Car Seats

Best Car Seats

Overall Score

Safety 1st onBoard35 Air

Infant Car Seats

One of multiple seats offered by Safety 1st for sale in the U.S.

CR's Expert Take

How did it perform in our expert lab testing?

Overall Score

The Overall Score for this model is derived from our expert lab test results.

This product is not in active testing. The score may be based on earlier methods.

What goes into the Overall Score?

EXPERT LAB TESTS

Ease of use

3 / 5

Fit-to-vehicle LATCH

5 / 5

Fit-to-vehicle belt

4 / 5

Fit-to-vehicle carrier-only

N / A

Maximum weight (lbs.)

Crash protection

Best

Pros

Easy to understand labels and instructions
Easier to use push-on LATCH connectors
Dual weight-range level indicators
Air-Protect pillows in carrier offer the potential for improved side-impact protection
Handle can be in any locked position during travel

Cons

Different belt routes and multiple steps to belt lock-off can be cause for error
Carrier may require a firm push to secure to base

CR's Take

A balanced performer. Caregivers must take care to route and secure belts and LATCH correctly. This seat has a different base than the OnBoard 35 and an additional side impact protection feature.

Detailed Test Results

Consumer Reports’ car seat crash test, developed in 2014, provides comparative performance information on which car seats could provide an additional margin of safety. All child seats sold in the United States are required to meet government safety standards, and Consumer Reports’ tests are not designed to test compliance with those standards. Rather, we evaluate the seats’ performance under conditions designed by our experts to simulate certain crash scenarios, and rate them on a scale ranging from “basic” to “best.” The test conditions have been carefully designed to simulate the interior environment and forces encountered during a crash in contemporary vehicles. For more information on our crash test protocol, please click here.

About

The Safety 1st onBoard35 Air is part of the Car Seats test program at Consumer Reports. In our lab tests, Infant Car Seat models like the onBoard35 Air are rated on multiple criteria, such as those listed below.

Maximum weight: The maximum weight of a child that a model will accommodate.

Ease of use: Includes the clarity of instructions, installing the seat, adjusting harness positions, placing a child in the seat, securing the harness, and removing the child.

Fit-to-vehicle LATCH: A rating of how easy it is to securely and correctly install each seat using the LATCH system in a variety of vehicles and how well the seats fit each vehicle once installed.

Features & Specs

Features

Load leg

Flame-retardant-free options

Rotating seat

LATCH connections

Push-on

Harness height adjustment

Rethread

Harness tension adjustment

Single Pull Front

Base recline level indicator type

None

Base recline level indicator position

None

Carrier recline level indicator type

Ball with dual weight ranges

Carrier recline level indicator position

One Side

Adjustable base

Yes

Belt lockoff

Yes

Adjustable crotch strap

Yes

Handle restriction

Carrier use without base

Yes

Spanish language instructions

None

Specs

Weight range (lbs.)

4-35

Height range (in.)

32" or less

Carrier weight (lbs.)

Seat/base weight (lbs.)

Base width (in.)

Carrier width (in.)

Overall length (in.)

Good small car fit

Price & Shop

Safety 1st onBoard35 Air

Price

Description

CR's Expert Take

Overall Score

What goes into the Overall Score?

EXPERT LAB TESTS

CR's Take

Detailed Test Results

About

Similar Products

Similar Products

Features & Specs

Features & Specs

Features

Specs

Price & Shop

Price & Shop

More From Consumer Reports