In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician

Clek Foonf Review

We were excited about the forward-facing rigid LATCH, but this was the only highlight during testing
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Clek Foonf Review (We had some difficulty getting a good vantage point for the Foonf installation to get the belt tight enough. The seat...)
We had some difficulty getting a good vantage point for the Foonf installation to get the belt tight enough. The seat is long, and it is hard to get a good angle.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Price:  $580 List
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Manufacturer:   Clek
By Juliet Spurrier, MD & Wendy Schmitz  ⋅  Jan 5, 2024
59
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#15 of 19
  • Crash Test - 35% 6.7
  • Ease of Installation - LATCH - 20% 6.0
  • Ease of Installation - Belt - 15% 3.9
  • Ease of Use - 15% 6.0
  • Comfort/Quality - 10% 5.0
  • Weight/ Size - 5% 7.0

Our Verdict

The Clek Foonf is one of two Clek options we tested in our best convertible car seat review. It is a high-end option with a minimal design that looks sleek and unencumbered. The Foonf failed to earn a higher-than-average score in this group for any metric. It struggled in critical metrics like installation and crash testing but continued to disappoint in weight and ease of use. Overall, it was hard to find much to love about the seat. Given the price point, it wasn't a standout, and we feel like it really should be given that seats with half the price earned significantly higher scores in all tests. Overall, this is not an option we love, and we think our lineup has better choices to meet your goals.
REASONS TO BUY
Narrow seat width
Rigid FF LATCH
Easy harness adjustment
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
Expensive
Difficult RF installation
Uncomfortable seat padding
No cup holder
Entire cover not removable
Editor's Note: Our new convertible car seat on update includes 20 crash-tested seats for comparison. This review update occurred on January 5, 2024.

Compare to Similar Products

 
clek foonf
This Product
Clek Foonf
Awards  Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Convertible and Crash Testing
Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall for Rear-Facing Longer
Best Value Award
Best Value Convertible Seat
Best Value Award
Best on the Tightest Budget
Price $580 List
$579.99 at Amazon
$330 List
$329.99 at Amazon
$250 List
$249.00 at Amazon
$220 List
Check Price at Amazon
$80 List
$79.99 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
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62
Star Rating
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Bottom Line While the rigid LATCH is nice, the heavy Foonf didn't otherwise standout in this groupEasy to install and use and one of the best crash test analysis scores make this seat a winner for most familiesBetter crash test analysis and a lower price make this easy-to-install seat an award contender that just missed the markWallet-loving price on a seat that is easy to install and earned better crash test results than mostDespite a lack of padding and a harder LATCH install, this inexpensive option earned impressive crash test results, making it a winner for budget-limited families
Rating Categories Clek Foonf Graco 4Ever DLX Graco Extend2Fit 3... Graco SlimFit 3-in-1 Evenflo Tribute 5
Crash Test (35%)
6.7
8.8
8.6
8.5
8.6
Ease of Installation - LATCH (20%)
6.0
7.9
7.8
7.9
4.3
Ease of Installation - Belt (15%)
3.9
7.1
6.4
6.5
5.6
Ease of Use (15%)
6.0
8.0
7.0
7.5
5.0
Comfort/Quality (10%)
5.0
6.5
8.5
8.0
3.0
Weight/ Size (5%)
7.0
7.5
7.5
7.1
7.8
Specs Clek Foonf Graco 4Ever DLX Graco Extend2Fit 3... Graco SlimFit 3-in-1 Evenflo Tribute 5
Min/Max Rear Facing Passenger Weight 14-50 lb 4-40 lb 4-50 lb 5-40 lb 5-40 lb
Min/Max Forward Facing Passenger Weight 22-65 lb 22-65 lb 22-65 lb 22-65 lb 22-40 lb
Rear Facing Maximum Height 43 in Top of head must be at least 1 in below handle Top of head must be at least 1 in below handle Top of head must be at least 1 in below handle 37 in
Forward Facing Maximum Height 49 in 49 in 49 in 49 in 40 in
Weight 33.7 lb 21.8 lb 20.5 lb 18.5 lb 9.4 lb
Minimum Rear Facing Length 29 in 25 in 26 in 28 in 29 in
Minimum Seat Width 17 in 19 in 19 in 19 in 18 in
Number Of Recline positions 3 6 6 4 1
Shoulder Harness Positions 5 10 10 10 4
Crotch Strap Positions 2 2 2 3 2
Anti-rebound Device Yes No Yes No No
Head Support Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Infant Positioning Insert No Yes Yes Yes No
Harness Type Rethread No-rethread No-rethread No-rethread Rethread
Onboard Manual Storage Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Rear Facing Level Indicator On Seat Line on decal, both sides Bubble, one side Bubble, one side Bead, one side Line on decal, both sides
Booster Mode Available No Yes Yes Yes No
Foam Type EPP Not mentioned Not mentioned EPS EPS
Seat Lifespan 9 years 10 years 10 years 10 years 6 years
Aircraft Certified Yes Yes in harness mode, No in booster mode Yes in harness mode, No in booster mode Yes in harness mode, No in booster mode Yes
Warranty 1 + 2 year limited 1 year limited 1 year limited 1 year limited 90 day limited

Our Analysis and Test Results

Clek came from one of the world's largest automotive suppliers. They strive to develop safe and innovative gear that tries to think outside the standard gear on the market. The lineup of safety seats Clek offers is currently manufactured in North America.

Performance Comparison



The Foonf earned a higher-than-average result in our commissioned crash tests, but it wasn't enough to keep up with higher-scoring options.
Credit: GearLab & MGA Research

Crash Test


The Foonf earned a below-average result in our hotter crash tests, resulting in a below-average analysis score compared to the test group. If you want a Clek seat, the other Clek in our review scored better in this metric.


The Foonf sensor results from our simulated crash testing show a higher result than the average for the HIC sensor (head sensor) and an about-average result for the chest clip.

This comparison graph offers the Chest clip sensor results for the...
This comparison graph offers the Chest clip sensor results for the Foonf and one of the best performers in the group, the Graco 4Ever.
This graph compares the HIC sensor results for the Graco 4Ever, one...
This graph compares the HIC sensor results for the Graco 4Ever, one of the best performers in our review vs. the Foonf.

These results are the G-forces recorded by the crash test dummy sensors and relate to the G-forces experienced by the sensor, so a lower value is better. While all seats in our test group should meet federal guidelines and are considered safe, and our test was a little faster than the federally designed test, this seat did arguably well. However, there are better-scoring seats to be had elsewhere that are also easier to install.

The Foonf has a rigid LATCH system for forward-facing installation that makes the process virtually foolproof.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Install - LATCH


While this Clek isn't as hard to install as other Cleks we've tested, it is still below the average for ease of installation using LATCH.

clek foonf - the foonf has push-style connectors that we prefer over the hook...
The Foonf has push-style connectors that we prefer over the hook style that can be harder to operate even if they are just as safe.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Rear-facing installation has push-style LATCH connectors on a flexible strap, and forward-facing has rigid connectors. The level indicator is a line on a decal, and the other is a lock-off for forward-facing.

clek foonf - the level indicator on the foonf is a line on a sticker decal. the...
The level indicator on the Foonf is a line on a sticker decal. The white line is short, and it makes determining the right angle more challenging than other types of indicators.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The recline adjustment is a large wedge on the bottom, which doesn't give much room for finessing based on the vehicle seat. It wasn't enough to get a good angle in either test car, and we had to use 1-2 towels, depending on the car. The towels block access to the anchors on the vehicle, making the need for the towel even more disappointing.

clek foonf - the foonf anti-rebound bar is stored under the chair base.
The Foonf anti-rebound bar is stored under the chair base.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The entire seat bottom is removable to access the strap pathway and lock-off, and it requires rethreading the crotch strap when you put it back on. Don't forget to add the anti-rebound bar before installing rear-facing. Getting the strap tight enough is challenging, and the pulling angle makes it more awkward.

The belt pathway for rear-facing installation is on the seat bottom...
The belt pathway for rear-facing installation is on the seat bottom and requires removal of the seat bottom to access it.
The Foonf lock-off closure is very narrow, and it can be hard to...
The Foonf lock-off closure is very narrow, and it can be hard to close with one finger, but it is not wide enough for more fingers. Even fitting the palm of your hand in this space can be tricky.

Two lock-off blue clasps work well, but they aren't tensioners, so the strap needs to be as tight as possible before engaging. We wish there were no need for towels on a seat in this price range, and we needed them for both test cars. You can feel them during the wiggle test, and they make an already long seat stick out more, which could be a problem in smaller cars. The manufacturer manual and online video have conflicting instructions, and we chose to follow those in the included manual, but we wish they would remove the videos to avoid ambiguity. It is stable but somewhat wobbly when you are done.

clek foonf - we had to use towels for the rear-facing configuration of the foonf...
We had to use towels for the rear-facing configuration of the Foonf to get he correct angle for installation.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Rear-facing installation of the Foonf is so much easier because it has rigid LATCH connectors that require no threading or tightening. It is what it is, and there isn't much that can be done to make adjustments. It is harder to maneuver the seat in place than infant car seats with rigid LATCH, but it wasn't impossible. This is likely a result of the size of the seat and the angle required to get the seat in place. There is a color indicator, but the manual says it will be “mostly green,” which isn't as reassuring as totally green, and we wonder why it is designed this way. Once the LATCH is connected, you need to push the seat in to get a tight fit, and the seat feels stable, but oddly, it is not as stable as the rear-facing flexible LATCH connectors did on this seat.

clek foonf - installing the foonf with the anti-rebound bar and towels made it...
Installing the Foonf with the anti-rebound bar and towels made it move around significantly as we tried to tighten it.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Install - Belt


Installing the Foonf using a vehicle belt is one of the hardest in the test group, earning a very low score in this metric.

This Clek doesn't have a traditionally color-coded pathway for rear-facing installation, but the belt lock-offs are colored blue and are helpful in figuring out where everything goes. There is a decal sticker with a line to ensure the seat is installed at the right angle, and we had to use one towel in one of our test cars to get the right angle. To thread the belt, you have to sort of disassemble the seat and rethread the crotch strap. This is a pain as the slot is thin and not the easiest to use. You also need to install the anti-rebound bar and the base. The seat is long from front to back in the rear-facing position, which means working within a small space can be awkward. The belt lock-offs are obvious, but the thin plastic clamp design is flimsy, and we were very worried we'd break them.

The Foonf vehicle belt pathway is under the seat bottom.
The Foonf vehicle belt pathway is under the seat bottom.
The Foonf lock-offs work well, but the design is hard on fingers...
The Foonf lock-offs work well, but the design is hard on fingers, and we suspect anyone with hand limitations aren't going to like them.

Getting the belt tight on the Foonf is harder before you engage the clamps. It is wobbly in most directions, and while it passes the wiggle test, it is nowhere near as stable as the competition. We suspect many parents would be disappointed in a seat this expensive, requiring a towel for proper installation.

To uninstall, you have to remove the padding and undo the clasps to free the belt.

The forward-facing configuration for the Foonf has a belt pathway in...
The forward-facing configuration for the Foonf has a belt pathway in the back through the bars and uses a higher lock-off mechanism.
The Foonf lock-off for forward-facing installation is not our...
The Foonf lock-off for forward-facing installation is not our favorite, and we think there are easier options in the group, though we are glad that at least there is one.

Forward-facing installation of the Foonf includes red lock-off clasps and no level indicator despite having two recline options in the forward-facing position. There is an exposed threading pathway on the back of the seat that is best accessed by tipping the seat toward you. The open back bars make it easy to fit your hand through, but you need to use caution not to thread the belt between the harness and the bars. Having these two straps crossing paths at all feels like a poor design. This Clek is slightly more stable in the forward-facing position than other Cleks we tested, but it isn't anything to brag about. Overall, it is disappointing that a seat in this price range provides such a frustrating experience when threading a belt and locking it in place, especially when you consider that proper installation is essential for safety.

Uninstalling is easiest if you unbuckle the belt first to relieve tension before undoing the clasp. Undoing the clasp made us knock our hands into something every time.

clek foonf - the recline adjustment lever is on the bottom of the foot portion of...
The recline adjustment lever is on the bottom of the foot portion of the seat, making it hard to access when the seat is in the rear-facing configuration and pressed against the vehicle seat.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Use


While not the most complicated option, it is more challenging than the average seat in this review.

clek foonf - the foonf harness chest clip and buckle are fairly standard and we...
The Foonf harness chest clip and buckle are fairly standard and we like that they added padding to the shoulder straps.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Harness


Using the Foonf buckle requires pushing the surrounding padding down to get the prongs fully in the slots. The buckle doesn't sit very high, which could be a problem for children with bigger legs. Pinching could happen if you can't clear the buckle of fleshy parts. The prongs slide down to the seating area every time, and you will need to root for them. The chest clip slides easily for proper placement and is easy to pinch to remove.

clek foonf - we are big fans of rethread harness height adjustments, and it feels...
We are big fans of rethread harness height adjustments, and it feels misplaced on a more expensive option like the Foonf, especially when most of the convertible seats offer a non-rethread quick adjustment.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Tightening and loosening the Foonf harness is better than the average option. It takes little effort to tighten, and both sides tightened the same after we fixed some offset webbing in the back. Releasing is somewhat different than most, with a pull tab instead of a button push. It is easy to pull and functions well.

clek foonf - the foonf headrest assembly moves up and down similar to a car...
The Foonf headrest assembly moves up and down similar to a car headrest and is not involved in the harness height adjustment.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The harness height adjustment on the Foonf is a rethread operation with five height options and two crotch strap positions. The rethread is a pain and requires little ones to be out of their seat to complete. It takes more time and effort than a non-rethread style adjustment, and a seat in this price range should offer more here, in our opinion. The upper levels of adjustment are behind a chunky plastic part you have to remove, and the headrest movement could also be required and isn't as simple as it could be. The crotch strap is also a pain and requires some fancy finger gymnastics to make the switch in positions.

clek foonf - the foonf latch connectors and strap are tucked under the seat...
The Foonf LATCH connectors and strap are tucked under the seat bottom in a space that is cluttered and tight fitting.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

LATCH Storage


The Foonf LATCH storage is below average. The compartment is underneath the seat padding. We had trouble cramming in all the webbing and the connectors in the small space. It took multiple attempts to get the straps inside flush with the seat compartment so we could close the seat back.

Cover


Removing the Foonf cover is a disappointing operation. The manual says the seat cover should not be removed (wait, what?). No matter what else might be removable, this feels like a misstep when kids create messes, even if you never give them food in the car and they are really careful. The idea that you will never need to clean the seat or have a steam cleaner on hand feels like an oversight by Clek.

clek foonf - the foonf is fairly narrow making it easier to access the car latch...
The Foonf is fairly narrow making it easier to access the car LATCH anchor points.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Comfort/Quality


The higher price of the Foonf should translate to better comfort and quality. However, it came in relatively low in this metric with firm padding that does not cushion.

clek foonf - the foonf manual has a pocket in the access cover panel on the back...
The Foonf manual has a pocket in the access cover panel on the back of the seat.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The Foonf has fabric that is rougher but better than that of some of the competition. It is better than some and not genuinely rough. It isn't smooth, but rubbing on the skin didn't seem to be an irritant either. The more we touched it, the better it felt to us. However, the dense and hard foam and lack of comfort padding make us wish it were softer. The lack of comfort padding or an infant insert has us somewhat cringing at the idea of an infant in this seat, and we hope parents will purchase a dedicated infant car seat instead of a one-and-done solution. The cover doesn't come off completely, creating cleaning headaches should spills or sickness occur.

There is about a 1/4 of an inch padding on the tushie area, but there isn't much give or cushion for comfort. We suspect little ones won't be as comfortable here as some of the competition, but younger ones might not know enough to complain. Other toddlers might.

The FOonf seat bottom lifts up and the bottom comes off so you can...
The FOonf seat bottom lifts up and the bottom comes off so you can access the anti-rebound bar.

The shell is not all-encompassing, and there are exposed bars that leave it looking sort of undone and industrial-looking. In rear-facing mode, there is even more of the seat exposed that could get messy. It has no cup holder. This lack of a holder isn't a deal breaker, as most cupholders on seats are relatively useless, but for the price, it feels like an oversight.

We measured all of the seats at their widest points, including the Foonf seen here.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Weight/Size


The Foonf is a beast and weighs more than any other convertible in our lineup. With a measured weight of 33.7 lb, where the average is 24.3, we don't think any parent will want to lug this beast around for long.


Alternatively, it is the most narrow in the group, along with the other Clek we tested, with a width of 16.9 inches.

clek foonf - the foonf might be one of the narrower options in the group, but it...
The Foonf might be one of the narrower options in the group, but it is stupidly heavy and not one you want to lug around on vacation.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

If either one had been easier to install or did better in our crash test analysis, they would be good contenders for small cars or limited seating areas. The average option we measured in our lineup was 18.6 in wide.

Should You Buy the Clek Foonf?


The Clek Foonf is not an impressive option compared to the competition. While it scored better than the Clek Fllo because it is easier to install than the Fllo, it did not earn an average overall score or crash test analysis result, making it a seat we didn't love. Adding the difficulty of keeping it clean, since the entire cover is not removable, we aren't even convinced it is a practical seat for messy toddlers. Given the higher price, we think most families should look elsewhere.

What Other Convertible Car Seat Should You Consider?


One of our favorite options is the Graco 4Ever DLX, which has one of the group's best crash test analysis scores and is easy to install. It comes with dual cup holders and easier-to-use harness height adjustment. It is lighter in weight than the Foonf and offers better features for comfort and quality. If you want the highest quality or comfort, then the Nuna Rava is one for your shortlist. While this seat has one of the highest prices, it delivers in every metric, including crash test analysis, ease of installation for both types, and ease of use. We think you'll love the Rava if your budget allows a higher price.

Manufacturer Video



Juliet Spurrier, MD & Wendy Schmitz