Traveling with a baby or small toddler can test the patience of any parent—there’s a lot of gear needed to make sure that everyone stays safe and comfortable. Carrying around a heavy car seat doesn’t need to be an added frustration. My family tested the Evenflo Tribute LX Convertible car seat on a weekend trip with our nearly 3-year-old son, who sat in it for hours at a time while we drove. We then evaluated factors like its portability, longevity, and overall value. Read on for our insights.
Installation and Setup Process: Easy as buckling the seat belt
The Evenflo Tribute LX can be installed using your car’s seat belts or the LATCH system. To test out the first, we threaded our car’s seat belt through the track at the base of the car seat and clicked it into the car’s seat belt dock to secure it. We then pulled the belt snug to make sure that the seat was safely installed. The LATCH system attaches a car seat to a vehicle’s metal frame using anchors and tethers. The tether straps on the Evenflo felt flimsier than those we’d used on higher-quality car seats, though, so this likely isn’t the best car seat for you if you prefer the LATCH method exclusively. On the other hand, some cars don’t have the anchors required to use the LATCH system, so in those cases, seat belt installation might be the only option. Generally, both methods are regarded as equally safe, but which one is right for you will depend on your needs as well as the build of your vehicle.
Age Range: Babies and young toddlers
The Evenflo Tribute LX Convertible car seat can only be used with children up to 40 pounds and can be used in both rear- and front-facing configurations. Note that rear-facing is recommended—and is often required by state law—for children younger than 2 years old or who are 40 pounds or less and shorter than 37 inches. The weight minimum for the Evenflo is 5 pounds. We found the 40-pound maximum weight limit to be on the lower end for convertible car seats. Translation: a toddler will quickly outgrow this car seat, so be ready to purchase another. When we used this car seat for a weekend trip with our almost 3-year-old son, we discovered he’d soon be too big for it. If you’re looking for a travel-friendly infant car seat or have an upcoming trip in mind, you may get more use out of this car seat. But if your child is already nearing 40 pounds, you should probably look for a model with a longer lifespan. Also, its expiration date—which is particularly important to know if you’re using a hand-me-down seat—is six years from the manufacturing date. More expensive convertible car seats tend to have a 10-year lifespan, so if you know you’ll be using it for multiple kids, you may want to upgrade.
Design: Just the basics
The Evenflo Tribute LX checks all boxes for basic convertible car seat design. It can be used in both rear-facing and forward-facing configurations, depending on the age, weight, and height of your child. It also has a five-point harness that can be used on one of four height settings and a removable head pillow that properly positions your child’s head. There aren’t as many customizable settings as more high-end models, but if all you need are the basics to keep your child safe, this car seat has them. We tested the car seat in Saturn (gray) but it’s available in more than 10 colors and patterns from bright azure to pink mums.
Cleaning: Easy enough
We like that this car seat’s 100 percent polyester cushions are removable and machine-washable. Both of these things come in handy during normal use, but they prove even more convenient on vacation, when your child may track in more sand, dirt, or food crumbs. We found it was easy to remove and reattach the pads to run them through the washing machine, which we did after a full weekend of use at the beach. If you only plan to use the Evenflo Tribute LX occasionally, we recommend doing this before you store it to make sure that it stays in the best shape possible.
Safety: Meets all standards
There aren’t any extra safety features included in the Evenflo Tribute LX car seat, but it does meet all federal safety standards, including those of the Federal Aviation Administration. This makes it a great choice for travel. Although it feels less sturdy than higher-end convertible car seats, Evenflo tested the side impact protection using two times the required federal crash test standard, so you can be sure that your child is safe. Still, compared to other convertible car seats we tested, the padding of the Evenflo was noticeably thinner and didn’t cushion as well. This car seat also doesn’t include an infant insert to provide extra security and cushion to small babies. Despite the car seat’s 5-pound minimum, we probably wouldn’t use this model with a newborn, but for occasional use with an older baby or toddler.
Price: Affordable but won’t last forever
The Evenflo Tribute LX doesn’t have a lot of special features, but it satisfies all federal safety requirements and will keep your child safe in a car or airplane. For these reasons, we think the $64.99 price tag makes sense—especially for those looking to spend less on a car seat or purchase one for occasional use while traveling. We also felt more comfortable traveling with this car seat and loaning it out to friends since it would be cheaper to replace if it was lost or damaged. Because it’s likely you’ll need to purchase another car seat eventually (when your child grows out of this one), though, it’s possible you’ll end up spending more money on car seats overall.
Competition: Best for those on a budget
Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat: The Graco 4Ever 4-in-1 is our go-to model as it combines value with extra features and safety. The car seat can be used in rear-facing, forward-facing, highback booster, or backless booster configurations. It also uses the LATCH system to attach securely. At $300, it’s considerably more expensive than the Evenflo Tribute LX, but it can be used for children up to 120 pounds—so, if you’re looking for car seat that can grow with your child, the Graco is an excellent option. Britax Marathon ClickTight Convertible Car Seat: If you prioritize safety and are willing to pay top dollar (around $320) for the most advanced safety features, the Britax Marathon ClickTight car seat is a great buy. The steel frame, extra layers of side impact protection, and secure ClickTight installation system are features many parents love. It can be used for children up to 65 pounds—not much higher than the 40-pound limit of the Evenflo—so you’ll need to purchase an additional booster seat down the road. If you’re on a budget or just need a spare car seat for occasional use, go with the Evenflo Tribute LX Convertible Car Seat. If you’re looking for a reliable everyday car seat, though, it’ll likely disappoint. We recommend spending a little bit more for the additional safety features and longevity of a higher-end convertible car seat.
