Axkid UP - worth the price

[decafisnotthesame]

I seem to be getting a lot of targeted ads for the Axkid UP high back booster. I think it's quite new so can't find many reviews. Does anyone have one and is it worth the price tag? (Currently £400).

We currently have Axkid minikid 2/4 in our cars but need something for the grandparents. 5yrs, 18kg and 110cm so just on the limit for FF I believe.

Keen to hear anyone's experiences with the Axkid UP.

Thank you

I don’t have direct experience but for me it’s a no. There are several excellent HBBs by Britax, Avionaut, Besafe, Cybex and with a Knee Guard for the extra comfort the Up has, would still be cheaper and about as safe. The Cybex Solution G folds like the Up, and the Besafe Flex has removable side so allows three across more easily - though I don’t think it’s as slim as the Axkid Up is. Unless you really need one of its unique features, another seat would probably be just as good. For a five year old I’d probably try to find a stockist of all the seats and see which they find most comfortable and which fits well in your car. If they find it comfortable then they’re more likely to sit well in it and that’s important for safety as well as the seat itself.

I meant to say as well, it might be worth asking on a carseat Facebook group for experience. People on their are way more likely to have dropped £400 on a HBB than any other section of the population. And in most groups the admin are retailers so will have some experience with the seat and maybe some customer feedback by now.

Ooh I'm really interested in this too as I'm considering an Up for my 5 yo in the next year or so.

Thank you @toastofthetown
I did think the price was quite steep compared to others but wondered if the ability to raise the seat part might mean it's worth it if the child is on the smaller end of the height range.
Good idea to visit a stockist. I'm not sure if there is anywhere nearby but I'll have a look. For other seats it's just been he gets what he's given based on what is safest and fits best in the car and we've not had complaints from him...yet!
I thought about posting on the FB group as I'm part of that but as the recommendation is always RF for as long as possible I thought I might not get a positive response. I am obviously aware of the benefit to ERF having two minikids but am actually just genuinely curious about the UP and whether it's any better than other HBBs. I'll post and report back here @lochmaree if I get a good response.

I've also been considering this car seat. I'm keen to try for three across in the back and can't find another as slim as this one. I also find the height adjustible feature for the base quite appealing. I'd be interested in other views.

If a child is on the smaller end of the height range then they still need to be in a harnessed or ERF seat.

In any case 110cm is nowhere near the smaller end - the smaller end is 100cm. And honestly, you can get a good fit for a 90cm child in a lot of high back boosters, although I wouldn't recommend having them in a HBB at that size mainly because they will tend to be very young in age at 90cm tall (and secondly because it's not legal anyway).

I think the price of this seat is all hype - there are plenty of good, well performing HBBs around the £100-150 range and some excellent ones if you go up to £200 (which I also think is unnecessary) - nobody needs to pay £400 for a HBB. Of course you can if you want to, but I'm not convinced it's worth it personally.

@BertieBotts thank you for taking the time to reply. I was looking at others at the £200 mark as recommended by the Car Seat Safety UK FB group so perhaps I'll just stick to one of those - whichever seems most suited to our car (XC60) as they all seem to be rated highly with good reviews.

The main reason I was considering it is the width and the promise of 3 across the back seat, are there others this narrow?

We have a BeSafe Flex Fix 2 which I believe is one of the narrowest HBB with a KneeGuards footrest. You can remove the side impact protection to allow 3 across.

I can't answer this sorry, as I haven't seen it IRL and find the widths online are usually not very helpful. You'd be best off speaking to a retailer who has been able to compare them to other seats.

This looks useful - it does look helpful that you can remove those side pieces. But whether or not that's necessary is going to depend much more on the shape of all three seats than any total width given online.

www.instagram.com/reel/DMf4akPMPVo/

Just updating this thread (not as the OP) as we just got an Up for our eldest (almost 6). We are expecting our 3rd in April so needed to move him into a HBB to fit an infant carrier. We tried the flex fix 2 and the Up, and only the Up fitted.

We have an Audi A6 estate (2010). The carseats are minikid2 on the side, pixel pro in the middle and Up on the other side. The Up does not fit in the middle sadly (the A6 only has 25cm between buckles). It is a squeeze but it's doable and actually only the Up was able to make it doable!

Hi @lochmaree just wondering if you have any more feedback on the Axkid Up, please, after using it for a while?

It's on offer for £324 atm and I'm wondering whether to buy it. I'll need a HBB for my 5yo when she outgrows her ERF seat.

(I like the fact that the seat height adjusts and also that the whole seat is foldable so we could take it with us when travelling by train or plane.)

Nothing specific really other than it works well for us, my DS (nearly 6) is able to buckle himself in independently and automatically gets a good fit. (Though I havent used other HBBs much to know if that is similar with those or not). I do still check it. He really likes it. Finds it comfortable and is pleased to have the independence I think. We don't use it for travel as have a becool foldy but I also like the height adjusting feature. I saw someone (a car seat person on FB) fit their 1yo in it the other day and get a good fit, just to see if they could I assume and how versatile it is! They made it clear or wasn't to be used for 1yo!

Thank you!

Ive two of them - again as I needed to fit three across (including a large rear facing toddler seat) and yes, very expensive but bought for less than £300 each and we had tried lots of other options. I find the variability good. In truth the leg stands are more frustrating on a day to day basis than our previous (much cheaper and much less safe boosters) for coat/bag/back seat storage but the kids can climb in and belt themselves which is a big plus. They find it comfortable. We don’t use it for travel as have other lighter folding versions (but I tend to travel with three kids three car seats one buggy and just me, so carrying them from airport to rental car location is v important). Long story short - they are perfect for our niche needs BUT I’m sure others on the market are just as good.

Hi. I saw the thread as I was looking for foldable hbbs. My kid is in an axkid one 2 and will soon be 6..he is nearly 22 kgs, so likely to have a good lot of time left in it, but he is starting to complain that his bum get sore after 90 mins in the car. It is such a stripped back car seat that I feel like any padding that was there must have compressed significantly, made worse by his increasing weight .

Is the up just as stripped back as the one? I am a bit apprehensive over buying it given the moaning after 1.5 years of axkid one use (we got a replacement after being rear ended so the seat isn't that old). My son is very sensible and likes being in his seat and rear facing, so i dont think he is acting up. We are contemplating a driving holiday this summer . Im not sure it will be doable in the current seat. Any thoughts re the comfort of the up or do
I buy a comfier, cheaper main hbb and a becool-foldy or cybez g for plane travel/car hire?

TIA

@Ireallyshouldchangemyusername my eldest who's just gone into the Up was getting a numb / sore bum in his minikid in the last year or so. Wasn't really a problem day to say hence keeping him in it so long! But we did a few long drives a year and it happened then. We've not done any particularly long drives in the Up yet but he seems to find it comfortable, and I think the footrest makes a big difference (although you can just add one on to any HBB). It isn't overly padded I'd say. I think the best ergonomic one is meant to be the Avionaut maxspace?