Sure, a beach vacay with the fam sounds nice, but getting to that beach? We might as well be the Von Trapps climbing the Alps. There are just so many logistics to figure out—sleeping equipment, milk storage, diapers, snacks, snacks, snacks, more snacks, baby Motrin, diapers, wipes, wipes, wipes and more wipes. But on that mountain of schlep is the schleppiest thing of all: the dreaded car seat. You need to keep your kid safe. But you hate it for all the frustration it's caused you—it's cumbersome, confusing and sciatica-inducing. Well my friends, have I got news for you. [Spoken with "You get a car! You get a car! You get a car," Oprah energy]: The Ride Safer Travel Vest is an ABSOLUTE GAME CHANGER.
I Tried the Carseat-Alternative Ride Safer Travel Vest on My Last Trip: Here's My Honest Review
From Uber to Airport
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Published Feb 24, 2025
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Dara Katz
What Is the Ride Safer Travel Vest?
The Ride Safer Travel Vest (RSTV) is a travel car seat alternative that is really—I say this from experience—really easy to use and, at the risk of sounding overly effusive, simply awesome. It's a literal harness instead of a hard-shell car seat, but used correctly, it checks the safety boxes, and according to the brand, is "Crash Tested and Safety Certified and meets or exceeds Federal standards in FMVSS 213." Again, it is not an actual car seat nor is it necessarily a one-to-one swap for a load-bearing, front-facing carseat. As Abbie Patterson, former Car Seats for Littles contributor wrote regarding the product: "It can function either as a wearable booster or, if the tether is attached, as a kind of hybrid between a harnessed car seat and a booster seat. This makes it a remarkably versatile product for school-aged children."
What Is the Ride Safer Travel Vest Used For?
The harness is marketed primarily for traveling because you can literally throw it in your purse or get your kid outfitted in it and ready for the rental car/Uber as soon as you deplane...well, maybe after a potty break. It's best for travel—note: though it's not cleared to use on an airplane—for folks who live in the city and take Ubers/cabs or if you need to squeeze more butts in the car than you can with traditional car seats.
Who Is the Ride Safer Travel Vest For?
The RSTV is generally for kids already in front-facing carseats who can sit up straight. The vest comes in four sizes, XS (from 22 lbs) to XL (to 110 lbs), although the folks at Car Seats for Littles do not recommend the RSTV for kids in the XS tier because they can slide more easily from position and need more assistance getting buckled in. I did, however, use the XS with our daughter and found she was always strapped in securely (we had no problem buckling her in) and remained in a safe position. Now, if your child seems like they're gonna wiggle around and slouch somehow, the RSTV probably isn't the right product.
Dara Katz
Why I Loved The Ride Safer Travel Vest
First, I loved that when my daughter put it on before getting in the car since it looked like she was traveling via "sky diving." Second, it resolved 75 percent of the schlep from a family vacation to Florida. We were already at the behest of our baby's infant carseat, so not having to lug a convertible carseat was *chef's kiss*. From our Uber ride to the airport, to the rental car and back again, the carseat anxiety was quelled. No sketchy rental carseat. No beat-up-under-the-plane and broken carseat. The RSTV that was in our possession at all times. It also got easier to use with every ride—for this reason, I highly suggest whipping it out before you actually use it to troubleshoot and make sure you understand it and that it fits your kid.
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