Britax Marathon vs Advocate: Which is Better?

When you have two car seats from the same company, it’s sometimes hard to find big differences to set them apart and make choosing the best one easier on you. Like the Britax Marathon vs Advocate car seats, for example. Britax, in general, has plenty of top car seats to choose from, but these are easily two of the top options from the brand right now.

Bottom Line Up Front:

britax marathon

In this case, we prefer the Marathon as the one to go with, but either way, Britax rarely steers parents wrong. That said, if you have taller kiddos or value the side impact protection, the Advocate is a great seat (just more expensive). 

At first glance, they have a ton of similarities. They both transition from rear to forward-facing as your child grows and they’re both also designed for kids up to 65 pounds, which means that you can use both of them for just as long.

They both also have the Britax Click and Safe Snug Harness Indicator which lets you know with an audible click when the harness is securely tightened. The Advocate does, however, have a little more side impact protection, and the Marathon is a little slimmer, so you can potentially fit more across your backseat than the Advocate. The Marathon is typically less expensive, which is another huge plus for some families.

Overall, both the Marathon and Advocate are top options for any little one who needs to go from the rear for forward-facing and eventually transition to a more toddler-friendly car seat. Of course, you likely need to know which one is the stronger option of the two, however, which is why it’s important to look at them both from every angle possible.

Once you know your priorities when it comes to car seats and what your little one needs, it can be that much easier to choose between these two. But before then, you can look at them each a little more closely.

Main Differences Between the Britax Marathon vs Advocate

The main differences between the Britax Marathon vs Advocate are:

  • The Britax Marathon has a height limit of 16.95 inches, whereas the Advocate has a height limit of 18.65 inches
  • The Marathon is slimmer and better for smaller cars, whereas the Advocate is a bit wider
  • The Marathon is generally less expensive compared to the Advocate
  • The Marathon offers both Clicktight and Non-Clicktight options, whereas the Advocate is just available with the Clicktight option
  • The Advocate has extra layers of side impact protection, whereas the Marathon has standard side impact protection
Britax Marathon ClickTight Convertible Car Seat | Amazon

The Britax Marathon has two positions (rear-facing and forward-facing) and installing it is a breeze. The car seat is super comfortable for your baby and the memory foam in it will make every trip enjoyable and easy for both of you.

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Britax Marathon ClickTight Car Seat

Britax Marathon ClickTight Car Seat

The Britax Marathon ClickTight Car Seat is easily one of the premier options from the Britax brand. It comes equipped with the ClickTight installation system, which makes installing the car seat as simple as just clicking the seatbelt into place.

So, there’s no complicated or hard-to-pull LATCH system to contend with and this is one of the only car seats that offer such an easy alternative. It also had top side impact protection for safety thanks to its thick energy-absorbing shell and impact-absorbing base.

The frame is made of reinforced steel to add to the durability and longevity of the Marathon Car Seat. In order to get your child seated in the right position for their side, there’s a bubble level indicator that lets you know how much or little to recline the seat.

The multiple recline positions not only add extra safety but comfort as well, especially as your little one grows. To be exact, there are seven recline positions total and a 14-position harness as well as two different buckle positions. Not only is safety a huge deal when it comes to the Britax Marathon ClickTight, but comfort is also high up there.

Features

  • Dimensions: The dimensions of the car seat are 23 x 18.5 x 23.5 inches.
  • Adjustments: There are two different buckle positions, seven recline options, and 14 different harness options.
  • Child Weight Range: It’s designed for children from 5-65 pounds.
  • Where To Buy: You can buy it on Amazon or in-store at Target.
  • Has This Item Been Recalled?: There was a 2015 recall on the Britax Marathon ClickTight.

Pros

  • It has so many different safety precautions that it feels almost indestructible.
  • It is also incredibly comfortable and cushioned for growing babies and young toddlers.
  • Adjusting the car seat is also easy and much easier than adjustments in other similar car seats.
  • You can transition it from rear-facing to forward-facing with ease.
  • Installation is as simple as possible thanks to the ClickTight Installation System.

Cons

  • It’s difficult to take the fabric cover off and put back on.
  • It’s also on the pricier side, especially since it’s not a convertible car seat.
  • Uninstalling the car seat can also be difficult, even if the ClickTight Installation System is easy to use.
  • The car seat is also fairly bulky, so it can be difficult to fit multiple car seats in your backseat comfortably.

Has This Product Been Recalled?

Britax car seats always improve after recalls being made, so the last one being made in 2015 was because of the red button for adjusting that can loosen even after being tightened, posing a safety risk.

Britax Advocate ClickTight Car Seat

Advocate ClickTight Convertible Car Seat

The Britax Advocate ClickTight Car Seat is similar to the Marathon in a lot of ways, but it also has qualities of its own that make it special. It does have the ClickTight Installation, as the name would suggest, which makes installing it in any car a breeze. Of course, uninstalling it each time can be a little difficult, but once you install it, the car seat doesn’t move at all.

The Advocate Car Seat has three layers of protection for your little one’s safety and a steel-reinforced frame as well as the Click & Safe Snug Harness that gives an audible click to let you know you’ve installed it properly and in place.

The quick-adjust harness has 14 different positions with no additional rethreading necessary. And like the Marathon, it offers seven different recline positions for your child’s safety and comfort. To actually install the car seat, you just lift up the seat and thread the seatbelt across to click it into place with no LATCH system needed.

Features

  • Dimensions: The dimensions are 23 x 20.5 x 23.5 inches.
  • Adjustments: It has 14 different harness positions and several recline options.
  • Child Weight Range: It’s designed for children from 5-65 pounds.
  • Where To Buy: You can find it on Amazon or in-store at Target.
  • Has This Item Been Recalled?: There was a 2015 recall on the Britax Advocate ClickTight.

Pros

  • You can use it for your little one from 5-65 pounds and transition from rear to forward-facing with ease.
  • It’s also easy to adjust the car seat as needed.
  • There’s a groove at the top near the headrest that can be used for carrying the car seat if you need to move it from one car to another.
  • It’s built extra tank-like to withstand crashes and impact to keep your little one safe.

Cons

  • The Styrofoam in the headrest can break or crack inside the fabric.
  • It’s more costly than the Marathon.
  • Although it’s easy to install, for the most part, the Advocate can be hard to install in the rear-facing position.
  • It’s a little wider than the Marathon.

Has This Product Been Recalled?

Yes. The Britax Advocate ClickTight has been recalled, along with the Marathon model because of adjustment issues. The following models have been affected:

  • E9LT95Q, E9LT95Z, E9LT95N, E1A025Q, E9LT86F, E1A135Q, E9LT86G, E9LT85Q, E9LT86A, E9LT86H, E9LT85S, E1A015Q, E1A016A, E1A016H, E1A116L, E9LT76P, E9LT71Q, E9LT76N, E9LT76B, E9LT75R, E9LT76L, E1A006B, E1A005R, EXA116L
  • E9LV31Q, E9LV35R, E9LV36B, E9LV36L, E9LV36N, E9LV45Q, E9LV45S, E9LV46A, E9LV46H, E9LV55N, E9LV55Q, E9LV55Z

The Verdict: Britax Advocate or Marathon

It’s fairly hard to figure out which car seat is better when they both come from the same brand and, in many ways, have some of the same qualities. But when it’s all said and done, the Britax Marathon is the stronger option here. It can be used for kids up to 65 pounds like the Advocate, but it also has the added benefits of being just a tad slimmer and less expensive.

That’s not to say that the Britax Advocate ClickTight isn’t also a good option because it certainly is, but when comparing them, it’s highly recommended that you go with the Britax Marathon ClickTight Car Seat above the other.

Britax Marathon ClickTight Convertible Car Seat | Amazon

The Britax Marathon has two positions (rear-facing and forward-facing) and installing it is a breeze. The car seat is super comfortable for your baby and the memory foam in it will make every trip enjoyable and easy for both of you.

Buy at Amazon.com
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.

Final Thoughts on the Britax Marathon vs Advocate Debate

Since they are indeed so similar, you can’t go wrong with either the Britax Marathon ClickTight or the Britax Advocate ClickTight Car Seat. While one may be the stronger overall option when comparing the two, they’re both quality car seats that offer plenty of comfort and safety to your little one.

Bottom Line: In this case, we prefer the Marathon as the one to go with, but either way, Britax rarely steers parents wrong. That said, if you have taller kiddos or value the side impact protection, the Advocate is a great seat (just more expensive). 

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