When it comes to ensuring your child’s safety on the road, choosing the right car seat is paramount. As we look ahead to 2024, parents are faced with a plethora of options, each promising the best protection and comfort. Among the leading contenders, the Clek Foonf convertible car seat has consistently garnered attention for its robust construction and safety features. But does it still hold its position as the best car seat in 2024? Let’s delve into a comprehensive review to help you decide if the Clek Foonf is the right choice for your family.
The Clek Foonf is often praised for its “built like a tank” construction, and for good reason. This high-end convertible seat is engineered for extended rear-facing use, accommodating children up to 50 pounds in this position. Its narrow profile is a bonus for families needing to fit multiple car seats, and the fabric is designed for easy cleaning, a crucial feature for parents. Notably, the Clek Foonf includes an anti-rebound bar, an added safety element that minimizes seat rebound in frontal collisions.
Exceptional Safety and Construction
Clek has built a reputation for prioritizing safety, and the Foonf is a testament to this commitment. The company stands out by publicly sharing its crash-testing results, demonstrating a level of transparency unmatched by many competitors. Kid testers have also given the Foonf high marks for comfort, appreciating the generous padding and spacious feel of the seat.
The Foonf’s solid build and comfortable seat bed, combined with its stain-resistant fabric and straightforward forward-facing installation, make it a highly desirable option. The 50-pound rear-facing weight limit is in line with other top picks, ensuring extended rear-facing capability as recommended by safety experts. The design and shape of the Foonf contribute to a comfortable rear-facing experience for growing children.
However, it’s important to acknowledge that the Clek Foonf is not without its drawbacks. The rear-facing installation is known to be more complex compared to some other models, and its significant weight can be a challenge for some parents. Furthermore, the Foonf comes with a premium price tag, placing it at the higher end of the market, which may not suit every budget.
Enhanced Safety Features: Anti-Rebound Bar and Q-Tether
Like the Britax Poplar S, the Clek Foonf incorporates an anti-rebound bar. This feature plays a critical role in enhancing safety by reducing the rebound of the car seat in a frontal crash. For parents seeking even greater protection for their rear-facing children, Clek offers an optional Q-tether strap. This strap, when used, connects to the vehicle’s top tether anchor, further absorbing crash forces and minimizing their impact on the child.
Rear-Facing Installation: A Noteworthy Challenge
Installing the Clek Foonf in the rear-facing position requires more attention than some other convertible car seats. It utilizes a unique rear-facing base – a wedge-shaped component that must be attached to achieve the correct installation angle. Clek recommends using the vehicle’s seat belt for rear-facing installation, especially as the LATCH system has a lower weight limit (25 pounds) for rear-facing setups, which many babies reach within their first year.
The installation process involves removing the seat cushion to access the inner mechanisms, positioning the seat at the correct angle using the guide on the seat’s side, and threading the seat belt through the designated rear-facing belt path. Securing the seat belt tightly involves pressing down on the Foonf while pulling the belt and then engaging the belt lock-offs – plastic tabs that cinch the belt in place. This step can require significant force and may be easier with assistance.
For LATCH installation in rear-facing mode (up to 25 pounds), a specific LATCH strap is provided, which needs to be threaded and connected to the vehicle’s anchors, followed by tightening and engaging the belt lock-offs. While Clek provides helpful online videos and a comprehensive owner’s manual for installation guidance, the rear-facing process is generally considered more intricate.
Forward-Facing Installation: User-Friendly Design
In contrast to the rear-facing setup, the Clek Foonf shines in forward-facing installation. It features rigid LATCH connectors – metal bars extending from the seat with LATCH hooks. These connectors simplify the process: adjust the seat angle, extend the connectors, align them with the car’s LATCH anchors, and click into place. A visual indicator confirms a secure connection. Once connected, the Foonf provides an exceptionally stable forward-facing installation.
Uniquely, the Foonf allows for forward-facing installation using both LATCH and the vehicle seat belt – unlike most convertible seats that mandate one or the other. For children over the 35-pound forward-facing LATCH limit, you can continue using the rigid LATCH for ease of positioning and fit, and supplement it with the vehicle seat belt for added security.
For seat belt-only forward-facing installation, the lap belt is routed through the forward-facing belt path, and the shoulder belt through the belt lock-off, followed by buckling. Tightening involves pressing down on the seat while pulling the belt to remove slack. As with all forward-facing convertible car seat installations, using the top tether is essential.
Harness, Buckles, and Headrest: Designed for Convenience
The Clek Foonf is designed with user-friendly buckles and an easily adjustable headrest. Parents appreciate the smooth operation of the chest and crotch buckles. The harness straps are readily accessible, minimizing the common struggle of fishing for straps hidden behind the child. Harness adjustments are simple, even with the child seated, and the straps are notably resistant to twisting. The headrest is also easily adjustable, although it operates independently of the harness, unlike some other recommended seats.
Aesthetics and Fabric: Style Meets Functionality
The Clek Foonf boasts a sleek, minimalist aesthetic, available in a range of colors with white or black plastic sides. The Crypton C-Zero Plus fabric is a standout feature, offering a moisture barrier, antimicrobial treatment, and Greenguard Gold certification for low VOC emissions. It’s also stain-repellent and free of brominated and chlorinated flame retardants, with certain fabric options being free of any added flame retardants. The fabric cover is removable for hand-washing and drip-drying, and the Railroad Ziip option provides a zip-off, machine-washable cover for added convenience.
Size and Space: Roomy Yet Narrow
Despite its robust construction, the Clek Foonf is designed to be both roomy for the child and relatively narrow in profile. Even without extension panels, it provides ample legroom in rear-facing mode, thanks to its recline angle and seat architecture. The lower sides facilitate easy loading and unloading of a rear-facing child. At just 17 inches wide, the Foonf is well-suited for fitting three car seats across in many vehicles.
The Clek Foonf accommodates rear-facing children up to 50 pounds and forward-facing children up to 65 pounds or 49 inches. An optional Infant-Thingy insert allows for use with babies as small as 5 pounds in rear-facing mode. While the forward-facing minimum weight is 22 pounds, experts strongly advise keeping children rear-facing for as long as possible.
Longevity and Warranty
All Clek car seats have a nine-year lifespan from the manufacturing date. For seats purchased after January 2024 (manufactured January 2023 or later) and registered within 90 days, the warranty extends to the expiration date. Otherwise, a three-year warranty applies (or one year if unregistered).
Crash Test Performance and Ease of Use
The Clek Foonf has demonstrated strong performance in NHTSA front-impact crash testing, achieving favorable HIC and chest acceleration scores. Clek also provides access to its own crash-testing videos, further reinforcing its commitment to safety transparency.
However, the NHTSA gave the Foonf a two-out-of-five-star rating for ease of use. Factors contributing to this rating include the initial assembly required, the absence of a no-rethread harness, the need to remove the seat cushion for seat belt routing, and reliance on the owner’s manual for complete installation instructions.
Flaws to Consider
Weight and Size
The Clek Foonf is a heavy car seat, weighing 33 pounds in forward-facing mode and 38 pounds rear-facing with the base and anti-rebound bar. While some parents appreciate this heft for its feeling of solidity, it can be cumbersome for travel or frequent car seat transfers. Its taller profile compared to other seats may also pose a challenge in compact cars, particularly in rear-facing mode with a reclined position.
No-Rethread Harness
Unlike many top convertible car seats, the Clek Foonf lacks a no-rethread harness. Adjusting the harness height requires manual re-threading, which can be less convenient as the child grows. However, some safety experts argue that the independent operation of the harness and headrest in the Foonf design offers a safety advantage.
Assembly and Complexity
The Clek Foonf requires more assembly than some competitors, including attaching the headrest, anti-rebound bar, and rear-facing base, as well as manual harness threading. While not overly difficult, it adds to the initial setup time. Removing the rear-facing base for forward-facing conversion can also be less intuitive, although online video guides are available.
Price
The Clek Foonf is a significant investment. While its safety, build quality, and features justify the premium price for many, it may be a barrier for budget-conscious families. The fact that accessories like a cup holder are sold separately adds to the overall cost.
Recall Notice
A voluntary recall was issued for Clek Foonf and Fllo seats manufactured before May 21, 2021, due to a potential issue with children accessing and potentially ingesting foam from the seat cushion through the crotch buckle opening. Clek provides a plastic insert to remedy this issue for affected seats.
Conclusion: Is Clek Foonf the Best Car Seat for 2024?
The Clek Foonf remains a top contender for the best car seat in 2024, particularly for parents who prioritize safety, durability, and a narrow profile. Its robust construction, advanced safety features like the anti-rebound bar, and comfortable design make it an excellent choice. The ease of forward-facing installation is a significant plus, and the fabric and aesthetic design are also noteworthy advantages.
However, the Clek Foonf’s higher price, heavier weight, and more complex rear-facing installation are factors to consider. The lack of a no-rethread harness and the need for some assembly may also be minor inconveniences for some users.
Ultimately, the “best” car seat depends on individual needs and priorities. If you are looking for a car seat that excels in safety and offers long-term value despite a higher initial investment, the Clek Foonf is undoubtedly a leading option to consider for 2024. For those seeking a more budget-friendly or lightweight option, exploring other models might be worthwhile. Regardless, prioritizing safety and choosing a car seat that fits your child, vehicle, and lifestyle remains the most crucial aspect of car seat selection.
