When new parents bring their baby home from the hospital, one of the most crucial aspects they need to consider is car seat safety. Car seats play a vital role in saving lives during both minor and severe accidents. Moreover, they provide a comfortable riding experience for babies until they are old enough to use the vehicle's seat belt system. The Britax Marathon ClickTight Convertible Car Seat has a solid reputation as the epitome of safety and comfort, so we decided to conduct our own evaluation. We examined a number of factors, like installation, portability, ease of cleaning, and overall value. Here’s our review.

Top-Notch Safety Features

Without question, the best thing about the Marathon ClickTight is the abundance of safety features. From the straightforward, simple installation design to the actual seat and frame construction, it’s clear that Britax prioritizes safety.

The seat features impressive side impact protection formed by a deep foam-lined shell that absorbs energy and shields your child from the most dangerous type of collision. It’s also designed with SafeCell Impact Protection, a safety system that includes a steel frame, an energy-absorbing base, and a patented V-shaped tether.

• Impact-absorbing base compresses to reduce the force of a collision.
• Impact-stabilizing steel frame offers superior strength where you need it most – at the connection point to the vehicle.
• Patented V-shaped tether minimizes seat rotation with a unique two-strap design and staged-release stitches that slow and reduce forward movement during a crash.

It’s this type of attention to detail that makes the Britax Marathon ClickTight one of the safest convertible car seats available on the market. 

Easy Installation

The Britax car seats utilize the ClickTight system, which offers different setups for front- or rear-facing positions. Regardless of the configuration, the Marathon ClickTight model connects to the car's LATCH system anchors through its tethers. To install the car seat using the ClickTight system, you simply lift the padded seat and thread the tether through. This process is relatively simple, and you end up with two hooks on each side of the car seat, which you then connect to the LATCH anchors in your vehicle. 

Alternatively, if you prefer to use your car's seat belt system, installation is even easier. With the ClickTight feature, you lift the seat, thread the strap through the appropriate channel, and buckle it into the vehicle's seat belt. While we personally preferred the LATCH system, having the option to use the seat belt method is convenient. It also makes it simpler to teach other caregivers who may not be familiar with car seats, like temporary babysitters or visiting relatives. The Britax Marathon ClickTight is renowned for its ease of installation, earning a five-star Ease of Use rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Additionally, transitioning the car seat from rear-facing to forward-facing to accommodate an older child is hassle-free thanks to the ClickTight system. Rather than needing to rethread the strap through the seat, you lift it, rotate the strap, and you’re ready to reinstall the Britax Marathon ClickTight in the car.

While convertible car seats are typically installed and left in the car, the ClickTight feature simplifies the process for those who frequently change configurations to accommodate different children. This makes it an excellent choice for grandparents or childcare providers who regularly care for children of varying ages.

Impressive Design

There are basically two ways to use the Britax Marathon ClickTight car seat: rear-facing (for little ones who weigh less than 40 pounds) or forward-facing (for kids who weigh between 20 and 65 pounds). It features a five-point harness with 14 easily adjustable settings, which lets this seat grow with your child, allowing both taller and smaller children to be completely comfortable. The 7-position, quick-adjust recline feature also helps you find the most comfortable fit for your child and the best fit for your vehicle

The seat offers plush foam padding and premium fabrics (in a variety of colors!) to keep your little one comfortable. The breathable, wicking fabric and ventilated mesh keep your baby cool and dry. You can even pick up a secondary cover set to change the design or to simply have a convenient backup on-hand. The Britax Marathon Click Tight Convertible Car Seat Cover Set includes a cover, head pad, comfort pillow, EZ-Buckle belly pad, and two comfort pads. 

If you need the ability to fit multiple car seats in your vehicle, you’ll definitely want to take a look at the Britax Marathon ClickTight. It’s one of the narrowest convertible seats on the market, with a base that’s only 18.5 inches wide. It’s a little on the heavy side, weighing in at almost 29 pounds, but we didn’t find this to be too much of an issue since convertible car seats are really designed to be kept in the car at all times. 

Easy to Clean

Cleaning the car seat is pretty straightforward. The SafeWash® covers are naturally safe to machine wash and dry and aren’t loaded with any added flame-retardant chemicals. Simply wipe down the rest of the seat with a damp cloth.

Price

While this car seat is a bit on the pricey side, you’ll get the best value for your investment if you plan to use it in place of a separate infant seat. The Britax Marathon ClickTight offers some of the best available safety features, though, so it’s worth the investment. Less expensive car seats aren’t designed with a steel frame, side-impact protection, and a lot of the other safety features that put this car seat in a class of its own. If you can afford it, investing in this car seat offers valuable peace of mind.

The Verdict

All in all, the Britax Marathon ClickTight Convertible Car Seat is definitely worth the extra investment. Its unparalleled safety features help keep your little one as safe as possible while you’re on the road. It’s simple to install, a cinch to clean, and easy to adjust to just the right setting for your little one. We highly recommend taking a second look at this remarkable car seat.

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