Today we’re reviewing the Micralite ProFold, a compact stroller that’s perfect for travel and everyday adventures. As the name suggests, the foldability of this stroller is the real selling point and one of my favorite features. This stroller was gifted to me in exchange for an honest review.
Over the years we’ve used the McLaren Mark II (nice but doesn’t recline), the Silver Cross Jet (great for babies but wobbly with big toddlers), and the Babyzen Yoyo (very nice but doesn’t recline)) I started with a couple of compact strollers. It is uneven on uneven surfaces). So I was excited to try out his Micralite ProFold, his multi-award winning compact stroller. Micralite released a new color, Graphite, in October 2020 and I was sent the color for review.
Here are some of my favorite Micralite ProFold features. Finally, I would like to highlight some areas where I think there is room for improvement. Worth reading before purchasing.
The Micralite ProFold review
Stylish design
The Micralite ProFold Graphite comes with gray melange fabric and vegan faux leather handlebars and bumper bars for your baby to hang on to. I love the look! It’s sophisticated and stylish, and this graphite color is also great.
In addition, the stroller is slim, so it can smoothly pass through narrow spaces and is easy to maneuver. The slim design may not be ideal for those with larger toddlers, but this would probably be an issue with a lightweight stroller.
Can be used from birth
This stroller can be used from newborns due to its reclining function. If you plan to use it from newborn, we recommend purchasing a coordinating footmuff for extra comfort for newborns. Without a footmuff, the prone position feels too exposed for a newborn baby.
The lying position is also ideal for napping for children of all ages.
The Micralite ProFold One-handed fold
yes! This was my first time using a stroller that I could actually fold with one hand. It’s not that complicated and even my mom can do it (to be honest, my mom couldn’t fold any of the strollers!)
When I bought George his first stroller (about 6 years ago now), I had no idea that being able to fold it with one hand was an important feature of a stroller. But have you ever tried to take a bus or train by yourself when you have to fold a stroller while carrying a child? It’s pretty impossible.
Being able to fold it with one hand isn’t just useful when taking public transportation. The baby class I go to requires you to fold the stroller if you want to store it in a dry place. The local cafe I go to is too small for my stroller, so I have to fold it up and shove it under the table –
Not just for travelling
Compact strollers are often associated with travel, but they are also very useful in everyday life.
A compact stroller does not take up much space in the car, so you can free up the trunk again. The Micralite ProFold fits in the footwell of my car without affecting the Alba’s space. It also doesn’t take up much space when brought into the house, and most people can fold it up and place it by the front door, so a heavy stroller won’t block the front door!
It’s also very useful if your child is at a stage where they normally walk but aren’t ready to go out without a stroller. You can take it anywhere without having to load a bulky stroller in the back of your car.
Lightweight
the stroller weighs only 7kg, making it easy to carry around with your child in it. I live near a river, but there are steps to cross the bridge over the river, and it’s very annoying to have to walk all the way around to avoid the steps. But once I get the Micralite ProFold, I just pick it up and carry it up the stairs with Alba inside.
The Micralite ProFold is not the lightest stroller on the market, but this is actually not a bad thing. There’s also a Silver Crossjet that weighs just 5.9kg, but I think that’s too light when you’re pushing an older baby. If your toddler weighs twice as much as she does in the stroller and suddenly leans to the side while pushing, the stroller may wobble and possibly tip over. Strollers need a bit of weight in the back, otherwise they will feel flimsy when pushing large babies or toddlers.
I’m worried that the Micralite ProFold will become wobbly as Aruba gets older. My current weight is 8kg, which is perfectly fine, but I don’t want to push a 3-year-old into it.
A smooth ride
The Micralite ProFold is the smoothest compact stroller I’ve ever used. When I actually compared them, I realized how bumpy the Babyzen yo-yo is. The suspension makes a huge difference and is easy to use on most surfaces, making this stroller a great option for everyday use.
We actually use this stroller at the beach during the summer. Because when you get to the beach, you can fold it up and take it with you. Therefore, this is a good option for surfaces that cannot be pressed!
It has a high sense of stability and can be driven over curbs and steps without any problems. And, as I mentioned above, it’s so light that if you come to a big step, you can still lift the whole thing up with your baby inside!
Easy to access shopping basket
This stroller comes with a large shopping cart. But did you know what’s even better? You can actually go inside! Baby Zen Yoyo has a big bar on the other side of the shopping cart, so it’s very difficult to get into! I often go out with my three children, so a large shopping cart is essential!
Great price
The Micralite ProFold is currently £150 (£125 off the original price!)
Great value considering similar strollers cost around £400 (Babyzen Yoyo 2 is £359, Bugaboo Bee 5 is £549). A rain cover and carrying strap are also included, and these are often optional additions on many strollers.
Good sized hood
One of the biggest bugbears for me with lightweight strollers is that they usually have small, flimsy hoods. But thankfully, the Micralite ProFold has a great expandable hood that offers UPF50+ protection, ventilation, and a viewing window. Therefore, it is perfect for both sunshade and protection from wind, rain, and cold.
The Micralite ProFold is Cabin Approved
OK, I know most of us aren’t flying anywhere right now, but the Micralite ProFold is small enough to take on a plane as a carry-on and store in an overhead locker.
Now, we’ve talked about all the good things about the Micralite ProFold, but what about the not-so-good things? For me, there’s really only one downside to this lightweight stroller, and that’s the breaks…
The badly placed brake
The rest position was awkward, so I tried kicking it while walking. Maybe I’m walking weird, I don’t know? But the first time I used it, I started having breaks. The brakes were so good that I stopped halfway and almost fell over. Since then, I have become more conscious of taking breaks and not completely relaxing while walking.
You can’t adjust the handlebars so it feels like you’re sitting too close to the brakes. I don’t expect handlebars to be adjustable on compact strollers, but they definitely need to be longer. I’m 5’3 and I think it’s too short and would be nearly impossible for a 6 foot person.
I’d say it’s in a very convenient position to actually flick the brakes when you want to. Even with other strollers, the brakes are very difficult to use if you are wearing open-toed shoes. This means you have to bend over and manually hook and remove it. So at least if you buy this for the holidays and plan on wearing sandals, you know you can use it for a break!
Final thoughts on the Micralite ProFold
Despite the poorly placed brakes, the Micralite ProFold is one of my favorite compact strollers. I’m a big fan of the Babyzen yoyo, but it’s currently £225 more expensive than the Micralite ProFold, and personally I couldn’t justify that extra expense for a stroller that isn’t all that great.
Smooth suspension, expandable hood, easy-to-access shopping cart, and compact folding are major selling points. But the real winner of this stroller is its one-handed foldability. It’s simple, so it’s easy to fold up even when you’re holding a squirming baby in one arm. If you’re taking public transport and need to fold this with one hand, I can’t recommend it enough!
If you want to know more about Micralite ProFold and learn more, check out this video…
For more information about the stroller, please visit the Micralite website