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Micralite ProFold review
The Micralite ProFold is a stylish all-rounder, both brilliantly compact as a carry-on travel option and exceptionally robust as a lightweight day-to-day buggy.
By Adele Jarrett-Kerr | Last updated Dec 4, 2023
Price: RRP £240 | Buy now from Micralite
What we love
Modern aesthetic
Suitable from birth to around age three (we’d say preferably from six months)
Folds and unfolds one-handed – like a dream
Narrow in action and small when collapsed, but still roomy
Intuitive design
High performance on all terrain
Handlebar comfortable for tall and short parents
Machine-washable seat liner
3-year guarantee
What to know
No parent-facing option for newborns
No carrycot or cocoon available to buy
Available colours: Graphite and Carbon
Handlebar height can’t be adjusted
Some movement in the frame
Key features of the Micralite ProFold
Shoulder strap for easy carrying
Sturdy 5kg shopping basket
Extendable sunshade
Weatherproof fabrics
One-pull seat adjuster
Storage pocket
Secure five-point harness
Large rear wheels
Faux leather handlebars
Front swivel wheels
Four-wheel suspension
Pushable tabs to adjust thigh support
Removable belly bar
Fully reclinable seat
Key specs
Suitable from: Birth to 15kg
Orientation: World-facing only
Dimensions: L 72 x W 44 x H 105cm
Folded dimensions: L 51.5 x W 44 x H 24cm
Weight: 7kg
Sunshade: UPF50+
Warranty: Three years
Accessories available: Footmuff (Graphite, Carbon, Blue or Pink)
We absolutely love our Micralite. We used it from about five months once DS2 could almost sit up.
What’s in the box?
Buggy with integrated sunshade and storage basket
Rain cover
Belly bar
Removable shoulder strap
Reversible machine-washable liner
What’s the Micralite ProFold like to use day-to-day?
Where many travel-sized lightweight strollers can be rickety or present a compromise in functionality, the Micralite ProFold stands out as a genuine everyday option.
It’s the most compact model in the British-designed and engineered Micralite family, outstanding in its intuitive foldability. At a mere 7kg, it’s an out-and-out travel option, touting itself as an approved airline carry-on (though check with your airline before flying). As a main pushchair, however, it’s just as suited to families with limited storage space or who live up long flights of stairs.
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.
The four-wheel suspension and large back wheels aid its stability and give a smooth ride over a variety of terrain. These features also make taking on kerbs a breeze. The steering on the ProFold is impressive, allowing for tight manoeuvres wherever you are.
When it came to tackling stairs, our tester found the ProFold quick and simple to collapse and manageable to carry up or down, either held by its nifty in-built handle or by the detachable strap that allows it to go over a shoulder.
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.
Adele appreciated the placement of the brake in the middle of the bar between the back wheels. This meant that her foot didn’t get stuck between a double wheel while clicking the brake on and off as was problematic in other models we tested, such as the gb Pockit Plus All-Terrain. The brake also doesn’t require flicking up so is fully friendly to open-toed shoes.
She found that reclining and moving the seat into an upright position could be a little awkward with the buggy, especially if her three-year-old was in it, but this is often the case with toggle recline mechanisms which need to slide up and down for the seat to be adjusted.
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?
The ProFold comes fully assembled straight out of the box, ready to go apart from popping on the belly bar if needed.
The instructions enclosed are mostly visual and very clear, with arrows and clicks to simplify working out where everything goes and ensuring that all parts are secure before use.
When it comes to adjusting the straps, the manual shows where the straps need to be for a good fit. Although it doesn’t explain exactly how to adjust them, feeding the shoulder straps through the back of the seat didn’t take much effort or figuring out. Care instructions on washing, polishing and lubrication are also provided.
How comfortable is it?
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.
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.
Bear in mind though that it isn’t cocooned for a young baby so, while our tester deemed it comfortable for her three-year-old, she wouldn’t have used it with a baby under six months.
For a parent, the ProFold’s handlebar isn’t adjustable in height, however it is tall enough that both our tester (who is 5’6”) and her partner (who is 6’1”) found it comfortable to push.
How safe is the Micralite ProFold?
On the whole, our tester had no safety concerns about the ProFold, having covered at least 50 miles over the course of a week, off-road, along pavements and in and out of shops.
She noted, however, that the suspension allowed for enough movement in the frame that it could feel like some caution would be needed when turning quickly, but this was also noted in other buggies tested and didn’t actually pose any problems.
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.
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.
The five-point harness is completely fuss-free, ideal for strapping in a wriggly toddler in a rush. You will have already adjusted the shoulder height, which is the slightly trickier bit, so there shouldn’t be any cause for frustration when on the go. Adele’s three-year-old didn’t wriggle free of the straps so she felt confident that the harness was secure at all times.
Are there any extra features?
The Micralite ProFold comes with a roomy back pocket, fantastic for easily accessing your purse and keys. It also boasts a removable shoulder strap and built-in handle for carrying when folded.
A peek-a-boo window allows the person pushing to check on the child and the reversible seat liner is a feature in itself, offering bamboo on one side and breathable mesh on the other for really hot days and highlighting again that this is a buggy intended to be taken on holiday as well as for day-to-day use.
The rain cover fully covers the top and front of the buggy. Adele found it uncomplicated and quick to pop on and off with just a few poppers to fasten or release. It folds up small and takes up little room in the spacious basket, but also fits into the pocket at the back.
What’s the storage like?
The shopping basket is sturdy and situated well away from the footrest so there’s no chance of a child accidentally stepping into it.
Exceptionally generous and sturdy, our tester considered the storage basket to be a feature in its own right, especially considering its distinctive, deep, bucket-like shape. She carried a changing bag with ease along with a shopping bag of bits from the corner shop, making the most of the basket’s 5kg capacity.
How does the Micralire ProFold fold?
The quick-fold mechanism is one of the areas where the Micralite ProFold really shines.
It is genuinely and intuitively one-handed, involving two buttons pressed at once and folding down on itself in a single, fluid movement. The catch on the side automatically locks everything into place and it can either lie flat or be left freestanding.
How much space does it take up?
Though it wasn’t the smallest lightweight buggy tested (that spot is reserved for the gb Pockit Plus All-Terrain which weighs in at 5.6kg), the Micralite ProFold meets the carry-on luggage requirements for many airlines, fits into overhead train storage, and is narrow enough to accommodate another buggy on a bus. It’s also narrow enough to go through pretty much any doorway with ease.
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.
Adele tucked the buggy into her front porch, kept it in her car boot and it even did some time in her coat cupboard when not in use.
How does it look?
With clean lines and materials that feel high in quality, the ProFold looks sleek and modern.
The single option of black and maul grey is neutral and will likely have wide appeal, but some parents might want more options, so that’s something to bear in mind.
Notably, the materials are weatherproof and don’t sacrifice style to achieve that.
How easy is the Micralite ProFold to clean?
Most of the buggy is wipe-clean only, but is waterproof and wipes down well.
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.
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?
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.
Bear in mind, though, that it's not a true 'from birth' option – it really comes into its own when looking for something super slick for whipping around with a toddler or preschooler.
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.
At RRP £240, it calls for some stretch in your budget as a second buggy but, if you’re short on space and don’t want to compromise on performance, the Micralite ProFold is solidly engineered for both price and size.
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For more information about what to look for when buying a lightweight buggy, check out our buyer's guide.
All prices correct at time of publication