After extensive testing and research, CR determined this product to be:
- TOP PERFORMING
- SAFE
- EASY TO INSTALL
one of our 50 recommended Car Seats
Joie Mint LATCH
Pros
- This baseless seat is well-suited for city, ride-share, or taxi use
- Lightweight carrier
- Rigid LATCH connectors make LATCH installation easy
Cons
- Requires re-installing the seat and adjusting recline with every use
- Crotch strap does not adjust
- Expiration date is from date of manufacture in the manual but from date of purchase on the seat’s labels — a cause for confusion
- Harness adjuster button at the front of the seat is deep under the seat fabrics and difficult to access
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CR's Take
The Joie Mint Latch is a carrier-only, baseless infant seat that may best serve the needs of those who frequently use cabs or ride shares, or who find it more convenient not to have a car seat base installed in the back seat, in order to accommodate additional passengers. The Mint Latch is lightweight at 9 pounds, making it easy to carry. Rigid LATCH connectors make lower anchor installations much easier, but caregivers should note that with this car seat, you’re limited to vehicle seating positions with dedicated lower anchors — meaning that positioning this seat in the rear center won’t work for most vehicles. The Joie Mint Latch offers a convenient lower anchor connector design that rotates the connectors out of the way for carrying, and you only need to rotate one side of the connectors for both sides to be adjusted. This seat allows you to position the carrier handle in any locked position for travel, but Joie recommends the fully-upright handle carry position while you’re on the road.
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