Radian 80SL (Super Latch) Car Seat by Sunshine Kids at Magic Beans

There's nothing like a family trip to test your patience - and your physical endurance. Toting around a few suitcases, a stroller, diaper bag, purse and more can leave even the calmest parent feeling quite frazzled. Even if you are just taking a car trip to see the in-laws, moving your family from point A to point B is tough. Luckily, there is a car seat that offers both superior safety as well as portability. Meet the Radian 80SL by Sunshine Kids.

The Radian 80SL is an updated version of the popular Radian 80 Convertible Car Seat.  It incorporates Sunshine Kids' SuperLATCH™ technology that allows the car seat to remain installed with the specially designed LATCH connectors until your child reaches 80 pounds. This is a tremendous innovation, as most car seats can only safely be installed with LATCH if the child is 48 pounds or less.

This convertible car seat is strong as can be. The Radian is the only car seat constructed from a steel alloy frame. Rear-facing, it can hold young kids weighing 5-45 pounds, and forward-facing, up to 80 pounds. Yet, its outer shell is surprisingly narrow. Despite the roomy seating area in the Radian 80SL, the small footprint allows you to fit three car seats across most back seats, or install it in the center seat, leaving room for passengers on either side. This easy-to-use car seat even folds up flat, to a mere 7” depth. You can tote it through the airport in its Travel Bag (sold separately), stow it in your trunk, or even slide it under a bed.

With Sunshine Kids car seats, safety is the absolute priority. The 5-point harness has five slots for the shoulder straps and three slots at the crotch, securing your child completely. The Radian 80 positions your child’s center of gravity as low and as far back as possible on the vehicle’s seat, giving it extra stability. There’s also EPS foam at the head, torso, and seating area, which provides extra padding in case of impact. It’s a plus for comfort too. The seat includes a V-shaped tether for the rear-facing position (this is not the case for many other seats), a patented Lock-Tite harness clip, and it is LATCH equipped.

Spilling the Beans: The seat weighs in on the heavy side at 25.75 pounds, due to its steel frame. But since it folds flat, it’s better to think of it as just another piece of luggage.

Note: Installing a car seat base is not a skill that comes naturally. Please visit a certified inspection station to learn about proper installation and to verify that your base is installed securely and correctly.