Apramo Ostara Fix review

The Apramo Ostara Fix sits in the middle to upper end of the high back booster market, selling for £119. This sits alongside the likes of the Joie Duallo which retails at £100, but is significantly cheaper than the BeSafe iZi Flex which costs £249 and the Cybex Solution Q-Fix which will set you back £190. At the lower end of the market you can find Joie’s Trillo for £50 or the Britax Römer Adventure for £25, so this market varies vastly.

You can buy the Apramo Ostara Fix from Amazon.

How we tested the Apramo Ostara Fix

Helen tested the Apramo Ostara Fix with her 3-year-old son Thomas. She also has 17-month-old twins so the back of her family car is a bit of a squeeze. They had to change their car when they found out they were having twins, as most can’t fit 3 car seats in the back, so car seats have always been a bit of a thing.

First impressions?

My first impression was how light the box was. The seat is designed to be lightweight and only weighs 5.5kg, so I knew this would be handy for transferring between cars when needed.

What’s the best age child for this particular car seat and why?

The Ostara Fix is a Group 2/3 car seat, so is designed to be used for children who weigh between 15kg to 36kg. This is considered to be about 3 to 12. I used it for my 3-year-old who is 16kg, although I have to say he looks small in it, despite him being tall for his age. This might have just been seeing how much more grown-up he looks in a high-backed booster compared to the Cybex Sirona baby seat he was previously in.

How does it install in the car, how easy is it?

It’s really simple to install the Ostara Fix in the car. If you have Isofix points in your car you can install it simply using those, the Isofix connectors slide out from under the seat. Or you can hold it in place with the seatbelt.

You need to move the headrest to the desired position depending on your child’s height and leave a space two fingers wide above your child’s shoulder. Once the seat is in place and your child is in it, you pass the car’s lap belt through the guides and over your child’s leg to click into the buckle. You then tuck the shoulder belt under the armrest nearest the seatbelt buckle and thread the shoulder strap through the belt holder on the Ostara Fix.

He feels really secure when he’s in, and because the seat is held in with Isofix points I feel totally confident it’s not going anywhere.

How is strapping your child in?

As I described above, it’s really easy to strap Thomas in, and reach across to buckle the belt. I was actually expecting it to be harder so I was pleasantly surprised. All the different coloured models have red areas which are lap belt guides to show you where the seatbelt is supposed to go. The loop by the shoulder to hook it through is also red.

What do you think of the design?

I like the design, it’s simple although also pretty plain. We have the steel grey model which is a bit too light for me. I just know that it’s going to get dirty easily - luckily you can remove the covers to wash them!

Does it feel sturdy?

Yes I’m confident the seat, nor Thomas isn’t going anywhere.

What’s the headrest like?

The ergonomic headrest can be easily adjusted into 7 different positions depending on your child’s height - hence why it can grow with your child. The measurements of height are usefully marked onto the headrest so you can see where you need to be.

It has superior side impact protection (SSIP) cushion technology for added protection.

Are there different seat positions?

No there is only one seat position, which is a shame as it is very upright. I think this is something Thomas will get used to, but if your child is going from a luxury Group 1/2 car seat such as the all-singing all-dancing Cybex Sirona they are going to feel a difference.

How comfortable is it for your child - what did your children feed back?

Despite all its fancy safety technology, Thomas moans that it’s not comfortable and that he doesn’t know where to put his head. Although he still managed to fall asleep in it during his first use!

To be honest, the seat is pretty rigid and he has complained of a numb bum a couple of times. It’s a shame it doesn’t recline, although I’m not sure you can have that option on many high back boosters.

Tell us about its main safety features.

One of the main safety features is that it can be installed using Isofix connectors. I’m one of those people who will only be happy when my babies are in Isofix seats, for their extra safety and stability. It also has an ergonomic headrest and Superior Side Impact Protection cushion technology for added protection.

What do you think of the size of the car seat?

The Ostara Fix measures L50cm x W44.5cm x H60.5cm and weights 5.5kg so is lightweight and easily manoevreable between cars.

Will your children fit in it until they are 12 years, do you think?

Considering how tall Thomas already is, I can’t see that he’ll still be in this when he’s 12, but I do think we have a good five to seven years worth of use ahead of us.

Is it easy to clean?

The covers are easily removable for washing so it should be easy to clean. I would still prefer something a bit darker to not show up the dirt in the first place.

How heavy is it?

It’s 5.5kg so very lightweight. It can easily be transferred from car to car. I’m not sure I’d bother taking it abroad to use in a hire car - it’s lightweight, but pretty bulky in size to carry around.

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What feature do you like most in the car seat?

I like how simple it is. I don’t mean that it doesn’t have any fancy features, but how easy it is to use. Thomas can climb up into it himself and I can strap him in easily. So much more straightforward than a baby seat.

Is it value for money?

I would say it is. You can spend a lot less, as little as £25, and you can also spend twice as much, but I think this is priced about right for the product.

How easy was the car seat to assemble?

It was a piece of cake to assemble. The instructions were handy (and contained in a practical pocket within the seat's back), but it was all pretty simple anyway.

Are there any accessories needed or available?

I don’t know of any that are available but I don’t think there’s anything else you need.

Who is this car seat best for?

Children weighing 15kg to 36kg, so that is approximately 3 to 12-year-olds obviously depending on their height.

What do you wish you had known before you got it?

I wish I had realised that you can’t use high back boosters in the middle seat if you don’t have a 3-point seatbelt in the middle. I was hoping to move Thomas into the middle and have a twin on either side as it’s currently a massive pain having to dump a chunky 17-month-old over the top of two baby seats and into the middle. The joys of having three young children.

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Would you recommend this car seat?

Yes I would, definitely.

MadeForMums verdict

I really like this seat. It’s got a simple, stylish design, it was easy to install, lightweight so can easily be transferred to other cars, unlike more bulky, heavy baby seats. I take the boys out every day so use the car a lot. It’s important to me to have easy-to-use car seats. It took Thomas a week or so to get used to being in a more upright position, but he still fell asleep in it several times. I’d definitely recommend it to others for a mid- to high-end high back booster, when you don’t want something too cheap but also don’t want to pay the earth.

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