Comparison Thule Yepp Nexxt Mini vs Thule Yepp Maxi Frame Mounted

— Front. Seats that are mounted in front of the rider, for example on the frame or on the handlebar. This has the advantage of keeping the baby in sight at all times; the baby also has a clear view of the space in front of the bike and can enjoy the ride as much as possible. On the other hand, a seat with this arrangement can be quite uncomfortable. Thus, the movements of the handlebar are limited, and the cyclist may have to spread his knees apart to avoid hitting the seat at every pedal revolution. In addition, this arrangement is not very sensible from the point of view of overall weight distribution: additional weight at the front of the bike impairs handling. For this reason, front seats are mainly intended for very young babies and are recommended for short distances.

— Rear. Seats mounted behind the cyclist, for example, mounted on the carrier or on the seatpost. This option is considered ergonomically optimal because, firstly, the seat does not interfere with the cyclist, and secondly, the weight above the rear wheel does not particularly affect the handling. Rear seats are ideal for long rides. On the other hand, the cyclist can't see the child and can't hear the child very well. Therefore, this option is designed mainly for older children who are already conscious enough to follow safety rules. If the seat is used for a baby, it is worth paying specia...l attention to safety issues: provide protective equipment, make sure that the harness is secure, and ideally, organize a ride with the participation of a second cyclist who will ride behind and monitor the young passenger.

— Universal. Seats that allow both front and rear mounting. For more information about each option, see above; and this versatility enables the installation method to be chosen at the discretion of the user, depending on the situation. For example, when riding a long distance in a group, the seat can be mounted at the back: it's more comfortable, and the baby can be looked after by a fellow cyclist riding behind. And for a short ride, for example, a ride to the park, front mounting can be used. In addition, a universal model can be convenient when buying a seat for a growing child: until the child grows up, it is better to mount the seat in the front, and later — move it back.

— Bike trailer. Seats in the form of a separate trailer attached behind the bike. These models are not cheap, but they have notable advantages. Firstly, it is considerably easier to tow the extra weight behind the bike than to carry it directly on the bike. Secondly, the design of the trailer is usually closed, it has walls and windshield made of mesh or transparent material — they protect the baby from dust, insects and draughts and at the same time do not interfere with looking around. Thirdly, the design can provide various pleasant little things — for example, an adjustable shock absorption system or a carrier. Fourth, many such models can also be used as a regular stroller; and some allow the installation of skis instead of wheels. Fifth, only such products can be made into double models (refer to "Purpose").

— Handlebar. Mounting the seat on the handlebar. For obvious reasons, this option is only found on models with front or universal mounting (see "Purpose"). Such seats are usually designed for bikes with a lowered frame.

— Handlebar (for all types of frames). This category includes handlebar-mounted seats that are compatible with all types of frames — classic, slanted, U-shaped, etc.

— Frame. A bar is usually used for mounting on the frame of a bike, which is fixed at two points — at the handlebar and at the seatpost. This bar is fixed tightly to the classic frame and the weight of the child seat falls on the frame. However, this method can also be used with U-shaped frames — in such cases the bar plays the role of a bridge between the handlebar and the seat. In any case, this mounting is a more rational distribution of weight than a handlebar mounting and is considered to be more reliable. On the other hand, the mounts themselves are more complex and expensive; and the U-shaped frame actually becomes a high frame, which can make it difficult for some users to get on the bike.

— Carrier. Mounting on a standard carrier is intended to place the seat at the back (see "Purpose"). This mounting is considered to be more reliable. On the other hand, it requires a carrier (however, in some models it is included in the kit).

— Under th...e saddle. A mounting method used exclusively for rear-facing seats (see "Purpose"). This mounting method uses a separate mounting bracket that is fixed to the seatpost. This is the most versatile rear seat mounting option and is suitable for almost all bikes, regardless of type and equipment.

— Under the saddle/handlebar. Seats that can be mounted both under the saddle and on the handlebars. See above for more details on each of these methods; and this option is used in universal seats that allow both front and rear mounting (see "Purpose"). Note, however, that these seats are compatible with all types of frames when placed on the handlebar.

The maximum weight for which the seat is designed. It is impossible to exceed this weight: even if the product does not break immediately, it will be subjected to off-design loads, and breakage can occur at any time; on the road, this is fraught with very sad consequences.

The age category of the seat directly depends on this indicator. Thus, models with limit of 15 kg are designed for children under 3 years old, 22 kg - up to 6-7 years, a larger value is often applicable for bicycle trailers.

— Forward-facing/rear-facing. A seat can be installed in two positions – forward-facing or rear-facing. While the standard choice is forward-facing for most child bike seats, opting for a rear-facing position is beneficial for very young children. This orientation prevents insects and dust from reaching the child's face, allows constant visibility of the parent, and ensures better head support during sudden braking, reducing the risk of injury to the delicate spine compared to forward-facing positions.

— Harness height adjustment. The ability to change the height of the harnesses, adjusting them to the growth of the baby. A very useful feature in light of the fact that bike seats for kids are often bought for several years, during which the child can grow noticeably.

— Backrest tilt adjustment. The backrest can be tilted from upright to semi-reclining and backwards. This function is designed mainly for babies who have difficulties with sitting upright for long periods of time and who may fall asleep in the seat during a ride.

— Footrest adjustment. The ability to change the height of the footrests, adjusting them to the height of the child. This is an indispensable feature if the seat is purchased for several seasons, with the expectation that the child will grow; in fact, most bike seats are purchased with this consideration, which is w...hy this feature is extremely popular.

— Back ventilation. The presence of holes in the backrest of the seat, providing additional air access to the baby's back. This feature is relevant especially in warm weather: thanks to ventilation, the child's back will sweat less. This not only provides additional comfort, but also reduces the risk of catching a cold.

— Bumper bar. An additional accessory in the form of a rail across the seat at the level of the sitting child's chest and abdomen; it can be either fixed or removable. The baby can comfortably hold on to this bar with his or her hands while riding. In addition, it reduces the likelihood of falling out of the seat during a sudden braking or other unpleasantness: even if the harness fails (for example, due to inattention when fastening), the bumper bar will hold the baby or at least slow down its fall, giving the parent additional time to react.

— Headrest. A device that provides support and additional protection for the child's head. The headrest at least covers the back of the head, and often also from the sides. In some models it is separate, in others the role of the headrest is played by the upper part of the backrest.