10 Best Travel Booster Seats to Keep Your Child Safe & Supported

What We Love About It: You can deflate it and pop it in the carry bag it comes with. Soft and comfy to sit on. Comes with a lifetime guarantee.

What We Didn't Like: Tricky for kids to buckle themselves. Better for short drives rather than long road trips.

This Hiccapop Uberboost Inflatable booster seat is a great travel companion as you can easily deflate the booster seat when not in use and store it away in your luggage.

Not only is the inflatable booster seat easy to pack away, but it is also easy to inflate with only a few breaths.

If you do not have luggage to store the deflated booster seat in, you can pack it away in its very own travel bag for easy storage.

It is certified safe and meets federal standards for car safety FMVSS213.

It comes with a patch kit, however if it does leak Hiccapop will send you out a replacement as they have backed the seat against leaks for life.

UberBoost exceeds Federal Motor Vehicle standard FMVSS213.

It is the best best inflatable booster seat and our top pick for a backless booster seat for travel in 2023. 

Hiccapop VS Bubblebum Inflatable Booster Seat:

I thought it might be helpful to just quickly talk about the difference between two of the most popular inflatable travel booster seats.

First of all the Hiccapop seat is bigger and also higher once blown up. My daughter tried both seats and whilst she doesn't mind the Bubblebum she does prefer the Hiccapop for comfort.

The lightest of the two seats is the Bubble Bum Booster seat. It only weighs 15 oz in comparison to Hiccapop that weighs 1.3 lbs. 

When deflated the Hiccapop is rollable and comes with a carry pouch that you can pop it in. Whereas the Bubble Bum is a lot bulkier to pack.

Lastly, another reason why I prefer Hiccapop Inflatable Travel Booster Seat is that it has an anti-slip section on the bottom of the seat that helps to prevent the seat from moving out of space.

It also has a seat belt adjuster that fits into a special loops and that prevents the shoulder belt from cutting into your child's neck. And that's why I prefer the Hiccapop over the BubbleBum seat.

Now, let's circle back to focusing on the Hiccapop booster seat and let's look at the pros and the cons.

You can also choose from a range of colors and designs, making it more appealing to some kids.

The Cosco Topside Backless Booster is great for traveling with small kids.

The booster seat fits securely in most cars and gives your child the extra height they need to keep seatbelts properly positioned.

It safely holds children aged 4 to 11, providing they weigh no more than 100 pounds.

It is easy to move it around from car to car if you change vehicles.

What We Love About It: One of the more comfy backless seats on our list. Foldable drink holders is clever too. Fits in standard booster seat travel bags.

What We Didn't Like: Too big for some planes maximum size requirements for carry-on.

Great for long car rides, the Chicco GoFit, in our opinion, the best backless booster seat, is ideal for family road trips. 

While not as small as other travel booster seats, this seat has a convenient carry handle and is still light enough (only 5 lbs) to carry around.

There is a foldable, removable cup holder for water bottles on each side of the seat as well.

It also had integrated lap belt guides and a shoulder belt clip.

This seat doesn't have an anchor or latch, if you want the seat to be more secure then we recommend the GoFit Plus that has a latch system (although rental cars in other destinations around the world might not have a latch).

What We Love About It: Easy to install. It is lightweight. It can transition from a 5-point harness to a seatbelt booster.

What We Didn't Like: The seat doesn't have much padding. No support for the head if you child still naps during car drives.

This is a super lightweight travel booster seat weighing only 11.5 lbs.

Although this is a highback booster seat, it is very easy to carry around and travel with.

One of the best features of this forward-facing car seat is that not only is it super comfortable for your child, but you can also fit three of these on the back seat of your car.

What We Love About It: Easy to install. It is lightweight and pretty roomy.

What We Didn't Like: The seat is pretty low so hard for little kids to see out the window.

This Evenflo booster portable seat comes is a pretty bulky booster seat, however when judging on the comfort level, it is 4.5 stars in our eyes! 

This booster easily converts from the forward-facing highchair with the harness (up to 50 lbs), into the belt-position booster seat (up to 110 lbs). 

As your kid gets older, the shoulder belt guide helps to properly position the car's belt over their shoulder to ensure maximum safety.

What We Love About It: The fabric is nice and soft and breathable and wipes easily to clean. Love the adjustable headrest.

What We Didn't Like: Whilst it is FAA approved the seat is pretty wide (30") which means it will mostly not fit on a plane seat.

The Safety 1st booster seat is designed to fit children aged 4 to 12, weighing 30 to 120 lbs.

The seat is able to grow with your child, thanks to the belt-positioning booster mode that you can use up to 120 lbs.

The Safety 1st booster seat boosts kids up to the perfect height, allowing seat belts to be secured across the body safely and comfortably.

While the seat does not fold up to fit into bags, it is still easy enough to transport, and perfect if you plan on traveling in a car for long periods.

When Can You Use A Booster Seat?

A booster seat is used to raise the child so that the car's regular lap/shoulder seatbelt fits properly. It should be used for children between 4 and 8 years old, or who are shorter than 4 feet 9 inches tall.

For children taller than 4 feet 9 inches, a high back booster may be appropriate until the age of 8 and then switch to a backless booster seat.

This can be determined on an individual basis as children will reach certain heights at different ages.

Children should stay in a booster seat until they are big enough to fit properly in a car’s lap/shoulder seatbelt, usually between 8 and 12 years old, depending on their height.

It is important to make sure that the lap portion of the seatbelt crosses low over your child's hips and the shoulder portion is across their chest.

If it does not fit correctly, they should stay in a booster seat until they reach an appropriate size. 

Booster Seat Laws In Countries Around the World

Booster seat laws vary by country and state, but in most countries booster seats are recommended for children under the age of 12 or shorter than 4 feet 9 inches.

But regardless of laws, it is important to keep your child safe no matter where you are in the world, so I recommend you either rent a booster or take your own with.

In Australia, every child must use a car seat or booster up until the age of 7 - after that, it's at the discretion of parents/caregivers.

Important to note that Australia is not a big fan of backless boosters and some of the inflatable ones on our list are illegal to use. More about the car seat laws in Australia here.

In most countries in Europe, a child must use a booster seat until they turn 12 or reach 135 cm (4 feet 5 inches) in height - whichever comes first.

We used to rent our car seats for road trip in Europe, but now we just pack our Bubble Bum seat which is legal to use in Europe.

In Canada, children under the age of 8 or less than 4'9" in height are required to use a booster seat while traveling in a car, but the laws vary by province/territory.

In the United States, booster seat laws vary by state. All states require that children under a certain age or height use a booster seat while in the car. It is important to check the laws of your individual state for specifics.

In most countries in Asia, booster seats are recommended for children up to the age of 10 or shorter than 4 feet 9 inches. However, this isn't really enforced in many countries in Asia.

Considering how chaotic the driving is in many Asian countries I highly suggest you choose use a booster seat to keep your kids safe.

In most countries in Africa, such as South Africa and Namibia, booster seats are compulsory for children up to the age of 7 (but recommended for up to the age of 10). More on their laws here.

We just don't travel without a booster seat. It is so important to look after our kids and too often I see families who adjust into holiday mode so much that they think it will be okay to relax on car safety (especially in Asian countries where car seat rules are not enforced).

Make sure that your kids are riding safely and legally when traveling abroad or locally by either renting or taking along your own booster car seat.

Travel Booster Car Seat Buyer’s Guide

Before you buy any booster seat, but especially a travel one, make sure you’ve checked the following features.

1. Lightweight

Your chosen booster seat should be light enough that it doesn’t weigh you down.

Choose a seat that doesn’t weigh too much and won’t be uncomfortable to carry with you in between car rides.

This is especially important if you plan on taking taxi rides instead of using a rented car.

2. Is it compact and easy to store?

When purchasing a traveling booster car seat, you want to be able to store it away from both during your travels and once you’re back home.

Ideally, you want something that folds up, deflates, or fits easily into a bag.

This goes hand-in-hand with the lightweight feature of the seat, as both of these allow you to move from point A to B without causing too much of a hassle.

3. Can it be adjusted to your child’s age and height?

Some booster seats are adjustable, allowing you to keep using them as your child grows.

Not only does this allow you to save money, but it also means that once you find a trusted seat, you can use it for years to come.

4. Is it certified for use in the country you’re traveling to?

It’s important to remember that booster seat laws differ from country to country.

Before purchasing a travel booster seat for car use, be mindful of the country you’re traveling to and what its laws are.

Some countries require children of younger ages to be in a car seat and not a booster seat.

While other countries are fine with booster seats, but they need to be used until the child is older.

If you’re frequent travelers, like us, then it’s best to look for a travel booster seat that is certified in most countries, so that you won’t have to buy multiple seats.

Click Here to See Our Pick of the Best Back Booster Travel Seat for Travel 

Click Here to See Our Pick of the Best Backless Booster Travel Seat for Travel

Best Booster Seat for Travel FAQ's

Here are some quick answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the best booster seats for travel.

1. Can you take a Backless booster seat on an airplane? 

Yes you can, however you might not be able to use it on the seat. Some of our high back boosters are FAA-approved when using it with the 5-point-harness only.

However none of the boosters that require a shoulder belt will be allowed to be used on a plane seat.

2. Should I bring a booster seat on a plane?

Safety when traveling is the number one priority so we will always say yes as you may want to use the booster seat when you reach your final destination.

However, it is important to note that you might not be able to use the booster seat on the plane seat as booster seats require a lap-shoulder seat belt when using (unless you have a 2-in-1 seat and your child is still young enough to use the 5-point harness which can work on a plane seat).

3. How do you fly with a booster seat?

You can only a 2-in-1 booster seat for air travel (when it has a 5-point-harness).

For backless or shoulder belt-only boosters, you can either take the booster seat on the plane as carry on (and stow it in the overhead bin) or check the booster seat in.

4. Does a booster seat count as a checked bag?

No, the booster seat does not count towards your checked luggage items so you can check your booster seat in for free into the hold in addition to your other checked luggage.

We always recommend that you double with your airline as they may have different rules and allowances.

5. Can you gate check a booster seat?

Yes, you can. 

6. How to pack a booster seat for checked baggage?

We recommend that you always place your booster seat in a protective carry bag or cover to try and protect the seat from any damage or soiling. 

7. What age do kids switch to backless booster?

Generally, it is recommended that kids switch to a backless booster seat when they reach 4 feet and are between 6 and 12 years old.

At this height and age, the car's regular lap/shoulder seatbelt should fit them properly without the need for an additional level of protection provided by the booster seat. 

Verdict on the Best Traveling Booster Car Seat

So, which is the best booster seat for travel? Well, that largely depends on your child’s age and weight, as well as your travel plans and needs.

Our daughter is 6 years old and we personally prefer to use a backless booster for travel so that it is easy to pack (and so lightweight). We prefer the Hiccapop or Bubblebum inflatable seats.

For kids younger at aged 4 or 5, who might still fall asleep on car rides, we much prefer a high back booster. Our preference is for Graco Turbobooster as it is the lightest high back seat on our list.

It’s also important to note that even the best backless booster seats (unless they are 2-in-1 with a 5-point harness) are not allowed to be used in the airplane seat itself.

If you prefer to have added protection for your child during your flight, the Airplane Safety harness is the best option.

Now that you’ve read our top picks of travel booster seats, we’d love to hear yours!

• Which booster seats have you used while traveling?
• Do you take your own booster seats or rent them when you arrive?

Let us know! 

Tip: For more information you can also visit our travel car seat for 3 year old guide.

Helpful Links:  

• Here is our guide to the best baby travel gear.  We also suggest you check out our baby travel guide as well.
• Here are our picks for the options for the travel car seats and the best car seat alternatives.
• Check out this booster seat user guide for best practices.

Keen for all the info? Keep reading.