REASONS TO BUY
Better crash testing
Higher quality
Rigid LATCH installation
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Super uncomfortable
Can't remove cover
Heavy
Clek Oobr Review
While it has better crash test scores, the price, and rock-hard seating area make it an overall miss for us
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Our Verdict
The Clek Oobr is a high-quality, minimalistic option in our best booster seat review. It looks sharp and offers rigid LATCH installation to keep it from floating around the car when a child is not using it. It comes with some of the best crash test results for this lineup and continues to impress us when it comes to safety, just like previous testing periods. Unfortunately, this is one of the most uncomfortable seats we reviewed, and our kid tester suggested we throw it in the garbage. Given that booster-age children have no problems reporting discomfort, we caution parents it could be all they hear about on longer trips. The comfort padding is dense and rock hard, while the seat is shorter, resulting in legs dangling before the knee joint. The Oobr is heavy and cumbersome to move with a cover that cannot be removed. It is one of the most expensive options in the group, and while the quality and safety might warrant it, the rest makes it harder to accept.
Editor's Note: The Clek Oobr was completely retested on January 26, 2024, and our new review reflects its results and comparison to a new lineup.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Clek Oobr | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Crash Test Booster | Best Booster for Most |  Best Booster for Travel and Carpooling |  Best Booster on a Budget | |
| Price | $370 List $295.20 at Amazon | $300 List $299.99 at Amazon | $160 List $159.99 at Amazon | $40 List $37.98 at Amazon | $120 List $79.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | This expensive seat is uncomfortable and heavy, making it hard to love the better crash test rating | This booster offers the best crash test analysis results and performs well in all metrics making it a favorite among testers | Great choice for most families with better crash testing analysis, easy installation, and cozy seating for kids | Great for travel and carpooling, but the quality and crash results make it less appealing as an all-the-time booster | A comfy headrest and good crash test results make this lightweight choice an option that won't break the bank |
| Rating Categories | Clek Oobr | Peg Perego Viaggio... | Chicco KidFit Zip A... | BubbleBum | Diono Cambria 2 |
| Crash Test (35%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (25%) | |||||
| Weight/Size (15%) | |||||
| Comfort (15%) | |||||
| Quality (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Clek Oobr | Peg Perego Viaggio... | Chicco KidFit Zip A... | BubbleBum | Diono Cambria 2 |
| Modes | High Back Booster, Backless Booster | High Back Booster | High Back Booster, Backless Booster | Backless Booster | High Back Booster, Backless Booster |
| High Back Booster Weight Range | 40-100 lb | 40-120 lb | 40-110 lb | N/A | 40-120 lb |
| High Back Booster Height Range | 38-57 in | 39-63 in | 38-57 in | N/A | 38-63 in |
| Width | 17.6 in | 16.3 in | 18.2 in | 11.3 in | 19.9 in |
| Weight | 17.9 lb | 15.7 lb | 11.8 lb | 0.9 lb | 12.0 lb |
| Backless Booster Height Range | 40-57 in | N/A | 38-58 in | 40-57 in | 38-63 in |
| 5 Point Harness Weight Range | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 5 Point Height Range | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| LATCH Equipped | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| #REF! | #REF! | #REF! | #REF! | #REF! | #REF! |
| Recline Positions | None | 5 | 2 | N/A | None |
| Foam Type | EPP | EPS | EPS | None | None |
| Seat Lifespan | 9 Years | 12 Years | 8 Years | 4 Years from purchase date | 8 Years |
| Aircraft Certified |
Show full specification details ▼Hide full specification details ▲
Our Analysis and Test Results
Clek was started by one of the world's largest automotive suppliers. They base their designs on thinking about the product and the experience with the goal of creating uncompromising products that are safe, comfortable, convenient, and stylish. They manufacture all their car seats and boosters in North America to support business here and ensure better quality in the production process.
Performance Comparison
The Oobr performed well in our crash testing commission through the same facility used by NHTSA for its tests.
Credit: GearLab & MGA Research
Crash Test
The Oobr earned an above-average result for the crash test analysis metric. This metric combines the dummy sensor date from the commissioned crash tests to compare to the other boosters in the lineup.
Our commissioned tests were run in the same facility NHTSA uses, and we had our performed slightly quicker and on a more modern sled. Our results are not comparable to others run by NHTSA or Consumer Reports, but instead, allow you to compare results side-by-side in an apples-to-apples way to identify those that offer more than the average boost.
Both the HIC and chest clip sensors for the Oobr dummy recorded G-force results below the average, with the chest clip sensor offering one of the best results in the group. Given the final analysis of these results, we believe this booster offers a potential margin of protection over the lower-scoring options in this review.
The shoulder strap guide on the Clek has a very narrow slit for threading.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Use
The Oobr scored below average for ease of use in our tests. The main overarching problem is both the adult and child tester struggled to get the belt buckled. The shoulder guide is convoluted and hard to thread. It holds the belt so tightly it can enact the retraction mechanism, locking it in place when it is buckled and when it is not. We've had to stop the car, turn it off, and even uninstall the seat to get the belt to reset.
The headrest is similar to a car headrest, and you have to press a small button to get the headrest to release for movement. It is hard to press, and the movement is so hard it feels like you want to give up before you even get it going.
Luckily, you won't have to move it often, but when you do, it could lead to frustration. The back itself is short, and there will be a growing distance between the headrest and seatback as your child grows.
We had to do some wiggling and finagling to get he LATCH connectors onto both anchors, and it was harder than other rigid options we've tested.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The Oobr has a rigid LATCH system, which we usually love, but these are harder to access, and they can be challenging to connect to the vehicle anchors. It takes a little finagling to get it just right. Depending on the test car, this was more troubling if the padding on the vehicle was thick or dense and the anchors were hidden.
The Oobr comes with a single clip-on cup holder.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
This booster comes with one attachable cup holder. It works well, and our kid's water bottle fits. If you want a second holder, you can purchase one from the company website.
The Oobr is on the heavy side, but you can reduce this by removing the back for occasional backless use for travel or carpooling.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Weight and Size
If you are looking for lightweight, this is not the option for you. While it is marginally lighter than previous iterations, it is still a handful you won't want to carry through the airport. The Oobr weighs 17.9 lbs.
What it overdoes in weight, it excels in width with only 17.6 inches. While not the most narrow, it is narrow enough for multiple sets or passengers across.
Comfort
We hate to beat a dead horse here, but honestly, it is hard to imagine how this seat could be more uncomfortable. As one GearLab mom can attest, her kids hated this booster and complained for more than three years about how uncomfortable it was.
The Oobr lacks a full back, and the padding is so dense it is like sitting on a rock, according to our testers. Overall, it was considered a very uncomfortable booster.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The seat padding is very dense; rock-hard is one way to describe it. The back is shorter than most, and while the headrest moves up as your kid grows, there is a bigger gap between the two with no support. While our kid testers felt the fabric was nice, it wasn't enough to override how hard the seat was in every area, headrest and back included. Our in-house kid tester remarked we should throw it in the garage.
The Oobr has a nice fit and finish and a modern and minimalistic design, but we struggled with some of the components making us worry about the quality of manufacturing.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Quality
What it lacks in comfort, it makes up for by using quality materials and a thought design that brings them all together in a way that has a lovely fit and finish. If you like minimalistic design that gets the job done, we think you'll like the look of the Oobr. The material fits the padding and shell nicely with no wrinkles or areas where it doesn't “look right.” The seat uses non-off-gassing EEP foam, and the shell and sides all look sharp and sleek. You can see the quality of this option easily on its own, but it shines even more when lined up with competitors who struggle to be this cool.
Neither our adult nor kid tester liked the Oobr as much as competitors and this makes it one we don't hate, but don't love.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Should You Buy the Oobr?
We can't lie as some of us chose this booster for our kids in the past, and it isn't a bad seat overall, but there are higher-ranking options in this review that provide more while costing less. It isn't that the Oobr will fail you, but the discomfort for the passenger somewhat negates the better crash test score and left us feeling like we didn't love it as much as we once did. Outside of the crash test results, there isn't much to love here, and you can get a similar or better crash test analysis core in another seat that costs less and won't have your child complaining.
What Other Booster Seat Should You Consider?
The Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120 is less expensive than the Clek, and it comes with an even better crash test score. The Peg is far more comfortable, and we felt it was an easier seat to use for parents and kids. We love that the side supports and headrest are highly adjustable and that the Peg is easy to buckle thanks to the lack of armrests. While some kids might want armrests, our tester felt she'd rather have no rests for her arms than sit in the Oobr ever again. If you want a quality option that potentially offers an extra margin of protection, the Peg is our choice.
—
Juliet Spurrier, MD & Wendy Schmitz
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