Clek Fllo Convertible Car Seat Review

Our 8-month-old is growing, as babies do. And he’s getting a lot heavier to tote around in his infant car seat—to the point where we don’t carry it beyond the car unless he is in a deep snooze and we don’t want to disturb him (but even then, he usually wakes up within 10 minutes despite our best efforts). Because he is right about the age and size to move up to a convertible car seat, my wife and I began thinking about which model would be best for our family. Honestly we put a lot of thought into this because we know that he will be using this seat for the next several years. After hours of research and comparisons, we settled on the Clek Fllo, and we are so glad we did.

Aesthetics

The first thing I noticed when I saw the Clek Fllo was its simple design. I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that I’m not at all drawn to the majority of baby products with their wacky color combos and bright prints. The Fllo comes in a variety of neutral colors and texture options, such as jersey knit and a Merino wool blend they named the “Mammoth.” Our model is a slate color with a nice texture to the fabric, giving it a higher quality look and feel. To put it simply: It looks good. The design is very modern and sleek. There isn’t any unnecessary bulk. In fact, at 16.9 inches at its widest point, the Fllo is trim enough that you can fit three across the backseat of most vehicle seats. My wife and I both drive small compact cars, so this was a major boon for us because we want plenty of room for other passengers, our dog and eventually future little ones. With the Fllo, that’s not an issue.

Recommended Weight

Despite its slim size, the Fllo is smartly designed to give tots plenty of space to grow. It’s an extended rear-facing dream come true as it accommodates babies from 14 all the way up to 50 pounds! (You’ll need to purchase the infant insert to use it with smaller kiddos.) Only a handful of convertible car seats in the US can match that 50-pound weight limit, and none do it with the style and (and arguable, functionality as well) of the Fllo. In addition to a higher seat weight limit, the Fllo also boasts a taller than average seat back at 26.5 inches for a child’s head. This is important because many children outgrow their car seats in height before they do in weight. Our son has always been long, since the day he was born, even though he isn’t the chunkiest monkey. So, we knew he’d likely be one of those kids, and the high seat back means he can stay comfortable rear-facing for longer.

You many know that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends rear-facing position until at least 2 years of age. But the longer you do it, the better—or safer, I should say. So, in my opinion, every pound and every inch counts!

Clek Fllo Installation

As far as set up and installation goes, the Fllo was a breeze. The seat came in just two pieces, and putting them together was as simple as sliding the adjustable headrest into the seat. To adjust the shoulder straps you will need to rethread them through the back, but it’s not hard to do. My wife and I are used to it from our infant car seat, so we had no qualms with this.

Installing the seat in the car took a matter of minutes. First you want to make sure that the Recline Foot (a plastic wedge under the seat) is flipped to rear-facing mode; this helps you achieve the correct level of recline. When you’re ready to switch to forward-facing, simply flip it to face the other direction.

Clek Fllo Rear-Facing Mode

In rear-facing use mode, it has two different levels of recline dependent on the weight of your child. Those levels are marked with clearly labeled lines printed on the seat, so just make sure which ever line matches your child’s weight range is parallel to the ground. (I would love to see a bubble level system similar to that found on our infant car seat bases. I think that would make it just that bit more reassuring to know you have it correctly level.)

Like most seats, the Fllo has a seat belt and an anchor latch system installation option. Being that the seat is rear-facing for us right now, we went with the anchor option, which actually uses a belt threaded under the seat cushion. Make sure you push down on the front of the seat as you tighten it in place; otherwise you might notice it wobbles more than it should. This tip (and more) is clearly explained in the manual, so follow it step by step even if you’ve installed your fair share of car seats before. Once we had everything properly secured, the seat definitely felt sturdy. Note: You’ll need to switch to a seat-belt installation while rear-facing once your baby weighs 35 pounds.

I will note that the one downside of the high seat back is that in its most reclined position we do have to move the front passenger seat up a good bit to accommodate the Fllo. There is still ample leg room for one of us to ride up front, but it can feel snug. Honestly, we will only be using it this way for a short time because our son is already on the verge of moving up to the next weight range, which means the seat will be more upright. So, we don’t mind it, especially considering how helpful that tall seat back will be as he gets older.

Safety Features

The Fllo also comes with a steel anti-rebound bar that attaches at the foot of the car seat when rear-facing. It secures the car seat in place (and prevents rotational motion) in a frontal or side-impact collision. It also helps to absorb the force of impact, transferring less to your baby. I haven’t seen this on any other seats and having that added piece of protection for our baby is definitely a plus.

The real test was buckling my son in, and as soon as we had his straps secured he looked up at us and grinned. He was clearly comfy and loved being able to see more from his new perch, and he didn’t seem as sunken in as he was in his infant car seat. We’ve taken him for numerous rides since then, and he’s always comfortable enough to fall asleep.

Forward-Facing Mode

When it comes time to switch to forward-facing mode (make sure your child meets the height and weight requirements first: 22-65 pounds and 30-49 inches), you’ll need to flip the Recline Foot I mentioned and remove the anti-rebound Bar. It can again be installed via LATCH connectors or seat belt. Either way you’ll also need to use the tether hook, found at the top of the car seat, to anchor the Fllo to your vehicle. Where your tether anchor is located depends on the car, so check your owners manual if you can’t find it. Note: You’ll need to switch to the seat-belt installation while forward-facing once your child reaches 40 pounds.

While searching for the best car seat for our brood, my wife and I agreed that safety was paramount, and the Clek Fllo came up again and again for its superior advanced side-impact protection (energy-absorbing headrest, deep side wings, and EPP foam layers), anti-rebound bar and energy absorbing crumple technology (EACT), which essentially means it has a crumple zone that consists of aluminum honeycomb deformable cores to slow down the momentum and force from a front or rear crash. Plus, the Fllo is made with rigid steel and magnesium substructure, so safety is literally at its core. What’s more, all Fllo models are now free of brominated and chlorinated flame retardants, making us feel even better about his new ride.

Its safety features coupled with its extended rear-facing capabilities were what sold us. The fact that it’s also good-looking, has ease of use, a slim footprint and is a breeze to clean (the fabric prevents stains, moisture and odor!) is just icing on the cake.

Now, the Fllo is an investment, but considering how long you’ll use it and the peace of mind it brings, I’d say it’s more than worth it. Plus, the brand offers a 1-2 year warranty on all models to help protect your investment, while it protects your baby. The Clek Fllo is truly one of the best convertible car seats out there, and we are happy to have added it to our baby gear arsenal.

Clek Fllo convertible car seat, $400