Britax Decathlon Car Seat Review

The time had come for a brand new ride, for my daughter that is...Britax/ Romer manufacturers US imported public transit seating, so I felt confident they knew a thing or two about the carseat business.

You Want How Much for This? 
What makes a carseat worth parting with $290.00?
To me, it's a combination of the following things:

*Versa Tether belt (an extended safety lead that secures your carseat to the car chassis)
*Comfort foam and EPS (expanded polystyrene) industrial grade protective foam.
*Infant Positioning System with adjustable comfort pads and belly pad (aka, HUGS)
*Easy LATCH (Lower Anchors for Tethers and Children) installation lock offs,
*Built in seatbelt lock offs (if LATCH isn't available in your vehicle) -check car manual
*One handed seat recline
*"Tangle free" 5 point poly/nylon harness system
*Push button harness strap adjuster
*3 position seat base buckle
*All padding and seat material (including the harness) is washable
*The seat is Rear Facing: 5 lbs. to 33 lbs.
*Forward Facing: 1 year old and up / up to 65 lbs. 

What Moves You?
Some of these features can seem overwhelming, but most of them easily translate into everyday English...The Decathlon is incredibly simple to both use and install. The seat weighs approx. 21 pounds and I've yet to have difficulty installing it by myself. The Decathlon includes installation devices for vehicles with and without the LATCH system. The "Versa Tether" is an extra anchor strap that can be attached to the car's chassis. The Britax is about 28 inches high, 20 inches wide, and is approximately 24 inches from headrest to footbase. The only time space could pose any real issue is if you drive a smaller sedan and you intend to use the seat in the rear facing position for any extended length of time.

The upholstery of the Decathlon is plush and roomy, especially if you have a larger infant or toddler. All upholstery and padding (including harness straps) are easily removed for cleaning. The Odyssey print blends nicely with all types of standard car interiors. The Decathlon has a "tangle free" 5 point adjustable harness system. The "tangle free" straps have flexible sheaths that cover the length of the shoulder harness, but the straps still get tangled from everyday use. A benefit of the Decathlon vs. other Britax models is the seat buckle has 3 adjustable settings. Bottoms grow too! So allowing more crotch room is a definite plus. I appreciate that there aren't a hundred parts necessary for this carseat to function, everything you could possibly need is secured to the seat (including the manual). The Decathlon comes out of the box ready to use. The directions feature step by step diagrams that help you effortlessly locate proper installation positions.

Here is the manufacturers link if you'd like to research the Decathlon for yourself. http://www.britaxusa.net/products/detail_decathlon.aspx
Or, you can dial 1-888-4BRITAX for further details.