With many car seats weighing 20 pounds or more, shuffling a seat from one car to another can be a hassle. Lifting the seat out of your car, especially from the center position, can strain your back and be difficult to maneuver. Haul a heavy seat around an airport just once, and you’ll wish you had a lighter seat.
Fortunately, there are plenty of safe convertible car seats which are also lightweight. Here are a couple of the lightest seats on the market:
If you’re looking for a lightweight seat that can be used for a wide range of heights and weights, the Evenflo SureRide 65 DLX is a great choice. While it only weighs 11.1 pounds, it fits up to 65 pounds and 54” – far higher limits than any other lightweight seat. The quality of the fabric is quite good as well, but the price is still kept reasonable at around $100.
Another choice for those looking to spend less money is the Evenflo Tribute 5 DLX. This is the lightest seat out there at a mere 8.5 pounds! The price is very reasonable at under $60. This is also a very compact seat in terms of its outer dimensions, so it fits well in small vehicles. Keep in mind this has a 40 pound and 40” forward facing limit, and a 35 pounds rear facing limit. While these limits are quite a bit lower than the Evenflo and many other seats, it’s a tradeoff that keeps both the price and the weight of this seat low. Another downside I’d like to point out is that the quality of the padding and materials overall isn’t quite as good as more pricey seats. However, at a price this low it’s worth considering for younger children and occasional travel.
If you already have another model in mind, be sure to check the specs using our comparison chart where you can sort by weight. Seats range from below 10 pounds to over 30 pounds, so the model you choose can make quite a difference in the easy of moving the seat from one place to the next.