Britax Marathon ClickTight
The Britax Marathon was recently discontinued as Britax slims down their product offerings. But it is still in stock at this time, and it's a seat that has a lot of great features! We especially love the simple seat belt installation, the tall harness height, and how compact front to back this seat is.
- You have a small backseat.
- You have a tall child.
- You want a car seat that is easy to install.
- You have a vehicle with non-removable headrests.
- You need to fit 3 people in one row of the vehicle.
- SafeWash fabric option is flame-retardant free
- Lock-off
Our Review of the
Britax Marathon ClickTight
The Britax Marathon was recently discontinued as Britax slims down their product offerings. But it is still in stock at this time, and it's a seat that has a lot of great features! We especially love the simple seat belt installation, the tall harness height, and how compact front to back this seat is.
Our recommendation: From birth until it's outgrown, between 5-6 years
A convertible car seat that can be used rear-facing and forward-facing
From birth
Stand Out Features of this Car Seat
SafeWash fabric option is flame-retardant free
Britax is moving over to all flame retardant–free fabrics. But until the other fabric options are out of stock, make sure to choose a version with SafeWash fabric if this is important to you.
Lock-off
The ClickTight panel functions as a seat belt lock-off. It is very easy to use and allows caregivers to quickly get a tight installation in their vehicle.
Seat is good for you if
You have a small backseat.
When it comes to rear-facing convertible car seats, space can be a major concern. Whether you have a tall front seat occupant, a small backseat, or both, the Britax Marathon’s 7-position recline options can offer a space-saving profile for older kids!
You have a tall child.
This is where the Marathon‘s harness height comes in. Many of our other favorite convertible car seats have the tallest harness setting in the 17-18″ range. But the Marathon‘s is 19.5″. A school-age child’s torso grows roughly an inch per year, so that extra harness height can mean extra longevity out of your child’s convertible car seat!
You want a car seat that is easy to install.
When it comes to easy, straightforward, wrestle-free car seat installation, ClickTight is about as good as it gets! Britax’s innovative ClickTight technology both tightens and locks the vehicle seatbelt for you. All you have to do is thread the vehicle seatbelt through the correct belt path, buckle it in, gently remove any obvious slack, and close the ClickTight panel.
You want a car seat with a seat belt lock-off.
This seat has a seat belt lock-off. So it can be a good option in vehicles older than 1996 that don’t have locking seat belts or need to be installed in international vehicles.
Use caution if
You have a vehicle with non-removable headrests.
If your vehicle has non-removable headrests, we do not recommend buying this seat. It may not be compatible in the forward-facing mode. You can check this post for car seat options that do work with non-removable headrests.
You need to fit 3 people in one row of the vehicle.
However, in some mid-sized or large cars, the Marathon can work in a three-across setup! The ClickTight panel makes it easy to shift the car seat closer to the vehicle door during installation, saving valuable space in that center seat — so in some vehicles, it can work, especially if it’s combined with narrower car seats. All in all, it’s not a seat we’d purchase if we’re shopping for a three-across configuration, but in some cases, it does work well!
Quirks to be aware of
V-Shaped Tether
The top tether should always be used when a child is forward-facing. Britax’s top tethers are v-shaped instead of the typical top tether design. Generally this kind of top tether will go around both sides of the vehicle’s headrest.
Harnessing Information
Installation Information
Airplane Use
The Britax Marathon is an FAA-approved car seat. At 28 pounds, it is one of the heaviest options available. If traveling internationally, this seat has a belt lock-off, so it will work well. For help with all things airplane travel and car seats, check out our Wheels Up Course and private Facebook group.
Videos
SITS Bottom Line
As long as your vehicle has removable headrests and you don’t need to fit 3 across in your vehicle, it’s likely a great option for you. It’s easy to install, which makes it great for any caregiver, even older ones who may have trouble getting a tight installation with other car seats. It’s a long-lasting option as well thanks to the high harness height.
Similar Car Seats
Notable differences:
Specifications
Britax
Product Information
Weight: 28lbs
Width: 18"
Highest Harness Height: 18.5"
Rear Facing Limits
Height: 49"
Weight: 5-40lbs
Head Height Rules: at least 1″ below the top of the headrest
Lower Anchor Connectors Weight Limit: 35lbs
Forward-Facing Limits
Height: 49"
Weight: 20-65lbs
Head Height Rules: ears must be below the top of the headrest
Lower Anchor Connectors Weight Limit: 40lbs
No Back Booster Limits
Highest Belt Guide Settings
High Back Booster Limits
Other Important Details
Newborn Fit
Fits from birth
Expiration Limit
10 years
Crash Replacement Policy
Replace after a moderate or severe crash
Harness
No-rethread
Lock-off
Yes
Vehicle Seat Protector
This brand does not permit a vehicle seat protector.