• Britax - 2005
Marathon Convertible Car Seat in Luau Fabric
• Converts from rear-facing for infants (5 to 30 lbs.) to front-facing for
toddlers (20 to 65 lbs.)
• LATCH compatible when facing front or rear
• Adjustable five-point safety harness with four shoulder positions
• Special impact foam cradles head and torso
• One-pull harness strap adjustment
• Removable, washable seat cover
• Easy operation when using a traditional seat belt attachment
• Approved for aircraft use
• 18 1/2"W x 25"D x 28"H
After some research, we decided to buy the Britax Marathon for our daughter.
It was a great value for the money in our opinion. It is a very safe seat and
easy to install. I was very pleased at the comfort in the seat padding and the
fact the seatbelts rarely twist. My daughter is tall so this seat was perfect
for her and will fit her until she's 65 lbs. I loved the Ashley Floral
pattern...not only cute and girly but practical for the hot summers here in
Texas. I highly recommend this seat!
15 of 15 people found the
following review helpful:
great for bigger kids, easiest
to install, July 20, 2005
This is the best car seat I have ever seen! My 3-year-old is 45 inches and 41
lbs, too big for most convertibles. We moved her to a booster seat, but she
tends to lean over, and she falls asleep in her seat often, so the seatbelt hits
her neck. This was the only seat I found that fits bigger kids. I have carseats
by Evenflo, Graco, Costco, and Eddie Bauer, and I can install a car seat fairly
quickly, but this car seat went in my SUV in under five minutes! It was so easy
to install, and I didn't use the LATCH system, just my seatbelt and the tether.
The base is much slimmer than my kids' Eddie Bauer and Costco Alpha-Omega
convertible car seats. It is installed so tightly, with less than the half-inch
wiggle room experts allow, and has built in locking clips. The padding is comfy,
the harness fits well. (A previous reviewer complained about the harness straps,
but perhaps she left on those goofy pads that every car seat comes with and
every expert tells you to remove.) My daughter loved picking out the fabric;
with so many choices available, she was sure to find one she and I both loved.
I would spend twice this amount for this carseat, but don't tell the
manufacturer. Rated to 65 lbs and 49 inches (I didn't see that info when
purchasing, so make sure the height is appropriate),you may never need a booster
seat.
When my wife and I realized that it would soon be time to buy a new car seat
for our 10-month-old, she searched and searched. She really wanted this one
because it was "pretty" and there were so many great raves about it. It is a bit
pricey, but she asked me, "When it comes to our daughter's SAFETY and comfort,
SHOULD MONEY REALLY BE AN OPTION?" that's when it hit me--she's right. I shell
out so much money on video games and computer software, so why not spend a lot
on a car seat that would benefit all of us in the long run?
So we purchased it and waited for the car seat to arrive via air mail. Visually,
it was very, very nice. The feel of it is almost like a faux mink blanket and it
is very soft. I could tell that our daughter would like it already. Everything
was already asembled, as far as the car seat goes, so that's a real plus.
Adjusting the car seat straps was so easy, my wife figured it out before I did!
(with stuff like this, it really takes her a while) We didn't even have to look
at the directions until after we placed it in our vehicle. Now, I drive a 2-door
'04 chevy cavalier and yes, it fit's perfectly in my "not your standard" family
car. It isn't bulky at all like others would say. Finally, the REAL test: Does
my daughter like it? If she could say yes, she'd say it. She definitely liked it
way better than being in an infant seat. From the get-go, she was already
attracted to the floral print. As far as comfort goes, she hardly ever complains
and well...she dozes off and sleeps like a baby in it. I definitely recommend
this to everyone on the market transitioning from an infant seat to a toddler
car seat.
Great Seat, But Is
Anyone Else Having Problems Tightening the Straps Rear Facing???, December
31, 2005
I have the Roundabout and loved it! My daughter is tall and outgrew her
infant car seat at 4 months (really three, but we pushed it). I saw the Marathon
and decided to splurge and put the Roundabout in my husband's car. The
installation was easy, although after I took it to be inspected, it was not as
good an installation as I thought. They did an awesome job installing it for me
(thanks Medford MA Police!) including using the tether which I didn't know could
be used rear facing (turns out that's only a feature of Britax). My only concern
and question to you all is that after it was installed (properly that is) it is
really tight against the back seat and you need to pull the strap down to
tighten the harness and I can't seem to pull it enough. Is anyone else having
that problem?
1 of 1 people found the
following review helpful:
Britax Marathon is Simply the
Best!, December 21, 2005
When my 9 month old started outgrowing her infant seat I did extensive
research. I needed a seat that could be rear-facing but that also could be used
as my child grows. I concluded that the Marathon was the car seat for us. I love
the fact that we will be able to use this car seat much longer than most of the
others available that only go up to 40 lbs.
The Britax fabrics are adorable and fun, very plush and soft and extremely easy
to clean. This seat installs very quickly and easily in any vehicle, LATCH
equipped or not. My daughter is very comfortable in it and the sides come out
enough to keep her head somewhat upright when sleeping, but still allow her to
see out the side windows.
What I also liked was that unlike other car seats, the tether can be used when
the seat is rear-facing. No other seat I've seen has this feature.
I know that other seats like the Alpha Omega do function as a shoulder harness
booster after 40 pounds, but my hope is that my daughter will be used to the
5-point harness car seat and that I will be able to keep her in a 5-point
harness as long as possible! Also, some people have balked at the $250 price
tag, but consider that if you buy a high-rated car seat that goes up to 40 lbs
and then have to invest in a booster (I would get one with a back) that you
would likely spend about as much.
Alot of the reviews are saying how great this is for big kids, but i also
want to say how wonderful it is for my newborn. Besides bing cute and floral and
Pretty, it is also soft to the touch and comforting to her. When she was a month
old we drove cross country she slept peacefully in the back most of the ride. It
was worth it to my family not to buy another infant car seat when it would have
to be replaced with a britax in a few months anyway and I think the right
decision was made. I will always buy britax from now on!
