How does the Easy Fit Plus Deluxe stair gate work?
It’s surprising that the Easy Fit Plus Deluxe is essentially Lindam’s entry-level pressure gate: it’s less expensive than the auto-closing Porte and Orto, and less striking to look at than the Deco – but it performs impressively in every metric tested.
Once up, the stair gate is with you for the long haul. After a testing period of several weeks in a high-traffic area (being opened or closed more than 50 times a day by none-too-gentle older siblings), an adult was unable to shake the gate out of position by more than a millimetre or so. Your rioting toddler will have no chance.
The gate could not be easier to use. To open, you squeeze two buttons and lift the hinge handle. To close, swing the gate shut and lower the hinge handle to lock.
Unlike other gates, the handle is designed for single-hand use and isn’t ridiculously stiff, although sometimes our tester found herself using two hands because the squeeze-and-lift motion is a slightly unnatural one.
In accordance with safety directive EN 1930:2011, the handle makes an audible clunk as it closes, so you know it’s secure. And since a gate that older siblings can’t open is a recipe for parental insanity, we’re happy to report that older children (probably from seven years old) will master the mechanism instantly, and younger ones (around four to six years) should get it with a little practice.
Is the Easy Fit Plus Deluxe stair gate safe?
The downside of pressure-fit gates is the need for a bottom bar, which can be a minor trip hazard for bleary-eyed parents.
The bottom bar of the Easy Fit Plus Deluxe is fairly typical for safety gates at 3×2cm – quite likely to result in a swearing-under-your-breath toe stubbing or two, while you get used to it.
It’s also a good idea to watch out for the uncovered bottom corner of the gate, as the turning circle is slightly wider than average and it’s easy to catch a bare foot.
As far as your adventurous toddler goes though, you can rest easy. There are no detachable or insecure pieces, so no choking hazards; all the hinges are covered in rounded plastic fittings, making it impossible to pinch a finger; and the ultra-secure wall mounts mean this gate will stand firm against anything thrown at it – deliberately or accidentally.
How easy is the Easy Fit Plus Deluxe stair gate to clean?
The Easy Fit Plus Deluxe is made from wipe-clean painted metal. The pressure-fitted stair gate isn’t available in any darker colour combinations but we were impressed with how little dirt the white fitting attracted during the testing period.
When it comes to performing a deeper clean, the eight narrow bars on the gate itself are a little fiddly but any smudges or spillages were easily removed. Mud, baby food and blackcurrant juice all came off without any stains.
Somewhat frustratingly, the gate doesn’t pop out when you want to give the house a clean. Instead, the whole gate has to be removed from the wall cups using the spanner to loosen the gate adjusters. We suggest keeping the gate in place and vacuuming around it if you can.
Is the Easy Fit Plus Deluxe stair gate good value for money?
It may not be the best-looking stair gate but for ease of installation, intuitive daily use and sheer, stubborn immovability, the Easy Fit Plus Deluxe gets top marks.
All of that is even more impressive considering one of these will only set you back £26. This pressure-fit stair gate sits on the cheaper end of the market while sailing blithely past all of its competitors. For a budget buy or a extra gate at a grandparent's house perhaps, it’s hard to beat.
Available from Lindam’s website, Argos and Amazon. If ordered directly from Lindam, delivery is free.
About Mumsnet Reviews
All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real parents after weeks of research and testing. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust.