Clek Foonf vs Clek Fllo – Which Car Seat is Better?
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Coming from the same manufacturer, the Clek Foonf and Clek Fllo car seats seem like the exact same thing. However, a closer look will reveal a few key differences between them.
Although these car seats have similar designs, they have slightly different safety features with the Clek Foonf making full use of the LATCH system and Clek Fllo using an altered approach. They are made with the same quality materials and are both capable of rear-facing and forward-facing positions in a vehicle. Below is a discussion of the similarities and differences between the Clek Foonf and Clek Fllo car seats.
As the manufacturer of the pioneering Clek Liing infant seat and Clek Olli booster seat, the Clek brand has continued to innovate with their Clek Foonf and Clek Fllo seats.
Either of these two car seats can be trusted to get your child safely to their destination, but you need help deciding which one is the best fit for you and your family. We hope to help you with this detailed Clek Foonf vs. Clek Fllo comparison.
Clek Foonf Convertible Car Seat
Launched in December 2012, the Clek Foonf was dubbed “the mother of all car seats” for its top-of-the-line safety mechanism and sophisticated baby-hugging design. Foonf is Clek’s first convertible car seat and one of the first car seats with a rear-facing weight and height capacity of up to 50 pounds and 43 inches respectively (typical of a 2-year-old).
The Benefits of Extended Rear Facing
Many other convertible car seats have lower rear facing weight and height limits than the Clek Foonf and Clek Fllo. A seat with lower limits may not accommodate your child in the rear facing position until they are two, which is against the best practice advised by the AAP.
Weight and height limits are important specifications to look for when choosing a child car seat for your loved one.
Due to their higher limits, the Clek Foonf and Fllo are known as Extended Rear Facing Car Seats and this is partly why we love them so much.
The Clek Foonf is a premium car seat due to its patented safety feature called REACTTM (Rapid Energy-Absorbing Crumple Technology) that utilizes the crumple zones inherent in cars. This system makes the forward-facing position a lot safer by absorbing the impact of a collision away from the child, giving it a level of safety found in rear-facing car seats.
In the past, the Foonf was recommended for use with children 6 months old and above, but with the introduction of the car seat accessory Clek infant-thingy, this car seat can now accommodate babies weighing 5 pounds and 19 inches. Thus, the Foonf is the only car seat you’ll ever need for your child’s infant to toddler years.
Clek Fllo Convertible Car Seat
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Released in 2014, the Clek Fllo is a more streamlined version of the Foonf. If the Foonf is the “mother,” this one is its younger sibling.
Similar to its predecessor, this can carry up to 50 pounds rear-facing, and at 16.9 inches wide, the Fllo is considered one of the safest ‘narrow’ convertible car seats available today.
However, instead of rigid LATCH connectors, this car seat has EACT (Energy Absorbing Crumple Technology) which has an aluminum honeycomb that receives the impact force of a crash.
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Key Similarities between Clek Foonf and Clek Fllo Car Seats
The good folks over at Magic Beans have produced a nice video comparing the Clek Foonf with the Clek Fllo. This provides a close up comparison so you can see how the size and features of the seats compare.
Here’s a detailed comparison of the two car seats, starting with what they have in common.
Safety Testing
Both the Foonf and the Fllo are products of the Clek brand, a Canadian company that takes pride in extensively testing its products for safety. They comply and sometimes exceed the safety requirements of all countries where they release their products, and unlike most car seat makers, they publish the results online.
You can find details of the Clek Foonf and Fllo testing here and here respectively.
The published results of FMVSS213 crash testing of these seats demonstrates that both are well under the maximum allowed threshold limits for Head Injury Criteria and Chest Acceleration. The results also show that the Clek Foonf performs slightly better than the Clek Fllo in these safety tests, which is likely attributable to the difference in LATCH systems.
Clek Foonf Crash Safety Testing
Clek Foonf independent results of the forces measured during FMVSS213 crash testing for LATCH installation.
Clek Fllo Crash Safety Testing
Clek Fllo independent results of the forces measured during FMVSS213 crash testing.
Width and Weight Capacity
Both products do not exceed 17 inches wide, making them some of the narrowest convertible car seats. Clek even recommends sitting 3 car seats side by side to demonstrate how narrow they are.
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Plus, they can carry children 14 to 50 pounds (rear-facing) and 65 pounds (forward-facing). Depending on the child’s weight and height, both seats can likely be used to 2+ years old in a rear facing position. In addition, with their 9-year expiration, they can easily be handed down to the next child.
Same Safety Features
Both are equipped with an anti-rebound bar, which makes them look like a grocery cart but actually increases their stability in a rear-facing position.
They also both have a steel-reinforced headrest for more protection.
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Same Fabric
They are covered with a Crypton-treated fabric that repels stains and odors, making them easy to clean with a simple wipe down. Unfortunately, both are not machine-washable.
The video below gives a demonstration of the stain resistance of the crypton resistant fabric on a top rated booster seat, the Clek Oobr. The stain resistant fabric on the Oobr is the same as on the Foonf and Fllo.
Important Differences between Clek Foonf and Clek Fllo Car Seats
Now, let’s take a look at the main dissimilarities between these two car seats.
Product Weight
Although they have largely similar height and weight capacities, they have different actual product weight, owing largely to Foonf being a larger model with a weight of 38 pounds.
Fllo is 10 pounds lighter and can sit 1.5 inches lower in a vehicle because of the differences in base. This may be convenient for drivers who want a more unobstructed view of the rear.
Base
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Clek Fllo side on showing base
Clek Foonf side on showing base
The Clek Foonf requires a removable steel base that is shaped like a wedge and necessary for a rear-facing installation. The Clek Fllo has a plastic and flat base that features an integrated recline foot and does not give it additional height.
Installation
Foonf’s REACT feature makes full use of the car’s standard LATCH system, resulting in easy installation. It also has 3 possible recline positions for seat installation, while Fllo has only one angle for its rear-facing and forward-facing positions.
Different Safety Features
They have two different patented security systems. Foonf has the REACT energy management system that fits well with some cars’ rigid-LATCH system.
Clek Foonf's Rigid Latch is part of the seat's REACT energy management system
On the other hand, Fllo’s EACT feature is designed to work with a vehicle’s belt or a LATCH belt. This does not mean the Fllo is less safe. Instead, it suits cars without a LATCH.
On another note, Foonf cannot be installed without the anti-rebound bar (ARB), but the Fllo’s ARB is optional in some countries like the US, resulting in less weight.
Conclusion
Deciding on a car seat can be difficult with so many car seat options in the market today. As a parent, you want to make sure that you choose only the best and safest for your baby. There are also other considerations such as the convenience of use and prices. But if you’re down to two options and Clek Foonf and Clek Fllo are what you have, then you’re in luck. Both are exceedingly remarkable choices. Frankly, you can never go wrong with either of them.
When it comes to choosing between Clek Foonf and Clek Fllo, though, Clek Fllo has a few advantages that might attract you, such as its lightweight, compact design, cheaper price, and equally safe and tank-like build for less than what you have to pay for Foonf.
