There’s a specific, bittersweet moment every parent experiences: the day you look at your child, buckled into their five-point harness car seat, and realise their legs are getting a bit too long, their shoulders a bit too broad. They’re not a toddler anymore. This is the dawn of the “big kid” era, and it brings with it a whole new set of parental anxieties, chief among them being the transition to a highback booster seat. The core challenge is finding a seat that offers the robust, reassuring safety you’ve come to rely on, but also grants your growing child the comfort and independence they crave. We’ve been there, staring at a wall of options, wondering which one will correctly position the vehicle’s seat belt, provide critical side-impact protection, and not be a monstrously heavy beast to wrestle between cars. Getting it wrong isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a compromise on safety during those crucial years when they’re still too small for an adult belt alone.
- R129 highback booster car seat - Suitable from 100-150cm (3.5 to approx. 12 years)
- 10-position height-adjustable head rest
What to Consider Before Buying a Highback Booster Car Seat
A highback booster car seat is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for ensuring your child’s safety and comfort from preschool age well into their primary school years. Its primary job is to elevate the child so that the vehicle’s three-point seatbelt fits them correctly—snugly across their upper thighs and diagonally across their shoulder, away from their neck. Beyond this basic function, a quality highback booster provides essential side-impact protection for their head and torso, a feature that backless boosters simply cannot offer. It’s a bridge, guiding your child from a fully harnessed seat to using the adult seatbelt alone, offering peace of mind on every journey, from the daily school run to long holiday road trips. The main benefits are enhanced safety, improved comfort, and fostering a sense of independence for the child.
The ideal customer for this type of product is a parent or guardian of a child who has outgrown their harnessed seat and meets the height requirement of 100cm (around 3.5 to 4 years old). They are looking for a long-term solution that will last until their child is approximately 12 years old or 150cm tall. It’s particularly suited for families who need a lightweight, easily transferable seat for a second car, for grandparents, or for childminders. However, it might not be the right choice for those with children who are not yet mature enough to sit properly for the entire car journey, as the child is secured by the car’s seatbelt, not an integrated harness. If you need a seat for a younger child or one with features like a 360-degree rotation or a deep recline for napping, you might consider alternatives like a rotating toddler seat or a Group 1/2/3 combination seat.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Safety Standards & Installation: The most critical factor is safety certification. Look for seats that meet the latest R129 (i-Size) standard, which involves more rigorous side-impact testing. Consider the installation method; some seats use ISOFIX connectors for a rigid connection to the car’s chassis, while others, like the Graco Logico L i-Size Highback Booster Car Seat 100-150cm, are designed for universal fit using the vehicle’s seatbelt, offering greater flexibility across different cars.
- Adjustability & Longevity: A highback booster is a long-term investment, potentially serving your child for eight years or more. A multi-position, easily adjustable headrest is non-negotiable. This ensures the seat grows with your child, keeping the side-impact protection and belt guides in the correct position at every stage of their development.
- Weight & Portability: The weight of the seat can be a major factor in day-to-day life. If you frequently need to move the seat between vehicles, a lighter model (under 4-5kg) will make your life significantly easier. Heavier, ISOFIX-equipped seats are more “fit and forget” but lack this portability.
- Comfort & Maintenance: Consider the padding on the seat and headrest, as well as features like padded armrests. For long journeys, comfort is key to a happy passenger. Furthermore, life with kids is messy, so removable and machine-washable covers are an absolute must for maintaining hygiene and keeping the seat looking fresh.
Making the right choice ensures your child is not only protected but also comfortable and happy on the road for many years to come.
While the Graco Logico L i-Size Highback Booster Car Seat 100-150cm is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
Our Comprehensive Guide to the Best Child Car Seats in the UK for Every Age and Stage
- R129 highback booster car seat - Suitable from 100-150cm (3.5 to approx. 12 years)
- ✅ FUNCTIONAL: the car seat is suitable for children from 76 cm to 150 cm tall (approximately 15 months to 12 years or 9-36 kg). It is compliant with the latest R129 i-Size standard, it has...
First Impressions: Unboxing the Graco Logico L i-Size
Upon unboxing the Graco Logico L i-Size Highback Booster Car Seat 100-150cm, the first thing that struck us was its almost unbelievable lightness. At just 3.59 kg, we could easily lift it out of the box with one hand, a stark contrast to the bulky, heavier seats we’ve tested in the past. It arrives in two main pieces—the base and the backrest—which click together with a satisfying and secure clunk. No tools, no fuss, just a simple, intuitive assembly that took less than a minute. The “Midnight fashion” is a smart, practical black that feels resilient to the inevitable scuffs and spills of family life. The fabric feels soft to the touch, and we were immediately impressed by the generosity of the padding on the seat base and within the headrest wings. Clicking out the two retractable cupholders was another highlight; they feel sturdy and are a clever, space-saving feature. The overall first impression is of a thoughtfully designed, no-nonsense seat that prioritises safety and user-friendliness. It feels modern, streamlined, and ready for action. You can see the full design specifications and features online.
Key Benefits
- Meets the stringent R129/i-Size safety standards for enhanced peace of mind.
- Extraordinarily lightweight (3.59kg), making it incredibly easy to move between cars.
- Features a 10-position headrest that is simple to adjust with one hand.
- Includes two handy retractable cupholders for drinks and snacks.
Potential Drawbacks
- Some user feedback suggests the seat may be less comfortable on very long drives.
- The fabric, while soft, has been noted by some to show signs of wear or pilling over time.
A Deep Dive into the Graco Logico L i-Size Highback Booster Car Seat 100-150cm’s Performance
A car seat’s true worth is revealed not on the spec sheet, but in the daily grind of school runs, weekend trips, and family holidays. We put the Graco Logico L i-Size Highback Booster Car Seat 100-150cm through its paces over several weeks, with children of different ages within the 100-150cm range, to see how it performs in the real world. Our analysis focuses on the pillars of any great booster seat: its safety credentials, its everyday usability, the comfort it provides, and its ability to adapt to a growing child.
The R129 Safety Standard: More Than Just a Label
The single most important feature of any car seat is its ability to protect your child. The Graco Logico L i-Size Highback Booster Car Seat 100-150cm is certified to the UN R129/03 safety standard, often referred to as i-Size. This is a critical distinction from older R44/04 models. R129 certification involves more advanced crash test dummies (Q-series) that better simulate a child’s body and, crucially, mandates standardised side-impact testing. This is where Graco’s “Safety Surround Side Impact Protection” comes into play. When you handle the seat, you can feel the robustness of the deep, energy-absorbing side wings that flank the child’s head and torso. In our testing, these wings provided a tangible sense of security. They create a protective cocoon that not only shields from impact but also helps prevent head-flop when a child dozes off. The headrest, which is integrated with this system, ensures that this protection is always positioned correctly relative to the child’s height. This comprehensive safety approach provides the kind of peace of mind that allows you to focus on the road, knowing your child is shielded by the latest in safety engineering. For parents upgrading from an older seat, the difference in the depth and solidity of the side protection is immediately noticeable and deeply reassuring. Exploring its R129 safety features confirms why this standard is so important.
Everyday Usability and Installation: Simplicity Redefined
This is where the Graco Logico L i-Size Highback Booster Car Seat 100-150cm truly shines and sets itself apart from many competitors. Its standout characteristic is its featherlight construction. At a mere 3.59kg, it is a game-changer for any family that needs to swap a car seat between vehicles regularly. We moved it between a compact SUV and a smaller hatchback with zero effort. This makes it an absolutely perfect choice for grandparents or childminders who might not have the strength or desire to wrestle with a heavy, cumbersome seat. Installation is entirely based on the car’s 3-point seatbelt, meaning there are no ISOFIX connectors to worry about. While some prefer ISOFIX for its rigid connection, the belt-fit method gives this seat universal compatibility with virtually any modern car. The process is foolproof thanks to the prominent, open-loop belt guides. We found that threading the seatbelt was intuitive; the shoulder belt guide is easy to access within the headrest, and the lap belt slots under the padded armrests, ensuring the belt is positioned correctly across the child’s pelvis and shoulder every single time. As one user noted, it’s “so much easier to move in and out of the cars and store when not needed,” a sentiment we wholeheartedly echo after our hands-on experience. This simplicity eliminates installation errors and makes the daily routine faster and less stressful.
Comfort and Convenience: Built for the Modern Family
A safe seat is useless if your child refuses to sit in it. Graco has clearly paid attention to the little details that make a journey more pleasant. The seat itself is built with premium, soft cushioned padding, and the armrests are also padded, which was a welcome touch our junior testers appreciated. The fabric feels pleasant and breathable. However, comfort is subjective, and this is reflected in the user feedback. While a German user praised it for being “schön gepolstert” (nicely padded) and comfortable on long trips, another English-speaking user reported their son complained of discomfort after a three-hour drive. Our assessment falls somewhere in the middle. For daily use and trips up to a couple of hours, we found the comfort level to be excellent. The shape of the seat seemed to work well in our test vehicles, providing good support. For cross-country treks, the comfort may depend more on the individual child’s build and the contour of your car’s own seats. Where the Graco Logico L i-Size Highback Booster Car Seat 100-150cm scores a universal win is convenience. The two retractable cupholders are a masterstroke. They slide away discreetly when not needed, but when in use, they are sturdy enough for a drink bottle or a collection of snacks and treasures. This seemingly small feature is a massive win for parents, reducing the number of items being dropped or passed back and forth. Add in the machine-washable covers, and you have a seat that is genuinely designed for the realities of family life. The convenience factor is so high, it makes this seat an incredibly compelling option; check the latest price and see for yourself.
Longevity and Durability: A Seat Designed to Grow
Investing in a booster seat that spans from approximately age 3.5 to 12 is a significant purchase, and you need it to last. The key to the longevity of the Graco Logico L i-Size Highback Booster Car Seat 100-150cm is its 10-position, one-hand height-adjustable headrest. We tested this mechanism repeatedly, and it is exceptionally smooth and easy to operate. You simply squeeze a handle on the back of the headrest and slide it up or down to the perfect height for your child, ensuring the shoulder belt guide is always just above their shoulder. This vast range of adjustment means the seat truly adapts, providing a safe and comfortable fit for a small four-year-old right up to a tall pre-teen. The durability of the core plastic shell feels solid and dependable. However, we must address the user feedback regarding the fabric. One reviewer noted that after a couple of weeks, the fabric began to “pull and wear heavily.” While we did not experience this level of wear in our shorter testing period, we can see how the softer polyester fabric might be more prone to pilling or snagging compared to the tougher, more industrial fabrics on some premium-priced seats. This appears to be a deliberate trade-off: to keep the seat affordable and comfortable, the fabric may not be as rugged as more expensive alternatives. The good news is that the covers are fully removable and washable, which will go a long way in preserving its appearance. It’s a pragmatic balance of cost, comfort, and long-term durability that we feel is appropriate for its price point. You can find this adaptable seat widely available online.
What Other Users Are Saying
Synthesizing feedback from other parents provides a well-rounded picture, and the consensus on the Graco Logico L i-Size Highback Booster Car Seat 100-150cm is largely positive, focusing on its core strengths. The most frequently praised feature is its incredible lightness and portability. One user summed it up perfectly, calling it a “brilliant buy” that’s “so much easier to move in and out of the cars.” The dual cupholders also receive consistent accolades for their practicality. Safety and design are also strong points, with one reviewer noting it “appears to have been designed and manufactured very well, with both safety and comfort providing peace of mind.”
However, the feedback isn’t without its critiques, which provides a balanced view. The two main areas of concern are long-distance comfort and fabric durability. One parent stated bluntly, “Not confortable for long distance drive,” while another expressed disappointment that the fabric was “starting to pull and wear heavily” after only a few weeks. This feedback is valuable as it highlights that while the seat excels in safety and convenience, it may involve a compromise on the luxurious feel and robustness found in higher-priced models.
How Does the Graco Logico L i-Size Compare to the Alternatives?
The Graco Logico L i-Size Highback Booster Car Seat 100-150cm occupies a very competitive space. To understand its value, it’s essential to see how it stacks up against other popular options, even those in different categories.
1. Maxi-Cosi Nomad Plus Ultra-Compact Foldable Travel Car Seat
- GROUP 1 CAR SEAT: this foldable toddler car seat is suitable from 15 months up to approx. 4 years (9–18kg) and is quick to install and easy to carry, so your child travels safely in comfort
- EASY TO TRAVEL EVERYWHERE: the Nomad Plus is built for travelling as it's super easy to fold, has an integrated handle and comes with a water repellent travel bag
The Maxi-Cosi Nomad Plus is a highly specialized seat designed for a different mission. Its key feature is its ability to fold into an ultra-compact package, complete with a travel bag, making it ideal for families who fly frequently, use taxis, or rely on ride-sharing services. However, it serves a much younger age range (15 months to 4 years) and is not a long-term highback booster. If your primary need is ultimate portability for travel with a toddler, the Nomad Plus is unparalleled. For parents seeking a single, long-lasting seat for a child from age 4 to 12 for everyday use, the Graco Logico L i-Size Highback Booster Car Seat 100-150cm is the far more practical and economical choice.
2. Graco Turn2Me ISOFIX 360° Rotating Car Seat
- Rearward facing for longer No more awkward bending for parents as Turn2Me smoothly turns in all directions from rearward facing car seat from birth to approx. 4 years (0-18kg) to forward facing from...
- For peace of mind the one-click IsoFix means the car seat installs easily and instantly. It also has the added benefit of an integrated colour-coded indicator that shows when the seat is properly...
The Graco Turn2Me represents the stage before a highback booster. It’s a Group 0+/1 seat designed for babies and toddlers (birth to approx. 4 years) and its headline feature is the 360° rotation. This allows parents to turn the seat towards the car door, making it significantly easier to get a small child in and out without straining their back. It uses an integrated five-point harness and offers rear-facing capability. This is the perfect seat for parents of infants and toddlers who value convenience and ergonomics. It is not a competitor to the Logico L i-Size, but rather the type of seat a child would graduate *from* before moving into the Logico L. A choice for this seat is based on the child’s younger age, not as an alternative for a 5-year-old.
3. Maxi-Cosi RodiFix AirProtect High Back Booster Seat
- GROUP 2/3 CAR SEAT: an ECE R44/04 certified car seat that can be used for children from approx. 3.5 to 12 years (15 to 36 kg)
- ISOFIX INSTALLATION: the one-click ISOFIX installation system ensures a stable and solid position of the car booster seat allowing safe travels with your child in a forward-facing position
The Maxi-Cosi RodiFix AirProtect is the most direct competitor to the Graco Logico L i-Size Highback Booster Car Seat 100-150cm. It serves the same age group (approx. 3.5 to 12 years) and is also a highback booster. The key differences lie in its features and installation. The RodiFix uses ISOFIX connectors for a rigid installation, which some parents prefer for added stability. It also offers a recline function, which can be beneficial for napping on longer journeys. However, these features make it significantly heavier and less portable than the Graco Logico L. The choice here comes down to priorities: if you want a seat that will be permanently installed in one car and value the stability of ISOFIX and a recline feature, the RodiFix is a superb option. If your priority is light weight, portability between cars, and a more budget-friendly price, the Graco Logico L is the clear winner.
Our Final Verdict on the Graco Logico L i-Size Highback Booster Car Seat 100-150cm
After extensive hands-on testing and careful consideration of user experiences, we can confidently recommend the Graco Logico L i-Size Highback Booster Car Seat 100-150cm. It stands out as a triumph of practical, thoughtful design. It successfully delivers on its core promises: providing certified R129/i-Size safety in a package that is astonishingly lightweight, incredibly easy to use, and adaptable enough to serve a child for up to eight years of their life. It is the undisputed champion for families who need flexibility—whether that’s moving a seat between cars, sending it with grandparents for the weekend, or simply wanting a hassle-free installation every time.
While it may not boast the plushest materials or the most durable fabric of its premium-priced rivals, and its comfort on marathon drives might be child-dependent, these are reasonable trade-offs for its outstanding value and convenience. The addition of thoughtful features like the retractable cupholders and machine-washable covers shows that Graco understands the realities of family life. If you are looking for a safe, reliable, and unbelievably user-friendly highback booster that won’t break the bank or your back, this seat is an exceptional choice. It simplifies a key part of parenting, and for that, it earns our strong recommendation. You can check the latest prices and purchase it here.
Last update on 2025-11-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API