Monday, September 20, 2010 Britax Marathon 65 Click & Safe Convertible Car Seat Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The Britax Marathon CS is an upgraded version of the regular Marathon.The only difference is the CS, Click & Safe Harness Adjuster, which tries to notify you of the proper "snugness" of the harness with audible clicks.What most Amazon readers probably want to know is, is this car seat worth the premium and how is it different from the other Britax models?Hopefully this review will help you make the best decision for you, but I cannot provide a definitive answer to the question of whether it is worth the premium.It is to my family.

My Configuration:
2000 Jetta 4DR
Forward Facing
LATCH Install

PROS:
- First and foremost, highly rated crash protection (Very Good by Consumer Reports)
- Side Impact Protection
- Fantastic weight range (5-35lbs rear facing) (20-65 forward facing)
- Comfortable cover with shoulder and belly pads
- Push-button LATCH connectors
- Versa-tether allows tethering even if your vehicle does not have built-in tether anchors
- Simple install
- Fits smaller vehicles better than other Britax models
- Easy to recline
- Expires 6 years after manufacturing date
- Britax website provides manuals and video installation guides

CONS:
- Expensive, expensive, expensive
- Harness adjustment requires rethreading
- No ball/bubble recline level indicator
- Click & Safe system marginally useful
- Serial number difficult to locate

The Marathon is one of 4 high-capacity convertible car seats that Britax currently sells.The others are the Britax Decathlon, Britax Boulevard, and Britax Advocate CS.The Marathon and Boulevard are also sold with CS (Click & Safe).From what I can tell, the Marathon and the Decathlon have smaller bases for installation in smaller vehicles.The Decathlon has an infant body pillow and multiple buckle positions, but otherwise, it is similar to the Marathon, including height and weight ratings.The Boulevard and Advocate CS are very large yet still have the same child size ratings, but incorporate what they call True Side Impact Protection.The Advocate is their most advanced, and expensive convertible, because it adds Side Impact Cushion Technology.

The Marathon CS is one of three Britax car seats that we actually own.We started with a Boulevard 2 years ago and recently got an Advocate CS and the Marathon CS.We installed the Marathon CS in our Jetta in a forward facing position for our toddler.The Marathon is smaller than the Boulevard and Advocate and it actually fit our Jetta quite well.It wasn't so tall as to block our rear view at all and the front seat could still be far back enough to be comfortable for adult passengers to ride in.The smaller size was the main reason we decided on the Marathon for our toddler.If we had more room, we probably would have gotten the Boulevard or Advocate, which are both in our larger, Toyota 4Runner.

The LATCH installation took me 5 minutes, no lie.I have some experience installing car seats and I watched the installation video and read the manual before installing so that may have sped up my install time.I recommend that new owners do the same.The push-button LATCH connectors are so easy to hook on and tighten that it was almost too easy and I got paranoid.I took the seat to our local police station for a car seat check and they gave it their blessing.

Our toddler really likes the Marathon and sits comfortably in the seat.The shoulder and belly pads help make it more comfortable.However, the police officer recommended that we remove them because they can hinder getting the correct harness tightness.The Click & Safe system is supposed to help alert you when the correct snugness has been reached, but from my experience, it's not really that useful.

The service life for Britax car seats are 6 years from the manufacturing date.I had to look this up on their website, which has a lot of useful information including installation videos and user guides.It would be nice to have the expiration date located right on the serial number sticker.Until recently, I wasn't aware that car seats even had an expiration date.The serial number can be hard to find on the car seat itself so be sure to make a copy of your registration card, which has all of the information on it.

For me, there are only two drawbacks to the Marathon.The first is that in order to adjust the harness height, you have to rethread it.This means that if you have it forward facing, you have to remove the seat to do it.The second, is the price.We could have easily bought two of the Consumer Reports Best Buy recommended Evenflo models for the price of one Marathon CS.We decided on the Britax anyways because of the number of safety features available along with our previous experience with Britax.The fact that the car seat technicians at the police station and AAA both said that they chose Britax car seats for their children, only reinforced our decision.

We are very happy with the Marathon CS.We feel confident that our toddler will be safe and comfortable in the Marathon and that it will easily last the full 6 years of service life.It is not the best value out there for sure, but that wasn't our number one priority.I can only justify the cost for ourselves and I certainly would not fault anyone for going with better value alternatives.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Britax Marathon 65 Click and Safe Convertible Car Seat

Product Description:
Complete with a contoured base for a perfect fit in most vehicles, and loaded with innovative comfort and safety features, the Britax Marathon CS Convertible Car Seat helps keep your baby snug and secure in the car. Available in three different colors, this super-comfy seat offers Britax's True Side Impact Protection system for optimum safety, the Click and Safe system for the proper level of snugness, and high density foam to ensure your child's comfort.

View larger Side Impact Protection distributes crash forces, shields from vehicle intrusion, and contains the head and body True Side Impact Protection System for Optimum Safety
During a side impact crash, a child's head and chest are extremely vulnerable to injury. To best protect your baby in the event of such a crash, the Chaperone Infant Carrier features Britax's True Side Impact Protection system. This system protects your baby by distributing crash forces and shielding your child from vehicle intrusion.
The True Side Impact Protection System also ensures that your baby's head and body are safely contained within the car seat, and that your child's head, neck, and spine are properly aligned to help prevent injury. Making sure that this vital system protects your baby's entire body, the True Side Impact Protection system encompasses multiple areas of the seat, including the deep side walls of the seat shell and the adjustable head restraint that is lined with energy-absorbing foam.
Click and Safe System for the Correct Level of Snugness
The Marathon CS Convertible Car Seat also comes complete with Britax's Click and Safe system, which provides an audible indication to help you determine when the child seat harness is within range of appropriate snugness. Located in the seat's adjuster housing unit, the Click and Safe mechanism has been engineered to sense tension when the adjuster strap is pulled, helping to limit injuries caused by improper positioning in the car seat.
Loose harness straps leave children vulnerable during a crash, as they may allow the child to move out of a safe, secure position. With the Click and Safe system, however, you can be assured that the straps are snug enough to keep your child in the proper, secure place should an accident occur.
Superior Comfort and Positioning Features Offer Safety and Convenience
The Marathon CS comes complete with a tangle-free, five-point harness with four harness heights for a snug and secure fit that grows with your child. It also offers premium push-button LATCH connectors for quick, simple, and tight installation. The Marathon CS also offers the patented Versa-Tether, which tethers the seat at two top-located points. This unique system is designed to minimize forward movement when the car stops suddenly. It also can be used for seat stabilization in the rear-facing configuration. The Marathon's energy-managing protective foam minimizes impact forces. Built-in lock-offs tightly secure the vehicle seat belt, and convenient harness holders keep harness straps to the sides while parents place their child in the car seat. For an extra layer of protection, patented HUGS (Harness Ultra Guard System) reduces forward head movement and gently cushions your baby's neck and chest.
And because a comfortable baby is a happy baby, the Marathon CS offers high density comfort foam to gently cushion your child, and a plush, washable cover with matching comfort and belly pads.
Weight and Height Range
The Marathon CS is designed for rear-facing use by babies weighing from four to 35 pounds, measuring 49 inches or less, and with a seated shoulder height of 10.5 to 16 inches. This car seat can also be used in the forward-facing position when your baby is older than one year, weighs between 20 and 65 pounds, has a height of 49 inches or less, and has a seated shoulder height of 12 to 16 inches.
What's in the Box
Car seat, removable cover, and user's manual.
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