Britax Willow SC vs UPPAbaby Mesa V3
The Willow SC is 0.1 in narrower. The Willow SC lists for $20 less.
Only the differences are shown.
| Britax Willow SC | UPPAbaby Mesa V3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Infant car seat | Infant car seat |
| List price | $329.99Lowest price | $349.99 |
| Rear-facing weight | 4–30 lb | 4–30 lb |
| Rear-facing height | Up to 32 in | Up to 32 in |
| Seat weight | 9.3 lbLightest | 9.9 lb |
| Base weight | 10.2 lb | 9 lb |
| Width | 16.9 inNarrowest | 17 in |
| Head rule | when the top of child's head is at least 1 in (2.5 cm) below the top edge of head restraint | Minimum 1" (2.5 cm) gap between the child's head and top of headrest. |
| Base included | Yes | Yes |
| Newborn insert | Infant positioning pillow (optional): can be used with infants weighing less than 11 lbs (5 kg); harness inner loop/slot maximum 11 lbs (5 kg). | Infant Insert: manual 'designed for children who weigh 4-11 lbs'; may continue beyond 11 lbs until fit criteria are met |
| Installation | ClickTight, LATCH | baseless (European belt routing) |
| Load leg | No | No |
| Anti-rebound bar | Yes | Yes |
| Rotates | No | No |
| Harness heights | 4 | Not listed |
| Works with strollers | Select Britax strollers | Vista and Cruz directly; adapters for Minu and Ridge |
| Stroller adapters | Not listed | Adapters for Minu and Ridge (UPPAbaby) |
| Handle in the car | The carry handle must be adjusted to any locked position for use in a vehicle. | Manual: 'The carry handle must be locked in any four (4) positions when in use: stand, store, carry (vehicle use) and rebound (vehicle use).' 'Mandatory carry handle use positions, must be in either the (4th) rebound position or (3rd) carry position when the car seat is in the vehicle.' |
| Aircraft label | Certified for aircraft, per the maker | Certified for aircraft, per the maker |
| No added flame retardants | Yes | Yes |
| Expires after | 6 years | 10 years |
Britax Willow SC
A step-up Britax infant carrier with ClickTight installation and an Alpine base with a stability bar.
- ClickTight belt install
- Anti-rebound stability bar on base
- Fabric without added flame retardants
- 30 lb limit
UPPAbaby Mesa V3
UPPAbaby's current infant carrier with a SMARTSecure base, a 25-position headrest and an anti-rebound handle position.
- 25-position no-rethread headrest
- Fabric free of flame-retardant chemicals, per maker
- Directly attaches to UPPAbaby Vista and Cruz
- 30 lb maximum (older Mesa models went to 35 lb)
- 9.9 lb carrier
Willow SC or Mesa V3?
Answers come from each maker's published specs. Safety and health questions link to the agency or medical source.
Which is easier to travel with?
Willow SC: certified for planes, 9.3 lb. Mesa V3: certified for planes, installs without a base, 9.9 lb.
What does the extra $20 for the Mesa V3 get you?
No extra listed feature from the ones we track (load leg, anti-rebound bar, rotation, flame retardants). Compare fabrics, ease of install, and fit in your car. Both meet the same federal crash standard.
Still wondering? Write to us at hello@cribpicks.com and we'll look it up.