MICRALITE ProFold By Silver Cross Lightweight Travel Stroller with Compact Fold, Suitable from Birth – Black

Product Information

Initially, Adele was concerned that the ProFold wasn’t a very deep pushchair and seated her child in an unusually upright position but, by adjusting the recline strap and the thigh support, she was able to find a position that both she and her child were happy with. At the end of the test period, the Micralite still looked as good as new, a sign that this lightweight buggy will go the distance. Final verdict?

Micralite's ProFold buggy is perfect for travelling, being incredibly compact, lightweight and folding up in just one move. It is also cabin approved, made with waterproof fabric, and has plenty of room to store all your travel essentials for your little one! Here are some of the features on the Micralite ProFold that I love and at the end there are some things I think could be improved and are worth reading before you buy. The Micralite ProFold review Stylish design Mum-of-two Emily put the new-look ProFold through it's paces for us, here's what she thought: How did this product make your life easier?You’ll have to factor in either buying a travel system to start with (an approach many parents take) or using a baby carrier or sling for the first few months before making the transition. I cannot believe how tiny this stroller folds up! There are so many occasions when I need extra space in the car and would never be able to fit my big buggy in. For a buggy so narrow, the ProFold is surprisingly spacious and, despite the 15kg weight limit, our tester felt that her three-year-old still had room left to grow. The bamboo seat liner is soft and well-padded, and there is also a sturdy footrest for tired legs.

The lie-flat position is also great for naps for kids of any age. The Micralite ProFold One-handed fold But while the Micralite ProFold handles busy pavements and shiny shop floors well, it's not designed for bumpier terrain. 'We felt we had to support the frame of the stroller when mounting curbs, by pushing with a foot on the rear bar where the brake sits, otherwise the frame felt like it was really straining with Joe's weight,' says Ben. 'The ProFold is designed for children up to 15kg, which is around three years, and we tested with a 22-month-old, so perhaps we're heading towards the top end of the stroller's weight limit. But it's definitely a city stroller and not suited to off-roading or poorly maintained pavements.' I would recommend it, it’s so handy and looks lovely and best of all comfortable. I hope lots of parents find it helpful. Would you choose this product above all others on the market? Nichola: It is difficult to complete this section as realistically there isn't really anything I would change about this product. However, if it was a possibility and didn't affect the overall product design and intention then I would change the wheel size. The small wheels on this product sometimes make it difficult when on uneven terrain and surfaces. To overcome this I sometimes have to lift the wheels up and over which is not a problem, to be honest, but can sometimes have its limitations when loaded with various bits and bobs and another child. Product Information If, on the other hand, you spend your days going to parks, green spaces, and off-roading more than you do hopping on and off public transport, or if your local area has badly maintained pavements and/or you have the space for a bigger and more robust stroller, I would recommend something that can handle more diverse terrain,' adds Ben. 'And if your toddler hates getting in the buggy, you may find you need four hands to secure them in this one!'The brake feels absolutely secure, stopping without any issues on hills. Meanwhile, the ProFold also passed our topple test with flying colours, not faltering when our tester hung a full changing bag on the handlebar both with and without her child in the seat. OK, so we’ve chatted about all the good things about the Micralite ProFold, what about the things that aren’t so good? For me, there’s only really one downside to this lightweight stroller and that’s the break… The badly placed brake Day-to-day, our parent tester, Adele, found the ProFold pushed easily one-handed, managing dips in the road and pavements with no issue, and taking hills and uneven grassy surfaces in its stride. Helen: I'd attach a strap to the handle to give you more confidence in the product given the pointers identified above, such as issues with steering and the difficulties when walking where there is a gradient on footpaths. I'd also sew in the padding for the clip the pushchair straps attach into. This is detachable, presumably, so it can be washed but just slides on and off the clip easily meaning it can be lost. The reversible seat cover is machine-washable, washing and air drying beautifully after having been soaked with a cup of juice and smeared with mud. The seat cover is easy to remove so doesn’t pose an obstacle should you need to wash it.

The Micralite ProFold is the smoothest compact pushchair we’ve ever used. It actually made me realise how bumpy the Babyzen Yoyo is in comparison. The suspension on it makes a huge difference and makes this stroller a genuine option for everyday use as it can easily be used on most surfaces. You can’t adjust the handlebar so I feel like I’m walking too close to that brake. I don’t expect the handlebar to be adjustable on a compact stroller but it definitely needs to be longer. I’m only 5’3 and I find it too short so I’m guessing that someone who is 6ft would find it almost impossible. Notably, the materials are weatherproof and don’t sacrifice style to achieve that. How easy is the Micralite ProFold to clean?The stroller is also really smart, it has a lovely leather bar in front to keep the child safe (and attach any toys to!) and a leather handle which is lovely to hold. Freestanding, it takes up even less floor space wherever you store it, but it can also just about fit in the footwell of a large car. In a smaller car, you could rest it on its side in the footwell but you might prefer to leave it in the boot. The Micralite ProFold isn’t the lightest pushchair on the market but this actually isn’t a bad thing. We also have the Silvercross Jet which weighs just 5.9kg and I find it to be too lightweight when pushing an older baby. If your toddler weighs twice as much as the pushchair and suddenly leans to the side while you’re pushing then your pushchair will wobble and possibly even tip over. A pushchair needs a bit of weight behind it or it’ll just feel flimsy when pushing a bigger baby or toddler. While the ProFold’s toggle glides smoothly and remains secure when the seat is upright, some users might prefer a different style of recline altogether. How easy is it to assemble? If you need a buggy that doesn’t monopolise space in the car boot and can be taken on holiday, the Micralite ProFold may fit the bill.

Although her three-year-old walked alongside her when travelling up and down stairs, she was able to manage the buggy and a bag while holding her daughter’s hand. She did note, however, that she wouldn’t want to do this with a pushchair any heavier. The sunshade offers generous UV protection (50+), unzipping to reveal breathable mesh that allows a cool breeze to filter through. Our tester’s three-year-old was shaded from thighs upwards and Adele noted that a baby would have been fully in the shade. Nichola: I love how easy this product is to use overall. It folds so small and compact it's unbelievable (and can be done with just one hand too!)The quality of the design is great and doesn't resemble a typical stroller at all in my opinion. The product looks valuable and is valuable with a nice sized basket (which is essential as a mum of 2 small ones) and suspension making it a comfortable ride and stroll - it is so lightweight too that is glides. Yes! The first pushchair I’ve used where you really can fold it down with one hand. It isn’t overly complicated and even my mum can do it (honestly, my mum hasn’t been able to fold any of our pushchairs!)When we got our first pushchair for George – now almost 6 years ago – I didn’t think one-handed fold was an important feature in a stroller. But have you ever tried to get on a bus or a train on your own when you need to fold down the pushchair whilst also holding your child!? It’s pretty much impossible. Nathasha: The ProFold makes your life easier by making the compact stroller an actual everyday use stroller too. You could readily swap this out for your usual pram once your child is big enough. I would probably wait until at least 6 months as these lightweight prams don’t have the cocoon effect that other sturdier prams offer. But it gives you the freedom to reduce your pram footprint early on without compromising on comfort for your child. I love how small it folds down to and how neatly it stands in the hallway. Very handy if you are limited in space at home or in your car boot. And I feel my little one is super comfortable in the extended hood, the UV protection and airy feeling it offers my little one is ideal especially for the summer. Its hood was more effective than my existing Babyzen one so I was more inclined to use the ProFold. Would you recommend this to other mums? What about the basket? Again, if you choose a light and compact pushchair you sometimes have to compromise when it comes to things like space in the shopping basket. It stands to reason that a very lightweight frame won't be able to cope with bags of heavy groceries in the basket, after all. But the basket on the ProFold is 'surprisingly large', according to our tester. 'We easily got a day's groceries including milk and bread in there,' says Ben. Kelly-Anne: I would recommend the pro fold by micralite to family, friends or fellow mum's because it is comfy to push and tall enough for tall or short mum's or dad's to push. Young children can also help push because there is enough space for a young child to stand in between you and the pram. The pram folds easily and compact which is brilliant for families with no space to store a big pram. It is easy to get up and downstairs which is great for mums like myself who live in an upstairs house. The pram is easily cleaned. There is no building required all that needs done is the pram bar to be attached it clips on and off when you require it. I would say this pram is good value for money and would be perfect for traveling, holidays or just as a pram to keep in the car. The stroller can be used from birth thanks to the lie-flat recline. If you do plan to use it from birth then I recommend getting the coordinating footmuff for extra cosiness for newborns! I would feel that the lie-flat position would feel too exposed for a newborn baby without the footmuff.