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Diono might not be one of the most popular car seat brands out there. Nevertheless, it is known for its high-quality car seats for children of all ages and sizes. For example, the Diono Radian 3RXT and Diono Rainier 2AXT.
They are two prime examples of what the brand offers regarding car seats that can grow with your little one. At first, they both might look like the same car seat without any real differences. However, some qualities set them apart from one another. Like the fact that the Radian is for children up to 120 pounds.
On the others side, the Rainier is made for kids as big as 65 pounds. Somehow, though, they’re both the same price on Amazon. This means that you might have to find other differences between them to really help you decide which is best for your family.
Both car seats are designed to be slim and fit in most cars, but you can likely fit as many as three Radian Car Seats in your backseat. The Rainier has the ability to be in the rear-facing position for kids up to 50 pounds. However, while the Diono Radian RXT Convertible has to be switched to forward-facing when they reach 45 pounds, it’s a small difference, but for some parents, it can be a big deal.
They both have infant insert pillows and memory foam (EPS foam) infant body support cushion to make the car seats as comfortable as possible for children right from the start. They are equipped with Diono’s SuperLatch system (harness mode and latch system) that lets out an audible click to let you know you’ve installed the car seat properly.
At first glance, both car seats are certainly similar enough, but they do have enough small differences to eventually make the decision of choosing between them just a little bit easier.
Bottom Line Up Front: Both are quality car seats, but our pick here is definitely the longer laster Diono Radian RXT here. It’s rated up to 120 lbs (unlike 65 lbs for the Rainier), meaning you won’t have to worry about getting a new car seat if your toddler outgrows it in the forward-facing position.
Table of Contents
Main Differences Between the Diono Radian vs Rainier
The Main Differences Between the Diono Radian and Rainier are:
- The Radian is rated up to 12o lbs, whereas the Rainier only goes up to 65 lbs
- The Rainier is slightly wider near the top of the seat at 18.5 inches wide
- The Rainier has additional padded side foam along the side-walls for shock absorption (hence adding the width at the top)
We personally went with the Diono Radian RXT because it's rated forward facing up to 120 lbs. That's much higher than the many similar convertible car seats. No outgrowing this one!
Diono Radian 3 RXT
You can tell just by looking at the Diono Radian 3RXT that it’s designed to have a slim frame and fit multiple in most back seats with ease.
And although it looks like a car seat that’s meant for older babies and toddlers only, it actually starts out as a rear-facing car seat for children up to 45 pounds, keeping them in the rear-facing position for longer than some other similar car seats. Once they transition to forward-facing, you can continue to get value out of the car seat until they’re 120 pounds. Let that sink in for a minute.
This Radian RXT (Diono 3RXT) convertible car seat, the newest of its style, is designed to fit children from birth all the way up to the point where they no longer need a car seat, let alone a booster car seat. It’s a total win-win any way you look at it.
For your child’s safety, it’s made with a dual spine to withstand force and a high-strength steel frame. It also has superior side impact protection with aluminum reinforcement added to give you even more peace of mind.
As an added bonus, the car seat actually folds down flat so you can travel with it and it’s approved for use in aircraft in case you need to use it for your little one on a flight. Needless to say, it definitely has you covered as far as longevity, convenience, and safety go.
Diono Radian 3 RXT Convertible Car Seat Features
- Safety: The Radian RXT is made with a dual spine of high-strength steel and has side impact protection made stronger by aluminum reinforcement.
- Adjustments: You can move the head support up to 12 different positions as your child grows and it transitions from rear-facing to forward-facing to booster car seat mode (booster mode).
- Child Weight Range: It’s designed for children from 5-120 pounds.
- Where To Buy: You can buy it on the Diono website here and on Amazon or in-store at Buy Buy Baby.
- Has This Item Been Recalled?: There was a 2017 recall on a number of Diono car seats, including the Radian.
Pros of the Radian 3R
- You can fit three of these across the back seat of most cars.
- It can potentially be the only car seat you’ll ever need since it’s for children up to 120 pounds.
- It’s relatively easy to install and move the car seat to other cars as needed.
- Traveling with the Radian is easy too since it folds flat and can be used in airplanes.
- There are a lot of safety reinforcements to keep your little one safe in the event of an accident.
- Memory foam support
- Fully convertible seat
- Full steel frame
Cons of the Radian 3RXT
- It is in the pricier side, even for a convertible car seat.
- Although you can travel with it, the Radian might be a little heavy for some parents or caregivers.
- It can be a little difficult to adjust the harness and seat belt attachment.
- No cup holder built into the vehicle seat.
Other Radian 3RXT Reviews
“You can’t beat these car seats. We have used these since birth with our triplets (two years old now), and since our oldest was 18 months (she’s five now). They are easy to remove, easy to clean, and hefty enough to stay put during an install. They are comfortable and cool down quickly.
I love that they are narrow — no unnecessary molded plastic that takes up space if you need to have more in a row than one car seat. We use these three across rear-facing in the third row of our Sienna, and have installed them as rear-facing and forward-facing in the captain’s chairs, with space left for an adult to sit next to them.” – Kathryn Marcotte on Amazon.
“This is our second Diono. My toddler has one and seems very happy and comfy in it so we said we would get the same for our son. He is happy out in it too and sleeps no problem. Seems very secure. Would recommend.” – Ciaran Dermody on Amazon.
We personally went with the Diono Radian RXT because it's rated forward facing up to 120 lbs. That's much higher than the many similar convertible car seats. No outgrowing this one!
Diono Rainier 2AXT Convertible Car Seat
The Diono Rainier 2AXT, which is the newest Rainier on the market right now, isn’t unlike the Radian. It looks similar enough in design and has many of the same comfort and safety features, but it is made for children up to 65 pounds rather than 120 pounds.
While that’s a major difference, and once that may deter some parents, other qualities make the Rainier 2AXT a solid option on its own. It does keep your little one in the rear-facing position longer than the Radian, up to 50 pounds, which is a big plus.
The Rainier 2AXT is made from high-strength steel with a dual spine that redirects energy from impact and helps to keep your child safe in the event of an accident. It also has energy-absorbing foam added for side impact protection, as well as extra wide and deep side walls to keep your little one comfortable.
No matter your little one’s size, the walls and cushions are designed to hug them in all the right spots and keep them safe and comfortable at the same time.
Like the Radian, it can fold flat for easier travel when necessary. It might be on the heavier side and difficult to lug around in that respect, but since it is airplane friendly and the fact that it folds flat makes it a little less awkward to carry.
Diono Rainier 2AXT Convertible Car Seat Features
- Safety: It has energy-absorbing foam, side-impact protection, and a reinforced frame.
- Adjustments: It can transition from rear-facing to forward-facing. But, because it doesn’t become a booster seat, there are no headrest adjustments.
- Child Weight Range: It’s made for little ones from 5-65 pounds.
- Where To Buy: You can buy it on Amazon.
- Has This Item Been Recalled?: There was a 2017 recall on a number of Diono car seats, including the Rainier.
Pros of the Diono Rainier Car Seat
- The cushion cover is soft, plush, and easy to wash in the washer if needed.
- With the Rainier 2AXT, you can keep your little one in the rear-facing position for longer than with most other similar car seats.
- As your child gets older, they’ll find it relatively easy to get in and out of this particular car seat on their own.
- It has built-in memory foam and an infant car seat insert for your newborn.
- The deeper side walls can keep your little one from throwing things out of the car seat.
- Steel frame, to provide extra safety for your baby.
Cons
- You also can’t fit three across your back seat like the Radian, and instead, just two Diono seat systems.
- Like the Radian, it’s on the pricier side and might be a little too costly for some families.
- Also a bit difficult to adjust the harness (although it’s very secure once adjusted)
- No cup holder built-in; it’s only attachable and comes off easily
The Verdict: Diono Rainer or Radian Car Seat?
There are certainly some benefits to both the Diono Radian 3RXT and the Diono Rainier AXT.
They’re both solid options for any growing child. But, when it comes down to it, the smarter option here would be to go with the Diono Radian 3RXT. Not only can you fit three across the backseat of most cards, but the car seat itself can be used for children up to 120 pounds.
That’s a pretty huge difference from the Rainier AXT, which caps out at 65 pounds. Especially since both car seats are around the same price and offer many of the same qualities otherwise. Overall, however, you can’t really beat the longevity and usefulness that the Radian RXT provides, no matter how solid the other car seat is too.
We personally went with the Diono Radian RXT because it's rated forward facing up to 120 lbs. That's much higher than the many similar convertible car seats. No outgrowing this one!
Final Thoughts on the Diono Rainer vs Radian Debate
When you have two car seats from the same brand with similar qualities and price tags, it can be a daunting task to choose between the Diono Radian vs Rainier car seat. You really have to look at them from all angles to understand all of their benefits and what either of them might be lacking.
Bottom Line: In this case, a few big differences are all it takes to make the Radian 3RXT the stronger option when compared to the Rainier 2AXT. However, in the end, it’s easy to see that both Diono seats are solid options.
Further Car Seat Reads
- The Best All-In-One Car Seat Options
- Top 5 Best Convertible Car Seats – Convertible Car Seat Buying Guide
- Graco 4Ever Car Seat: Yay or Nay?
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- Baby Car Seat Recalls
