Marathon or Radian XT?

[momto2princes]

Which one would you go with?

DS is just over 3 and still RF at 28lbs and change.
He is currently in a Marathon. He gains weight very slowly.

I am considering buying the Radian because of the the extra 5lbs RF and the side impact protection that that Marathon doesn't really have.

Which seat would you prefer? why?

Would you get rid of a Marathon for an XT?
I love my marathon but.....IDK???

[Loves2sing]

I love both of my seats. I have a Radian65, not a Radian XT though. For me, I think my next seat would be a RadianXT, in fact, that is what I am planning.

We bought the MA for our dd before the Radians came out, and we loved it, and love it still. Then once the Radian came out, we bought that as well. We used the MA for longer trips for the comfort aspect of it. (We would have bought an 80, but they weren't out yet when we bought our seat.) That was the only huge advantage for us.

We have never had a hard time installing the Radian in any of our vehicles, and we travel by air at least once a year, and found the Radian to be the best seat to travel with, because it folds, making it easier to cart around the airport. Even on vacation, I have only encountered one vehicle that it was hard to install in, and it wasn't the Radian's fault. It was a SUPER cushy vehicle seat, and any car seat would have been hard to install.

For me the option to tether RFing is a must, so I have only considered these 2 seats, and because of our traveling, the Radian is winning out on our next purchase because they now have more comfortably padded seats, and seeing as the XT has SIP, that apparantly doesn't cause the kid's head to push forward, I am sold.

Hope this helps!:D

[momto2princes]

It looks like a new Marathon is coming out in July that will rear face to 35lbs so I think that is my answer. I love my marathon so if the new weight limit is true I will order one of those. I am sure my DS won't hit 30lbs in the next month or two.

Thanks for your review of the seats!

[Patriot201]

I have a Radian XT and a Britax Boulevard (which is essentially the same as the Marathon). I FAR prefer my RNXT over my BV. Without a doubt!

[momto2princes]

I have a Radian XT and a Britax Boulevard (which is essentially the same as the Marathon). I FAR prefer my RNXT over my BV. Without a doubt!

I am intrigued to know why that is, if you care to share. Thanks!

[Patriot201]

I am intrigued to know why that is, if you care to share. Thanks!

Sure!

I think it is easier to use (the lower profile makes a difference in my car).
I like the taller shell for RF.
It is easier to install in my car.
I prefer the legroom it provides.
I like how narrow it is, so I can easily do a three-across in my car.
I like the color. :o

[momto2princes]

Thanks!

Everything you said makes a lot of sense. I have never owned a Radian or even looked at one in real life. I just know my Britax and love them. But if the Radian is a better seat I wouldn't be opposed to buying outside my comfort zone! LOL

I might have to go check one out.

Thanks again!

[Patriot201]

Thanks!

Everything you said makes a lot of sense. I have never owned a Radian or even looked at one in real life. I just know my Britax and love them. But if the Radian is a better seat I wouldn't be opposed to buying outside my comfort zone! LOL

I might have to go check one out.

Thanks again!

It is only "better" if it is better for you. Every car, every child, and every person is different, so Britax might be "better" for you. It is hard to know. :)

[momto2princes]

It is only "better" if it is better for you. Every car, every child, and every person is different, so Britax might be "better" for you. It is hard to know. :)

I am sure install would be ok with either, my kids have only had Britax and they seem to fit them well because they are average height lightweights (both my boys average between 50-60%tile for height and only 10-20th %tile for weight). That being said I have never sat them in the Radian to know how they compare.

[romanoma]

I am sure install would be ok with either, my kids have only had Britax and they seem to fit them well because they are average height lightweights (both my boys average between 50-60%tile for height and only 10-20th %tile for weight). That being said I have never sat them in the Radian to know how they compare.

If your kids are taller than they are heavy, I suggest you will get the most milage out of a taller RF seat. (this describes my DS too) Some lightweight kids don't reach 35lbs until 4 or 5, and your child might be one of them. But height is a common limiting factor with ERF seats. :twocents:

I have a radian 65 and XT, my son who is also 3 and 39.5" tall with a 14.5" torso prefers the XT for the "pillows" :). He weighs 31 lbs and has been there for almost 6 mo.

[bubbaray]

Like I said on your other thread, I would check with Britax that the MA CS in Canada will havea 35lb RFg limit. I can't find that info on Britax's site and the info I can find on the Cdn retailer sites says 30lbs. I'd call Britax and be sure.

[pastrygirl]

I loved my MA... but I think I love my XT more. I bought it for my just-turned-3-year-old. I love the XT harness adjuster WAY more than the MA. It's so much easier to tighten. I like the XT's bigger shoulder comfort pads that cover the harness. I like the shoulder room. In the MA, my son's shoulders look like they're about to be squished the next time he has a growth spurt. He has plenty of shoulder room in the XT. I love the low profile; it blends into my car much better than the MA. My son has an easier time climbing in, too.

I find the MA much easier to install because it's a no-brainer. Though the more practice I get with the XT, the easier it gets. It's not complicated at all, especially for FF, but it's not as lickety-split as the MA.

[momto2princes]

update and new question:

with further research I am not sure if the Marathon CS will be RF until 35lbs in Canada. I plan to call Britax tomorrow to find out for sure.

If it doesn't it is back to the drawing board for a 35lb rear facing seat.

So many of you LOVE your RNXT and I am interested to look at one in person but they are awfully hard to find locally and I am not sure if I want to order one without seeing and trying it first. Does anyone from BC know which stores in the lower mainland stock it?

If you had to choose between the RNXT or the TF, which would you go with?
Are the added features worth the extra $150 for the XT or are they comparable?

Thanks ladies you are all awesome!

[momto2princes]

I am gently bumping my thread because with the marathon not going to 35 I have a new question that may not get seen and I didn't want to start a new thread (well in case I should). Thanks and I hope that was ok

[pastrygirl]

This probably isn't relevant to your situation, but this is why I chose the XT over the TF:
-- I wanted it for FF only, so I didn't worry about RF fit or height
-- I needed the lower profile/trimmer seat because my son was going to have zero leg room in his FF MA once I had to move it outboard
-- I wanted the head wings because he was going to be moved outboard with no side airbags

If I had been buying it to use for RF, I almost surely would've gone with the TF, since the RN didn't work/fit RF in my previous car.

[Pixels]

I had a Radian65, and when I was about to buy a second convertible, I chose the RadianXT over the TrueFit. I don't really know why, but I'm just not feeling the TF love. I wasn't thrilled with what I saw when I peeled back the cover, either. Plus it helped that DH really liked the Radian, and by then it was a known entity. So we got the RadianXT.

[momto2princes]

Thanks.

I am not really feeling the True Fit either. I have gone back and forth to the store with and without DS to try it and I just can't pick it up and take it home. I don't know why? I haven't a problem recommending it as a great seat because it is and I can't even put my finger on why but it isn't the right seat for me and I don't even have a reason! How bad is that!LOL

I am hoping I am going to love the RNXT I am going to try DS in it hopefully today and the store order should be arriving in a few weeks. Fingers crossed they fit great.

I also as I said in my other thread have a chip on my shoulder about Britax. I was really hoping they new Marathon would be RF to 35lb but I called them this morning and it is only 30. The customer service rep didn't give me warm and fuzzies either. As much as I love their seats I think it is time for a change.
DS #1 has Frontier and I am even contemplating getting him and XT and getting rid of the Frontier because I already know when booster time comes I want the Monterey and that is probably a year or so away at least. He is 6.5 years old and still only 40-41lbs.