Britax Marathon Vs Advocate – Which One is the Best in 2024?
Metal grinds against metal… the glass explodes… airbags deploys…
Both car seats have been in a terrible crash. Stick with me for a bit, and you’ll know exactly what happened.
Now accidents happen without notice the only thing to do in these moments is hoping that all the safety features are in place and they will do their job.
Having car seats is demanded by the law. Even so, 75% of car seats are not installed properly. If the mounting is done in a bad way, the seat won’t be able to offer the maximum protection.
To see which the best from these two is, I’ve created the Britax Marathon Vs Advocate comparison article. By reading it to the end, you will know exactly which car seat will be the best for you.
Look:
Here’s the bird’s eye view of the Britax Marathon. The installation is almost effortless. You can get this wrong. It’s a long-lasting and long expiration date as well.
Here’s the bird’s eye view of the Britax Advocate. This fortress will keep your little one safe no matter what. It’s ideal for parents who want extended rear-facing.
Direct Comparison Britax Marathon Vs Advocate ClickTight Convertible Car Seat
| Britax Marathon ClickTight Convertible Car Seat | Britax Advocate ClickTight Convertible Car Seat | |
| Safety | SafeCell Tech
Steel Frame Side Impact Protection 5-point harness |
Impact Absorbing Base
Steel Frame 3 Layer Protection 5-point harness |
| Size Limits | Rear Facing 5-40
Front Facing: 20-65 49” |
Rear Facing 5-40
Front Facing: 20-65 49” |
| Installation | ClickTight | ClickTight |
| Fabric/Material | Machine Washable | Machine Washable |
| Bonuses and Features | ||
| Cup Holder | No | 1 Flexible |
| Recline Position | 7 | 7 |
| Headrest Position | 14 | 14 |
| Rethread Harness | No | No |
| Breathable | Yes | Yes |
| Extended Use | Yes | Yes |
Breaking it down
The table above is my actual short list of what I use when I evaluate a new car seat. The most important thing is safety. I prefer to get the most safety that I can get. After that, the size limits follow.
It’s good to know how long your little one will be able to use it. The longer you can use a car seat, the more money you can save in the long run. My next item on the list is the ease of installation.
The spectrum is wide; some seats are extremely hard to install, and some are way too easy. Finally, I talk about the fabric. Kids will inevitably spill something or make a mess, so you will have to know how easy it is to clean it.
These would be the main points. After these are done, I usually check the secondary features. There are many secrets between them.
Let’s get this Britax Marathon Vs Britax Advocate comparison started. Just one more thing…
I have something special for you in the end. I have compiled a quick pros/cons list. The things I’ve found are quite interesting, to say the least.
Related: Top rated Britax car seats
Safety
The purpose of every car seat is to keep your little one safe. Price is not negotiable on this point. Get the best that you can afford. The main difference between cheap and expensive car seats is that the cheap ones will barely pass government standards.
It doesn’t mean they are not safe. Just ask yourself this question do you want that brand protecting your little one which has barely passed or the one that went beyond the minimal needs.
Britax Marathon ClickTight Convertible Car Seat
This incident happened with some friends of mine. They were coming home from a long trip. In the car, there were the father, mother, and the little one in the back. In one of the turns, the father didn’t notice the big puddle of water.
The car slipped off the road and hit a tree. Hit is an understatement. The crash was so wished that the car stretched around the tree. The crash was extremely loud. Glass was flying everywhere. The airbags exploded. The parents were left with many cuts and bruises.
As for the little girl, she was safe and sound. She had no injury what so ever.
That day the Britax Marathon saved a life.
No wonder it has performed so well. It has a steel base which can take on anything. The base is absorbing the energy, so the little one is protected. Plus, it has side impact protection.
As you know, the human body doesn’t do so well with side impacts. Last but not least, the 5-point harness kept the little one in the seat and not getting hurt.
Britax Advocate ClickTight Convertible Car Seat
This other incident happened with other friends of mine.
The mother was driving the SUV along the highway. There were three kids in the back, all strapped in Britax seats. The mother didn’t notice that there was an accident up ahead, and many cars have stopped ahead of her.
By the time she noticed it was too late. The only thing she managed to do is to slam the brake as hard as possible and steer away from the parking cars.
The scene looked like an action movie. The SUV flipped and rolled over 5 to 6 times. Cookie, the family dog, was projected out the window. The glass shattered. Everything that wasn’t locked away became a lethal projectile.
It was a horrible accident. In the aftermath of the crash, the kids were all fine. Shake up and scared, but they were fine. Even Cookie survived the accident without harm.
The Britax Advocate did an excellent job protecting this family.
The security features are the same. The chair is made out of steel. Plus, it has side impact protection. Not to mention the base has energy-absorbing properties. The kids have strapped in safety thanks to the 5-point harness.
Winner
This is a strong tie.
Size Limits
This is where you can save some money. Here’s the secret on how to do it. Choose a car seat that can be used a long time, and you don’t have to change in a few months. This is why all in one solution is so popular nowadays.
Usually, I break down this section, but they are the same. So I won’t bore you by repeating myself.
Both seats are convertibles. This means that you can use them in rear-facing and front-facing mode. The specs are the same.
Both the Marathon and the Advocate cater to infants. The minimum weight limit is set to 5 pounds. This means that you will be able to take your baby home from the hospital in this car seat.
It’s a good idea to keep your little one rear-facing as long as possible. This mode provides the most protection for them. Both the Marathon and the Advocate allows you to do extended rear-facing. The upper limit for rear-facing is 40 pounds. That’s some good mileage over there.
The upper limit for front-facing is 65 pounds or 49’. So your little one will be good in these seats until they reach six years or so.
Last but not least, I usually mention the weight of these car seats. The Britax Marathon weighs 27 pounds while the Britax Advocate weighs 30.6. Since they are convertible, these seats are heavier.
Winner
It’s a tie.
Installation
The installation is the hardest thing when it comes to car seats. For some reason, in the US, 75% of car seats are installed wrong. If the installation is not right, then the car seat won’t be able to do its job.
Luckily the Britax car seats rely on ClickTight technology. It’s so simple that there’s no guesswork involved. Plus, you can get it wrong.
Again both the Britax Marathon and the Britax Advocate work on the same frame. So there’s no reason to split this into to.
They are convertible car seats so they can be mounted either front or in rear-facing mode. Both the latch and the seat belt is supported.
The first thing is to push the ClickTight button and twist it. This action will pop the seat. Depending on which mode you want to install it you have to put either the seat belt or the letch through the right hole.
For some reason, the seatbelt install seems the easiest. The latches are ok, but they look like a seat belt that connects to the latch.
After you have heard the click, then you pull the strap tight. Once that’s done, you lower the seat, and you will hear another click. Check if the car seat’s wiggle room is less than an inch. If it’s more than you have to tighten it some more.
Winner
This is a tie.
Fabric/Material
Since both car seats caters to infants, then you can expect all sorts of accidents like puke, spill, and diaper blowout. It’s important to know how to remove the fabric and how easy it is to wash.
There are brands that only allow spot cleaning. I feel for those parents who are left with spot cleaning, and they have to remove a heavy-duty mess.
The fabric is a great material. It can be easily undone from both car seats. Good news is that it’s washing machine friendly.
The only recommendation is to use cold water and a gentle program for drying to keep the cover for a long time; air drying is the best.
Winner
This is a tie
Bonuses and Features
At the moment, the two-car seats are neck and neck. Let’s see if the smaller features make a difference to see who will be the ultimate winner.
Since these convertible car seats are catering to older kids, a cup holder is a must. Now neither of them have a built in one. The good news is that the Advocate comes with a flexible cup holder that can be installed on either side.
The drawback is that kids can undo it and use it as a projectile. The Britax Marathon doesn’t have a cup holder, and you have to buy it separately.
To make these seats as comfortable as possible, they need a recline feature. Now both car seats have 7 options when it comes to reclining position.
Both car seats have an adjustable headrest. So it can grow with your child. There are 14 options to choose from.
Best of all, there is no manual rethreading the harness ever. I really hate that solution because I could never get it right. Luckily you don’t have to deal with it with either of the seats.
A very important thing I want to mention. The Britax Marathon has a slim design. This means that you will be able to do 3 across with ease. The Britax Advocate is wide, so 3 across is not possible.
Winner
Again it’s a tie.
Britax Marathon ClickTight Convertible Car Seat
Pros:
Easy install in a matter of minutes no force required
This car seat has a narrow profile so 3 across can be done
You can’t get it wrong; you will know it’s right just by looking at it
Cons:
You will need a budget for this one
It lacks the necessary head cushion so the head slumps
Britax Advocate ClickTight Convertible Car Seat
Pros:
It’s a fortress which provides both front-facing and rear-facing mode
According to a policeman parent, it’s absolutely the best
It’s easy to understand thanks to the well-assembled manual
Cons:
It’s heavy once you have installed you won’t move from the car
ARB looks like an afterthought a bit flimsy
Final Recount
It’s a tie between the Britax Marathon and the Britax Advocate.
Britax Marathon Vs Advocate ClickTight Convertible Car Seat Verdict
Now, this has never happened before. Both car seats are equal.
They both have saved lives in ugly accidents, so both of them are good seats. The Britax Marathon is a bit lighter than the Britax Advocate. And it’s slimmer so you will be able to do three across with ease.
The Britax Advocate costs a bit more than the Marathon. Plus, it has a flexible cup holder while the Britax Marathon doesn’t have one.
These would be the differences. The rest are the same.
So if you want to spend the extra money, you can get the Britax Advocate. The protection that offers is the best. Plus, you will get a clip-on the cup holder.
If you want the same protection but for less than go with the Britax Marathon, this car seat is lighter a bit and slimmer, so 3 across is possible.
We have reached the end of the Britax Marathon Vs Advocate comparison. I hope you have found the car seat that fits you the best. Now it’s your turn to get it as soon as possible because stocks are running low.
If you have feedback or comments, post them below.
Catch you next time!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
What is the difference between the Britax Advocate and Marathon?
There are only small differences between the Britax Advocate and the Britax Marathon. The Advocate has 3 layers of side impact protection while the Marathon only has one. The Britax Advocate comes with a flexible cup holder while the Marathon doesn’t have any. Finally the Britax Marathon is lighter by 3 pounds (seat weight 27 pounds) than the Advocate.
Which is better Britax Marathon or Boulevard?
The Boulevard seems to be the better one. It Britax Boulevard has two layers of side protection while the Britax Marathon only has one. The Britax Boulevard has more room for your little one with its 13.7″ than the Britax Marathon 11.75 inches.
How long does the Britax Advocate last?
The Britax Advocate lasts for 10 years.
How does the clicktight installation work with these two car seats?
These two britax car seats rely on the same tech which is called clicktight installation. This is the newest tech from Britax and the easiest one to use. All you have to do is pop open the child car seat and feed through the straps then you close the clicktight installation door and you’re done. There’s no force to use. It tightens by itself.
What are the weight limits for these convertible car seats?
The weight limits are as follows for the two car seats is the same. The lowest weight limit is 5 pounds while the highest one is 65 pounds (65 lbs). When you’re choosing a britax car seat always check the height and weight. If the child weight is higher then you need to upgrade. If the child weight is lower you can still use the car seat. Both car seats britax allow extended rear facing up to 40 lbs. This 40 lbs is quite generous. It’s typical for britax car seats to have their upper weight limit set to 65 lbs. The height limits are set to 49″ for both britax car seats. Thanks to the impressive height limits you get use out of these infant car seats.
What kind of child car seat safety features do you get with these car seats?
These two car seats are one and the same. The car seat is equipped with safecell impact protection. The role of safecell impact protection is to absorbed crash forces so they don’t travel up into your little one’s body. Britax went above and beyond when it comes to safety standards. There’s a steel frame to keep your child safe no matter what happens. The car seat is filled with impact absorbing foam. Of course it has side impact protection. Depending on the model you will have two to three layers of side impact protection. During an impact the base will not allow seat rotation thus keeping your child safe. There’s more than enough head protection. In forward facing mode the harness system will keep you kiddo in place. Have you heard about the side impact cushion technology? It’s the latest thing from Britax. The seat dimensions are 23 x 20.5 x 23.5 inches. There’s no shoulder height limit for these car seats.
Britax Marathon vs Britax Advocate which one has the best seat harness?
They are equally good with the safe snug harness indicator. It has been designed for easy bucking and undoing. Britax did a great job with the safe snug harness indicator you will know exactly if it’s snug enough. As a bonus the harness straps will never twist. There’s the click safe system as well. The click safe is loosing importance.
Marathon vs the Advocate which is the easiest to install?
Before you get to the installation part you need to make sure to check the level indicator. With the level indicator you know if the car seat is in the right position. Britax has the best car seats and they are easy to install. The next step is to check the user manual for safety protection. Adjust the right recline angle for your child. Both car seats rely on the clicktight installation system for ease of use. Make sure when you use the clicktight installation system to press and twist the clicktight button to get the seat to pop open. The Advocate and the marathon car seat are easy to use in this regard.
Which is the better choice between Britax and Maxi Cosi?
Britax is the better choice usually.
Last Updated on November 7, 2023 by Brian Beasley
