Joie
Every Stage R129
8.8/10 overall£180.00
An all-in-one seat that takes a child from birth to around 12 years in a single purchase, rear-facing to about age 4 before turning forward.
The verdict
The Joie Every Stage R129 is an all-in-one seat covering birth to around 12 years, rear-facing on the harness to about 105cm/age 4 before turning forward, then converting to a booster — all on Isofix. At under £200, it's the cheapest option in this category and ideal for parents wanting one purchase for the whole journey, though its rear-facing window is shorter than dedicated extended rear-facing seats.
The Every Stage R129 is Joie's birth-to-booster seat: rear-facing from 40cm up to 105cm (roughly 6 months to 4 years) on the built-in 5-point harness, then forward-facing on the harness up to 100-145cm, and finally usable as a backless or highback booster into the pre-teen years. It installs with Isofix plus a support leg for the younger stages, and switches to Isofix or seatbelt with the vehicle's own belt for the booster stage.
Compared with the Axkid Movekid and BeSafe Stretch², both dedicated rear-facing seats that stop at 125cm and then need replacing, the Every Stage R129's real selling point is that it's a single seat for the whole journey - and at under £200 it's also the cheapest in this list by some margin. The trade-off is that its rear-facing limit (105cm, roughly age 4) is shorter than the dedicated ERF seats, so if extending rear-facing travel as long as physically possible is your priority, the Movekid or Stretch² go further. For most families who want one seat, one purchase, and Isofix installation throughout, though, this is the more practical choice.
It's best for parents who want to buy once and not think about car seats again until their child is a young teenager. The real limitation is the shorter rear-facing window compared with the dedicated ERF seats in this list - if maximising rear-facing time matters most to you, look at the Movekid or Stretch² instead.
Is the Every Stage R129 worth it?
- One seat covers birth to around 12 years - no repurchase needed
- Isofix installation throughout, including the booster stage
- Lowest price in this list by a clear margin
What are the downsides of the Every Stage R129?
- Rear-facing limit (105cm/~age 4) is shorter than dedicated ERF seats
- Bulkier than single-stage seats, so it takes up more space long-term
- Support leg needs a flat, unobstructed footwell to fit correctly
Specs
- Seat weight
- 8.7kg
- Installation
- Isofix with support leg (harness stages); Isofix or seatbelt (booster stage)
- Suitable from
- Birth to approx. 12 years (40-145cm, up to 36kg)
- Safety standard
- UN R129/03 (i-Size)
- Facing direction
- Rear-facing to approx. 105cm, then forward-facing
- Recline positions
- 6 total (2 rear-facing, 4 forward-facing)
How we scored it
Safety & Fit
Crash protection design (side-impact systems, impact shields, or extended rear-facing capability), how securely and correctly the seat installs, and how well it accommodates a growing child without needing to be replaced too soon.
Shorter rear-facing window than dedicated ERF seats, but Isofix throughout
Ease of Installation & Everyday Use
How straightforward the seat is to install correctly (Isofix vs seatbelt-only, clear indicators), and how easy it is to adjust, clean, and move between cars day to day.
Isofix at every stage keeps installation simple
Value for Money
What the seat delivers - years of use, safety features, and build quality - relative to its UK retail price.
One seat for the whole journey at the lowest price here
Weighted by importance for this category — see our editorial policy for how we test.
How this review was done
We haven't used the Every Stage R129 ourselves yet. This review is built from Joie's published specifications and product information, and scored the same way as everything else on the site. We'll update it, and the badge above, once we've tested it hands-on.
How it compares
|  |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £180.00 | £479.00 | £295.00 | £229.95 |
| Overall score | 8.8/10 | 8.1/10 | 7.9/10 | 8.3/10 |
| Seat weight | 8.7kg | — | 10kg | 8.9kg |
| Installation | Isofix with support leg (harness stages); Isofix or seatbelt (booster stage) | Vehicle seatbelt only (no Isofix required) | Vehicle seatbelt + top tether (no Isofix) | Isofix + top tether (76-105cm); vehicle seatbelt + Isofix + top tether, or seatbelt only (100-150cm) |
| Suitable from | Birth to approx. 12 years (40-145cm, up to 36kg) | Approx. 6 months to 7 years (61-125cm, up to 36kg) | Approx. 7 months to 7 years (61-125cm, up to 36kg) | Approx. 15 months to 12 years (76-150cm, 9-50kg) |
Frequently asked questions
How long can my child use the Joie Every Stage R129?+
It covers birth to approximately 12 years (40-145cm, up to 36kg): rear-facing on the harness to about 105cm/age 4, then forward-facing on the harness, and finally as a backless or highback booster.
How does it install in the car?+
It uses Isofix plus a support leg for the younger harness stages, then switches to Isofix or the vehicle's own seatbelt for the booster stage — Isofix installation runs throughout.
How does its rear-facing period compare with dedicated extended rear-facing seats like the Axkid Movekid or BeSafe Stretch2?+
Its rear-facing limit (105cm, roughly age 4) is shorter than those dedicated ERF seats, which go to 125cm/around age 7. If maximising rear-facing time is the priority, the Movekid or Stretch2 go further.
Is it good value?+
Yes — at under £200 it's the cheapest seat in this list by a clear margin, and because it's a single seat for birth through to around 12 years, it avoids the cost of repurchasing seats at each stage.
What should I check before buying?+
The support leg needs a flat, unobstructed footwell to fit correctly, and the seat is bulkier than single-stage seats, so it takes up more space long-term.
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Reviewed by
Sepehr
Software engineer, soon-to-be dad, uncle to four — the tech-obsessed half of the two of us testing this stuff. Currently building this site with my wife, ahead of our own baby arriving.