You might be thinking after reading the name of this car seat, Britax Marathon, does that mean it’s going to last me a long time, really go the distance like running a marathon? I definitely was. Looking at this car seat I definitely see it’s a possibility especially since it’s a convertible car seat, so it goes from infant (5 lbs) up to almost 6 years old depending on height and weight.
That’s potentially six years of use which is good considering car seats expire after 6 or 7 years normally. The Marathon line has a few car seats but I’m only going to review the newest models the Marathon 70-G3 and Marathon G4 or simply Marathon.
What are the details on the Britix Marathon 70-G3?
The Marathon 70-G3 was discontinued by Britax as of December 2013 with the introduction of the Marathon G4, however this car seat is still available at online retailers like Amazon with very high reviews. In addition, the Marathon 70-G3 has a ton of adjustment and safety settings to keep your child comfortable and secure. This includes their HUGS (Harness Ultra Guard System) chest pads which provide resistance, preventing them from going forward in the event of an accident, and padding on the seat bottom and sides to keep your child not only comfortable but safe and sound in the seat.
Hands down my favorite thing about this car seat is what they call the EZ-Buckle system which lets you hold the seat buckle away so you can easily put your child in the seat. I call this my extra set of hands because…that’s basically what it is and it’s amazing.
Quick Specs
- Item Weight: 19.5 lbs
- Orientation: forward and rear facing
- Weight limits: 5 – 70 lb
- Height limit: 49 in
- Harness: 5 point
What are the Pros?
- HUGS Chest Pads – These chest pads provide resistance to forward movement in the event of a crash.
- Side Impact Protection – Sides are made from energy-absorbing EPP foam which keeps the child safe by shielding them on the sides and lessening the crash force.
- Base with SafeCell Technology – Again made with SafeCell Technology to prevent the child from being propelled forward by compressing in crash and lowering the center of gravity.
- Energy-Absorbing Versa-Tether – Attachment that anchors the top of the car seat which slows the release of forward movement.
- EZ-Buckle System – Keeps harness out of the way so you can place your child in easily. ← AMAZING!
- LATCH System – Makes installation a breeze for parents.
And the Cons?
- No infant insert – No infant insert means having to buy this separately to add while your baby is still small to make sure they fit in the seat snug and secure.
- Could be considered heavy – At 19.5 lbs this may be difficult for some who want to take the car seat in and out, but not an issue if the car seat is staying in place.
- Short seat – If you have an above average in height infant, a common complaint is the seat is too short to keep them rear facing but they don’t weight enough to be turned forward or aren’t old enough, so watch out those of you with future NBA stars on your hands, the rest of us should be fine.
How do consumers rate it?
In reviews, it gets an overall score of 4.6 out of 5 stars, and most users would highly recommend it to their friends.
What’s it going to cost?
The Marathon 70-G3 has been discontinued and replaced by the newer Marathon G4 however it is still being sold on Amazon for around $340 as I’m writing this. This price is what I would consider on the higher side.
The Bottom Line
As a convertible car seat the Marathon 70-G3 is great, it’s safe, secure and easy to use. But, with the introduction of the Marathon G4 with its upgraded features and since the 70-G3 has been discontinued, I’d go with the G4.
