tlbwriter's Full Review: Britax Marathon Convertible Car Seat - Microdot Ta...
The Marathon is a unique carseat that's much better than its "little sister" the Roundabout in many ways. But in other ways it does not meet the high standards Roundabout owners are accustomed to.
What is it, and why is it so special?
The Marathon is in a class by itself - a convertible seat with a 5-pt harness that can be used by children weighing from 5 to 33 lb. rear-facing, and from 20 to 65 lb. forward-facing. Because all other harnessed seats currently available can be used only up to 40 lb. forward-facing (with one exception, the Safety Baby Airway, which goes up to 50 lb. harnessed), the Marathon fills a huge hole in the carseat market. Note: a new Britax seat, the Wizard, also goes up to 65 lb front-facing.
Like other Britax seats, the Marathon is loaded with convenience and safety features that just aren't available on other seats. No single non-Britax seat has all of these special features:
- The Marathon is very easy to install correctly, thanks to its small base and built-in locking clips.
- The seat is lined with impact-absorbing EPS foam (the same type of foam used in protective helmets). It also has a layer of comfort foam for a more comfortable ride.
- Non-twist straps and an easy-to-reach harness adjuster latch make the Marathon easy to use.
- Unlike most other seats, it tethers securely even in the rear-facing position -- it doesn't budge! (Did you know that even if your convertible seat comes with a tether, the tether is probably not approved for rear-facing use? Read your instructions!)
- Unlike most convertible seats, all four harness slots are reinforced for forward-facing use. On most convertible seats, only the top harness slots are reinforced for forward-facing use. Many people don’t realize this is an issue, and children have been killed because their parents didn’t move the straps to the top anchor slots when they turned the seat to face forward. However, all of the slots on the Marathon are reinforced and can be safely used in the forward-facing position.
- A soft rubber "HUGS" harness helps minimize head movement and scraping from the harness straps in a crash.
- Handy Velcro strips hold the harness straps out of the seat, so you don't have to go digging for them under Junior's bottom.
- A soft belly pad and even softer strap covers keep hot or scratchy parts from touching your child. Car seat experts recommend against using aftermarket products such as strap covers, but since these are included with the seat, you know the seat has been tested with them and they are safe.
- A range of attractive covers, from cute to funky to sophisticated, pleases both kids and adults. Many kids love the Fido cover, a plush blue velour with embossed bones and paw prints which is reminiscent of "Blue Clues." Stormy is a subtle taupe with a soft berber-like texture that blends well with either tan or grey vehicle interiors. Colonial Blue has the same texture, but in a lovely soft blue. Racer is a sophisticated grey and black check trimmed with black. Maverick is a soft brown leather-look. And as a cat print lover, I was thrilled to see the snow-leopard-like Arctic Cat.
Who needs it?
The Marathon is an excellent choice for:
- Heavier or taller children. Most children aren't emotionally mature enough to move out of a harnessed seat until they are at least four years old, and usually older. Yet many children outgrow their harnessed seat by height or weight before that age. The Marathon allows you to keep them harnessed until they're really ready for a booster.
- Cars without shoulder belts. A lap belt alone isn't safe for anyone, especially a young child. Older cars may have no shoulder belts at all in the rear, and even new cars often have a lap belt in the center position. The Marathon allows you to put a child in that lap-belt-only position safely.
- Parents who want to keep their children harnessed as long as possible. A 5-pt harness is the safest kind of child restraint, and the move to a booster should be considered a step down in safety, not a "graduation." I feel this is particularly important for those who drive SUVs, since even the most carefully driven SUV has a higher rollover risk than a minivan or sedan.
So what are the bad points?
Very few, actually...
A seat that can be used from 5 lbs. to 65 lb. runs the risk of suffering from the "jack of all trades, master of none" syndrome (see the Cosco Alpha Omega for an example). But Britax has done a fairly good job of addressing potential issues.
- The unique HUGS harness gets in the way when the seat is used with an infant. Luckily, this isn't a problem, because the HUGS is removable when the seat is used rear-facing.
- A child on the lower end of the forward-facing height and weight range has a thick layer of EPS foam lining the area around their head. But on a taller child, this foam is in the shoulder area, causing a tight and possibly uncomfortable fit. Britax responded to parents who complained about this issue by offering a replacement EPS foam insert for use with taller children that reduces the amount of foam in that area.
- The Marathon costs more than other carseats. However, since it can be used longer than other convertible seats, simply think of it in terms of cost per use.
- The seat is not quite as easy to use as the Roundabout. Unfortunately, many Britax owners have been spoiled by our Roundabouts, and were disappointed to find that the Marathon doesn't have the same ridiculously easy-to-use harness adjuster. Instead of a button to push, the Marathon has a lever that must be lifted. And instead of pulling smoothly and evenly, the Marathon has a ratcheting harness. Some seats are more difficult to use than others, so it's a good idea to try it out in the store before you buy it. If you're not shopping locally, check into the retailer's return policy before buying.
- Some seats have shorter LATCH straps than others. This isn't an issue for most vehicles, and a LATCH seat can always be installed with the seatbelt as well. Again, check this out if you buy locally, and keep return policies in mind.
The bottom line...
Even with a couple of kinks, the Marathon is still an excellent seat. I'm giving it 4 stars now because I believe Britax has a couple of issues to address, but I'm sure that in the months to come, it will be a 5-star seat.
Get more information at http://www.britaxusa.com
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 239
Age Range of Child: 3 to 5 Years
We are unfortunately out of stock in this fabric.Product Features: • Britax - 2005 Marathon Convertible Car Seat Tan Microdot • Converts from rear-f...More at Albee Baby
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