Why are Britaxes so popular?

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DesertQueen

New member

• Nov 30, 2007

• #1

In trying to make a decision about a car seat, I keep wondering what exactly makes Britax a coveted car seat brand. (I'm chasing after a Britax and don't know precisely why! ) Are they so much better than other brands that I should just spend the hundreds of dollars it will cost to ship one here? (Hundreds of dollars for shipping + price of Britax = ) Or are there other brands that are comparable?

 

snowbird25ca

Moderator - CPST Instructor

• Nov 30, 2007

• #2

I see that you're in the EU, so I know that you have different rules about importation and the like. I'm also not really familiar with other seats available, but there are a couple techs familiar with those countries seats.

Basically, when looking at American and CDN seats, Britax is one of the most recommended for a few reasons:

- They are one of the easiest seats to install, and they are compatible with pretty much every vehicle.
- They have built in lock-offs eliminating the need for locking clips.
- They can be tethered rf'ing, which adds additional stability to the restraint - especially useful in side impact crashes.
- They will fit most kids until they're big enough AND old enough to be in a booster, so in the long run they save money.

 

Jewels

Senior Community Member

• Nov 30, 2007

• #3

Because they are a great seat!

*They are super easy to install.
*The harness straps are so smooth when you are loosening and tightening them (my Graco seat always would pull ds forward when I would loosening them.
*High top harness slots
*Tethers RF
*They have built-in lock-offs
*They have fun covers
*They harness to 65lbs (well the MA, BV and DC do)

I'm sure there is lots more but that is what I can think of at the moment

 

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DesertQueen

New member

• Nov 30, 2007

• #4

I'm actually in the UAE - most of the car seats here are from the UK or Europe.

So, would you pay the (lots of) extra money to get a Britax? There's very little available here. This is what I found today:

-Safety 1st Intera
-Safety 1st Enspira
-Safety 1st Alpha Omega
-Evenflo Orion
-Graco Comfortsport
-Graco JR Mini

I've done a little research on these seats on this website. I can't find anything for the Graco JR Mini or the Safety 1st Enspira and very little for the others. The stores here will sell old models without marking the price down or letting consumers know that they are, in fact, older models. (Makes me so angry.) For example, I found on here that the Evenflo Orion retailed for $60 in the U.S. The price on the one I saw today was @ $170!

 

scatterbunny

New member

• Nov 30, 2007

• #5

If the seats you listed are the only ones you have to choose from, other than a Britax, I'd try to get a Britax. The others all tend to be outgrown years earlier than the Britax (Marathon/Decathlon/Boulevard, not Roundabout). Other US seats that are good choices are the Fisher Price Safe Voyage Deluxe, Evenflo Triumph Advance (only Advance model) and Sunshine Kids Radian.

 

Jewels

Senior Community Member

• Nov 30, 2007

• #6

DesertQueen said:

I'm actually in the UAE - most of the car seats here are from the UK or Europe.

So, would you pay the (lots of) extra money to get a Britax? There's very little available here. This is what I found today:

-Safety 1st Intera
-Safety 1st Enspira
-Safety 1st Alpha Omega
-Evenflo Orion
-Graco Comfortsport
-Graco JR Mini

Click to expand...

If this is all you have to choose from then yes I would go for a Britax because it will last you much longer then the ones listed (not sure about the Graco JR Mini . . . never heard of it before). Will you buy your seat there or in the US and get it shipped to you?

Scatterbunny also listed a bunch of good choices as well :thumbsup:

 

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Heather

New member

• Nov 30, 2007

• #7

I was told that Britaxes have wonderful side-impact ratings, as well.

 

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skiersnowboarder3

Senior Community Member

• Nov 30, 2007

• #8

also, all of the covers/ seats i've seen have been very plush and comfortable feeling. almost like sitting in a lazy boy recliner versus a wooden chair with a pillow.

 

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DesertQueen

New member

• Dec 1, 2007

• #9

Okay, what if I were to chose one of the ones from the list in my pp? Which should I go with? Now we're thinking that we'll buy one of those and then, WHEN we go to the U.S. for our summer visit (in July 2008), we will buy a Britax Marathon and bring it back with us on the plane. That way we'll have an extra carseat as back up.

 

Jewels

Senior Community Member

• Dec 1, 2007

• #10

What kind of information do you have on the Graco JR Mini? For example harness slot height and max weight limits rf and ff?

 

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DesertQueen

New member

• Dec 1, 2007

• #11

Well, we just got SUPER lucky. DH had to go back to Dubai today to pick up a bed and mattress and, on a feeling, visited a few baby stores. He found the last one of 3 Britax First Class Si car seats at one of them. :thumbsup: (They arrived last night!) This model is equivalent to the Roundabout in the U.S., I believe.

This is fine for us for now. When DS gets a little bigger, we'll buy a Marathon (or equivalent model at the time) in the U.S. and bring it back here. But the First Class Si seat will go to 40 lbs.

I AM SOOOOO HAPPY!...and relieved that the search is over!!!

Thank you for all of your help with this...I'll be asking more questions once we install it.

 

Patriot201

Car-Seat.org Ambassador

• Dec 1, 2007

• #12

Can you get any of these:

1) Jane

2) Concord Ultimax

3) Britax First Class Si

Unfortunately, none of these are HWH seats.

 

Patriot201

Car-Seat.org Ambassador

• Dec 1, 2007

• #13

The Ultimax has some really cool covers:

 

Patriot201

Car-Seat.org Ambassador

• Dec 1, 2007

• #14

Last few Ultimax covers:

 

scatterbunny

New member

• Dec 1, 2007

• #15

The Ultimax looks awesome, but she got a First Class Si, which sounds great, too. It may not actually last to 40 pounds, most 40 pound limit seats don't, the top slots just aren't tall enough to accommodate a kid that long. But the Marathon usually only lasts most kids to 40-55 pounds due to the top slot height, too. Great score on the Si!

 

Patriot201

Car-Seat.org Ambassador

• Dec 1, 2007

• #16

scatterbunny said:

The Ultimax looks awesome, but she got a First Class Si, which sounds great, too.

Click to expand...

Oops! I missed that post.

 

ChasingPrisms

New member

• Dec 1, 2007

• #17

Hi Andrea!! :happy-wavehello:

 

Last edited: Dec 2, 2007

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DesertQueen

New member

• Dec 2, 2007

• #18

ChasingPrisms said:

Hi Andrea!! :happy-wavehello:

Click to expand...

Hey Jess! Just joined, too, huh?

 

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DesertQueen

New member

• Dec 2, 2007

• #19

Patriot201 said:

Unfortunately, none of these are HWH seats.

Click to expand...

Uh-oh. That doesn't sound good. What does HWH mean? We bought the last one you listed by Britax. It's gonna have to work for 8 months until we can get to the U.S. Shipping on a Britax will cost @ $300. So, @ $270 + $300 = $570 for a car seat. :thumbsdown: We just can't afford that.

 

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SusanMae

Senior Community Member

• Dec 2, 2007

• #20

HWH=High Weight Harness....as in it will hold a child who weighs more than 40 pounds.

Can you find the top harness slot in the Si? Measure from seat bottom to the top slot...that will tell you how long your childs torso can be in that seat.

To find the equalivant measurement on your child, sit them on the floor with their back against the wall and mark where the shoulder hits. Then measure from the floor to shoulder.

If you take those 2 measurements and find the difference...you'll know how much torso growing room you've got in that seat. Torso height usually takes longer to acquire than overall height.

Susan

I just saw that your child is 6 months old...I'm sure you have years in the SI for now...no need to panic. When you come back to the states you can get a MA...and you'll have 2 great seats to use!