What's it like to use day-to-day?
You will have to tug hard on the straps to adjust them to the right size – especially when pulling on the front strap to tighten it around your baby's shoulders. However, Sam did feel that this might become easier the more you use the Joie car seat and the straps felt very secure overall.
Annoyingly, the button to release the straps is one of those hidden ones that you have to search around for underneath the ample padding.
Apart from this though, this seat is an absolute joy to use once installed.
All parents know how tricky it can be to get a baby in and out of the car (leaning over and fiddling around with straps and buckles etc), but the great thing about this seat is that it can be spun round using one generously large button, making the process smooth and effortless.
You can move the seat one-handed to face you, then you can pop baby in, do up the harness (again one-handed) and spin the seat around to face the right way.
It also comes with a safety feature which won't allow you to rotate the seat fully unless it’s in the correct position, but the correct position will depend on whether your child is in a front- or rear-facing position.
But this thankfully doesn’t affect the ability to rotate the seat to face you as you pop your baby into it.
You can also move the backrest up and down using just one hand – it's so easy and practical when you need to adjust this for your growing child – and it’s simple to switch the seat between rear- and forward-facing too. You just squeeze the paddle at the side of the seat.
As with the Britax Dualfix i-Size, if you have two of these seats in the back of the car, then, depending on the car model, you might have an issue rotating both seats at the same time.
The simplicity of the Joie i-Spin 360 once installed though means it’s easy to use on a day-to-day basis, taking some of the stress out of those sometimes tricky school and nursery runs.
On longer journeys, the seat is very comfortable and Sam's twin babies were really sung, safe and comfy.
As this is a seat that is best suited to being left in the car once installed, you do need to take your child out of the seat at the end of the journey, which inevitably means waking them up.
Read next: The best baby carriers to buy, as tried and tested by parents
How easy is it to clean?
On a day-to-day basis, spills and accidents can be mopped up with a wet wipe, leaving the seat looking as good as new. Even spilled milk and juice were easily removed with a damp sponge and soapy water during testing, leaving no visible stains behind.
For a more thorough clean, the cover comes away very easily – there are two clips under the bottom of the seat fabric at the front to remove the cover, but, other than that, it’s like sliding a big sock on and off.
The cover and padding can then be machine-washed at 30 degrees or below.
Read next: How to clean a pram, according to Mumsnetters
What about value for money?
This seat is so easy to use every day, and it’s well-made, premium in quality and long-lasting, making the £300 price tag very reasonable indeed.
Final verdict?
The Joie i-Spin was the best seat we tested for all-round usability, comfort and feel.
The biggest advantages are the easy one-handed push/pull buttons that mean you can keep one hand holding a bottle while the other tilts, swivels or reclines the seat, and the excellent safety features that will keep even the most cautious of parents feeling reassured.
Practical, functional, safe and stylish, this swivel seat is a great buy, especially if you're looking for a product that will, quite literally, go the distance.