Me, such as the InRight LATCH system and the extra recline position, only that is reflected in the lower cost. It is normally about $xxx cheaper than the Size4Me and other Graco clones, but yous need to check the prices as they change quite a lot from week to week.
Graco Contender 65 – Overnice Colour Options
There are plenty of fabric color options to cull from, including:
Where to Buy the Graco Contender 65
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Safety Data
After purchasing any kid auto seat, yous should ever read the User Manual thoroughly before using it. It is likewise advisable to visit your local Fire Department or NHTSA Kid Car Seat Inspection Centre to ensure that the seat is definitely suitable for your child'due south specific requirements and that you have installed information technology correctly. These services are usually provided complimentary of charge.
You lot tin find your nearest NHTSA Centre here.
Do You Need More Help?
If you have whatever other feedback about my Graco Contender 65 Review, please just leave a comment in the box below or send an email to kristian@kidsafetyfirst.com
Source: https://kidsafetyfirst.com/graco-contender-65-review
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