In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician

Britax Advocate ClickTight ARB Review

Easy to install but below average crash test results make the similar Boulevard a better choice
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britax advocate clicktight arb convertible car seat review
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Price:  $400 List
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Manufacturer:   Britax
By Juliet Spurrier, MD and Wendy Schmitz  ⋅  Dec 21, 2021
66
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#11 of 17
  • Crash Test - 35% 4.0
  • Ease Of Install - LATCH - 20% 8.5
  • Ease Of Install - Belt - 15% 8.6
  • Ease Of Use - 15% 7.6
  • Comfort / Quality - 10% 8.6
  • Weight / Size - 5% 3.5

The Skinny

The Britax Advocate ClickTight ARB is a high-quality convertible car seat with the Britax ClickTight technology that takes the guesswork out of car seat installation. This top-performing option includes LATCH and belt installation both utilizing the lower seat bottom to obtain a tight and secure attachment. We like that this product is comfortable, functional, and easy to install. However, its lower crash test results were disappointing compared to the other seats, which makes this particular option a product we would not choose over its similar Britax brother. Except for the lower score, heavier weight, and higher price, the Advocate is very similar to the Britax Boulevard ClickTight, and we don't think it is worth paying more for lower crash-test results.
REASONS TO BUY
Easy to install
Easy to use
Nice quality
REASONS TO AVOID
Below average crash test results
Heavy
Price
We are linking to the Advocate without the anti-rebound bar accessory. To create the same car seat we tested, you must purchase the Britax Anti Rebound Bar Accessory separately.

Editor's Note: This gear review was updated with additional sections with information on competing products and what we would recommend to a friend. This update happened on December 18, 2021.

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Star Rating
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Pros Easy to install, easy to use, nice qualityEasy to install and use, cozy comfort, nice qualityBest crash test results, rear-facing till 50 lbs, priceGreat crash test results, easy to use, attractive price, lighterPrice, easy to use, best head sensor crash test
Cons Below average crash test results, heavy, priceAverage crash test resultsNot the best quality, harder belt installationHarder to install using the vehicle beltLess padding, somewhat harder to install using vehicle belt
Bottom Line Easy to install but below average crash test results make the similar Boulevard a better choiceImpressive option with quality features and super easy installation parents will loveBest crash test results on a budget-friendly seat that lets little ones sit rear-facing for longerA lightweight, easy to use seat with excellent crash test result and priceBetter crash test results make this easy to use, inexpensive seat a winner
Rating Categories Britax Advocate Cli... Britax Boulevard Cl... Graco Extend2Fit Britax Emblem Britax Allegiance
Crash Test (35%)
4.0
5.5
8.5
8.0
8.0
Ease Of Install - LATCH (20%)
8.5
9.5
6.6
7.2
7.2
Ease Of Install - Belt (15%)
8.6
9.6
7.0
6.0
6.0
Ease Of Use (15%)
7.6
7.6
7.3
7.6
7.6
Comfort / Quality (10%)
8.6
8.6
5.8
7.4
6.8
Weight / Size (5%)
3.5
5.0
5.0
5.5
5.5
Specs Britax Advocate Cli... Britax Boulevard Cl... Graco Extend2Fit Britax Emblem Britax Allegiance
Crash Test HIC Score 388 289 214 218 186
Crash Test Chest G Clip 51 51 40 42 43
Min/Max Rear Facing Passenger Weight 5 - 40 lbs 5 - 40 lbs 4 - 50 lbs 5 - 40 lbs 5 - 40 lbs
Min/Max Forward Facing Passenger Weight 20 - 65 lbs 20 - 65 lbs 22 - 64 lbs 20 - 65 lbs 20 - 65 lbs
Max Rear Facing Passenger Height Child's head must be at least 1 in. below the top of the head restraint Child's head must be at least 1 in. below the top of the head restraint Child's head must be at least 1 in. below the top of the head restraint Child's head must be at least 1 in. below the top of the head restraint Child's head must be at least 1 in. below the top of the head restraint
Max Forward Facing Passenger Height 49" and the child's ears must be below the top of the head restraint. 49" and the child's ears must be below the top of the head restraint. 49" and the child's ears must be below the top of the seat shell. 49" and the child's ears must be below the top of the head restraint. 49" and the child's ears must be below the top of the head restraint.
Measured Rear Facing Seat Weight 29.4 lbs 29.5 lbs 18.7 lbs 18.8 lbs 18.5 lbs
Measured Forward Facing Seat Weight 28.3 lbs 28.4 lbs 18.7 lbs 18.8 lbs 18.5 lbs
Width 20" 18" 19.6" 18.9" 18.8"
Recline Positions 7 7 4 Rear Facing
3 Forward Facing
1 Rear Facing
2 Forward Facing
1 Rear Facing
2 Forward Facing
Max Recline Angle 53° 51° 51° 42° 42°
Shoulder Harness Positions 14 14 10 10 10
Crotch Strap Positions 2 2 2 2 2
Built in Lock Off ClickTight System ClickTight System No Yes Yes
Anti-rebound Device Yes Yes No No No
Head Support Yes Yes No No No
Newborn Insert Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
No Rethread Harness Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Onboard Manual Storage Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Level Indicator On Seat Ball in Tube. Ball in Tube. Ball in Tube. Line on Decal Line on Decal
Foam Type EPP EPP EPS EPP EPP
Seat Lifespan 10 yrs 10 yrs 7 yrs 7 7
Warranty 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Britax company feels that families should live life to their fullest potential and strives to create products that allow parents and children to enjoy every moment. Britax has been manufacturing products for over 70 years, and they design their products with fun and safety in mind. In 1996, the company launched for the first time in the United States after years of success in Europe with the best-selling car seats. Britax recently purchased the BOB company, and together, they continue to create strollers and car seats.

Performance Comparison



britax advocate clicktight arb convertible car seat review - britax claims a three padding layer system increases potential...
Britax claims a three padding layer system increases potential safety for baby in the event of a car crash. We did not find any evidence that this has been tested or confirmed.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Crash Test


The Advocate struggled to keep up with the competition for crash test results. While it does meet and exceed the Federal minimum requirements and is therefore considered safe, it does not appear to offer an additional margin of protection despite the added safety features it boasts in its advertising.

The data obtained from sled crash testing includes sensor information recorded from the head and chest of a crash test dummy. Our testing takes place at the same facility used by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) with the same specifications they use in their testing for a clear for one comparison. Some of the products have test results indicating a potentially increased protection margin with fewer G forces recorded than the average product. The Advocate was not one of these options. In fact, its test results are lower than most and closer to the Federal limit than the majority of seats we tested.

britax advocate clicktight arb convertible car seat review - the essentials by britax allegiance earned the best hic result with...
The Essentials by Britax Allegiance earned the best HIC result with a 186 compared to the 388 of the Advocate.
Credit: BabyGearLab, MGA Research
britax advocate clicktight arb convertible car seat review - the clek foonf earned the best chest clip value with a 33.4 compared...
The Clek Foonf earned the best chest clip value with a 33.4 compared to the Advocate value of 51.
Credit: BabyGearLab, MGA Research

The charts provided here show the test results for the Advocate (in black) and those of the car seats with the best results for the head (HIC) and chest sensors (g) (in green). The charts provide a visual comparison of the results. The HIC score for the Advocate is 388, while the best result belongs to the Britax Allegiance with a 186, where a lower result is better. The chest sensor result was 51, where the maximum allowed is 60, and the best was 33.4 for the Clek Foonf.

britax advocate clicktight arb convertible car seat review - the britax advocate has a removable anti-rebound bar for rear facing...
The Britax Advocate has a removable anti-rebound bar for rear facing installation.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The Advocate has a removable anti-rebound bar (ARB), impact-absorbing base, and three layers of protection that Britax claims will increase the seat's safety. We could not locate any test data to support the claims, but we do like it when a product offers additional features for safety.

The same belt pathway you use with the seatbelt is what you use for...
The same belt pathway you use with the seatbelt is what you use for the LATCH method.
Rear-facing installation is easy with the LATCH system and...
Rear-facing installation is easy with the LATCH system and ClickTight tightening.

Ease of Install - LATCH


The Advocate earned an impressive result installation using the LATCH system. Its installation score is lower than the other ClickTight options we tested.

britax advocate clicktight arb convertible car seat review - the advocate uses clip style latch anchors which we feel are more...
The Advocate uses clip style LATCH anchors which we feel are more difficult to use.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

This seat has clip-style LATCH anchors that aren't as nice or easy to use as the push-button options. Attaching the clips is simple, but removing them requires pushing in, twisting, and pulling back; it will reconnect if you forget to twist.

britax advocate clicktight arb convertible car seat review - installing the advocate is almost completely foolproof.
Installing the Advocate is almost completely foolproof.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Using the LATCH method is easy because the seat does most of the hard work for you by helping to get the straps tight without pulling on the straps. The seat portion of the cushion places pressure on the strap and tightens the car seat to the vehicle. The LATCH anchors are more challenging to loosen when removing the seat, but that is relatively standard across all products.

The Advocate has an under seat angle adjustment handle that is easy...
The Advocate has an under seat angle adjustment handle that is easy to use but will need adjustment prior to rear-facing installation.
The level of the Advocate is a ball in a plastic case with a range...
The level of the Advocate is a ball in a plastic case with a range indicated on the side.

The Advocate has both a recline angle adjustment feature and a level to help parents achieve the proper angle for correct installation. Angle adjustment uses a handle under the front edge of the seat (above left) and can be harder to access in the rear-facing position. It has seven recline angles. The level is a ball style inside a transparent casing that indicates the correct angle when the ball rests in the labeled range, which is different for the rear and forward-facing configurations (above right).

britax advocate clicktight arb convertible car seat review - using the vehicle belt to install the advocate is easy thanks to the...
Using the vehicle belt to install the Advocate is easy thanks to the ClickTight technology that tightens the strap for you.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Install - Belt


The Advocate is easy to install using the vehicle belt. The ease of installation is likely due to the similar tightening process for the belt and LATCH straps found on ClickTight options.

The ClickTight installation method on the Advocate uses a belt path...
The ClickTight installation method on the Advocate uses a belt path under the seat that is clamped and secured tightly when you press the seat down.
The forward facing configuration also incorporates the ClickTight...
The forward facing configuration also incorporates the ClickTight technology where the seat bottom secures the seat to the belt similar to a belt lock-off.

The seat belt threads under the seat cushion (above left shows rear-facing), and the cushion pushes down on the belt (above right shows forward-facing) to tighten the strap and secure the seat in place. This process can be done using a lap-only belt or the lap and shoulder belt if present.

The vehicle belt or LATCH strap is threaded through the bottom of...
The vehicle belt or LATCH strap is threaded through the bottom of the car seat shell and the seat cushion is closed on top to tighten the strap or belt for a secure installation. This feature helped the Advocate earn a perfect 10 for both styles of attachment.
Whether you install the Advocate using LATCH or the vehicle seat...
Whether you install the Advocate using LATCH or the vehicle seat belt you still use the seat bottom to obtain a tight and secure installation.

This seat does not have a traditional belt lock-off, and while we are big fans of lock-offs, the pressure and design of the seat bottom clamping the belt (known as their ClickTight method) in place acts as a lock-off/tensioner (depending don't the installation method) negating the need for a separate device.

britax advocate clicktight arb convertible car seat review - the harness release button is located at the foot of the advocate...
The harness release button is located at the foot of the Advocate and is a couple of inches beneath the surface.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Use


The Advocate is one of the easier options in the review to use, earning top marks in this metric. The Britax products are very similar in their design and function, so it isn't a big surprise that they share similar scores for several metrics.

britax advocate clicktight arb convertible car seat review - the buckle and chest clip on the advocate are both easy to use.
The buckle and chest clip on the Advocate are both easy to use.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Harness


The buckle on the Advocate depresses without excessive force compared to much of the competition. If necessary, the chest clip can be operated with one hand and doesn't require a hand underneath it to open. We like this clip, and it is the same on all the Britax convertible products.

britax advocate clicktight arb convertible car seat review - moving the headrest assembly to adjust the harness  height on the...
Moving the headrest assembly to adjust the harness height on the Advocate is smooth and works well with the squeeze of a button.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

This seat has a non-rethread harness height adjustment that moves up and down with the squeeze of a handle on the top of the assembly. Movement is smooth and works well without too much trouble. This adjustment can be done with the baby in the seat and has 14 height options, one of the highest in the group. The crotch strap has two positions and, combined with the height options, makes for a good fit for most children.

Tightening the harness is easy with a smooth moving pull strap that makes a click sound when it should be tight enough. It is a good indicator, but we encourage parents to double-check the harness by attempting to pinch the shoulder strap. This action should not be possible in a correctly adjusted harness. Releasing the harness uses a button on the foot of the seat.

britax advocate clicktight arb convertible car seat review - the latch straps on the advocate store in plastic pockets on the...
The LATCH straps on the Advocate store in plastic pockets on the seat bottom.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

LATCH Storage


The LATCH anchors on the Advocate store under the seat on the side of the base in pockets with plastic doors. This location ensures the connectors are kept out of the way when not in use.

britax advocate clicktight arb convertible car seat review - the advocate's user manual stores in the side of the seat under the...
The Advocate's user manual stores in the side of the seat under the fabric.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The user's manual storage is on the side of the seat under the headrest. The seat has a tab indicator with a manual icon. The location isn't the best as little ones can potentially access it, or it may succumb to spit-up or spills.

Cover


The cover is removable for washing. It comes off in several pieces and is hand wash and line dry only. Machine washable would be better, but at least it is removable.

britax advocate clicktight arb convertible car seat review - with three layers of padding and soft fabric the advocate is one of...
With three layers of padding and soft fabric the Advocate is one of the most comfortable options we tested.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Comfort/Quality


The Advocate is clearly a comfortable and quality choice compared to the competition in this review. This seat has ample padding and soft fabric on the sides that converge with the shell well without bunching or poor stitching. The seat bottom fabric is stiffer but still friendly and feels easy to wipe clean.

britax advocate clicktight arb convertible car seat review - the advocate's smooth back and self-contained pockets make it easy...
The Advocate's smooth back and self-contained pockets make it easy to clean and provide a nice overall fit and finish.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Everything on this seat is relatively self-contained, and the smooth shell means it is easy to keep clean without a lot of the nooks and crannies found on the less expensive products. The overall look and feel are sleek, modern, and durable.

britax advocate clicktight arb convertible car seat review - the advocate is one of the heaviest car seats we tested with a...
The Advocate is one of the heaviest car seats we tested with a slightly higher weight when you use the anti-rebound bar (ARB).
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Weight


The Advocate ClickTight ARB weighs 29.4 lbs rear-facing with the anti-rebound bar in place and 28.3 lbs front-facing without the bar. This excessive heft helped it earn a low score for weight and size. The weight of a convertible seat is something to consider if you travel frequently or move the seat from car to car. The Advocate is also wide with a max width of 20 inches, making it a poor choice for those who need to fit multiple seats or people in a row.

Should You Buy the Britax Advocate ClickTight ARB?


The Britax Advocate ClickTight ARB is a high-end Britax seat, and it does offer some interesting features like the easy-to-use Clicktight installation method. However, higher-scoring Britax options with this feature offer more for a comparable or lower price. We think there are better options from Britax and other brands that can save money or bring more to the table.

What Other Convertible Car Seat Should You Consider?


The Britax Boulevard ClickTight ARB is a top-scoring product with better crash test results and the best ease of installation scores across the board. These features make it an option we think is a better choice. If the installation is your worry, you can't go wrong with the Boulevard. If you want better crash test results, the Graco Extend2Fit offers one of the best results in the group and will cost you over $100 less than the Advocate. We think both options are better choices than the Advocate.

Manufacturer Video



Juliet Spurrier, MD and Wendy Schmitz
 

Honest, objective reviews. Led by a Pediatrician.

BabyGearLab was founded by a Pediatrician Mom with a mission to provide a reliable, independent, source of information to new parents. Our experts have tested thousands of baby and kids products to share key performance, health, and safety findings. We spend tens of thousands of dollars crash testing car seats to inform our ratings. And, we combine our review work with gobs of expert parenting advice. To assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing by people who care.

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