If I had to pick ONE Britax seat to own this would be IT!!!
Written: Oct 17 '03 (Updated Apr 30 '04)
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Pros: Comfy, easy to use, easy to install, longest length of use, 5pt harness, LATCH equipped
Cons: It is largER than most other seats...other than that, NONE!!!
The Bottom Line: The best bang for your buck, ease of use, durability, safety features etc!! Britax Rocks!!
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| redbelt_tsd's Full Review: Britax Marathon Convertible Car Seat - Microdot Ta... |
As a mom of 2 lightweight boys and a daycare provider to another boy, I needed to be able to transport all 3 with me. My oldest is in a Britax Husky (click here for my review of the Britax Husky) and my youngest is in a Britax Roundabout (click here for my review of the Britax Roundabout) so what was left but the new Britax Marathon
The Britax Marathon is truely a seat that will last you until your child is either ready to move into a dedicated booster, or until they are ready for a vehicle's seatbelt.
With a weight limit range of 5-33lbs rear facing and 22-65lbs forward facing, your child should be able to get MANY years of use out of it.
If the price is a sticking point think of it this way...
On average an infant only carrier type seat runs right about $59.99 and on average they will use it about 6-8 months before out growing it. (Yes some out grow it sooner, and some can use it until their 1st birthday or longer, but on average.) The Britax Marathon costs around $185-$215, so *IF* you pay $215 for one the cost will be the same as what you paid for your infant carrier in 3.5 years. So if you actually use it LONGER than that it gets even cheaper!! And if you end up putting 2 kids through it, it's even cheaper STILL!!
Yes, Britax seats are pricey. But the quality of products, customer service, and ease of use are FAR superior to ANY other seats currently on the market. (The only other seats that were even comparable in my mind was the Fisher Price Safe Embrace and it is no longer made.)
My Britax Marathon is in the Stormy pattern which is a grey color. It has a kind of bumpy texture to it, and I ended up liking it more in person than through the pictures I saw online. Bad news is almost all of the Britax seat covers are hand wash/line dry ONLY. I can use it for any of the 3 boys rear facing...even my almost 3 year old!! It is super easy to readjust the shoulder straps into the proper height slots between the 3 boys, as the younger 2 both use the bottom slots, and the oldest uses the 2nd slot up.
The Britax Marathon is also chock full of saftey features. It has a steel frame on which the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) anchors are mounted. The LATCH anchors aren't the standard hook type, and are easier to use. You push them onto the LATCH anchor in the vehicles seat and they snap into place, they are removed by pushing in a button and unsnapping them. It has EPS (bike helmet) foam all the way around the body including the head area. It is equipped with an easy to use tether, and Britax's unique Versa-Tether. (If you would like more information on the Versa-Tether, follow the link to my Roundabout review above.)
I think the Britax Marathon is the best seat on the market, best bang for your buck, best to install, and best to use.
I have owned 8 different carseats and I think this is the most verstile one on the market, and my second favorite ONLY because I like my cow print seat cover on my Roundabout better...LOL...I'm so vain!!
UPDATE: 4/30/04
My oldest son (3yo) has finally outgrown his Fisher Price Safe Embrace and Britax Roundabout in height. He uses this seat occasionally in my husband's vehicle as my husband always has a 2005+ Ford Escape since he's an engineer on that program, and the LATCH on this seat is so easy to use.
Both boys can STILL ride Rear Facing in this seat, but normally only my youngest (16months) does as my oldest fluctuates in weight between 30-35lbs on a regular basis.
One thing important to note about the LATCH system on this seat (and possibly the NEW Roundabout with the smaller base) is that they are SIDE SPECIFIC. One of the LATCH anchors specifies that it MUST be used on the DRIVER's side. Not sure on why this is, but if you use it against the manufacturer's recommendation then it voids the warranty should you be involved in an accident, and also voids all liabilty for the manufacturer...so make sure you have the correct LATCH strap on the correct side if installed with LATCH!!!
I also managed to procure a matching Cowmooflage cover for my Marathon so now if I could only get a Cowmooflage cover for my Husky...are you listening Britax?!?!?! LOL
I still think this seat is the best bang for your buck and easy to use...too bad more people couldn't "try it before you buy it" to determine how much better the ease of use is compared to the other standard models out there. (Cosco Alpha-Omega, Graco Comfort Sport, Evenflo Horizon, etc...)
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 185
Age Range of Child: 3 to 5 Years
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Epinions.com ID:
redbelt_tsd
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Reviews written: 34
Trusted by: 1 member
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