RideSafer Delight Travel Vest Gen5 Review

RideSafer Gen5 set up in the vehicle

If you’re using the top tether (and we’d always advocate that you do!), once the vest is adjusted to fit the child, it’s fine to leave it attached to the vehicle between uses (as long as the same kiddo is returning to the same seating position later!).

RideSafer Gen5 4 years old

This kiddo is closing in her 5th birthday (she’s still 4, though!),  weighs 35 pounds, and is 39 inches tall.  She’s wearing a size small in the Gen 5.  The vest fits her well but she definitely needed help in getting set up for this picture.  We understand that some families may use the RideSafer Gen 5 for their kiddos who are this young so we wanted to show how well it can fit.  We continue to recommend that children be closer to their 5th birthdays before they start to ride in the vest.

RideSafer Gen5 5 years old

This kiddo weighs 38 pounds and is 42.5 inches tall.  He’s new to using the vest so it took some help from a caregiver to get him set up.  The vest fits him well and we have no doubt that as he gets more experience using the vest, he’ll be more independent when it comes to using the vest properly.

RideSafer Delight Travel Vest: 5 1/2 years old, 54 pounds and 46 inches tall.

This model is 5.5 years old.  She weighs 54 pounds and is 46 inches tall.  She’s sitting on the passenger side of a 2009 Toyota Highlander in the middle row.

The vest fit her well and I was able to get a snug fit around her waist even though she’s toward the lower end of the size range.  The crotch buckle helped to keep the lap portion of the vest nice and low.

Our “sleeping” 5 1/2 year old model shows how the RSDTV tether helps to prevent the body from slouching out of position.

The shoulder portion of the vest had some empty space above her shoulders, which wasn’t an issue, as her seat belt continued to fit well on her shoulder. For a child this age, the tether can provide extra assurance that she’ll remain properly positioned even if she falls asleep.

RideSafer Delight Travel Vest in the center seat of a 2009 Toyota Highlander between a Chicco Keyfit and Graco Headwise.

This child usually rides in the third row because her car seat doesn’t fit between her two younger brothers’ car seats.  The RSDTV allowed her to fit on the very narrow second row seat between their Chicco Keyfit 30 and Graco Headwise.

RideSafer Gen5 6 years old

Our 6 year old model weighs 73 pounds, and is 47 inches tall.  He’s wearing a size large in the vest.  Like our 4 year old model, he needed some help with getting set up but was able to sit properly once he was buckled in.

Measuring the seated height is done differently for the RSDTV than it is for most safety seats.

Deciding Between Sizes

Torso height is a big factor when it comes to figuring out which size vest works for older or bigger kids.  Measuring a child’s torso height for an RSDTV is quite different than measuring a child’s torso for a traditional car seat.

Instead of measuring from the child’s bum to the top of the shoulders, measure from the top of the child’s thighs to the top of the shoulders.

The optional tether is secured to a clip on each shoulder strap on the RideSafer Delight Travel Vest.

While the tether is optional (and an additional purchase), it may be beneficial.  We know that tethers play a critical role in preventing injuries to children in forward facing harnessed car seats.  Crash dynamics are quite different in a traditional harnessed seat compared to a RSDTV, but it’s likely that the use of a tether will help to manage crash forces.  The tether can also help children who still tend to be a little on the wiggly side or who still struggle to remain properly positioned when asleep remain sitting upright, even if they’re fast asleep.

Neck Pillow

The velcro tabs seem to be placed in such a way where it prevents the RideSafer Delight Travel Vest’s neck rest securing to them.

The optional pillow is designed to increase comfort for a child who may want additional support behind their neck.

Ride Safer Delight pillow

The pillow attaches via velcro strips on the back of the vest. To use the pillow, pull the tabs to expose the rough side of the velcro and attach the base of the pillow.

We were thrilled to see that the RideSafer Delight Travel Vest is approved for use with inflatable vehicle seat belts!  The Delight’s shoulder belt clips were designed to accommodate both traditional and inflatable seat belts, so thicker inflatable belts should fit nicely.  It can also be used in vehicles with a lap only belt if the tether is used and secured to a designated tether anchor.

Delight Booster Seat

The tether holds the RideSafer Delight Travel Vest in place; the seat belt secures the Delighter until the next time they’re needed.

The use of booster seats with the vests was strictly prohibited… until the Delighter came to market! While the Delighter may be used as a booster on its own, it is the only booster approved for use with the RSTV/RSDTV.

Since the Delighter allows a child’s legs to curve over the edge of the booster seat, it helps many kids feel more comfortable and eliminates the desire to slouch to the vehicle seat edge.

Pros

• Lightweight
• Extremely portable
• Easy to use with lap/shoulder belt
• Doesn’t take up any more space in a vehicle than the child’s body does
• Easily adjustable to fit various kids and vehicles

Cons

• Can be tricky to thread the seat belt through

Important Information: Where to Find

The convenient storage slot for the manual is right inside the front of the RideSafer Delight Travel Vest.

Manual storage: The manual is a little hard to find at first — it arrives tucked away in its own handy little pocket on the inside of the vest.

Date of Manufacture label: This label is next to the manual storage pocket on the inside of the vest.

FAA Approval: At this time, the Delight is not FAA approved for use on aircraft.  We very much hope to see that change in the future given how travel-friendly this product is.

Overall Thoughts

The RideSafer Gen5 is an innovative and unique product.  It can function either as a wearable booster or, if the tether is attached, as a kind of hybrid between a harnessed car seat and a booster seat. This makes it a remarkably versatile product for school-aged children.  It’s a dream to travel with, thanks to its small size — simply toss it in your bag and you’re ready to go!  The sizes available fit a broad range of children and the adjustable belt guides achieve a consistent belt fit in the vast majority of vehicles and seating locations.

This review was originally written by Abbie Patterson, former CSFTL contributor. Edits and updates are maintained by the CSFTL Editorial Team.