Britax Decathlon Convertible Car Seat Huntington Description:
If you like the legendary Britax Roundabout and Marathon, you are going to love the Britax Decathlon convertible car seat! The Decathlon has been designed to take our renowned focus on safety, comfort and convenience a step further. Unique features including the sculpted base, push button release LATCH system with patented Versa-Tether, and built-in vehicle belt lock-offs make a tight installation in your vehicle quick and simple. The tangle-free polyester 5-point harness and push button harness adjuster help you to effortlessly secure your child every day. Achieving the ultimate in luxury and comfort, the Decathlon offers a 3-position crotch strap, patented HUGS system, belly pad and a plush & washable seat cover. The removable toddler head pillow and infant positioning system for newborn babies provides a comfortable, adjustable fit as your child grows. The Britax Decathlon is the ultimate convertible restraint for children.
Features:
- Patented Versa-Tether
- Comfort foam and EPS protective foam
- Removable, washable fabric cover
- Tangle-free, polyester, 5-point harness
- Flexible push-button LATCH system
- Infant Positioning System pillows
- Push-button harness adjuster
- One-hand recline adjustment
- 3-Position buckle strap
- Rear Facing: 5 lbs. to 33 lbs.
- Forward Facing: 1 year and 20 lbs. up to 65 lbs.
- Amazon Sales Rank: #10293 in Baby Product
- Color: Huntington
- Brand: Britax USA
- Model: E9L47J3
- Dimensions: 19.00″ h x 20.00″ w x 21.00″ l, 20.10 pounds
Features
- 5 point harness with patented Floating HUGS system and 4 harness heights
- Built-in lock-off clips, Versa-Tether & Safe Guard LATCH Connectors
- EPS and Comfort Foam for safety and comfort
- Rear and forward-facing recline
- Rear facing: 5 to 35 pounds. Forward facing: At least 1 year old and 20 to 65 pounds
Customer Reviews:
Decathlon vs. Boulevard
It took me several weeks before I finally opted to purchase the Decathlon rather than the Boulevard. I was very interested in the extra side-impact protection that is only available in the Boulevard model but was concerned about whether or not my large 4&1/2 month old son (who is in the 95th percentile in length and weight) would need the adjustable crotch strap positioning that is only offered on the Decathlon.
I am so glad that I purchased the Decathlon! It turns out that my son DID indeed need to have the crotch strap adjusted to the last slot (he would be sitting on top of the buckle in the Boulevard at this point which would have made it impossible to buckle and very uncomfortable for him). If you’re purchasing for a thin toddler rather than an infant or chubby/big baby you might not have to worry about that.
I love the extra padding (which is removable, unlike the pads in the Boulevard) and the soft cover (which is machine washable unlike that in the Boulevard). He seems to be VERY comfortable and I know that he is safe. I know that it doesn’t offer as much side-impact protection as the Boulevard, but it does offer some (definitely much more than a conventional car seat) as it is made to far exceed American safety standards. Plus, if your baby is placed in the middle of the back seat than that offers some additional protection as well.
I was also concerned about the size of the car seat and whether or not it would fit comfortably, rear-facing, in the back of my Toyota Avalon car. It does. Perfectly! My husband is 6′4″ and doesn’t have to move his seat up to accomodate the car seat in back (something I was very concerned about). AND I can see out of the rear-view mirror with no problem. It DOES NOT block your view at all.
It’s very easy to install and, if done so properly, doesn’t budge. It is a little tough to adjust the straps when it’s installed rear-facing but not too difficult… and even if you had to take it out to adjust the straps it’s no-biggy because the carseat takes only a couple moments to install EASILY and it’s not like you’ll have to adjust them on a daily basis or anything.
I am very pleased with my purchase and highly recommend the Decathlon to anyone looking for a SAFE, COMFY and ATTRACTIVE carseat that will take them from the chubby baby stage all the way through the toddler years. :o)
Marathon, Decathlon or Boulevard?
We needed a new car seat for my 1 year old and I knew Britax was the only way. We have owned a Roundabout in the past (as well as an Eddie Bauer that I HATED). My other 2 outgrew the 40 lb. weight limit Roundabout quickly so I opted for a larger weight limit this time around….which brought me to the Marathon, the Decathlon and the Boulevard. I read and read about each of the seats and finally I went to a store that sold all 3 and tried them out in person. I settled on the Decathlon for 2 reasons. The first is the adjustable crotch strap which neither of the other 2 have. After years of digging for that silly piece under my boys on my Roundabout, I knew this was a must! The other feature is the Push Button Release as opposed to the metal lever on the other 2 seats that is hidden under a fabric flap. This might not be huge to some, but as a mother of 3 that is always on the road and taking my 1 year old out of her car seat several times a day, every second seems to count! This Push Button just seems faster and easier to work with than the lever. Before purchasing, I went over and over the descriptions of each of these car seats trying to figure out the major differences, and if I’d read a Review like this in the beginning, I’d have saved a lot of time! Of course I love this car seat for all the same reasons as everyone else, but I am hoping this review will help someone like me who couldn’t decide on which Britax was right for us. Oh, and a footnote. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the yellow flowered fabric on the car seat is actually a light lime color. Read this in another review somewhere, and I have to agree!!!!
REPLACED DECATHLON WITH THE BOULEVARD
We have used a Decathlon for our 21 month old son for the past 1 1/2 years. Yesterday, after our Stroller Strides class, we were loading up, and the harness adjustment broke as I was tightening the harness. Up until this point, we have had no problems with the Decathlon. I was surprised that such a top of the line seat would up and break on us. We drove immediately to Safe and Secure Baby, here locally, and were told that the seat was broken and it was a manufacturing problem. This morning, I called Britax and they are sending me a new car seat along with a return shipping label to return to them my broken Decathlon, even though our one year warranty expired five months ago. Now, that is good customer service! Needing a car seat immediately, we purchased a Boulevard yesterday, and am completely happy with it. Initially, I was concerned about the “crotch strap” as noted earlier, but it doesn’t matter, because the maximum length of the “crotch strap” on the Boulevard is the same as the maximum on the Decathlon. So, I don’t know why the reviewer on the other page was concerned about her son outgrowing the car seat. He will outgrow them at the same rate - since the crotch strap maximum is the same.
I was SOLD on the Boulevard when I was asked, “If you were in a car accident, would you rather have your son’s face hit the side impact protection (on the Boulevard) or the window (on the Decathlon)”. I didn’t realize that when in an accident, the car seat (any car seat) can move quite a distance. Then, I was concerned that my son may fuss over the slightly more limited view when using the Boulevard with SIP. But, it hasn’t affected him one bit. He didn’t care at all, and it made a nice head rest for him when he napped off in the car today. Britax is replacing our broken Decathlon with a Boulevard. It’s worth every penny! and comes with great customer service from Britax, too.
Amazon.com Product Description
Britax International has been manufacturing innovative, industry-leading child products for over three decades. Their dedication to safety, comfort, and convenience is certainly apparent in this convertible car seat. Parents will love being able to effortlessly secure baby in the Decathlon, and the peace of mind that comes with Britax’s renowned attention to safety standards. Baby will love that the Decathlon is comfortable from day one, and adjusts to stay that way as baby grows.
Safety first is a good rule of thumb, and one that Britax certainly heeds. The Decathlon offers features you might find on many other car seats, such as convertibility, a five-point harness, and the LATCH system. But Britax went above and beyond the norm when creating the functional and fashionable Decathlon car seat.
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| One-pull harness strap adjuster makes for a quick, easy, and snug fit every time. |
The five-point harness system is made with strong polyester webbing, fits snugly over baby’s shoulders, collarbone and hips to provide a secure fit, and the straps are designed to remain tangle free. A patented “floating” HUGS (Harness Ultra Guard) system better distributes the webbing loads, reducing head movement and minimizing harness irritation on baby’s neck in case of an impact. Plus, HUGS reduces the chance of improperly positioning the chest clip. There is also a three-position crotch strap on the Decathlon that can be adjusted as baby grows, keeping the seat as comfortable as it was on day one. This is especially useful for toddlers who are consistently at the top of the growth chart.
Located near a vehicle’s seatbelts, factory installed anchor points provide a secure and easy LATCH connection. In conjunction with this push-button release system, the Decathlon also offers Britax’s Versa-Tether®, an anchor aid that works both rear- and forward-facing and prevents the seat from tilting in the event of an impact. The Versa-Tether® fastens the top of the car seat to factory installed automobile anchor points, minimizing the possibility of a head injury.
But wait! There’s more! Whether your vehicle is LATCH compatible or not, the Decathlon provides built-in lock-off clips that keep the seat tightly in place when using only traditional seatbelts for installation. There’s a simple handle pull that allows the car seat to be easily reclined. The one-pull harness strap adjuster makes for a quick, easy, and snug fit every time. Newborns are guaranteed a smooth ride thanks to an infant positioning system, comfy padding, and belly pad. Older children will appreciate the removable toddler head pillow and soft fabric cover, which is removable and washable. The Decathlon is Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 213 compliant, making it approved for airplane use as well.
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| A simple handle pull allows the car seat to be reclined when rear-facing. |
The Decathlon’s versatile, sculpted base means it will easily fit in almost every car, and can be positioned correctly every time. The car seat measures 19.5″W x 25.5″H x 24″D and weighs 20 pounds when empty. Since car seats are mandated by law, it’s nice to know that Britax is at least making the decision simple. The Decathlon is comfortable for baby on long drives, easy for parents to work when running everyday errands, available in a range of colors and patterns, and, most importantly, safe!
Comparing Britax Car Seats
If you’re debating between the Britax Decathlon and the Britax Marathon, there are two differences. First, the Decathlon offers additional padding for newborns with an infant positioning system. Second, the Decathlon has an adjustable three-position crotch strap, making it more comfortable for toddlers consistently at the top of their height percentage.
If you’ve narrowed it down to the Britax Decathlon and the Britax Boulevard (which have the same weight and height capacity), here are a few differences to help you decide. The Boulevard does not have the adjustable crotch strap or the no-thread shoulder strap harness adjuster. However, the Boulevard does feature Side Impact Protection (SIP) with the addition of supportive ‘wings’ in the headrest.
From the Manufacturer
If you like the legendary Britax Roundabout and Marathon, you are going to love the Britax Decathlon convertible car seat! The Decathlon has been designed to take our renowned focus on safety, comfort and convenience a step further. The Britax Decathlon car seat achieves the ultimate in luxury and comfort with removable head and body positioning pillows. The three buckle positions provide a snug and secure fit as your child grows. Unique features including the sculpted base, push button release LATCH system with patented Versa-Tether, and built-in vehicle belt lock-offs make a tight installation in your vehicle quick and simple. The tangle-free polyester 5-point harness with four harness heights ensures a snug and secure fit. The push button harness adjuster help you to effortlessly secure your child every day. Achieving the ultimate in luxury and comfort, the Decathlon offers patented HUGS system, belly pad and a plush & washable seat cover as well as rear and forward-facing recline for child comfort and positioning . The Britax Decathlon is the ultimate convertible restraint for children rear facing from 5 to 33 or 35 pounds and children forward facing from at least one year old and 20 pounds, up to 65 pounds. The Decathlon is made in the USA with U.S. and global components.
