Our Review of the Britax Marathon convertible car seat
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"Designed for kids . . . engineered for parents."
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- Britax has just implemented a new, patent-pending, energy absorbing rip-stitch tether for all Marathon convertible car seats.
Increasing the time a child can safely stay in their convertible car seat is a big issue and Britax engineers have come through in a big way with the introduction of the Britax Marathon with LATCH. A LATCH Compatible Convertible Child Seat, the Britax Marathon can be used rear facing 5 to 35 pounds and forward facing from 20 to 65 pounds. Compare the numbers and you will see it is hard to find a seat with these weight limits that is safe and functional.
The Britax Marathon is built on a shell with dimensions that are larger than the Britax Roundabout. Even with the larger dimensions, the Marathon is still approved for use on aircraft and will fit perfectly in just about every car out there. (Rear-facing installation may be more tricky. If intended for rear-facing use, please allow for 31" of back seat space)Some standout features include a four-position adjustable shoulder straps that are easy to change as your child grows, easy to install IsoFit™ LATCH buckles, easy to adjust recline system, and floating HUGS that enable easy chest clip placement and distributes the harness load to avoid webbing edge irritation to a child's neck in the event of a crash.
Trying to decide between the Britax Marathon and Britax Decathlon?
The Britax Decathlon is identical in many ways to the Marathon. Updated features on the Decathlon include:
- 3-position adjustable crotch strap
- Removable toddler head pillow and infant positioning system for newborn babies
If you are looking for your baby's first car seat, the additional padding on the Decathlon will be an attractive feature. Or, if you're searching for a second seat for your child who continues to come up at the top of the growth chart, the Decathalon's adjustable crotch strap might come in handy as he or she grows even more. If these are not in your list of concerns, then the Marathon should work great.
*Please note: Use vehicle seat belt (not LATCH connectors) for installations with children weighing more than 48 pounds (21 kg.). Refer to the vehicle's owner's manual or contact the vehicle manufacturer for the maximum weight rating for their LATCH anchors. Unless specified otherwise by the vehicle manufacturer, assume a 48 pound child is the vehicle LATCH anchor limit.
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Authorized Britax Dealer Britax maintains an authorized dealer network which protects you from buying used, illegally imported, or fake Britax Car Seats. In addition, Britax warranty only covers car seats purchased from an authorized retailer. Britax products purchased on eBay or any auction site voids the warranty. |
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- Cowmooflage swatch
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Car seat specs
- Min child weight
- 5 lbs.
- Max child weight
- 65 lbs.
- Rear-facing minimum weight
- 5 lbs.
- Max child weight - Rear Facing mode
- 35 lbs.
- Min child weight - Forward Facing mode
- 20 lbs.
- Max child weight - Forward facing mode
- 65 lbs.
- Max harness weight capacity
- 65 lbs.
- Min child height
- 18"
- Max child height
- 49"
- Min child height - Forward facing mode
- 18"
- Max 5-pt harness child height capacity
- 49"
Car seat dimensions
- Product weight
- 17.5 lbs.
- Seat Base / Foot Width
- 19.5"
- Seat height
- 28"
- Interior seat width
- 11"
- Interior seat back height
- 22.5"
- Bottom to lowest harness slot
- 10"
- Bottom to highest harness slot
- 17.5"
- Easy Recline Adjustment Handle provides a range of comfortable seating and reclining positions
- Britax Patented Versa-Tether™ secures the seat from tilting forward or backward in the event of an impact in both the forward and rear facing positions.
- Five-Point Harness with four adjustable shoulder heights for a secure fit as your child grows
- One Pull Harness Strap Adjuster for quick, easy, and snug fit every time
- IsoFit™ Flexible Buckle System for LATCH, ensuring a simple and secure fit
- Removable, hand-washable cover.
- Floating HUGS (Harness Ultra-Guard System) enables easy chest clip placement and distributes the harness load to avoid webbing edge irritation to a child's neck in the event of a crash
- Built in Lock-Offs, both forward facing and rear facing, are designed for easy reach and operation when using traditional belt routing
- Approved for use in aircraft
- Product dimensions: 28"H x 19.5"W x 25"D, 17.5 lbs.
Britax Marathon convertible car seat Reviews
All Customer Reviews
- Average Rating:
- Highest Rating:
- Lowest Rating:
- Number of Reviews:
- 158
3 years and love it
Reviewer: Anonymous , Richmond, MN
Date: March 12, 2010
We got the cowmooflage one when my 6 month old out grew his infant carrier seat. It has been great, a lot easier to install and use than the other one we have in hubby's truck. He's almost 3 and still fits in it; he has one more "rung" on the shoulder straps. Reading other reviews that a 6 yr old is still in it is encouraging. We had to buy a new booster for hubby's truck as he outgrew that car seat already and I'm dreading having to replace my Britax as my son is so comfortable and sleeps well in it on any trip. I would recommend it to anyone and if we have another kid we will get another one for the second car for sure!
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We love our Marathon, but wish for a higher rear-facing weight limit!
Reviewer: A.L. , West, TX
Date: January 14, 2010
We purchased a Marathon for our son when he was about 8 months old. We keep the Marathon in my husband's truck, which the kids almost never ride in, so it's his secondary car seat basically. To be honest, I hate that we don't get to use it more because it's so much roomier for him than his primary car seat (Britax Diplomat), and he just loves it. He's still rear-facing at 13 months old and 29 pounds, so I have no idea how it functions forward-facing, but I like it a lot rear-facing.
We use it in the back seat of our 2006 Dodge Ram, and it fits great. We could easily fit three of them across the back seat, and there's room between the Marathon's top and the driver's side seat back. Fitting the seat in might have been an issue if my husband or I were particularly tall, but we're both under 5'8", so we do fine. Taller people may need to consider the space the seat takes up while rear-facing since they may need their front seats back farther than we need ours.
I find the use and installation of this seat to be easy. I like the LATCH clips, and how they have a push-button release. They are much easier to use than the hook style clips on some other seats. The straps adjust easily, and the chest clip stays in place nice and easily, which is important for safety.
I have only one complaint with this seat. For extended rear-facing families such as us, you may not get as much as you want out of the 35 pound rear-facing weight limit. We had hoped to rear-face our son for three years, but with him weighing 29 pounds at 13 months, we may not make it even two years rear-facing. That is disappointing for us, so if you are an extended rear-facing parent, maybe you want to take into account how soon your kids are likely to reach 35 pounds, and then decide if this rear-facing limit is going to be enough for you.
I'd also caution parents that the bottom harness slots are fairly high, and that a lot of babies will not be ready for a Marathon as early as they will for other convertible Britax seats. Our son has ridden in his Diplomat since he was four months old, but was JUST tall enough for the Marathon at 8 months, and he has always been tall for his age. This seat is probably best recommended for most babies starting at 9 months or a year, and then thereafter. On the bright side, our 6-year-old fits in it just fine, so we're looking forward to many happy years of use from our Marathon!
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Love it still, 6 years later
Reviewer: Anonymous , Boston, MA
Date: November 15, 2009
We've owned the Britax Marathon for 6 years now and we've loved it. My son grew quickly early on, so he was ready for it by 6 months. We had no problem using it rear facing; in fact, he LOVED it. He hated his infant carrier seat, but would instantly fall asleep in this one. It's the Cadillac of car seats. It's comfortable, durable, and safe. Now that my son's over 6, and on the smaller side at 45 lbs, he's still in it safely and loving it. He sees no reason to move into a booster seat, even though he's occasionally pressured by his friends. He wants to keep it. Easy to install, easy to wash - absolutely no compliants. We loved it so much that when my daughter was born (at 10 lbs) we put her into another one immediately. Highly, highly recommend it.
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Great seat
Reviewer: Anna , Springfield, MA
Date: September 15, 2009
It is sturdy, and VERY safe. The only problem is that it is bulky and heavy. As for the comment of another reviewer that it cannot be used for taller children, my 5 1/2 year old is still in it at 46 inches tall, and there is still room.
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Good seat -- but no way will you reach 49
Reviewer: Anonymous , Kansas City, KS
Date: September 03, 2009
We've had Marathons since my twins outgrew their infant seats 3.5 years ago. Now my 4 yos are 42" and are outgrowing them by height. My kids are NOT all torso, so advertising them as good to 49" is misleading. If you want a good easy to use seat, they are great, just don't expect to use them much past 41 or 42" of height.
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Its alright
Reviewer: Anonymous , Ontario, Ca
Date: May 01, 2009
I loved this seat at first, it looked so comfy, I loved the safty rating, etc.
But my biggest problems are:
A) It's size... Rear facing in our 4 door 2002 chevy cavalier it can ONLY fit in the middle seat. The back sticks up so high, even in the middle it hits my broad shouldered husband in the back whenever he's in the car.
And when it's forward facing the seat sticks out so far it's a tight fit for anyone to sit in the backseat when it's in the middle seat.
And B) my son can reach the button for the adjuster strap. He pulls the button, leans forward and in essence he loosens himself from the his seat while we're driving. SO unsafe!
When I called britax they sent me a "training tool" which is a plastic piece to go over the hole for the button. But the instructions they sent a VERY vague and I still can't figure out how to put it on.
I'm going to have to call them AGAIN to ask how to put it on, and hope someone knows what they're talking about.
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Britax Marathon
Reviewer: Anonymous , Virginia, MN
Date: April 26, 2009
My husband and I purchased a Britax Marathon in Dec. 2006 for our 5 mon. old son. He reached the max height on his infant seat alot sooner than we expected. since we got the britax we loved it. Easy to install and once installed it doesn't budge. My husband kneeled in it to get it as tight as possible. Now that we have a 10 month old daughter we are purchasing our second one. We love them and highly recommend them to anyone who wants the best safety and comfort for their child.
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No complaints
Reviewer: Bonnie , Santa Fe, NM
Date: April 25, 2009
We purchased this seat for my husband's SUV when our daughter was about a year old and she is still sitting in it comfortably at age 2.5. It seems as though she has room to grow in it further, though she has already grown out of the other convertible car seat we purchased for her, the Maxi Cosi, which we had in my car. We just ordered another Britax to keep her comfortable and safe in both our cars.
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Dodge Neon
Reviewer: Nicole , Watertown, CT
Date: April 22, 2009
I purchased 2 marathons, one for my husbands car (nissan altima) and one for my dodge neon. I am wondering if the carseat will fit into my car though! I dont want to open it and find out it doesnt fit and not be able to return it. I LOVE the carseat in my husbands car though. Very easy to install and love how comfortable my daughter is in it!
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