Britax Endeavours Review

Britax's core belief is that families should make the most out of every day by living life with no limits. For more than 70 years, the company's goal has been to design smart, safe products. In 1996, Britax came to America with its top-selling car seats and found continued success. Britax collaborates with car manufacturers and passenger safety experts to design better products with side-impact protection and installation in mind. They also create strollers and accessories.

Performance Comparison

Crash Test

The Endeavours crash test results indicate average protection when compared to the test results of the competition. The Endeavours is average for crash tests for the HIC (head sensor) and the Chest (g clip) sensor.

Therefore, this seat exceeds the standard safety guidelines in FMVSS 213 and is considered safe. All seats available in the US must meet or exceed the same standards and provide a basic level of protection. As indicated by their crash test results, some seats offer the potential of an additional margin of protection.

The HIC score for this Britax is 508, where the highest allowable result is 1000, and lower scores indicate additional protection. The Chicco Keyfit 30 has the best HIC score with an impressive 330. A comparison of the crash test data for the Endeavours (black) and the Chicco Keyfit 30 (green) is in the chart below.

The chest g clip result for the Endeavours is 49, where the maximum allowed is 60, and lower results are better. This result means the Endeavours is only 18% below the acceptable high for this test. Alternatively, the Cybex Aton 2 has the best crash test results for the g clip with a 44 or 27% below the maximum. A comparison of the test results for the Graco (green) and the Endeavours (black) is in the chart below.

Britax marketing for this seat points to additional protection features like the steel frame, safe cell impact-absorbing base, and the anti-rebound bar (ARB). While logic indicates that these design elements could be beneficial, it is difficult to say with any certainty that they provide an additional margin of protection, generally speaking. Given the lack of agreed-upon testing procedures or results for other safety features like these, we can't say for sure what these features provide by way of protection in an actual crash.

Ease of Install - LATCH

The Endeavours has push-button LATCH connectors (below left) with a center-pull to tighten the strap (below right), which helped it earn one of the best results for this metric.

Installation of the Endeavours went smoothly and without a hiccup in our tests, but pushing the LATCH button to remove a tightened LATCH was difficult and required a bit more finger strength than the average connector. Had this been even somewhat easier, the Endeavours might have earned a perfect score in this metric.

The Endeavours has a rolling wheel level (above left) that helps ensure that the installation of the base is correct and an adjustable base (above right) that is straightforward to use if you need to make corrections.

Ease of Install - Belt

If your car or chosen car position doesn't have LATCH anchors, you'll still be in good shape by installing this Britax using the car belt.

The vehicle lap and shoulder portions of the belt thread through the color-coded slots in the base of the car seat (above left), and the belt lock-off secures the belt to prevent the base from sliding back and forth along the strap. This process is relatively easy to manage, but we experienced some wiggling with the lap/shoulder combo, even with the lock in place, and the lap-only install was challenging to get tight enough.

Ease of Install - Without the Base

Urbanites may prefer an installation without the base, a method where this Britax performs well.

The Endeavours installs without the base using a lap-only belt for the American belt path or the shoulder lap comb for the European installation path. The European belt path wraps the shoulder portion of the strap around the carrier's back, where it tucks in behind a clip, and the lap portion of the belt threads across the lower part of the carrier in the designated slots. While both are considered safe and acceptable, the European method usually feels more stable. While we didn't need to use a towel or pool noodle to achieve proper installation, the carrier did tend to roll toward the seatback in some vehicles.

Ease of Use

The Endeavours struggles to keep up with the competition in ease of use.

Harness

The Endeavours has a 5-point harness with a non-rethread height adjustment on the back (below left). This feature is easy to use, but it can be more complicated if the carrier is already on the base. There are six shoulder strap positions and two crotch strap positions for a custom fit for most little ones.

The buckle appears to be the same as other Britax options, which is easy enough to press but somewhat stiff compared to some of the other options we came across. The straps are also stiff to tighten and require some muscle to pull the center strap to get the harness fit tight enough. The button to loosen the harness is at the carrier's foot above the padding and pushes without any fuss.

Handle

The Endeavours handle has four positions and adjusts by pressing the buttons on both sides simultaneously. Any handle position is acceptable for car travel. There is no conflict between the handle and the canopy, so you can open the canopy and hold the handle without interference.

Carrier and Base Connection

The carrier presses easily onto the base. It isn't as smooth as some competition, and there is no visual indicator that the base has a good connection. You can't install it incorrectly, but it isn't as easy as a set and press function.

LATCH Anchors and Manual Storage

LATCH storage is as good as it can be without automatic LATCH retractors. The connectors tuck into the bottom sides of the base, keeping them out of the way 100%, so there is no interference when putting the base on the carrier. The manual stores under a plastic lid located at the center of the base top. The storage is adequate, but you'll be without your guidebook if you travel without the base and have a question on installation or use.

Comfort/Quality

Britax traditionally makes nicer products, and the quality and comfort of the Endeavours is no exception. It has stiff padding and fabric on the back and seat bottom with softer padding and material along both sides. The fabric fits the shell well without looking frumpy or loose. The handle moves smoothly without any rough edges, and the canopy opens taunt and stays open. It has a finished look that exceeds the other Britax infant seats we've seen in the past. The cover is easy to remove, but the fabric is hand-wash only. Lack of machine washing capabilities seems shortsighted as blowouts and spit-ups are almost a given.

Weight

The Endeavours struggled with carrier weight, with a weight of 11.3 lbs. Only a handful of carriers are heavier. If you plan to carry your baby any further than from your house to the car, then this may not be the best option. More than one reviewer commented that the weight of the carrier alone caused them to switch back to an older seat they didn't like as much.

Stroller Compatiblity

The Endeavours is part of Britax's "Click & Go" system so that it will work standard with any of the Britax strollers, including the Britax B-Lively and Britax B-Free. We like that you won't need to purchase separate adapters, and most Britax strollers perform well in our tests, but it can be limiting if you want to look outside Britax for a compatible stroller. Given that the attachment mimics the other Britax car seat lineup, this car seat may work with any stroller and adapter combination that claims compatibility with other Britax seats. Please check with the manufacturer of the stroller before purchase to be sure.

Should You Buy the Endeavours?

Unless you already own a Britax stroller or know that it is your stroller of choice and want to pair it with an infant car seat, we wouldn't suggest the Endeavours. This seat did not perform well compared to the competition in our tests, and while there are some things we like about it, we believe there are better options for most families.

What Other Infant Car Seat Should You Consider?

Several options offer better test results in this price range, including crash testing and LATCH installation. They score significantly higher overall and offer equal or better results for quality and weight. The Chicco KeyFit 35 is a top-ranked option that earned a higher crash test result and is super easy to install. It is also compatible with most of our favorite strollers. If you want the seat with the highest crash test rating, then the Cybex Aton 2 is the right one for you. This seat is high-quality, has the best chest sensor result in crash tests, and is relatively lightweight. It is not as compatible with strollers as the Chicco, but if you use a baby carrier, you may not need to pair your infant seat with your favorite stroller.

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