Clek Fllo Review

Clek is a North American company headquartered in Canada. The company strives to think outside the box to create and produce innovative designs that are safer and stylish. Currently, they only offer safety seats and accessories including infant, convertible, and booster seats for older kids. The majority of their seats include a steel frame design that mimics the design of your vehicle seat.

Performance Comparison

Crash Test

The Fllo earned a just-above-average score for crash test results. While not significantly better than the competition, it is better than the average score for the group. Each seat for sale in the US must meet or exceed Federal guidelines outlined in FMVSS 213. Therefore, all of the car seats in this review are considered safe, and the Fllo is somewhat better than some of the competition as indicated by its recorded results.

BabyGearLab tests each seat using the same method and facility that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) uses. This process allows us to compare results side-by-side. The comparison graphs below include the test data for the head sensor (HIC) and the chest sensor (g clip) from the Fllo compared to the best results from the group.

The results include the HIC results for the Britax Allegiance and the Clek Foonf for the chest clip which both earned the best results.

The Fllo comes standard with an anti-rebound bar (ARB) which is considered an additional safety feature. This feature works in the rear-facing configuration and helps stabilize the car seat against the vehicle seat back to help reduce the rotation or recoil of the car seat in the event of a collision.

Ease of Install - LATCH

The fllo is not the hardest to install using LATCH, but it isn't the easiest either. This method should theoretically be easier to use than using the vehicle seatbelt.

The Fllo has the button style LATCH connectors that are easier to remove and connect than the clip style connectors. Both are considered safe, but those with the release button are easier to use. Attaching the bar to the seat is time-consuming and takes more work than we think it should.

The Fllo has a level indicator (above left) designed to help parents find the correct installation angle for installation. It also has a recline angle adjustment on the bottom of the seat (above right) that can help achieve this proper angle.

The sheer bulk and weight of this seat make it challenging to deal with and maneuver inside the vehicle. Some testers had difficulties fitting their hands through the holes to thread the LATCH connectors and vehicle belt. Everything about this seat, in general, is harder than the competition.

Ease of Install - Belt

Installing the Fllo with the vehicle belt is about the same difficulty wise earning the same score as the LATCH method. Once again the size and weight make it harder to maneuver, and belt pathway and lock-offs are a little cumbersome compared to the competition.

The rear-facing configuration threads the seatbelt through the seat bottom of the Fllo (above left). It requires lifting the seat bottom and using the locks under the seat (above right). The process has more steps than the competition, but lock-off is easy enough to use. You can use this method with both a lap-only and a lap/shoulder belt.

The forward-facing configuration is somewhat more straightforward because you don't need to lift the seat bottom to thread the seatbelt (above left) and it has side lock-offs that are easy to use (above right). You just need to make sure you use the right lock-off based on the directions and location of the seat.

The rear-facing installation with the seat belt is complicated. It was stable once we managed to get it installed, but some users had trouble closing the belt lock-off without help.

Ease of Use

The Fllo is one of the harder seats to use. The size and weight of this seat make it more difficult to maneuver in the backseat which contributes to the struggle.

Harness

The harness is a rethread style that requires removing straps from a hook and threading through new slots and replacing them on the hook. It isn't hard to use, but it isn't as quick or straightforward as the non-rethread options. Don't be fooled by the adjustable headrest; it is not the same as the harness assemblies that move with their headrests. The shoulder straps have six height positions, and the crotch strap has two. Tightening and loosening the harness is simple and smooth. The buckle and chest clip are both stiff, but manageable.

LATCH Storage

The LATCH connectors store under the seat bottom and the manual slides into a pocket on the back. The manual is out of the way of little ones and accidental spills, but if you move the seat, you'll want to make sure it stays put.

Cover

The cover is not removable which means it is spot clean only. This design could be an issue if little ones have an accident or spill their drinks. The company claims the cloth is easy to keep clean and they offer a cleaning kit sold separately.

Comfort/Quality

The Fllo is one of the higher quality options with several features for comfort making it a top scorer in this metric. This seat has dense, thick padding over the entire seating area. It is very firm but still feels comfortable giving support where other seats lack it. The fabric fits the seat well, and because it isn't removable, it looks like upholstery instead of a slipcover. The material is soft and somewhat towel-like with a spill-resistant coating the company claims is easy to keep clean. The Fllo uses Expanded Polypropylene (EPP) for impact and comfort foam. This less commonly used foam is more environmentally friendly and less brittle than Expanded Polystyrene (EPS). It also doesn't off-gas which is a big benefit in our book. The shell and bottom are contained and relatively smooth. It is designed to keep things contained, and it does a good job.

Weight

Thanks to the steel internal framework, this seat is one of the heavier options. Rear-facing this seat weighs 28.8 lbs and forward-facing it is 25.8. This product is almost 10 lbs lighter than its bigger brother the Clek Foonf but it is still hefty compared to the competition with only four options weighing more. On the plus side, it is only 17 inches wide making it one of the narrowest options in the review, and theoretically, it allows for three seats across most back seats.

Should You Buy the Fllo?

The Fllo certainly has some nice attributes and we can see why parents would find it attractive. However, given that there are competitors that performed better during testing, including a competing Clek option, we don't think this is the option to buy. It is not a stand-out product, nor does it offers something special you can't find elsewhere in a higher-scoring or less expensive option. It's one potential attribute that could make it one to consider is the lighter weight coupled with the narrower width. At 25-28 lbs and 17 inches, it could be one to consider if you have lots of kids in safety seats. However, if you need a light option for travel or carpool, there are lighter seats available and if you need 17 in the competition Clek is also that narrow with a much higher overall score. So in the end, we don't think the Fllo is the best choice for most families.

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