Britax Advocate ClickTight v Boulevard ClickTight Review

Advocate ClickTight                       Boulevard ClickTight

      Vs      

The Britax ClickTight Convertible Car Seats – Models

---

In this Britax Advocate ClickTight v Boulevard ClickTight Review, I hope to provide you with enough information about the similarities and differences between these 2 top-of-the-range convertible car seats to help you to make the right choice for your child and for your budget.

The ClickTight series of convertible car seats has been on the market for a few years now and have proved very popular with parents and car seat technicians.

Towards the end of 2015, Britax released the new re-styled versions of the ClickTight seats. There are no significant new features but they have improved the styling of the seats and fixed a previous harness strap problem.

Why ClickTight?

---

The “ClickTight” label on this series of seats is due to the fact that Britax took their unique “ClickTight” system (that has been used on their 5-Point harness to Booster seats for many years) and added it to ALL of their newly released convertible car seats.

There are 2 very important reasons why the introduction of the ClickTight installation system on all Britax convertible cars seats was such a positive development:

• The 2014 LATCH Law changes meant that convertible car seats needed to be re-installed using the seatbelt once your child reached a certain weight (40 lbs for the Britax ClickTight seats);
• Standard belt-fitting systems can be confusing for many parents and research suggests that about 75% of seats are incorrectly installed.

As you can see from the images and videos below, installing a convertible seat using the Britax ClickTight system is very simple, very quick and there is even a handy indicator to confirm that you have done it correctly too!

So, ClickTight takes away most (if not all) of the stresses of trying to install convertible car seats using the seat belt, and since it is almost fool-proof, it vastly improves your chances of getting it right the first time and keeping your child safe.

There are 3 seats in the new series of Britax convertible car seats:

• The Advocate ClickTight
• The Boulevard ClickTight
• The Marathon ClickTight

The Advocate is the most expensive option, followed by the Boulevard and then the Marathon. Obviously, the extra cash gets you extra features and you will have to decide whether or not your personal circumstances justify that added expense.

Before I get into the detail of each seat’s features, let’s take a look at the NHTSA’s assessment of them.

THE NHTSA “EASE OF USE” RATINGS = 5-STARS

Although the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) does NOT carry out the sort of tests that enable anyone to rank all convertible car seats in order of safety, it does carry out pretty extensive “Ease of Use” evaluations on the seats and publishes the data to help parents.

Many people often incorrectly consider the NHTSA “Ease of Use” tests to be comprehensive “safety” tests, but they are NOT full safety tests. The NHTSA makes it clear on its own website that these “Ease of Use” tests should not be mis-used in this way.

They are, however, a useful starting point when considering which convertible car seat to buy.

SO, WHAT ARE THE NHTSA “EASE OF USE” RATINGS?

According to the NHTSA, the safest car seat is the one that:

• is appropriate for your child’s age, height and weight
• fits in your vehicle correctly
• is easy to use

So, a seat’s “Ease of Use” rating is awarded based upon an examination of the following factors:

• The Content & Clarity of the Seat’s Instruction Booklet
• How Easy it is to Install the Seat
• The Content & Clarity of the Seat’s Labels
• How Easy it is to Restrain the child in the Seat

Research suggests that about 75% of all car seats are incorrectly installed – this is one of the biggest car seat safety risks to a child and there is little point in paying $300 for a top-of-the-range seat if you can’t work out how to fit is properly.

Since correct car seat installation is such an important factor in ensuring that it is safe, it is perfectly reasonable to look at these ratings because they are specifically measuring the ease with which the seat can be used safely.

This is why the NHTSA “Ease of Use” ratings are such a useful starting point on your quest for the safest convertible car seat for your child.

You can find the latest NHTSA “Ease of Use” ratings for convertible car seats here.

Each of the 4 “ease of use” factors listed above are given a “star rating” out of 5 and then an overall star rating at the end that takes account these individual factors.

The only series of convertible car seats that can currently boast a 5-Star Overall Ease of Use Rating in the forwards-facing position are the Britax ClickTight Convertible Car Seats.

One of the best things about the Britax ClickTight seats is that their ClickTight Installation System makes belt-fitting the seats pretty much fool-proof … and foolproof installation means there is a much higher chance of the car seat being safe.

Edit: You can now buy all 3 models of the Britax ClickTight seat with anti-rebound bars.

Advocate ClickTight 2017 vs Boulevard ClickTight – The Similarities

---

Before I look at the small number of differences between these seats, here is a list of the most important features that are found on both.

Both seats come with:

Both seats have the same height / weight limits:

• Rear-facing between 5 to 40 lbs or 49 inches (standing height)
• Rear-facing limit of 7.6 to 18.65 inches (seated shoulder height)
• Forwards-facing between 20 to 65 lbs or 49 inches (standing height) – must be at least 1 year old
• Forwards-facing limit of 18.65 inches or less (seated shoulder height) – must be at least 1 year old

Note: Although these seats are rated as suitable for forwards-facing use from 20 lbs (if child at least 1 year old), the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommends that children should remain rear-facing for at least 2 years and preferably longer. So, do NOT rush to switch your child to forwards-facing mode once they reach 20 lbs. Instead, try to keep them rear-facing for as long as they remain within the height / weight limits for that mode of use.

The Similarities Explained in More Detail

---

The most important safety features found on both car seats include:

#1 The ClickTight Installation System.

ClickTight installation involves 3 very simple steps:

1. Open the Compartment
2. Feed the Belt into the Slots
3. Close the Compartment

Note: Although you use the same 3 steps, there are different belt-retaining slots for forwards-facing and rear-facing:

The promotional video above doesn’t show you in detail how to install seats using the Britax ClickTight system, but fortunately this great video from “The Car Seat Blog” does:

#2 SafeCell Base

The SafeCell Base is designed to compress in a crash, lower your child’s center of gravity, and counteract the forwards rotation of their seat. In so doing, this reduces the risk of your child’s head hitting the back of the seat in front of them.

#3 SafeCell Impact Stabilising Steel Frame

The SafeCell Impact Stabilising Steel frame is designed to strengthen the seat’s connection to the vehicle and reduce forward flexing in the event of a collision. This is said to reduce the risk of your child’s head coming into contact with the back of the seat in front of them.

#4 SafeCell Impact Absorbing Tether

The Impact Absorbing Tether is essentially a strap that is attached to 2 upper parts of the seat and which is used to secure it to the lower anchors in your vehicle. The upper tether system is a very important safety feature and you should read the user manual very carefully to ensure that it is used correctly.

The safety benefits of using the Impact Absorbing Tether is that it:

1. Diverts crash forces away from your child by distributing them across a larger surface area of the seat shell;
2. Minimises movement of the seat in a crash (in all directions);
3. Helps to slow your child’s body down in a crash.

You can see how the Impact Absorbing Tether helps to protect your child in a crash by watching this video:

#5 7-Position Recline with Automatic Level Indicator

The 7-position recline and automatic level indicator serves at least 2 useful purposes. Firstly, it helps you to find a comfortable position for your child when using the seat. Secondly, it ensures that you can quickly and easily install the seat at a recline angle that is safe for your child. Vehicle seats are all manufactured differently and it can sometimes be difficult to know whether or not you have installed the seat correctly.

The Britax automatic level indicator means that you can feel confident that the recline position is correct rather than simply having to guess.

#6 Quick-Adjust, 14-Position Harness

As your child grows, you will need to adjust the height of the harness straps and headrest. Many seats require you to re-thread the harness each and every time you need to make adjustments and this can be annoying. The Britax system makes it quick and easy for you to adjust the harness and headrest heights without having to re-thread the harness first.

You simply press the red button and pull the top handle until you get the correct position.

#7 Increased Height Limits

Children often outgrow the height limits of convertible car seats before they outgrow the weight limits.

However, the Advocate and Boulevard ClickTight seats have significantly greater height limits than the previous Britax G4 series of seats. In fact, they are now considered to be 2 of the most generous seats in terms of maximum child height limits.

The important height limit figures for both seats are as follows:

• Top harness slots at 19.5 inches (2 inches more than the G4 seats)
• Seated shoulder height limit of 18.65 inches (almost 2 inches more than the G4 seats)

Note: Britax have changed the reference point for assessing whether your child has outgrown the seat’s height limit. Instead of using the top of the outer shell as a guide, you should now use the top of the inner shell and ensure that your child’s head is not positioned higher than a a point 1 inch below the read “headrest” adjustment lever. You should read the user manual carefully to check that you fully understand this height-checking procedure prior to using the seat.

As a result of these improvements, the useable rear-facing height limit is approximately 28 inches to the top of your child’s head with the headrest at the highest setting.

Advocate ClickTight vs Boulevard ClickTight – The Single Difference

---

The single difference between the Advocate ClickTight and the Boulevard ClickTight is the fact that the Advocate comes fitted with Side Impact Cushion Technology (SICT) and the Boulevard does not.

Instead, the Boulevard comes with True Side Impact Protection instead.

In short, the Advocate ClickTight has 3 layers of side impact protection, whereas the Boulevard ClickTight has 2 layers of side impact protection.

So, what is the difference?

Visually, SICT comprises extra wide head wings on either side of the seat:

The Extra Later of SIP Equals Extra Width of Seat

One important thing that you will need to consider when deciding between the Advocate and Boulevard ClickTight car seats is the significant difference in seat width due to the additional SICT head wings on the Advocate.

The Advocate ClickTight is 20.5 inches wide.

The Boulevard ClickTight is 18.5 inches wide.

So, if you need to fit 3 seats across a single row in a standard-sized family vehicle, the Advocate might be too wide and you might be better off choosing the Boulevard instead.

However, if this width issue is not relevant to your circumstances, then you ought to consider whether the SICT wings are something that you want to pay the extra $50 for or not.

What is SICT?

Britax Side Impact Cushion Technology (SICT) comprises energy-management cushions that are positioned on either side of the seat. Britax claim that these cushions reduce side impact collision energy transfer by 45%. They are said to absorb side impact forces before they even reach your child and, thereby, reduce the risk of serious head injuries. Although I haven’t seen any independent test results to support Britax’s claims about these cushions, that does not mean that they are necessarily false. The cushions certainly do look reassuring and Britax claim that they make a significant difference in side impact collisions.

On balance, if I was choosing between these 2 seats and “seat width” wasn’t a problem, I would probably pay the extra $60 or so for the SICT and buy an Advocate. The extra head wings certainly can’t hurt and even the smallest chance that they might provide my child with extra protection in a side impact collision would be worth it.

Having said that, just because the Boulevard doesn’t come with SICT, that doesn’t mean that it’s Side Impact Protection is sub-standard. In fact, the Boulevard’s True Side Impact Protection system encompasses some very important and reassuring safety features. So, if your budget can’t quite stretch to the price of the Advocate ClickTight model or if it just won’t fit into your vehicle alongside other seats, you can be pretty happy with the safety features on the Boulevard instead.

The Boulevard’s Side Impact Protection still comprises:

• Rigid seat shell with deep side walls and energy-absorbing foam
• Headrest with energy-absorbing foam

Different Fabric Color Options

---

Whilst there is only 1 functional difference between the Britax Advocate ClickTight and Boulevard ClickTight seats, they also come in very different fabric color options.

Discover the Advocate ClickTight color options here  

Discover the Boulevard ClickTight color options here.

Where to Buy the Britax ClickTight Seats

---

The Britax Advocate ClickTight is about $60 more expensive that the equivalent Boulevard model.

Check Best Price of the Britax Advcocate ClickTight

Check Best Price of the Britax Boulevard ClickTight

If you remain undecided, you can read more user reviews of these seats here:

• Britax Advocate ClickTight reviews
• Britax Boulevard ClickTight reviews

Canadian ClickTight Seats

---

Find Britax ClickTight Seats in Canada.

Safety Information

---

After purchasing any child car seat, you should always read the User Manual thoroughly before using it. It is also advisable to visit your local Fire Department or NHTSA Child Car Seat Inspection Centre to ensure that the seat is definitely suitable for your child’s specific requirements and that you have installed it correctly. These services are usually provided free of charge.

You can find your nearest NHTSA Centre here.

Get in Touch

---

If you have any comments to share or questions to ask about my Britax Advocate ClickTight v Boulevard ClickTight Review, please leave a comment in the box below or send me an email.