Car Seat Brand Showdown: Britax Vs Clek Comparison

britax vs clek comparison

The little one was asleep in his car seat… the car was heading towards a tree…

Accidents are scary. You can’t really do anything because you have no control.

There has been a rise in crashes. Just check out your insurance premium for confirmation. Luckily the car seat manufacturers have been keeping up.

Look:

Every year there’s some kind of innovation with the car seats. Initially, they only did the front and rear collision testing. Now many of the offer side impact protection. And a handful of brands have rollover protection as well.

Finding the perfect car seat is no easy task. It takes between a few weeks up to a few months to narrow your choice down. You have probably shortlisted the Britax and the Clek. They produce one of the best car seats in the world.

This is why I’ve created this comparison article between Clek and Britax. By reading this article to the end, you will know which brand is the best. And you will also know which car seat will suit your needs best.

Of course, I will share with you the accident which I’ve mentioned above. You will find out which car seat was tested and how it has performed.

At the moment, the Clek doesn’t have an all in one solution, so I’ve excluded that from the comparison. I went with full apples to apples and oranges to oranges comparison. After this s section, I will compare infant car seats, convertible car seats, and harness, booster car seats.

Both of them are great brands we are going to find out which one is the best. Let’s get this Clek and Britax faceoff started.

Britax vs Clek Infant Car Seat

These are the first car seat you will have to buy. They are also known as carriers. The beauty of them is that you can mount them on a stroller, and you’ll have a complete travel system. Typically they are in rear-facing mode only. This is the first comparison, so let’s get started.

From Camp Britax, we have the B-Safe 35, and from the Clek camp, we have the Liing.

Britax B-Safe 35 vs Clek Liing

Direct Comparison Clek vs Britax Infant Car Seat

  Britax B-Safe 35 Clek Liing
Safety Steel Frame

SafeCell Tech

5-point harness

Advanced Side-Impact Protection Load Leg

5-point harness

Size Limits 4 to 35 pounds

32”

4 to 35 pounds

32”

Installation SafeCenter LATCH Rigid Latch
Weight    
Fabric/Material Hand Washable Surface / Spot Cleaning
Bonuses and Features    
Newborn Padding Included Yes Yes
Stroller Compatibility Yes Yes
Breathable Fabric Yes Yes

Britax B-Safe 35 Review

Britax B-Safe 35 Infant Car Seat

Our close neighbors told us this story. Their little was born not long ago, and after they bought him home from the hospital, he didn’t want to sleep.

So what does a sleep-deprived parent do in this situation? You put him in the infant carrier and drive around, hoping for the best. Guess what the little guy has fallen asleep in a matter of minutes. Just to be sure, the father drove around for 15 more minutes then brought the baby back home.

This was their routine for the first six weeks. Every night when the time came to put the baby down, they strapped him in and drove around the neighborhood. For some reason, babies love cars. Maybe it is the white noise or the vibration. It relaxes them.

As we look at these two infant carriers, there aren’t many differences. When we look at safety, they seem to be equal. The Liing has the load leg, and I haven’t seen any comparison to the SafeCell tech. They both have the same purpose of absorbing impact energy.

The lower and upper weight limits are the same. As for the installation, the Britax B-safe is lagging a bit behind. It doesn’t have a rigid latch system. You will have to manually tighten the straps. One big difference between the two carriers would be that with the Britax, you can remove the cover and manually wash it. You don’t have that option with the Clek. So far, I didn’t have the opportunity to spot clean vomit out of the seat. The future will tell. If you’re interested in other Britax car seats, check out the best Britax car seats post.

Clek Liing Review

Clek Liing Infant Car SeatIf you haven’t heard about Clek before, let me introduce you. Clek is the Tesla of the car seat world. They make super cool products that come at a high price.

The Clek Liing is the most expensive infant carrier that you can get. If you’re planning to buy this, you will have to set aside a budget for it. The main differentiation between Clek and all the other brands is that they don’t use any chemicals on their fabric. If you have a skin sensitive baby, this is the best car seat for you.

There are only minimal differences between the Britax. In the safety category, it’s one of the few car seats that use a load leg. According to safety testing, this simple thing reduces the impact force by 40%.

This infant carrier is lightweight it only weighs 9 pounds so you can easily carry it around. Most parents tend to get errands done while their baby is sleep. You will be able to go shopping or a restaurant without waking the baby.

The installation is super simple. You can use the rigid latch system, and you’re base is secure in 5 seconds. Or you can use the seat belt. The base has a seat belt tensioner, so no more wasting time trying to get the right fix. Also, you can install this infant carrier without the base.

Since they use a special material which is made out of merino wool, you won’t be able to wash it. The only way to clean it is by using surface or spot cleaning. You will have to buy the cleaning equipment from Clek.

Which infant car seat is better?

Clek Liing won this round. If you don’t mind the price, the Liing is superior to the B-Safe.

Britax vs Clek Convertible Car Seat

After your baby has outgrown the infant carrier, you upgrade to a convertible one. This offers two modes. You can install it rear and front-facing. It’s highly recommended that you keep your little one rear-facing as long as possible. In that position, they are the most protected. These car seats tend to be heavier than the carriers and are not meant for moving them around.

From Camp Britax, we have the Marathon, and from the Clek camp, we have the Foonf.

Britax Marathon vs Clek Foonf

Direct Comparison Clek vs Britax Convertible Car Seat

  Britax Marathon Clek Foonf
Safety SafeCell Tech

Steel Frame

Side Impact Protection

5-point harness

REACT

ARB

Side Impact Protection

5-point harness

Size Limits Rear Facing 5-40

Front Facing: 20-65

49”

Rear Facing: 14-50

Front Facing: 22-65

49”

Installation ClickTight Rigid Latch and Seat Belt
Fabric/Material Machine Washable Spot Clean
Bonuses and Features    
Cup Holder No No
Recline Position 7 3
Rethread Harness No Yes
Breathable Yes Yes
Extended Use Yes Yes

Britax Marathon Review

Britax Marathon ClickTight Convertible Car Seat

This incident happened with some friends of ours.

They were coming home from a long trip. They almost made it. The 13-month-old boy was sleeping in the back. There was a narrow curb coming up. It was impossible to see the large puddle of water.

When the father noticed it was too late. He has lost control over the vehicle. The car skidded off the road and slammed against a tree.

The crash was deafening. There was so much energy during the impact that the car has wrapped around the tree. The windows cracked and exploded into a million projectiles. The airbags deployed, saving the lives in the front. When the parents came about, they instantly wanted to check up on their boy.

He was fine. He was the luckiest of them all. He didn’t suffer any injuries what so ever. The parents were lucky as well because they escaped that horrible accident with a few cuts and bruises.

Ever since Britax came out with the ClickTight tech, life got a lot easier. It’s so effortless to install this car seat. You don’t need the strength of Hulk to get it right. The only drawback looking at the Foonf would be that you can’t use rear-facing mode for that long. Also, you could skip the infant carrier and start with this from the get-go.

Every time you adjust the headrest, the harness is automatically aligned. You don’t have to manually rethread it ever. With the Foonf, this will be your next hobby.

Clek Foonf Review

Clek Foonf Convertible Car SeatThis isn’t a crash per se, but I include it because the car seat is tested.

The family was traveling leisurely around 50 mph. When all of a sudden, a tire exploded against the car, it was a loud bang. The airbags deployed protecting the passengers.

The father hit the brake, and the car came to a stop within seconds. Besides the car, nobody got injured. The little one in the back was safe and sound even so that the car came to an almost instant stop.

Since this was a minor accident, the chair doesn’t have to be replaced.

It seems that the Clek Foonf is the underdog in this round. Don’t get me wrong it has many safety features. It comes with an ARB which only a few car seats have. The big selling point for this car seat is that you will be able to do extended rear-facing. The upper limit is set to 50 pounds while the Marathon only allows 40.

Sadly Clek has dropped the ball in the installation department. It’s far from easy. Every time you have to install it, you have to pop off the seat, and you have to run the latch strap or the seat belt through the guides. Now be very careful. Make sure that the belt is below the guide. If not, when you’re closing the plastic straps, these guides might break off. If that happens, then, this convertible car seat just turned into an only front-facing car seat.

As we go down the list, the Marathon is looking better and better. The Foonf only allows spot cleaning. You have to rethread the harness every time you make adjustments. Plus, it doesn’t have that many recline options. It’s pricier than the Marathon.

Which convertible car seat is better?

The Britax Marathon wins this round. If you want the extra mileage with the rear-facing mode and you have the budget, only then consider the Clek.

Britax vs Clek Harness Booster Car Seat

Next up is the harness booster car seat. Let me share a secret with you. This will be the last car seat that you have to buy. After this, they usually get their driver’s license, and they are on their own. These car seats are front-facing only and have two modes (occasionally three). There’s the harness mode and the booster mode. Let’s see what we have.

Now this comparison will be a bit apples to oranges. The Clek doesn’t have a harness mode, and the Britax doesn’t have a high back booster mode.

From Camp Britax, we have the Grow with You, and from the Clek camp, we have the Oobr.

Clek Oobr vs Britax Grow with You

Direct Comparison Clek vs Britax Harness Booster Car Seat

  Britax Grow with You Clek Oobr
Safety Impact Absorbing Base

Steel Frame

3 Layer Protection

5-point harness

Energy-Absorbing Foam

Magnesium Frame

Side Impact Protection

REACT

Size Limits Harness Mode: 25-65

Booster Mode: 40-120

63”

High Back Mode: 33-100

Backless Mode: 40-100

57”

Installation Grow with You ClickTight Rigid Latch
Fabric/Material Machine Washable Spot Cleaning
Bonuses and Features    
Cup Holder 2 Built In 1 Built In
Recline Position 2 Up To 12 Degrees
Headrest Position 9 Adjustable
Breathable Yes Yes

Britax Grow with You Review

Britax Grow with You ClickTight Harness-2-Booster Car SeatAfter a while, the kid’s eyes start to open, and they want one thing more than anything else. They want the big kid seat. The Britax Grow with You is the ultimate big kid seat. It looks cool and stylish. It’s like a miniature Nascar car seat.

This will be the last car seat that you will buy. It’s front-facing only, and it has harness mode and booster mode at the same time. As for safety, the rear-facing mode is the safest after that comes the harness mode. It’s recommended to keep you, kids, as long as possible in these modes. Only after they have outgrown them go to the seat belt mode.

The installation is straight forward. The ClickTight system made it easy. You pop open the seat, the guide either the latch or the seat belt through.

From the two Britax gives the most mileage from these car seats. You can use it from a lower weight limit, and you can use it up to 120 pounds or 57”. The cover can be easily removed, and machine washed.

To provide the most comfort, there are two recline positions to choose from. When you adjust the headrest, the harness is adjusted automatically, so you don’t have to manually rethread it ever.

This car seat is ideal for younger and older kids alike. It has two cup holders. You can use one for drinks and the second one for toys.

Clek Oobr Review

Clek Oobr High Back Booster Car SeatI’ve mentioned a bit earlier that this isn’t a straight apple to apple comparison. The Oobr doesn’t have a harness mode. Experts recommend using the harness mode as long as possible.

It has two functions, which is a high back booster mode and backless booster mode. This car seat stands out from the crowd, and it’s beautiful.

The lower limit is set to 33 pounds, and the upper limit is just 100 pounds or 57”. The Britax offers more mileage.

The installation is Clek Oobr’s strong point. It’s so easy that you can’t mess it up even if you try to. This car seat uses a rigid latch system. You pull on the front button to release the latch; then you pull it out in the back. After that, you push it into the car seat. You are done. This is the simples install that I’ve ever seen.

You will be using the seat belt to keep your child in place. So make sure they are old enough to use it. This car seat is great for independence. The kids will be so proud when they learn how to strap themselves in.

Since this car seat caters to older children, maybe you won’t have so many problems with the cleaning. The Clek seats use a special material made out of merino wool, which can’t be washed. The only option is to spot clean. Of course, you have to buy the equipment from them.

It only has one cup holder while the Britax has two.

Which Harness and Booster Car Seat is better?

It’s a tough call. I will be going with the Britax. Grow with you because it has harness mode, and it gives you more mileage for your dollars.

Car Seat Buyer’s Guide

I know how hard it is to find the perfect car seat. Take hours and hours of research. Not to mention all those contradictory reviews. One says that it’s impossible to install, and then a grandma says that it’s easy peasy. Who should you believe?

Here’s what you need to know. First of all, you should get the car seat that gives the most protection possible. Secondly, you have to install it correctly.

Before we get there, you have to decide where the car seat will be placed. The safest place is in the middle of the car. For some, that’s not possible, which is perfectly OK. The second safest place is behind the driver.

Here’s the harsh truth no matter how much protection the car seat can give you if it’s not installed right, it won’t be able to do its job. As you have seen in this comparison, Britax has the Clicktight installation, which made it super easy to get it right. Clek has different installation options from hard to easy. Their last seat, the Oobr, has the simplest and fastest install there is.

Now there are other brands out there that won’t make your life easy. But more on that in another article. After you have installed the car seat, test it for movement. Remember that you should check the wiggle room at the part which is the closest to the seat. The other side will wiggle no matter what, and that’s normal.

To be on the safe side, I highly recommend reaching out to a licensed professional for an expert opinion.

You have seen the tables which I’ve used above. That’s my system when I compare different car seats. The most important thing is safety. The more protection your car seat has, the more safe your child will be. I suggest not skimping out on this.

The second thing on the list is the size limits. You have to know ahead of time how much mileage can you get out of the seat. The higher the weight and height limit, the more you can use it. This is the only way to save money with these car seats. Or you stay up at an ungodly hour hoping for a discount.

After these two, I usually check the installation. Some are easy, and some are hard. Now don’t just go after the company made install guides because they only show the mounting from a removed car seat. Things are quite different when you have to climb in the car and try to tighten it.

Last but not least, I usually look at the material. Since these car seats are from smaller kids and upwards, there’s only one thing to count on that there will be a mess. You have to know ahead of time if and how the cover can be cleaned.

This is my short buyer’s guide to you. Put it to good use.

Conclusions

We have reached the end of my comparison between Clek and Britax. The main takeaway was that Clek is the most expensive car brand to use. The price is warranted because they use merino wool, which is free from any type of chemical. If you have a sensitive skin baby, this brand is your only option.

The Britax is a well-established brand, and it brings a lot on the table. It has won two out of the three comparisons. They are one of the safest car seat makers you can choose from, and since they implemented the ClickTight tech, the install is a breeze.

By now you should already know which car set is the best fit for you. Now it’s your turn. Get the suiting one soon because last time I’ve checked, the stocks were running low.

I would love to hear from you. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Catch you next time!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

Is CLEK Foonf really safer?

The Clek Foonf is one of the safest convertible car seats you can go with. It comes with an anti-rebound bar. The head wings aren’t for the show they provide great protection for kids.

Which is better Diono or Britax?

This depends on your personal preference. If you want a car seat that is slim and for taller kids then you go with Diono. Britax on the other hand has more versatility. If you want to read more about car seats for tall toddlers, take a look at the best car seat for tall toddlers post.

Is the Britax Advocate worth it?

The Britax Advocate is worth it because it has the most levels of side impact protection from all Britax car seats.

Clek or Britax Infant Car Seat?

The Clek Liing won the award. It’s pricey but it’s worth it since there are no toxic chemicals used.

Britax or Clek Convertible Car Seat?

The Britax Marathon is the best because it’s cheaper and it gives you more time of use saving you money.

Clek or Britax Harness Booster Car Seat?

The Britax Grow with you is the best choice. You get your money’s worth and you can use it for many years to come.

Last Updated on October 25, 2023 by Brian Beasley

Written by Linda Reid

Hey there, I'm Linda, a mom of three cool kids. I've tried so many car seats, you could call me a "Car Seat Detective." Searching for the perfect car seat can feel like finding a needle in a haystack, but don't worry! I've committed to researching and reviewing car seats that are super safe, cozy, and great for growing kids. Together, we'll find the perfect car seat that keeps your child safe and cozy, and makes you feel like a super-parent!