Britax Highpoint vs. Chicco NextFit Zip: Which is Better? (2024)

Hi there! We're here to help you decide between the Britax Highpoint and the Chicco NextFit Zip.

Our goal is to provide you with the information you need to feel confident that you're choosing the optimal car seat for your family's needs and budget. Let us know if you have any other questions!

At A Glance

Our Thoughts

The Britax Highpoint is a solid booster seat perfect for parents seeking safety, convenience, and durability for their transitioning child. With a reputation for quality, this 2-stage belt-positioning booster seat shines in offering safety and comfort. It incorporates a multiple layer side-impact protection system, guaranteeing your child's well-being on every journey. However, some parents expressed concerns about the high back moving away from the vehicle seat, which might raise questions about stability.

On the other hand, the Chicco NextFit Zip offers excellent extended use, as it efficiently transitions from the rear-facing position for infants to a forward-facing position for preschoolers, up to 65 pounds. Its protective design inspires confidence in parents with a two-layer side-impact protection system, just like the Britax Highpoint. A major convenience that parents lauded was the easy-to-clean Zip & Wash seat pad, perfect for those unforeseen messes that children are famous for. Nonetheless, some users noted it can be a bit on the bulky side and the material might retain heat, making it less comfortable in warmer weather.

Both seats have been manufactured with reinforced steel frames for optimal safety and durability. However, the Britax Highpoint, with its 10-year expiration period, promises over two more years of potential use than the Chicco NextFit Zip’s 8 years. It’s worth noting that the Chicco NextFit Zip is FAA-approved in both rear-facing and forward-facing configurations, which means this seat can join you and your little one on travels by air. The Britax Highpoint, however, is not FAA approved in booster configurations - something to consider if you plan to be jetsetters.

So, for parents looking for a booster seat that is built to last and want the seat to grow with their child, the Britax Highpoint would be the choice considering it accommodates a child up to 120 pounds, that's nearly double the max weight that the Chicco’s forward-facing configuration allows. Conversely, if you're starting from infancy and anticipating air travel, the Chicco NextFit Zip is a strong contender, handling a weight range of 5 to 65 pounds and providing the convenience of easy cleanup. It’s heavier and bulkier than the Britax Highpoint, but also significantly more versatile given its ability to serve as an infant car seat when needed.