List Price: $39.99
Sale Price: $31.10
Today's Bonus: 22% Off
UPDATE AT END 1/7/2013
Why, oh why, can't someone make a car organizer with real dividers that are attached to the floor of the item, thus preventing things from getting wedged and wrinkled at the bottom!
This organizer not only fails in that department, it's klunky, impractically designed, ridiculously heavy when filled, and otherwise nothing more than a box with some pockets.
When we opened the box, we found the top and the base, which is folded flat. No instructions.
Instructions? you say? Yes, instructions, as in, what is the correct method for affixing the "dividers" in the interior of the device. Can you figure it out? Yes you can, but a page of instructions with even a line or two of text and some picture might make this less of a frustrating process in terms of initial set up.
One thing you will notice immediately is that because the organizer folds flat (an otherwise useful design detail) there's no rigidity to the organizer when it's opened up. In other words, the fold creases are still there and the organier doesn't hold a firm, rectangular shape. This is disappointing and makes the organizer seem "floppy" and cheap.
The top does fit nicely, but the box description indicates that the top can be flipped and used as a writing base or to hold items that slide. Sure it can, but it doesn't "affix" to the organizer when flipped. What good is a hard shelled top that "holds stuff" if, while it's holding stuff, it's sliding off the top. When mom brakes hard once time, whatever is in that top is going to come flying off and forward.
The pockets on the sides are a nice feature. I don't care that they're the same on either side, but they are, and they do hold the usual items markers, games, etc. The beverage holders on the front are nice, and effective; however, be forewarned, when you fill this organizer, it's heavy. Maybe even too heavy. And when you use the "shoulder strap" you'll find that the organizer is klunky and overweighted. The folding creases make it floppy and saggy, and all of the sudden, your cleverly organized items are really in a boxy, innefective duffle bag...which brings us to this complaint....
Dividers that do not affix to the bottom and prohibit items within from going UNDER the dividers, are ineffective and problematic. Food particles, papers, crayon flakes, dirt, dust, pencil lead, pencils, whatever, can shift beneath the dividers willy nilly, and that is really a shame. As the bottom is not flat and hard you'll find this particularly annoying when you transport the organizer. The flexible material on the interior of the organzier again makes it feel like a duffle bag inside a box.
To duplicate this, I recommend you get a cardboard file box and put a rain coat inside. Then, place some cardboard dividers inside and you'll get the exact sensation of using this organizer.
What's needed is a set of true dividers or fixed dividers that do not allow shifting on the bottom. And the top would be imminently more useful if it actually attached to the organizer.
Also, if it were a tad smaller, it wouldn't be so bulky and heavy during transport. While I appreciate the space, much is wasted with the fabric interior, and the result is this box frame that is just structurally too big.
Finally, while being able to fold the organizer flat is a nice touch for space saving reasons when it's opened, it ought to "lock" into place so that the fold lines don't disturb the integrity of the storage system as they do, in this instance. That locking mechanism would tie in easily to a flippable top that would then also lock into place.
I wish I could say there are better organizers on the market, but I'm still on the hunt. As for this one being marketed for kids, I'm not sure it's really the end all be all of car organizers, but the pocket space and beverage compartments are decent enough.
One star.
UPDATE FOR CLARIFICATION
I recognize that dividers that can be moved are a plus in many, many instances. This flexibility allows you to create storage space equal to the size that you need. Plus, there are many items that are going to be put in organizers such as this one, that don't slide beneath dividers.
My complaint is that when there's nothing "fixed" on the interior, sliding occurs. Pack a couple of coloring books in and move this thing around and you'll see what I mean. They will slide down, and part of one will slide under and next thing you know, you've got wrinkled, crinkled coloring books. Food particles, crayon flakes, and whatever other small items your kids will toss in here aren't going to stay in the compartment where they land.
I'm all for flexibility, but it has to be practical, functional flexibility. If you intend to only use this for storing and/or organizing larger, bulkier items and shifting is of no concern, this may work for you.
But I can't complain enough about a product that advertises a functional solid surface top that doesn't actually afix to the product. It's not a great lap board, sorry.
UPDATE 1/13/2013
The issue of safety has come up in several reviews related to car organizers.
1. No car organizer should be used if it can't be secured by seatbelt or with proper clamps. This organizer CAN be secured by seatbelt.
2. In a crash, loose items inside a car organizer not only will shift, but can become projectiles. Hard plastic cups on the outside, hard books, pens, pencils, crayons, tossing about at 60 mph in your car during a crash can be extremely dangerous and/or lethal. This is one of the reasons a functioning, securable top is absolutely essential to any organizer. No, you don't have to use it. No, the top may not be a big selling point to you. But having a top that zips closed or latches closed could be the difference between a trip to the hospital or not, in crash.
3. If the organizer doesn't hold shape during a crash, there is the risk of shrapnel from the contents of the organizer. This is one reason some suggest that foldable sides, while convenient for storage, aren't a great idea if they don't lock into place. They do not lock into place with this item.
4. We have to review products as it relates to their intended purpose. Some products present potential safety concerns. I would submit that this product, just as almost every other item marketed as a car organizer on the market today, presents some of the very same safety concerns. Safety is certainly something to consider with any product.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
This is a great organizer with lots of storage areas. If your toddlers (1-4 yrs old) still sits in a car seat or 3 in 1 booster seats with 5pt harness they will not be able to reach the cup holder area or any other area in this organizer. This organizer will be great when my kids are a little older and will not have to sit in their 3-in-1 seats. I do like this organizer, but feel that it could have been made better and cost less. The dividers for the inside are useless and irritating! I will probably never use them. The bottom of the container is not supported with a hard material; it's very flimsy! I do like that all my kids toys, etc. can be put into this one organizer and it can be closed up and carried to the park, into grandma's house, etc. It is spacious! I wish it would have come in black or grey. All in all, it's an ok organizer, but it really does not allow your toddlers to be more independent when your driving! This is definatley a product for young children who are not in car seats.Best Deals for High Road Kids Car Organizer XL - Blue
My husband wanted a car organizer to use on his front passenger seat. Every time we would go somewhere as a family, he'd have to move his untidy pile of "car stuff" so I could sit there. I got him this bag for Valentine's Day.You might think I'm clueless to buy a big, blue bag for my husband on the day of romance, but I knew he wouldn't care at all how the bag looked, only how it functioned. This bag is the size he asked for (he can hide his large MacBook in it) with the features he wanted (easy-access pockets and the ability to seat-belt it into place for safety), but it looks like a "mom bag" full of snacks, diapers, and crayons, thus making thieves less likely to smash and grab it. We made sure to put the wet wipes in the most visible front pocket, plus a spare pull-up for our preschooler right in the outside pocket. We do have kids, so these are useful items to have in the car, but they are also great camouflage for the iPod accessories, etc., that my husband wants to have handy.
This bag is also large enough that his "man bag"--not quite full messenger sized, but about a 10x12 vertical bag--can be stuffed inside in a pinch.
Based upon prior reviews, I asked him how the bag is working out. I offered to find a Rubbermaid tub of some sort to give the bag more structure, but he says it is working out great just the way it is. We only move it to the backseat when I ride along in his car (~ every other weekend), so it isn't often shifted around, but he has no problem with its flexible shape.
Honest reviews on High Road Kids Car Organizer XL - Blue
I got one for me and one for five year old grandson. His mom was ecstatic and that evening organized his car 'toys' and his infant brother's 'toys.' No more plastic shopping bags or other limp cloth bags for keeping kids' car stuff contained. She stated she planned to designate one outer pocket for a trash container...such as a supersize soft drink cup.I like mine, too. My water and waterless hand cleaner or wipes are upright and stay put, and my stuff for the day is contained, yet out of view. And I love having my errands list (turned over to be out of view when I'm out of the car) and a pencil on the sturdy flat top with the lip flipped up (allowed by elastic) keeping them in place. I may add a snap or Velcro flap to secure the top just a bit more when the lip is up, but for now it's really fine the way it is.
If you are not creative with the sewing machine, you may also like for the little ones, a crayon and coloring book caddy such as or similar to Desk to Go by Alex http://www.amazon.com/Alex-Toys-Desk-to-Go/dp/B000GCNDOM See also roll up crayon caddies.
Train yourself and the kids to pack only what you need to keep everyone content for the day in the organizer. The organizer can be taken with you to waiting rooms, homes without kid stuff, parks, church, etc.
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