The maestro has a weight limit of 50lbs and50 inches for the 5pt harness. To use as a booster the limits are 40 to100 lbs and44 to 57 inches. I just bought 1for my Dgd and so far I love it. Plus it was only 70$ at walmart
As you said, the Radian , and every other high weight limit seat, is pricery. Well over $200. I don't know of a seat under $100 that will harness over 50 lbs. Do you? I don't think one exists.
There are several very well reviewed seats in the $100-150 range that harness well beyond 50lbs. So spending well over $200 is not a necessity anymore. There are some great 'perks' to the Radian, but also some cons. Just like every other seat. Either of the seats below would get most kids to a safe boostering age.
What I suggest to parents who are on a super tight budget is to get a Cosco Scenera, use it until it's outgrown and in the meantime save up for something like the Maestro or Nautilus with a higher weight.
I just talked to the mom and she is probably going to get the Evenflo seat mentioned. I won't watch him when he's past the 50 pound mark probably so this seat should work just fine.
Someone posted the height limit for you. But keep in mind that all kids grow differently. A 50in child with long long legs might still have growing room in a seat, because their torso is shorter and so their shoulders haven't yet reached the top slot or the tops of their ears haven't reached the top of the seat. In contrast, a 45in child with a long torso may have long since outgrown the same seat by height...even thought they haven't reached the 'limit' yet. So going over the stated HEIGHT limit is a parental decision. The Evenflo Maestro has top slots at around 18", about the same harness slot height as the Nautilus (in some cases the Nautilus measures about a 1/2" more).
I know that our WalMart had a seat for $69 that was up to 100#s. Not sure if it's a 5 point. Alson WalMart.com has some not found in stores. They ship to your closest store for free.
If you are seeing a seat 'too 100lbs' at Walmart it's likely that's either a booster with no harness, or a combination seat harness/booster and that is the BOOSTER limit NOT the harness limit. Just about all less expensive harness/booster seats are 20/22-40lbs HARNESSED and then 30-100lbs in BOOSTER mode.
Save Up to 30% on Rooms at Walt Disney World!
Save up to 30% on rooms at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels when you stay 5 consecutive nights or longer in late summer and early fall. Plus, enjoy other savings for shorter stays.This offer is valid for stays most nights from August 1 to October 11, 2025.
CLICK HERE