Clek Liing Review

The Clek Liing kind of has a lot going on. If you're looking for a fully-loaded infant seat with premium features and all the right little details, the Liing should be on your list. When it comes to features, it's everythi(i)ng!

Hi! I'm Carly, a CPST and mom of 3, and the Clek Liing was the seat I used for my 3rd baby (who is anything but a baby now). Read on for the one minor detail that had me cursing in parking lots more often than I'd like to admit, and everything I loved about it, too!

If you're comparing options, here's my guide to the best infant car seat for a newborn, and all my infant seat reviews are here.

Consider the Clek Liing If:

• You need to fit 3 across. The Liing has one of the smallest footprints side-to-side, which can make it a real problem-solver in a tight row.
• You have limited front-to-back space. It's also one of the most compact infant seats front-to-back, so it may be the seat that keeps you in your current vehicle.
• You want additional safety features. Rigid LATCH, a load leg, European belt routing, and a built-in lock-off are all baked in.
• You're expecting a small baby. It tends to fit small babies very well, so it could be a great choice if you're expecting a preemie.

Keep Looking If:

• You want a lightweight seat. The carrier weighs 9 pounds without the insert.
• You're on a tight budget. At $499.99 to $549.99, the Liing is definitely one of the more expensive infant seats out there.
• You want a very straightforward seat without a lot of rules. Between the handle position, the load-leg vehicle restrictions, and the required head insert, the Liing comes with more rules than some seats.

Clek Liing Height, Weight + Key Specs

• MSRP: $499.99–$549.99
• Expiration: 9 years
• Width: 16.9"
• Carrier weight: 9 pounds (without insert)
• Weight range: 4–30 lbs
• Height limit: Up to 32"

What We Love About The Clek Liing

The big CPST disclaimer when comparing safety features across car seats: the most important thing you can do to keep your child safe is to use the seat correctly!

All car seats pass the same required, very stringent testing, no matter the price or features. That's not to say extra safety features are just for decoration, or that all seats perform exactly the same, but we just don't have a lot of reliable, publicly available data showing meaningful differences in crash outcomes.‍

Clek is one of the very few companies that shares some of its crash test results, but without results from other manufacturers to compare to, the data doesn't help us all that much.

That said, the Liing includes several safety features that may have an impact on the seat's performance in a crash.

Clek Liing Safety Features:

• Rigid LATCH
• Load Leg
• European Belt Routing
• Built-In Lock-Off

Rigid LATCH

Rigid LATCH helps with a quick installation that will inherently be tight.

One of the biggest car seat misuses is an installation that's too loose, and the nature of rigid LATCH means the installation will always be tight, with no acrobatics needed! In a crash, the seat will be positioned just where it should be at the moment of impact. Rigid LATCH also results in less overall movement during a crash.

Load Leg

A load leg reduces the downward rotation of a seat during a crash, which means less force on the head, neck, and spine. In fact, Clek found the load leg so effective that they let you skip the 1-inch rule when it's in use!

What's the 1-inch rule? Most rear-facing car seats require at least 1 inch of space between the top of the child's head and the top of the seat, to keep the head contained within the shell during a crash.

Be aware that some vehicles don't allow the use of a load leg in all seating positions, so check your vehicle manual ahead of time if you're considering this seat. You can still safely use the seat without the load leg, but you'd be missing out on one of the features baked into the higher price. The same goes for third-row access features: it would be difficult or impossible to use the load leg with a vehicle's tilt or slide features. Clek recommends installing the base with the seat belt instead of the lower anchors when the load leg can't be used.

European Belt Routing

European belt routing is one of my favorite features on an infant seat! Did you know you can install an infant car seat without the base? Don't sleep on this hack!

It lets you skip buying a second base for another vehicle, or lugging one around during travel. (Here's my full guide to traveling with car seats.) European belt routing also adds an extra point of contact compared to standard routing, with the shoulder belt performing very similarly to a load leg, and I find it makes a tight installation much easier to get.

Built-In Lock-Off

Remember how I said a loose installation is one of the biggest car seat misuses? Clek doubles down by including a tensioning lock-off on the base for times when you can't use a rigid LATCH installation (or the load leg, as mentioned above).

This is especially helpful in older vehicles without lower anchors, in 3-across setups where you may need the base slightly off-center, and in center-seat installations, which often don't have lower anchors.

Clek Liing Convenience Features

Post-Installation Recline

The Liing is fairly unique with its recline mechanism. Instead of trial and error with the recline position during installation, the base installs in just one position, and an adjustable portion on top of the base changes the angle in one second.

There are 7 recline positions and 3 recline ranges based on weight, which allows for excellent flexibility based on the slope of different vehicle seats, with no need to uninstall and reinstall the base as the baby grows!

A Note on Car Seat Mats

We don't typically encourage car seat mats, since they're often prohibited by the manufacturer, can mask a bad installation, or can end up causing the exact type of damage you're trying to prevent. But if covering your seat is a non-negotiable, the Liing is compatible and crash tested with Clek's Mat Thingy accessory.

A Couple of Clek Liing Quirks

The Carry Handle Has to Stay Up While Driving

Now for my one complaint about the seat: the carry handle must be locked in the upright position while driving. Rules like this likely exist for good reason, but I caught myself having to pull back into my parking spot to fix this more times than I can count. Granted, I only ever carried the seat from the house to the car and back, and instead took the baby out to babywear at our destinations, which meant I'd rotate the handle back to get her in and out. In the midst of also buckling two toddlers, that's a step I would sometimes forget.

It Has a Rethread Harness

Personally, I love a rethread harness on an infant seat. I find it can help with getting a great fit on newborns, and it means there's no potentially bulky headrest built into the design that might push the baby's head forward.

That said, many parents want the convenience of a no-rethread harness for quick adjustments as the baby grows, and may expect that on a higher-end seat. Fortunately, you'll likely only ever have to change the harness height a few times throughout your time using the seat, and the whole process takes less than a minute.

Clek Liing Fit: Great for Small Babies, Tighter for Bigger Ones

The Clek Liing is rated for babies 4–30 pounds and up to 32". It tends to fit small babies very well, so it could be a great choice if you're expecting a preemie.

At the other end of the spectrum, it's not necessarily a great option for larger babies. If you think your baby may be larger, especially in the head, or you'd like to use an infant seat for as long as possible, the Liing may not be the best choice. A few things to know:

• The required head insert and narrow interior can be a tight fit. There's no safety concern as long as the baby is within the limits, but some babies may not like having their head movement restricted.
• It can get harder to buckle a baby who's filling out the seat.
• Less room for air circulation may be a concern for babies who run hot or families in warmer climates.

How the Clek Liing Inserts Work

The Liing's inserts are a bit unusual, especially if you've used a different infant seat before. The bottom portion has a raised piece that can cause some confusion: although it's not super intuitive, the baby must be positioned sitting on top of this part, not in front of it. With the insert in use, the hip straps fall further forward on the legs than you might be used to seeing, but that's an intentional design and isn't a concern! The insert gets removed at 11 pounds, as long as the tops of the baby's shoulders reach the lowest slots without it.

The head support must be used at all times. This is a side-impact safety feature, but it may restrict range of motion for older babies or those with larger heads compared to some other seats.

Is the Clek Liing Good for Small Cars and 3 Across?

Yes. The Clek Liing has excellent vehicle compatibility and can be a real problem-solver for small cars, tall drivers, and 3-across setups. It has one of the smallest footprints, both front-to-back and side-to-side, among all the infant seats, so it may very well be the investment that keeps you in your current vehicle. I've never found a vehicle that hasn't liked the Liing!

If you're piecing together a tight back seat, here's my guide to fitting three car seats across, and my roundup of the best car seats for small cars.

Clek Liing Fabrics and the New Zip-Off Cover

Clek was one of the first brands to explore the eco-friendly, “low-tox” fabrics that have become so popular over the last few years, and it’s only improved from there. The current lineup is free of chemical flame retardants, with some colors available in a wool blend for added temperature regulation and breathability.

There’s a slew of unique neutrals, plus my personal favorite: a just-pink-enough beauty called Vintage.

Since my time with the seat, the Liing has gained a zip-off cover! The fabrics clean up nicely with spot cleaning, but the Ziip feature makes bigger messes easier to handle. You can even buy an extra cover set to zip on while the other is out of commission.

Here's how I recommend cleaning car seats!

Is the Clek Liing Worth It?

The Liing doesn't come cheap, but if you're looking for top of the line when it comes to features and luxury, the Liing may be just the right thi(i)ng for your new little darli(i)ng!

Clek Liing FAQs

What are the Clek Liing weight and height limits?

The Clek Liing is rated for babies 4–30 pounds and up to 32 inches tall.

Why is the Clek Liing so expensive?

I ask myself that sometimes, as someone who bought it. Honestly, vibes might be a big part of it!

Clek has a strong reputation, and the Liing is made in North America. It also has features I appreciate, like the rigid LATCH installation, load leg, narrow footprint, and thoughtful fabric options. But at around $500, it’s absolutely a splurge. I liked it enough to buy it, though I wouldn’t tell every family they need to spend this much on an infant seat.

The Clek Liing has an MSRP of $499.99–$549.99, putting it at the premium end of the infant seat range.

How wide is the Clek Liing?

The Clek Liing is 16.9 inches wide, one of the smallest footprints side-to-side among infant seats, which is part of why it works so well for 3-across and small cars.

Can you install the Clek Liing without the base?

Yes. The Liing has European belt routing, so you can install it baseless, which is handy for travel or a second vehicle without buying another base.

Does the Clek Liing have a load leg?

Yes. The load leg reduces downward rotation in a crash, and Clek even lets you skip the 1-inch rule when it's in use. Just check your vehicle manual, since some seating positions don't allow a load leg.

Does the Clek Liing fit newborns and preemies?

Yes. It tends to fit small babies very well, and the insert can be used until 11 pounds. It's tighter for larger babies, especially those with bigger heads.

Does the Clek Liing have a no-rethread harness?

No. The Liing uses a rethread harness. You'll likely only adjust the harness height a few times, though, and each change takes less than a minute.

How much does the Clek Liing carrier weigh?

The carrier weighs 9 pounds without the insert.