Britax Marathon Convertible Car Seat

by Britax USA

Product Features

• 5 pt. Harness with patented Floating HUGS system
• Built-in lock-off clips, Versa-Tether & Safe Guard Latch Connectors
• EPS and Comfort Foam for safety and comfort
• Birth (5 lbs)

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 19.3 x 20 x 32.2 inches ; 21.3 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 20.8 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B0006HBRY0
• UPC: 652182051440
• Item model number: E9L0634
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #41,281 in Baby (See Top 100 in Baby)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (93 customer reviews)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Britax International has been manufacturing innovative, industry-leading child products for over three decades. Their dedication to safety, comfort, and convenience is certainly apparent in this convertible car seat. Its ample attributes—both for parents and baby—and amazing attention to safety standards, make the Marathon a true front runner.

Safety first is a good rule of thumb, and one that Britax certainly heeds. The Marathon offers features you might find on many other car seats, such as convertibility, a five-point harness, and the LATCH system. But Britax enhanced and then went above and beyond the norm when creating the Marathon.

The Marathon can be easily rear-facing installed with today’s LATCH system.

Their five-point harness system is made with strong polyester webbing, fits snugly over baby’s shoulders, collarbone and hips to provide a secure fit, and the straps are designed to remain tangle free. There are also four adjustable height positions so the seat grows with baby. A patented "floating" HUGS™ (Harness Ultra Guard) system better distributes the webbing loads, reducing head movement and minimizing harness irritation on baby’s neck in case of an impact. HUGS also reduces the chance of improperly positioning the chest clip.

Located near a vehicle's seatbelts, factory installed anchor points provide a secure and easy LATCH connection. In conjunction with this push-button release system, the Marathon also offers Britax’s Versa-Tether®, an anchor aid that provides additional security in the forward facing position for children weighing more than 50 lbs. The Versa-Tether® fastens the top of the car seat to factory installed automobile anchor points, minimizing the possibility of a head injury.

The Marathon can also be safely used in cars without the LATCH system.

Need more? The Marathon provides built-in lock-off clips that keep the seat tightly in place when using only traditional seatbelts at installation. A simple handle pull allows the car seat base to be easily reclined when rear-facing. A smooth ride is guaranteed for baby through the comfy padding and soft fabric cover, which is stain resistant, removable, and washable. The Marathon is Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 213 compliant, making it approved for airplane use as well.

It should be noted that the Marathon is larger (28"H x 19.5"W x 25"D) than most car seats, and can be a tricky fit, especially in the rear facing position in a smaller car. Allow for 31" of backseat space to properly accommodate this model. With its bigger size this car seat is also heavier than many. Completely empty the Marathon weighs nearly 18 pounds. But these same features are what allow the car seat to have a higher weight capacity and therefore last well into childhood.

A simple handle pull allows the car seat base to be reclined when rear-facing.

Since car seats are mandated by law, it’s nice to know that Britax is at least making the choice simple for you. The Marathon is easy to install, super comfortable for baby, available in a wide range of colors and patterns, and, most importantly, safe!

Comparing Britax Car Seats
If you’re debating between the Britax Marathon and the Britax Roundabout, think of the latter as the little sibling. They are identical in comfort and convenience features, but the Marathon has a higher weight maximum, and is therefore larger than the Roundabout.
The Britax Decathlon is also similar to the Marathon, but offers two features you might need. First, the Decathlon offers additional padding for newborns with an infant positioning system, giving more peace of mind to first time parents. Second, the Decathlon offers an adjustable three-position crotch strap, which makes the seat more comfortable for toddlers consistently at the top of their height percentage.

Product Description

Keep little ones safe and comfortable during trips with this quality car seat that can be adjusted to two positions (rear- and forward-facing) depending on your child's development.

Features:

• Rear-facing position holds up to 33 pounds; forward-facing holds up to 65 pounds
• Patented Versa-Tether
• Comfortably fits larger, older children
• Removable, washable fabric cover
• Patented HUGS system
• Belly pad for comfort and protection
• Built-in lock-offs
• Sculpted base for a perfect fit
• Flexible buckle LATCH system
• Comfort foam and EPS protective foam
• Tangle-free polyester 5-point harness
• Belt holders keep belts aside for boarding
One hand recline adjustment

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!, March 1, 2005

By 

Mads (Oceanside, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Britax Marathon Convertible Car Seat, Cowmooflage (Baby Product)

This seat is really great, I can't say enough good things about it.

First of all, my 7 month old son fits perfectly and rides so comfortably in it. He outgrew his carrier, and I wanted a safe, and snuggly seat for him to move into. He not only loves the look of the cow print (he smiles and laughs at himself in the Baby In Sight mirror!), but the fabric is so plush and soft. If you're going to get a top of the line model, I figure take advantage of the fun prints that are offered! It's great because it is so soft and lush, but he doesn't sweat in it at all, and he's a big sweater! The BRU exclusive fabric, Racer, looks chic, but is very rough to the touch down the center stripe.

Also, this seat was almost too easy to install. It was so simple, I felt like that couldn't possibly be "it". But it was! The LATCH connectors have clicks similar to seatbelts, and easy to pull straps - this was nothing like trying to install the base to my Graco Snugride. I'm confident that the seat is installed properly, and it's not difficult to remove and install quick in another car, if need be. The tether anchor was also much easier to hook up than I anticipated. It's a great safety feature that only Britax has. The seat is large, but does not take up the entire back seat, still allowing two other passengers to ride back there.

While the carrier was great for the early months, this is the absolute best for older babies, and kids. I would recommend Sleepy Wings or extra head support for newborns, however.

The Marathon is the way to go for durability, safety, luxury and longevity for your child. I guarantee that this is worth the extra money! I am forever a Britax customer!

73 of 82 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Big Design Flaw! Cloth Diaperers Beware!, July 17, 2006

By 

C. Mallon "Attached Mama" (NH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Britax Marathon Convertible Car Seat, Cowmooflage (Baby Product)

I researched many car seats and settled on this one. Safe and cute! But it has a *major* flaw:

The strap that comes up between the legs is too close to the back of the seat. My daughter, only five months old, was already almost sitting *on* the belt where it comes out. This mean that the buckle was way too low and tight, forcing the belts to cut into her chunky thighs and pushing uncomfortably on her pubic bone.

I asked around online on some forums, and found many other mothers who returned this seat for the same reasons. Many mothers didn't find it a problem until their child was at least 20 lbs, but it was a problem for me already, because we use cloth diapers, so my baby's butt is bigger due to the 'padding.'

This car seat wouldn't work well if your child is chunky or uses cloth diapers... and even otherwise, I can't see how it would work for a child over 25 lbs or so... The Britax Roundabout has the croth belt at a different location, a few inches further out from the back of the seat, so it is the one I am getting as a replacement.

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best carseat ever... and love the cowmoo print, March 8, 2005

By 

Kat Penrod "momof2boysand1girl" (Norfolk, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Britax Marathon Convertible Car Seat, Cowmooflage (Baby Product)

we originally got the Evenflo Triumph V in Aztec, which is a great seat, but our baby girl is not like my second child, who was 30lbs at 1yr... she is long and slender like my oldest... so she would have outgrown the seat at 18mo for rearfacing and outgrown the seat altogether before being ready for a booster.

We saved up our money to get her the Marathon, because I knew it was the seat that would get her to age 5-7yrs.... I had wanted to get it when she was 2mo and hated her carrier, but my mom was buying the seat and wouldn't buy britax because of the price.

it installs like a dream, is solid as a rock, and the straps don't twist... she's so comfy and it feels more plush than the evenflo seat did... and the cover is so soft.

she's barely on the 2nd set of straps... she was using the 2nd set for two months in the triumph before we got this new seat.

I tried my 4' tall 5yr old in this seat and he would still have 2" above his ears in this seat... so I know that it will last my daughter longer, since she is only in the 50 % for height... my son is in the 96th %.

we love this seat and I would recommend it to anyone.

Kat

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