Britax Marathon ClickTight vs. Chicco NextFit Zip: Which is Better? (2024)

Hi there! We're here to help you decide between the Britax Marathon ClickTight and the Chicco NextFit Zip.

Our goal is to provide you with the information you need to feel confident that you're choosing the optimal car seat for your family's needs and budget. Let us know if you have any other questions!

At A Glance

Our Thoughts

The Britax Marathon ClickTight car seat and Chicco NextFit Zip car seat are both impressive options offering safety and comfort to your child. Each has its own unique features and benefits for families on the move.

The Britax Marathon ClickTight, recognized for its exceptional safety features, includes superior side impact protection and a steel frame, providing essential reassurance to parents. It's designed to grow with your child, transitioning from a rear-facing seat for infants to a forward-facing seat for older children, making it versatile in usage. It's shining feature is its ClickTight installation system, which simplifies securing the car seat in a vehicle; an especially helpful attribute for parents who frequently switch the car seat between cars. Moreover, the fabric is free from flame-retardant chemicals and the padding is machine-washable, delivering a cleaner, healthier seat for your little one.

On the other hand, the Chicco NextFit Zip car seat also boasts impressive safety attributes with its DuoGuard protection and SuperCinch LATCH tightener for secure installation. Similar to the Britax Marathon, it can also be converted from a rear-facing to a forward-facing seat, ensuring long-term usage. What makes this car seat stand out is its Zip & Wash seat pad, a brilliant feature for on-the-go parents who appreciate easy cleanup after spills or accidents. The multiple recline positions add convenience and comfort, creating a more enjoyable ride for your child. The only caveat might be that it is slightly heavier and bulkier in comparison.

Both car seats align closely when considering the maximum forward-facing weight limit, each allowing up to 65 pounds. However, there's a significant difference in terms of rear-facing capability as the Britax Marathon stands out with its capability to hold rear-facing children of up to 40 pounds, as opposed to Chicco's maximum limit of 33 pounds. This offers Britax an advantage for those who want to keep their toddlers rear-facing for longer.

Regarding airplane travel, both car seats are FAA approved for both forward and rear-facing modes. So, for those who travel frequently, either will be a suitable choice.

Weighing the features, customer feedback, and specifications, if high-quality safety features and the ease of maintaining cleanliness are top priorities for you, the Chicco NextFit Zip is recommended. However, if you are a fan of user-friendly installations and keeping your child rear-facing for a longer time, the Britax Marathon ClickTight is an excellent choice. Just remember, both options are robust and reliable, so your final decision may come down to personal preferences and deeming which features hold more value for your specific needs.