Looking for an honest UppaBaby Mesa review? You have come to the right place!
One of the most important but difficult responsibilities you’ll face as a parent is deciding on a car seat for your child. You need a seat that is both safe and suitable with your vehicle, as well as comfy for your child, all while being simple to install and lightweight.
There is a lot to think about!
We understand how exhausted new parents are. Today, we’ll be examining one of the top car seats on the market, the UPPAbaby Mesa car seat, in an attempt to save them time and effort.
Overall, the MESA comes with a slew of high-end security and convenience features.
As one of the best infant car seats, the MESA is also listed in our recommended Narrow Car Seats, where we also talked about other infant car seats.
Table of Contents
Pros & Cons of Mesa
Pros
- Easy to carry
- Easy to install
- Fit and comfortable (Tightness indicator; Self-retracting LATCH connectors)
- Safe (FAA-approved; No chemically-treated materials)
Cons
- More expensive option than most other infant car seats
- You can clean the harness with warm water and mild detergent but not remove or replace the harness.
- Mesa weighs almost 10 pounds, which is considered heavy.
What is the UppaBaby Mesa?
UppaBaby Mesa is an Infant Car Seat designed for preemies that are as little as 4 pounds or 1.8kg.
The MESA is a rear-facing only car seat, so you might consider placing a little car seat mirror (like this) to keep an eye on your child while driving.
What comes with UppaBaby Mesa Infant Car Seat
This model includes the carrier, base, and supporting insert for small babies. If you require a second base, one may be purchased separately.
Other accessories offered by the manufacturer include a travel bag and a rain shield.
Mesa canopy looks nice, stays taut, and does not interfere with a carrying handle.
Who is Mesa for?
Mesa is great for someone who wants assurance and peace of mind.
The UPPAbaby MESA is a fantastic infant seat with a simple installation, adorable color options, and a wide range of sizes, including low-birthweight newborns.
This rear-facing car seat is designed for babies weighing 4 to 35 pounds and standing up to 32 inches tall.
Preemies may use it because of the cushioned, detachable insert. It’s also a good option for parents who desire a carrier that can be securely clicked into a stroller. It may be fitted without the base, which makes it a good choice for families that plan to transfer the seat from car to car regularly.
Where to buy it?
Amazon will be a good option.
Overall Rating
- Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.75 out of 5)
- Safety: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Durability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Ease of Use: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Market Reviews: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
| Our evaluation of this product is based on three metrics: 1) Safety, 2) Durability and 3) Ease of use, and 4) Market Reviews. We write about each of these metrics in its own section below. |
#1. Safety – How Safe is UPPAbaby Mesa Infant Car Seat?
Total Safety Score = ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
In terms of Safety, we rate the UPPAbaby Mesa based on the formula below:
Safety Score = Safety Features + Certifications + Recall/Quality Issues
Safety Features ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Side Impact Protection
- Anti-Rebound Bar/Load Leg
- Passed federal safety standards without fire retardant
- Deep enough for the baby to be contained
Most parents felt their babies were totally safe in this seat. It exceeds all Federal crash testing guidelines.
One thing that people fail to appreciate is the depth of this vehicle seat. My baby girl has some long legs, which would usually just hang off the edge of a typical infant vehicle seat. Even though her legs are almost touching the vehicle seat already. I like how completely contained she is in the MESA.
Due to the lack of crash test data for their claimed SIP feature, we cannot comment on whether or not it enhances seat safety.
Safety Certifications ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Car: All applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) are met by this child restraint system.
Flight: This kid restraint is approved for use on planes. For the length of your flight, UPPAbaby Mesa and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) highly advise you to secure your kid in a Child Restraint System (CRS) or device.
Fire Retardant-Free: This is the only car seat on the market that hasn’t been treated with a fire retardant (as of this writing). For optimal comfort and safety, it is entirely comprised of Merino wool, with integrated side impact protection and EPP foam.
Recall/Quality Issues ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
At this time, there are no known recalls for UPPAbaby Mesa car seats.
Quality control flaws such as broken components, ripped fabric, and a fragile canopy were discovered by a few parents.
We also saw rare reports about the strange smell of the product which may due to the delivery process or storage issue.
| Tips: Keep your receipt. You should examine all sections of the seat as soon as you receive it. The sooner you can reach out to customer support, the better, as they might be slow to respond at times. Be ready to take pictures of the product defects if any. |
#2. Durability: How Long Can you Use UPPAbaby Mesa Infant Car Seat?
Total Durability Score = ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
In terms of Ease of Use, we rate the UPPAbaby Mesa based on the formula below:
Durability Score = Range of Use + Expiration + Warranty
Range of Use ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Minimum weight limit recommendation: 4 Pounds (1.8kg)
- Maximum weight limit recommendation: 35 Pounds (15.9kg)
- Maximum height limit recommendation: 32 Inches (81.3cm)
- Weight range: 4 Pounds (1.8kg) – 35 Pounds (15.9kg)
| For the best use of the car seat, the manufacturer recommends the Range of Use. Exceeding those limits might be okay if you had to. In the end, though, it is about risk, safety, and your child’s comfort.If your baby weighs less than the minimum weight limit, you should not put them in the car seat. Additionally, the maximum weight and height limit also tells you if your child has outgrown the car seat, if you can’t already tell or if they aren’t complaining about it. |
Expiration ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
UPPAbaby Mesa expires 7 years from manufacture date. Most car seats have their product lifetime due to the constant wear and tear and hot/cold temperature change with different places you go.
| Keep an eye on the expiration date as a safety precaution for your youngster. This information is provided by baby car seat manufacturers depending on the design and materials they employ. Due to the typical predicted wear and tear, car seats that have beyond their expiration dates are more likely to have safety hazards. |
Warranty ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2 years warranty from date of purchase
#3. Ease of Use: How Will UPPAbaby Mesa Infant Car Seat fit into your car?
Total Ease of Use Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
In terms of Ease of Use, we rate the Mesa Infant Car Seat based on the formula below:
Ease of use =
Installation + Adjustability + Usability + Maintenance + Carry +Stroller Compatibility
Installation ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
NHTSA has given the Mesa a five-star grade for installation.
The LATCH installation on this seat, according to UPPAbaby, takes just around 10 seconds, and I agree. There’s not much to it, the LATCH installation is just as simple as they say.
Push the LATCH release buttons to detach the LATCH connections after lowering the reclining foot until the recline indicator indicates green.
LATCH connectors: Because the UPPAbaby Mesa uses the LATCH system, installation couldn’t be easier.
The revolutionary smart installation mechanism that UPPA put into this seat is the basis for such a good ranking.
It’s the only kid restraint system on the market with self-retracting LATCH connections and a tightness indicator. A window on the car seat, for example, changes color from green to red to show if the car seat is properly placed. Importantly, it may also be used with a seat belt.
The bottom of the foundation has been coated to avoid automobile damage. For a great fit, there are numerous foot locations. UPPAbaby Mesa infant car seat incorporates level indicators.
The SMARTsecure system’s tension indication may be used with either a vehicle seat belt or a lower anchor. Thread the seat belt from the car through the belt passage and beneath the lockoff.
Close the lockoff after tightening the vehicle seat belt. The indication window turns green when the vehicle seat belt is buckled. The belt route should still be checked for movement.
Adjustability ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The newborn inserts that come with UPPAbaby Mesa may be removed as your child grows and develops. It also has an adjustable headrest and four footrest options for proper leveling. The headrest moves with the no-rethread harness, and the crotch buckle may be adjusted in two positions.
Furthermore, it is compatible with the VISTA and CRUZ strollers. These components work together to provide an ideal travel system.
With a simple press of the button, you may remove the carrier from the stroller. An extensible, concealed canopy with UPF 25+ protection is also included with the seat.
UPPA Mesa gets a ten out of ten for adjustability. This seat is the epitome of convenience because it is so simple to use!
Maintenance⭐⭐⭐
Users report that due to the no-rethread harness and lack of splitter plate, cover removal is a bit difficult. Others find the Mesa easier to use with the no-rethread harness.
Carry-Around ⭐⭐
With a carrier weight of 10.36 lbs, this seat is heavier than average.
Stroller Compatibility ⭐⭐
In general, UPPAbaby Mesa is only compatible with the UPPAbaby Vista and UPPAbaby Cruz strollers.
It’s also compatible with the Mountain Buggy Nano and other strollers that don’t have clip-in car seat attachments.
Furthermore, Baby Jogger offers MESA adapters that make this car seat compatible with a variety of Baby Jogger strollers. It is important to note that one adapter works specifically with the City Mini, GT, Elite, Summit XC & Summit X3 strollers.
A different adapter is required for attachment to Baby Jogger City Select or City Versa strollers.
Using the Mesa infant carrier is suitable for both taxis and ridesharing services (American Belt Path).
Measures & Specs
- Seat dimensions: 25.8” L x 17” W x 23” H
- Base Dimensions: 21.3” L x 14.5” W x 10.3” H
- Car Seat on Base dimensions: 28” L x 17” W x 25” H
- Material Type: Wool
- Harness type: 5-Point
- Item Weight: 10.36 pounds without the case and 18.7 pounds with the base
- LATCH connector that makes installation easy
Product Installation Video
#4. Market Consensus: What others say about UPPAbaby Mesa
Total Market Consensus ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
In terms of Market Consensus, we rate the UPPAbaby Mesa with a 5 star based on the formula below:
Market Consensus =
Customer Feedback (Quantitative) + Expert Reviews (Qualitative)
Customer Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall Rating (4.9 out of 5 based on 901 ratings)
Note that for highly-rated products, we will avoid bombarding you with more praises about the product. We intentionally look for substantiated negative reviews or criticisms that add to our knowledge.
So, if you’re going to jump right into this section, know it has its own merits we’ve discussed before.
Selected Critical Uppababy Mesa Review
⭐When you pull on the strap to tighten the harness, one strap always ends up tighter than the other. I tried everything to make them even but this seems like a safety hazard since you can’t adjust the straps properly. Not happy since we thought we were buying a safe seat but if you can’t adjust the harness properly, then it’s not safe. – Amazon Review
⭐⭐The car seat is lightweight and was super easy to install with or without the base. However, we have experienced absolutely terrible overheating issues with this car seat. We used the car seat with our newborn daughter from mid-October to the end of December (winter time!) – Amazon Review
⭐⭐ My baby had oxygen desaturation to low 60s (it is desat if below 95!!) and it was caused by the angle of the seat plus the padding which is in an uncomfortable and awkward position. – Amazon Review
Expert Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Selected Expert Uppababy Mesa Review
“The UPPAaby Mesa passed our commissioned side-impact test without incident and scored the best of the four seats we tested for seat angle in our commissioned front-impact test.” – New York Times Wirecutter
“At its core, the Henry MESA has all the right parts that make it easy to use: recline positions that are easily adjusted with the press of one button, a no-rethread harness to find the safest fit for your baby with the pull of a strap, and built-in lock-offs that enable the most secure install possible with minimal hassle.” – Reviews.com
“Push-on LATCH connectors with automatic retractors that improve installation Tightness indicator to tell you when the base is installed securely Harness adjustment does not require rethreading harness Handle can be in any locked position during travel Excellent labels and instructions.” – Consumer Reports
Conclusion
We would definitely consider the UPPAbaby Mesa as the best Infant Car Seat that you should buy. The Mesa is a stylish car seat widely considered as one of the best for preemies and infants. Its design and range bring you not just peace of mind but also a bit more mileage as your baby grows.
FAQ
Q1. Will the 2017 Mesa fit into the 2015/2016 cruz without needing adapters?
The MESA 2017 will fit into the 2015-2016 CRUZ without adapters.
Q2. Does this come with the base?
Yes, the vehicle seat comes with 1 base.
Q3. How do you remove the covers to wash?
Cleaning this vehicle seat fabric is easy. Taking off the covers is easy, and there are excellent Uppa baby videos that explain how.
Since it is wool, you don’t need to worry about shrinking.
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