Safety diff with Roundabout v. Marathon?

tottc · Nov 11, 2013

The primary reason to upgrade from the Roundabout 55 to the Marathon 70 is the higher weight/height limit, correct? I see some minor differences in the HUGS chest strap system, etc. but am I correct they are built on the same frame and have essentially the same crash protection? I LOVED my old Roundabout from about 2007-08, but it was only a 40 lb weight limit and recently expired, so looking for a new seat for second child. Do people generally like the Roundabout 55? I don't like the buckle as much as my old one but want a safe, comfortable, simple seat. Thanks in advance!

wendytthomas · Nov 12, 2013

Hi there!

Like all seats on the market, both the Marathon and Roundabout pass the required tests. The shells of the seats are the same, though the movable headrest adds a little bit in forward facing height to the seat. Rear facing they're outgrown at the same time (1" of shell, not headrest, above the head, or 40 pounds), and forward facing by height there's a few months difference, but not a huge amount. The weight limit of 55 pounds may be enough to get most kids to the top harness height. The 70 pounds is definitely inflated. Most kids won't get near that in a Britax.

Wendy

jjordan · Nov 12, 2013

The primary reason to upgrade would be the no-rethread harness on the marathon, and secondarily because of the slightly higher harness height in the marathon. As Wendy said, most kids will not get past 55 pounds in a marathon.

Athena · Nov 13, 2013

We loved our RA55. Got it two years ago when they first came out. The downside was that once my DD outgrew it RFing, she'd almost outgrown it FFing too. However, because she's tall, we would have needed another taller FFing seat either way to get her to booster stage, so that was fine. We sold the RA55s and used the money towards new Frontiers. It worked out well for us.

P.S. Other than the FFing height difference, nothing else would have enticed me to buy the MA70. I found the harness easy to rethread, so the no-rethread type wasn't worth the extra money for me (although it is nice to have), and my DD would have outgrown the MA70 by height at around 40 pounds, so 70 is overkill for us.

Safety diff with Roundabout v. Marathon?

tottc

Guest

wendytthomas

Admin - CPST Instructor

jjordan

Moderator

Athena

Well-known member

Car-Seat.Org Facebook Group

Sponsors

Forum statistics