Britax Tex Car Seats Worth It over Non-Tex?

New bub hence looking into convertible car seats and have shortlisted the Britax Graphene which seems to get very good reviews from parents.

I see that Britax has released Tex fabric across the premium range that on average costs around $70 extra than the equivalent non-Tex model. The marketing blurb states “The TEX Series incorporates liquid barrier technology, causing spills to bead up and roll off your seat without compromising on its look, feel or comfort.”

Is it worth the additional outlay for the sake of easier cleaning or is it just a glorified child-safe 3M scotchguard fabric treatment that would just fade over time?

Edit: video of tex vs non-tex:
https://youtu.be/ycdutsMFvj4

Comments

  • +7

    Both of my kids threw up, sharted, squished banana (you get the idea) in their non fancy seats and they were fine with regular washing. New parent marketing bulltish. Don't fall for it. All the great reviews are just confirmation to themselves that the extra money was worth it and Iook how rich I am brags.

    • Agreed, you're still going to need to remove the cover to wash it (especially if it gets vomit or excrement).

  • Most of these are washable, take it apart and put in the washing machine and wash.

  • It's really not a huge drama to strip down the seats for a good wash (even less effort if using isofix).
    (Source we have 4 brittax seats..)

    You're spending 400+ on a seat already, whats another $70, really?

    • -1

      I don't mind paying $400 on a car seat for safety, but the $70 worth it.

      Just wash it if it gets dirty.

      • Honestly I was going to splash out the ozbargain's favourite bissell spot cleaner but I have a ryobi wet/dry shop vac (so handy) - I usually strip the seats down as required, wash it out by hand (i guess it could go through washing machine too) - then shopvac it dry and line dry overnight.

      • Ooops, should be 'not worth it'.

  • $70 is still $70

    I just remove my covers and put in wash. If your child vomits or spills something, you'll still need to take covers off to clean the seat with or without tex.

    You'll be doing more than just a wipe with say vomit, in which case beading is useless.

    • Yup good point, beading would definitely not apply to vomit.
      Makes me think that if I wanted to get the beading effect for more straightforward liquids that it’s better to separately buy a can Scotchguard rather than pay the $70 which smells like classic marketing upsell. Then again I don’t think it’s worth exposing my kid to such spray on fabric protectors… so seems like it’s probably better just to get the non-Tex, pocket the seventy bucks and just machine wash the covers whenever accidents happen.

  • My parents paid for ours.

    In our case, its mostly things like sultanas, dates, plums etc that get left behind after we rush the kids out of the car when they're getting grumpy from being in the car.

    It's been a matter of cracking out the baby wipes and giving it a wipe, and good as new.

    That being said, if you're not too fussed about washing it, then go for it. But we are time poor parents.

    • Just to confirm - your parents got you the Tex version seat?

  • The marketing blurb states “The TEX Series incorporates liquid barrier technology, causing spills to bead up and roll off your seat without compromising on its look, feel or comfort.

    Roll straight off into your car seats.

    If you want water repellent for fabric you can get them in spray bottles and just reapply annually.

  • +1

    I have a TEX Graphene and a normal Graphene and they are basically the same seats my kids eat and drink in the back of the car and I thought the TEX would be better fit for us as its liquid barrier technology but basically i have to remove both covers and clean them TEX or not. Just my experience on it.

  • +1

    I've got the regular Graphene, kid is nearly 2 now. Every time I've had to wash it, it's because it got painted with spew, a nappy blowout or a tiny teddy massacre while waiting for a PCR test. It hasn't been for a reason that a TEX fabric could have prevented so I'm glad we didn't waste the money. It's really easy to get the cover off and put back on and just chuck it in the washing machine to clean.

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