This pass sunday I had an automobile accident. A deer jumped out in front of me on a major high way. All the damage to my very large SUV was on the side where my 21 lb 3 year old sat. Thankfully having her in the 5 point harness marathon she only suffered brusies around that side of her neck where the harness held her in.Even though it is big and clunky it did it ,s job. I was told by the state trooper on the sence that the car seat is what saved her from serious injury, that she has seen so many accidents where the car seat has not held up. So now it needs to be replaced being that it was involved in an accident, and im not think twice about buying another marathon, its well worth the money for the saftey of my child.

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.

This is our third Britax car seat. I would say that in all we have owned 6-7 car seats prior to discovering Britax (I have 6 children). Once I bought our first Britax I knew I would never buy anything else, even though it cost much more then some brands. My youngest child is 18 months old and 6 months ago when it was time to turn her to a front facing seat my only dilemna was whether to get the roundabout or the marathon. I did end up purchasing the marathon although I know I would have been just as happy with the round-a-bout as that is what I have had in the past. 3 months after purchasing the seat I was in an auto accident with the baby in the car. It certainly could have been worse but we were hit hard and the car spun. When I looked back at the baby she hadnt budged an iota, and looked at me like "what the heck was that", but totally unharmed. I did need some medical attention and when the paramedic was removing the baby in her carseat to place it in the ambulance so she could come with me, she told me she had been in her job for over 10 years and had never seen a seat so well anchored into a car as this one was. I will say that we use the LATCH system and I do make sure it is secure, because no matter how good a seat is if it is not installed correctly it wont do much good. However I feel that Britax has made it easy to install the seat as it should be, it is not difficult to secure it tightly. I am glad that I had this seat and would highly recommend it

My husband and I went round and round when we went to the store to purchase a bigger car seat for our little girl.I am a police officer and I had checked out the safety of all convertible car seats. This one was the best. I wanted and loved this one and he wanted to go with a cheaper more pratical one. Needless to say we ended up with this one and he tells me quite often how great it is. My 4 month old loves it and seems to be so comfortable in it. We travel a lot and she does not get frustrated being cramped up --it's approved for airplanes. We absoultly love it- it is by far one of the best purchases we have made so far. it's a liitle more expensive but it is well worth every cent.

The fabric is a soft velour, and the background is yellow (the picture online looks more like cream). It's comforatble in both hot and cold weather. We love it and have not had any trouble with this seat.

When my wife and I began to look at car seats, we knew price wouldn't be a factor. Whatever price would be worth it for our daughter Ava. When we found out a Britax competitor was essentially the same in many ways including safety we went for that brand. We took it back the next day in exchange for the Britax. The other brand didn't fit nearly as well as the Britax. Of course the Ashley Floral print we found on Amazon was "the wife's" favorite, so Daddy had little say there. But we love it. It's safe, easy to install and cute to boot. Plus we went for the normal shipping, and still got it in 3 days. If you're looking for the best seat, stop at the Britax. It's worth every penny.

We love the floral pattern for our twin girls. These seats are comfortable and safe. We are very pleased with them. They do take up quite a bit of room so I would be cautious if you don't have a large automobile.

My husband bought a costo and I hated it the straps were always twisted and it seemed hard to take apart to clean.I bought the marathon and love it. the marathon is also easier to install with the latch straps than other seats we've had. britax contacted us about the recall and sent new parts even though we didn't have a problem

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?
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br /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.

What a great seat!!! Excellent growth for the long term. I especially like the sides of the seat that offer great side impact protection. Also a five point harness that accomodates a child up to 65lbs and 49" in length. The 5-point harness was super easy to use and adjust. Seat installation was a breeze with the latch system included.
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br /I bought my seat online at travelingtikes.com who's prices were far lower than any other advertised price by more than fifty dollars shipping included.....right on! I purchsed the tan seat "portland" that best matched our car interior.
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br /Im so happy that Britax is rated so well and that their seat is such a household name which made my purchase that much easier to research.
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br /My little guy is styling!!!
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Britax Marathon was the easy chioce for me. Excellent growth up to 49"-65 lbs as a 5-point harness. The seat was extremely easy to install with the latch system and versa tether strap.
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br /I especailly liked the head support on the side which is reassuring for side impacts. The marathon is well padded and my 7 month old Jack looks so comfy in his seat that I wanted to jump in there with him.
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br /There are better prices online as one amazon consumer stated in her review online about traveling tikes.com. They are selling the same marathon at $219.99 shipping and tax included. They had a great selection of patterns to choose from which made it easy for me to make my decision.
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br /Im one totally satisfied consumer!
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After spending much of my time reviewing convertible car seats I was able to narrow my decision to the Britax Marathon. The Marathon with its five point harness allows your child to remain in this seat until 49" and or 65 lbs, which is equivilent to a five year old. Thats reassuring considering that most boosters start at 30lbs and just use a shoulder/lap belt combination until your child out grows their seat. I also like the fact how easy the Britax Marathon was to install. Just latch in and tether down and your seat is safe and secure.
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br /I made my purchase online at Traveling Tikes whom I have heard many great reviews. They included free shipping and charged no sales tax. They were pleasant and very professional in answering all my questions which is something that is lacking in this industry.
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br /Sincerely,
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br /Alice Lathers
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I HAVE A 6 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER WHO GREW OUT OF HER INFANT GRACO CARSEAT CAUSE OF THE WEIGHT LIMIT OF 20 LBS. I RESEARCHED FOR WEEKS FOR THE BEST CARSEAT THAT WAS THE SAFEST BUT ALSO COMFORTABLE FOR MY DAUGHTER. THE MARATHON IS IT! IT'S VERY BIG, BUT NOT HEAVY. IT ALSO RECLINES SO THAT IF YOU HAVE A LITTLE ONE LIKE I DO, THEY CAN STILL LAY BACK INSTEAD OF SITTING STRAIGHT UP. THE LATCHES ARE VERY EASY TO USE,AND THE CARSEAT IS VERY EASY TO INSTALL. MY DAUGHTER USE TO CRY EVERYTIME SHE HAD TO GET INTO HER OLD CARSEAT, WITH THIS ONE SHE HASN'T CRIED ONCE! THE CARSEAT CAN ALSO STILL BE USED FOR YEARS TO COME!

The Britax Marathon is wonderful. As a concerned parent I wanted a seat that would offer a 5-point harness for as long as possible. Thats where the Britax Marathon shines through all the other seats that I reviewed. The Marathon allows any child to remain in this seat up to 49" in length and or 65 lbs. Thats equivelent to a five your old.
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br /Not so happy with the color selection that Britax offers for a boy. I choose the portland print that was offered online from travelingtikes.com at $219.99 including free shipping. They also offered many other prints at the same price for substantially less than most other companies online.
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br /The seat arrived shortly thereafter and was nicely boxed. I did have difficulty finding the instructions that were tucked underneathe the front seat fabric which I thought was a strange place to put them. However the seat was extremely easy to install and did not take up much room in my VW Jetta.
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br /Wonderful Seat and price!
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I have had my Marathon for almost 2 years now. I don't have this print, we have Mauvelous, but I just wanted to add a review from someone who has had this type of car seat for awhile. I had an EVenflo car seat before I bought the Marathon and there is no comparison-it took 45 minutes to install the Evenflo and it still wiggled around. When I brought the Marathon home, my daughter fell in love with it instantly. When her cousin comes to visit they have to take turns sitting in it because her cousin loves it so much(unfortumately she doesnt have one of her own). This car seat looks just like it did the day I brought it home. Everyone thinks it's brand new! It is so easy to install, takes at most 5 minutes and it doesn't move in inch. I have recently been shopping for a second car seat for my mothers car. I have researched tons of car seats(I was hoping not to spend so much) My daughter is four now so I intented to get a cheaper high back booster. Unfortunately, none of the other brands came even close to the quality of Britax and I couldn't take the chance that I would be risking my daughter's safety so I bought the new Decathlon which is very similiar to the Marathon. I will be handing down the Marathon to my mom. My daughter is , of course, delighted because she thought all the other car seats were for boys(blue and black are for boys according to her). In any event- Britax is truly in a class of it's own, get one and you won't be sorry!

My Daughter is 6 months old, and only 12lbs, but my brother was having a baby so I we gave them our infant seat, and bought this one. I was not sure how she would do in such a big car seat, for such a little girl, but she loves it. It has more room, and a lot more confortable for her. She loves the extra room. It is easy to put in the car, and is easy to strap my daughter in. I know that this car seat was a little more than some others but I think that it was worth it. Plus I love the color, and it is easy to wash.

I just purchased a marathon for my 4 month old son who is just too heavy for his snugride. I got this seat a couple of days ago and could not believe how quick and easy it was to install. I was a little worried it would be too big rear-facing, we have an X-Terra, but it fit perfectly behind the drivers seat and I didn't even have to move the seat forward to make it fit. My 2 year old daughter has the Eddie Bauer 3-in-1 Elite and it was a total nightmare to install rear-facing and would only fit in the middle seating position. I wish I had never bought it for that and many other reasons! I just ordered the Ashley Floral pattern for my daughter and can't wait to use it. For the safety, ease of install, and total convenience, you can't beat the value of Britax.

I researched many, many car seats trying to find one that was both extremely safe comfortable for my daughter. We settled on the Britax Marathon. Then the unthinkable happened and my family and I were in a tragic hit and run auto accident on the interstate. The vehicle we were in was a mid-sized SUV and we were hit with such force that we were thrown off the road uncontrollably ended up flipping several times down a very steep hill. While I suffered a compression fracture in my lower back and my husband a torn shoulder, our 2 1/2 yr. was completely UNHARMED. Aside from the obvious shock of the accident she was completely kept safe and untouched. We were extremely thankful that this car seat held up under the worst of circumstances. Immediately after the accident we went out and bought her another Britax Marathon to replace the one that had been in the accident (we're taking no chances). I highly recommend this to anyone who is on the fence about this wonderful car seat. It's money well spent. I would rate it 10 stars if I could. It truly is a life saver!

this carseat is the only one i've tried that does not move AT ALL once installed, not even the allowed 1 inch. it is very easy to install with either seatbelt or LATCH (depending on your car). my daughter outgrew her infant carseat at 7 months, so we had to get a convertible car seat. was worried about the price at first, but then reminded myself that you cannot put a price on your child's safety. i love how easy it is to install (5 minutes max, once you figure it out), how securely it fits in all 3 cars i've installed it in (camry, bmw, landrover), and how it looks. the cover is also very easy to take off when you want to wash it (no screwdrivers needed). my daughter just loves how it feels. she rarely slept in her old carseat, but in this one she always falls asleep, and it looks so comfortable too (soft, padded and with armrest). would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a convertible car seat or even a regular carseat. i will buy this one again when i have another baby.

The Britax Marathon Convertible car seat is the best. After a great deal of research, we chose the Britax car seat for our 1 yr old daughter. Although one of the most expensive models, it is extremely well made. I especially like that the LATCH belts are attached to metal bars on the sides of the car seat instead of plastic (which may break in a crash). In addition, I never have to worry about the straps of the seat getting twisted. There are small patchs of Velcro on the sides of the seat to hold the straps in place when not in use. The Ashley Floral print is adorable too. This seat was worth every penny!!

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.
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br /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.
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br /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.
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br /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.
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br /I highly recommend this car seat!

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!

I highly recommed this carseat. We bought it for our daughter when she outgrew her infant seat and we are happy that it should be the last carseat we buy. Adorable print and great feel - the light color keeps it from getting to hot (we live in FL!) and everyone comments on it. Our daughter sleeps in it really well and her head does not flop from side to side. She seems to be very comfortable! I looked at others that were lower in price, but they did not seem as comfortable. Since she will be riding in this for years I was shopping with her comfort in mind! Here you get what you pay for. Very easy to install too! Fits in my Durango perfectly!

When I was buying infant car seats and strollers I was frustrated how everything was Navy blue, dark grey, BLAH. When looking for my daughters next stage carseat I HUNTED, just as I did for her infant. I read reviews, looked at all the styles, compared features, etc. I decided to buy her the Ashley print Marathon car seat by Britax. I read great things about the company and the crash testing they do with these car seats. Most car company's do not test for all types of crashes, but Britax does and many of their car seats even offer side impact protection. Most importantly, my daughter LOVES the new seat. It allowed her to finally turn around and face forward. The straps fit her nice and snugly, and the print is not only adorable, but OHHHH so soft. The seat was a BREEZE to install. The latch system makes installing seats a cinch, if your car is equipped with the LATCH system as well. I like the strap covers and the belly pad as they assist in extra confort for the child. My 8 month old looks like a big girl in her girlie seat.

This car seat is the best car seat I have ever purchased. I have a 5 year old, 3 year old, and a 2 month old. My 2 month old is 16lbs, and too long for her infant car seat so last week we bought this one. This seat is made out of very hard and durable materials that make it safe as well as comfortable. The cover is not only beautiful, but very plush and soft. It has the Latch system, and anchors to all cars made after 2002. It is expensive, but can you really put a price on your baby's safety. To me it is worth every penny.
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br /Amy Ertel

I got this car seat for my 3 year old daughter (she only weighs 24 pounds). She has Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis and needed a bigger more comfortable carseat to support her legs more. It's much bigger than most. It sits up REALLY high so she can see out very well. It has very soft and beautiful material and it is much more of a yellow color than a cream color like it appears to be on the computer. BEAUTIFUL!!!
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br /DEFINATELY recommend!!!

With so many seats to choose out there its no wonder that it can become so confusing. Infant car seats, convertibles and finally the boosters. 20lb's, 40lb's 65lb's Yikes! What's a mother to do?
Well I'll tell you what I did! I did my research and found that the Britax Marathon gave me more value and safety for my buck than any other car seat on the market. The Marathon is a Convertible Child Seat with LATCH that can be used rear facing for children 5 to 33 pounds and forward facing up to 65 pounds. The child's height should be between 18 and 49 inches. Not to mention that your little ones are secured by a five point harness that displaces the energy evenly across their precious little bodies. The Marathon with its patented lock-off, versa-tether and latch belt make this the easiest and most secure seat to install. Even though I was not thrilled about the color choices for my little girl online. I chose the Ashley floral pattern SO CUTE!!! and found the best price of $249.99 offered [...] Do yourself's a favor and invest in your child's safety. I know that when I get behind the wheel of my car that I feel more confident now knowing that I have a Britax, than when we had our first infant car seat. Happy travels!

We originally bought the Britax Roundabout because it was highly rated with consumer reports(either first or second). Then when we needed an additional carseat we saw that the Marathon was also highly rated.
br /My husband calls it the Rolls Royce of car seats. It is plush, comfortable, and she sleeps in it on most car rides. The straps are amazing, as they have velcro on the back that grips to the side of the carseat when you remove them. The next time we put her in the carseat the straps are already out of the way and it is a quick strap in. Tangling is truly not a problem. We have the Britax Marathon in my husbands truck and the Britax Roundabout in my car. The Marathon is bigger and will last us longer. We are very happy with both carseats and would recommend them without a doubt.

We purchased this car seat for our daughter when she turned one and was 20 lbs. We loved our Peg Perego infant seat but she was clearly outgrowing it and uncomfortable. So far she loves this seat and I love the safety profile and color. She enjoys riding in this seat as it has plenty of room and fits her size well. The only 2 flaws that I find I personally dislike is 1. that you do not hear a distict "click" when you buckle the 5 point harness. For me this is juat a reassurance that it locked. 2. I dislike the rubber strap covers and may consider cutting them off. They make the straps harder to maneuver. I do like the velcro attachments on the side that allow you to pull the straps apart when you put the baby in. This is a real time and effort saver. Overall we really love the seat. We also purchased the Graco Comfort Sport car seat for our secondary car and it is a good seat overall but not as nice as the Britax. Plus the Britax goes to 65 lbs and the Graco only 40. Britax is definitely worth the money and the better seat for the primary car.

I love this car seat, but more importantly, my 7-month old baby girl seems to love it too. We switched her to this seat when she was 6 months old, and car rides have been a whole lot better. She has plenty of room and it reclines better than her infant car seat (Graco snugride), and it is well padded. We call it the princess' throne. My husband was shocked at first at how much this thing costs, but now he understands why. This was so easy to install and very safe. I love the latch system--the thing barely moves. You can't put a price on safety. Plus this will grow with her until maybe she's about 5. Also, you cannot go wrong with this beautiful fabric. I love it--not another pink, but very girlie and sweet. I LOVE IT! WELL WORTH THE $$.

My wife and I each have seat in our car for carrying our 18-month-old toddler. She has a Britax Marathon convertible car seat. I have a Cosco Eddie Bauer Deluxe 3-in-1 car seat. Neither of us has had any problems using the Britax seat with thick harness straps that don't twist. The lap-buckle system on the Britax harness is easy to use and can be undone with one hand. The seat cover was also easy to remove when my daughter spilled juice all over her seat. In contrast, within 2 weeks using the Cosco seat and wrestling my toddler into the harness, the thin harness straps on my Cosco seat were a twisted mess, that just kept getting worst. The overlapping buckle system is a pain to line up and use. I've finally decided to give up on the Cosco seat. I got tired of trying to straighten the harness straps and to fasten the complicated buckle. I just ordered another Britax Marathon.

We bought this car seat after originally buying a Graco that was later recalled. Although it was pricey it's been worth every dime. My son is three years old now and is tall for his age but he still fits perfectly into this seat. It's easy to clean and is a breeze to install. In fact, if you have the LATCH system this car seat takes less than a minute to install. We bought the Britax Companion for our new little one because it was the safest one on the market at the time but at 6 months old it's already too small for her! We're going to get another Marathon for her and will install it rear-facing for now and after she's 20lbs/1yr old will turn around.
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After much consideration I chose the Britax Marathon for its safety and features. As I have an older car that does not have latch. I was pleased to see that the Britax Marathon with its built in lock-offs allowed me to secure the seat in place with our cars shoulder lap belt. Although I did have to add a anchor for the tether strap, the seat stayed firmly secured and did not move at all once installed.
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br /I was especially pleased with the thought that my child will remain in a five point harness up to 65 lbs. That is comforting knowing that most convertibles go to 40 lbs and then a child is transitioned into a booster that only has a shoulder lap belt combo.
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br /I shopped around online and found babies r us to have a good selection but made my purchase at traveling tikes an online store. Their store offered free shipping and no sales tax as mentioned by a parent at babies r us online kids review.
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br /I can can now rest assured that I made my purchase with safety confidence in mind.
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With so many baby car seats to choose from out there its no wonder why it can become so confusing. Infant car seats, convertibles and boosters. 20lb's, 40lb's 65lb's Yikes! What's a mother to do?
br /I did my research and found that the Britax Marathon gave me more value and safety for my buck than any other car seat on the market. The Marathon is a Convertible Child Seat with LATCH that can be used rear facing for children 5 to 33 pounds and forward facing up to 65 pounds. The child's height should be between 18 and 49 inches. Not to mention that your little ones are secured by a five point harness that displaces the energy evenly across their precious little bodies. The Marathon with its patented lock-off, versa-tether and latch belt make this the easiest and most secure seat to install. Even though I was not thrilled about the color choices for my son online. I chose the Racer pattern and found the best price of $219.99 offered at travelingtikes online including shipping and I paid no sals tax. Do yourself's a favor and invest in your child's safety. I know that when I get behind the wheel of my car that I feel more confident now knowing that I have a Britax, than when we had our first infant car seat. Happy travels!
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I felt the need to write this because I thought I would look the reviews over. We bought this car seat when my daughter outgrew her carrier (about 7 mos.). I researched and found this to be the safest because Britax is European and they exceed the American safety standards. I couldn't believe how easy the latch system is with this seat. My friend went and bought it because she liked it so much. I would recommend that everyone buy this seat! I even read a review where a woman had been rear-ended and her baby was in this seat. They took the baby in the seat to the hospital and the baby was just perfect! Sometimes to get the seat real tight, I actually put my knee and body weight into it while pulling the latch straps. This baby doesn't budge. This is well worth every penny

I think this seat is superior in quality and safety. My husband installed it pretty quickly and was very impressed with the contruction of it. I think the fabric is beautiful, and the softest I have ever felt! I have two older daughters, and they both wanted to sit in it. My baby girl loves it and goes to sleep easily. She can also see out of the window better, because she is sitting higher up. We would buy this one again.

I absolutely love this car seat!! It is great. My daughter sits up high and has lots of room. The seat cover is very soft. The covers on the seat belt protect her neck from getting rubbed. The car seat is eay to install and very easy to put hook her in and out of it. It is the best car seat we have ever purchased and we have owned several-we have two children. I definitely recommend this convertible car seat! I tell all my friends who are expecting to spend a little bit more and it will save you in the end from buying seats for each stage as your baby grows. I know my daughter will be using this seat for many years to come. You definitely get what you pay for-It is worth every penny!!!!

I love this carseat! It's easy to get my child in and out plus it's got those great velcro things to keep the belt buckles from getting in the way. I LOVE it!

I would highly recommend this seat for newborns/infants and toddlers who are slimmer/lankier than most other kids.
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br /My first child had the Eddie Bauer seats, and I was always bothered that when he slept, after facing the seat forward, his head would always droop forward. So, with my second I was determined to get this nicer seat. I was so glad I did up until now (28 months). My daughter starts screaming and struggling to get out after about 10 minutes. She's a normal sized baby - not overweight or underweight - but now that she's getting bigger, the straps seem to bother her to no end. They seem to be too tight at her neck. Also, the seat doesn't sit fully upright. It has 2 settings and neither one sits her in a normal upright position, which I think also bothers her. Perhaps if she was a skinnier kid like her older brother.
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br /I LOVED the seat for her as an infant - it was super easy to install and didn't budge - even with the bulkiness of it. But, now, unfortunately, I'm going to have to sell it and put her her older brother's Cosco/Eddie Bauer seats!
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br /Also, the seat cover and straps have been washed numerous times and still look brand new. But, it is quite tricky to clean the "undercarriage" nooks and crannies.
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br /~M. Tilse

I researched so many car seats before finally buying this one.
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br / My daughter hates sitting in the car seat, but when she does, I know I want her to be as safe as she can possibly be, and the Britax makes that possible.
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br /It's a nice seat, somewhat big in my tiny little Nissan Sentra, at first I wasn't sure if it would fit, but it does.
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br /Sometimes one of the straps kind of gets twisted, and it's a pain to fix, but that doesn't happen often. And when I go to buckle my daughter in, I have to put the right buckle in first, and then the left, otherwise it doesn't buckle in completely, and will come open.

No complaints. I love the pattern and material. Very easily to install and use.

It seems like this carseat arrived about five minutes after I hit the purchase button. It arrived in great condition, too, and they even threw in a sippy cup! ;-)
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br /The fabric on this cover (the Ashley Floral) is very attractive. I love that it can be rear- or forward-facing. A friend who had already purchased a different seat helped me install this in my car, and she loved it so much more than the one she got that she's getting this one, once her newborn is too big for her rear-facing-only seat. If only she'd bought this one, she said, she wouldn't have to go buy another.
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br /Haven't had my daughter in it yet, so update coming soon!

My daughter just turned 1 year old. She's on the tiny side so I was concerned as to what type of carseat I was going to purchase. I read many reviews on Britax and it seemed like the company to go with. I loved the print of this and my daughter looks so cute in it. Not to mention that she finds it much easier to fall asleep in this seat than in her infant carrier. My husband said it was fairly easy to install and I know getting her in and out as well as adjusting the straps is a breeze. It was a perfect buy and I would recommendend to anyone!

My thoughts about this product, I hope they will help you to decide. I had already purchased a Britax car seat that was a neutral color, thinking I'd be happy with that. Wrong! So I return the neutral color and went for the Floral pattern, which I love looking at and so does my husband! The price was more than I thought the "next level" should cost, but well worth it. I spent a good amount of time at the store looking/feeling the other car seats. This model is very durable, good feel of the material, and it's going to last!!! My only disappointment is the velcro tabs, which is a great idea to hold the straps to the side to allow you to place your child in the seat. The velcro tabs are located about an inch too high.

We have had 5 car seats in 3 years and we have really been pleased with the performance and design of this car seat above all the others. Not only is it easy to attach snuggly and securely, but there is something to be said for straps that are easy to get around your childs shoulders and not having to fuss around to find the buckles that all fit together to latch in your child. Our shoulder harnesses never twist and I certainly appreciate the time saver when I'm running behind schedule with two children. I hope you find it as wonderful as we do.

My Husband and I love this car seat. He loves the fact that he can switch it from my car to his truck in two seconds. I love the print. Emma thinks it is very comfortable and very easy to get in and out of. For all the parents out there that are switching from rear facing to forward facing car seats it is definitly worth the money.

My son has a black grey marathon, which we love! when we found out we were having a girl I registered for the ashley floral which I only saw on the web. The seat looks "BEIGE" with cranberry/rose colored flowers... When the seat came in I stood there saying "THIS IS GOLD YELLOW" NOT BEIGE. The girl said it was special order we pretty much own it! Also, it might fade in time----- I laughed. I was a little disappointed, but, I've gotten use to it . Go and look at this product before you purchase it if possible.

We bought this car seat because I didn't feel my Peg Perego infant seat was as safe as this one. I was afraid at first to sacrifice the options of the baby carrier but soon learned I didn't need it. My daughter is little (12lbs.) but so much happier in this seat. She sleeps much better in the car now. Be warned that it takes a lot of space. We have a Honda van and it workes great for me but my husband has to move the seat back and it touches top of the seat. I wouldn't get this for a small car. I LOVE the fabric - so cute!

This car seat is absolutely awesome. I got this car seat because I didn't want the hassle and expense of buying car seats all the time. My daughter came home from the hospital in this car seat. I did buy an insert to put in it, but even then it was cheaper than the decathalon. Both my daughter and I love the floral print. When I was comparing car seats, I loved the fact that this car seat had such good safety ratings. So for the extra expense, you have a safe car seat, and a car seat that will work for a long time.

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?

Don't even bother looking at another carseat, because this is the best one. It's very beautiful (I've had tons of compliments) but also very safe and extremely well made. As the other reviewers say, it is definitely worth every penny, which you'll soon find out once you look at all the other carseats available. None even come close.

After purchasing the Eddie Bauer 3 in 1 car seat and finding it to be a nightmare with twisting straps we returned it and did some more research. We found the Britax Marathon and fell in love with it. It fits in our Explorer better and it is very easy to install. The straps never get twisted and are very easy to adjust to the constantly growing baby!

This seat is worth every penny. I tried a Graco booster before this and it was terrible - cheaply made, no padding and straps that twisted every time my child went in or out. They also didn't tighten evenly either so that went back to the store.
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br /For the Consumer Report readers please note that European tests and American tests differ in terms of intensity. Europe does a much more thorough, government run test vs here where alot of it is the honor system.
br /My child is over 5 but only 34 pounds and he fits snuggly in this seat and it is easy to get him in/out. He can also nap when needed because the sides give enough head support
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All the great things people have said about this carseat are true! However, I'm having to research other car seats now--after almost two years of using this seat--because it is incredibly difficult to get my tall 2 1/2 yr old in and out of it. We have a Land Rover Discovery, which has "stadium seating" and my son bumps his head every time he gets into the seat. Also, like another reviewer said, my son can easily loosen the straps by pulling on the lever between his legs. I wish that adjuster was placed a little lower. I would highly recommend testing the seat in your car before purchasing. I was actually considering selling our car instead of getting another carseat--because it is so great, but that is impractical.

This seat is hands down the best out there. I'm so sick of reading conflicting reviews about the "consumer reports" ratings. Yes the evenflo triumph was rated better but between the unattractive seat covers and the difficulty to use, that's why it wasn't rated number 1!!!! We looked at the triumph at the store and couldn't believe that once you took the pillows and padding away how you could see the back of the seat! Also I don't plan on using the infant latch (where it scored only a "good") so I'm not worried about it-I looked at the "excellent" rating for the Toddler latch and "very good" for the infant belt crash ratings and the "excellent" ease of use ratings. If you look at most of the evenflo seat ratings on different websites you'll see how low they are really rated!!!!! Way to go Britax!!!!!!!!!!!!

We used the Roundabout with our daughter since she was 1 year old, being petite she still fits there at almost 3 (height and weight) but her little sister is a big girl who outgrew the infant seat at 5 months. We opted to move the older one to the Marathon. We like it very much, but not as much as the Roundabout.
br /CONS
br /* The straps are harder to adjust.
br /* The release mechanism is indeed easy to access for the toddler. My daughter has not tried it, but she is not one of those who are always "getting in trouble". This has been brought up by other reviewers, and I believe can represent a problem depending on the personality of the child.
br /* As well rated in safety as Britax is; this one has been proven deficient in a certain test. When using LATCH and facing back it can be separated from the seat. Easy to solve though; just use the seatbelt when facing back. not an issue for us b/c we are only using it facing forward. (see consumer reports, 5/05 I believe)
br /* It is so big it doesn't fit many cars facing back.
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br /PROS
br /* The covers for the straps are nice for when she is not wearing a collar or sweater.
br /* it obviously will last for a long time
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br /IF your child is on the smaller side, I highly recommend getting the Roundabout, and moving to a booster with back when too big for that one.
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br /If your child is big, it is probably a better idea to get the Marathon.

I am a previous Britax owner. I purchased the Britax Roundabout for my daughter when she was 4 months. At 18 months she was only 5 inches from outgrowing it. Since we had such a plesant experience with the roundabout we decided to stay with the Britax brand and purchase the Marathon in the Olivia print. I was very dissapointed.
br /I had a major issue with the straps comming loose while we were driving. When we would get to our destination the straps were so loose there was virtually nothing holding her into her seat. A huge scare for any parent at the thought of what could happen when you slam on your brakes. It also lacked the supurb comfort that britax boasts of. My daughter was never as comfortable in the marathon as she was in her roundabout. The rubber things that go over the straps were also incredibly annoying. The constantly slid down out of place and by the end of the trip the chest clip was in my childs lap. That coupled with the straps comming loose were defentially not expected of britax high saftey standards. I went through quite the fiaso returning this seat and after 3 returns I bought the Eddie Bauer seat instead. So far I have no complaints. I wouldn't waste my money on this. Buy the roundabout if you want Britax name, but please dont bother with this Marathon.

This seat looks nice and my 20 month old son is comfortable in it. However, last week as we were driving he reached down between his legs, lifted up the lever and lossened the shoulder straps. He is not a genius - any 20 month old child can do the same. I can't believe that BRITAX has not recalled this car seat