IMMI Go Review

IMMI Go

IMMI Go

This portable harnessed car seat used to be known as the SafeGuard Go, and then the Safety 1st Go Hybrid Booster but now goes by the name IMMI Go.  This lightweight, combination car seat stores in a handy bag and converts to a backless booster seat.

CSFTL Quick Stats

  • Forward facing weight range (when installed with lower anchors): 22-55 lbs*
  • Forward facing weight range (when installed with seat belt): 22-65 lbs*
  • Forward facing height range: 31-52 inches
  • Forward facing age range: 1 year minimum. CSFTL advocates that children be AT LEAST 2 years old before riding forward facing
  • Backless booster mode weight range: 40-100 lbs
  • Backless booster mode height range: 43-57″
  • Backless booster mode allows for lower anchor use
  • Backless booster mode age range: 4 years old or older. CSFTL advocates that children be AT LEAST 5 years old before riding in a booster
  • Lowest harness position: 12″ (this measurement can vary slightly depending on the vehicle)
  • Highest harness position: 17″ (this measurement can vary slightly depending on the vehicle)
  • Expiration: 6 years
  • Lower anchor weight limit: 55 lbs*

* When this seat was marketed as the SafeGuard Go and the Safety 1st Go Hybrid Booster, the lower anchor weight limit varied. The lower anchor weight limit for the IMMI Go is 55 lbs. Please check your seat’s manual and model name for the correct weight range for your seat.

Features

  • Premium push-on LATCH connectors
  • Three position crotch buckle – 8″ and 9.5″ and 10.5″ from the back of the seat
  • Built in carry bag

Measurements

  • Weight: 10 lbs
  • Width: 17″ at the widest point

Assembly

IMMI Go storage bag

IMMI Go storage bag

The IMMI Go stores in a bag that’s conveniently attached to the seat. Preparing the seat for use means removing the bag from the larger part of the seat itself. The bag folds into itself and stores right on the seat. Once the bag is tucked away, the seat is ready for installation in harnessed mode.

Installation

**We got a helpful tip from The Car Seat Lady that, because of the unique design of the seat, the maximum seated height for the IMMI Go varies by installation method. Using LATCH to install the seat typically makes the top harness height a bit higher.

Harnessed Mode: Lower Anchors

IMMI Go top tether required

IMMI Go top tether required

Installing the IMMI Go with lower anchors wasn’t challenging at all. The base of the seat fit nicely into the dip in my car’s seat. Once it was on the vehicle seat, pulling the lower anchor adjuster strap straight out from the back of the seat while pushing the seat’s base toward the back of the vehicle made for a fairly painless, snug install.

The top tether is always required for harness mode installation.

Harnessed Mode: Seat Belt

IMMI Go vehicle seat belt loops

IMMI Go vehicle seat belt loops

Where the lower anchor install was quite simple, installing this seat with the vehicle seat belt was a completely different story. The vehicle belt routing is atypical — two fabric loops attach to the back of the seat’s base. The vehicle belt is threaded around one armrest, through those two loops, then around the second armrest. This routing reminded me of the Britax Frontier 85’s long belt path routing, only in this case, in my vehicle, this routing made a solid install impossible.

The top tether is always required for harness mode installation.

It’s possible that this routing works just fine on flat vehicle seats but I can’t say for sure.

Cover

The IMMI Go has a sturdy vinyl cover.  Since a lot of these seats are used in school buses or other commercial transportation options, this type of cover makes sense.  It wipes up easily and is fairly cushioned.  Both of my models noted that the material is different than what they’re used to but they liked the way it felt.

Fit to Child

3 Years Old

IMMI Go: 3 years old, 33 lbs, 36 inches tall

IMMI Go: 3 years old, 33 lbs, 36 inches tall

This little cutie is newly 3 years old. He weighs 33 lbs and is 36 inches tall.  Most of the time, he rides rear facing but were he to travel with this seat, it could be the right seat for that situation.  He’s got plenty of room to grow here.

6.5 Years Old

IMMI Go: 6.5 years old, 51 lbs, 47 inches tall

IMMI Go: 6.5 years old, 51 lbs, 47 inches tall

This model is 6.5 years old, weighs 51 lbs, and is 47 inches tall. These days, she rides in both a harnessed seat and a booster seat depending on the vehicle. Both seats are the right seat for her. She’s at the very top end of the height range for the IMMI Go. The manual allows for the harness height adjusters to be at or above the child’s shoulders. For this kiddo, those adjusters are right at her shoulders and she found that VERY uncomfortable.

Unlike traditional harnessed car seats that have a 5 point harness built into some type of rigid shell, the IMMI Go does not have a shell. The top tether is required to keep the harness in place. The IMMI Go can only be used in seating positions that have a top tether.

For my model, this lack of structure was quite disconcerting. She’d prefer more of a shell around her as she rides.

Harness Adjusters

IMMI Go: off center

IMMI Go: off center

Unlike a more traditional harnessed car seat, everything about the IMMI Go’s harness is adjustable. The lap portion adjusts at the hips and the shoulder height adjusts on the front of the seat. Our first attempt at using the IMMI Go was kind of a flop — the hip straps were not quite even so our 6 year old model wound up off center. It took a little finesse to figure out the right amount of adjustment to place the kiddo squarely in the middle of the seat. Once we found that spot, we stopped adjusting the straps at the hip. The manufacturer let us know that having the harness be little off center is acceptable so this isn’t a big concern.

Converting to Booster Mode

IMMI Go conversion to booster mode

IMMI Go conversion to booster mode

The IMMI Go’s main function in the world is as a lightweight, portable car seat. That’s where it shines. Converting the IMMI Go from harness to booster mode is not something we’d suggest doing on a regular basis. The process involves removing 5 brackets from the seat with the help of a flat head screwdriver, unthreading the vehicle seat belt loops from the back of the seat, and removing the crotch buckle from the harnessed part of the seat.

IMMI Go conversion to booster mode

IMMI Go conversion to booster mode

This process is so involved that we can’t see a scenario where the IMMI Go is the best booster choice — once the harness is removed, we’re hard pressed to want to switch back and forth between modes.  We strongly suggest keeping the manual handy for reference during this process.  We also strongly suggest keeping the manual handy for reference while converting the IMMI Go back to harnessed mode.  Both tasks were frustrating and time consuming.

IMMI Go is converted to a booster!

IMMI Go is converted to a booster!

I did feel a little bit like I’d won the lottery once the seat was finally converted to booster mode!

 

 

 

Booster Mode

After completing the process listed above, the IMMI Go is magically transformed into a backless booster that was a surprise hit for both of my models.  For my younger model, this is because she’s desperate to ride in a backless booster, even though she’s still working on riding properly in a high back booster.  My older model loved the vinyl cover and the low profile of the IMMI Go offered a nice, sleek booster option.

Fit to Child

6.5 Years Old

IMMI Go booster mode: 6.5 years old, 51 lbs, 47 inches tall

IMMI Go booster mode: 6.5 years old, 51 lbs, 47 inches tall

Here’s our model from earlier, only now she’s excited because she’s in a backless booster.  She’s still 6.5 years old, weighs 51 lbs, and is 47 inches tall.  The IMMI Go offered a nice belt fit for her — the shoulder belt sits right across the middle portion of her shoulder and the lap belt is low across her hips.  The IMMI Go dropped right into the small dip in my vehicle seat and allowed her to easily buckle herself into the seat.

10 Years Old

IMMI Go booster mode: 10 years old, size 10 clothing, 55 inches tall

IMMI Go booster mode: 10 years old, size 10 clothing, 55 inches tall

This model is 10 years old, wears a size 10 most of the time, and is 55 inches tall.  About half the time now, she passes the Five Step Test to ride without a booster seat.  These days, she knows the Five Step Test and can check her own belt fit before getting into a vehicle.  The IMMI Go offered her a great belt fit and she liked how the booster kind of blended into the car.  It’s a very low profile booster so the IMMI Go could be a long-lasting option for families who would need a travel seat followed by a backless booster.

Overall Thoughts

Like other travel-friendly seats, the IMMI Go has an equal number of quirks and excellent travel features. Families who are on the go may enjoy the flexibility that the IMMI Go provides — it’s lightweight, easy to carry, fairly easy to install with lower anchors.  It’s also quite nice as a backless booster but we wouldn’t suggest this seat for families who need to switch between harnessed and booster modes very often.  However, for families who would like a harnessed travel seat, then a long-lasting backless booster, the IMMI Go could be a great choice!

At the moment, the IMMI Go is only available for purchase directly from our friends at IMMI.