The mifold booster was invented by Jon Sumroy after having children and experiencing the problems that inevitably arise with carpooling and having his children driven in other people's cars. Jon set out to create a small, tough booster seat that could easily be transported and moved from car to car that would still keep children safe and allow for three children to sit across in most back seats. They call the invention the "Grab-and-Go" booster, and it was officially released in 2015.
Performance Comparison
The mifold earned some of the lowest crash test results with the worst chest sensor (g) result in the review and the third worst head (HIC) score.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Crash Test
The mifold earned the lowest score overall for crash test results. This booster earned the lowest chest sensor score (g) and one of the lowest head sensor score (HIC). The sensors in the crash test dummy record the forces to the dummy that result from the impact of the sled crash.
This graph shows a comparison of the mifold chest sensor results (black) and the Peg Perego Viaggio Flex results (green), which is the best in the review.
Credit: BabyGearLab, MGA Research
The front chest sensor (g) for the mifold recorded a 48. This amount of g's is above the average for the group of 44. The maximum allowed result is 60 to pass Federal guidelines. The lower the score, the better. No other product had more forces than the mifold. The best outcome for this sensor in this group is 39 (see above).
This graph is a comparison of the mifold HIC results (in black) and the HIC results for the UPPAbaby Alta (in green) which has the best results in our crash tests.
Credit: MGA, BabyGearLab Staff
The head sensor or HIC score for the mifold is 733. The maximum allowed by Federal law is 1000, where a lower score is better. The group's lowest (best) result is a HIC of 390. The chart above shows the results of the mifold compared to the top performer.
For a simple product, the mifold is harder to use than the competition with side slides that move when you don't want them to and a shape that makes finding the buckle difficult for children.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Use
The mifold is the most challenging options to use in the review. The mifold is hard to use and keep positioned correctly with the lap belt retainers sliding in and out when you don't want them to. Adjusting the seatbelt positioner is also tricky, and our little testers had significant trouble buckling the seatbelt because the mifold bottom gets in the way of the buckle. Overall, the children in our tests struggled to use the mifold when they didn't have trouble with the competition.
The side slides on the mifold help pull the seatbelt and hold it in the correct lap position. But something about the design makes it hard to buckle the belt while sitting in the right position.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The best thing about the mifold is its ability to be easily and quickly moved from car to car or carried in your purse for travel, and this is likely why parents are attracted to the product.
This booster is spot clean only, and there are minimal parts to clean.
The mifold is the smallest product in the group and the second lightest with a weight of 1.5lbs.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Weight and Size
The mifold is small and very lightweight. This metric is where the mifold shines. With a weight of only 1.5 lbs, it is one of the lightest in the group. This product is the smallest in the group, with a width of only 9.4 inches. This width makes it ideal for fitting three across for multiple children and carpooling, and it makes it small enough to fit in your child's backpack for travel in cars other than your own.
Child testers indicated this booster is not as comfortable as the competition and they had to repeatedly adjust the position to keep the seatbelt working properly.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Comfort
The mifold isn't comfortable; it lacks a true cushion with just a small firm base and relies on the vehicle seat for support, unlike the competition. The seat feels nice, but the anti-slip fabric isn't soft and still slips out from under kids while driving, negating the reason for the less than desirable material. It has little in common with any kind of safety seat.
The mifold feels like a sturdy, well-built product with a simple design and attention to detail without stray stitching or misaligned components.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Quality
The mifold booster feels like a durable and quality seat. There just isn't much to it. The seat bottom is thermo-molded with thin, firm padding and a slip-resistant back. The exterior is simple and easy to wipe clean, with few places for gunk to hide.
Should You Buy the mifold?
We can see how parents looking for a travel-friendly or lightweight booster for carpooling would be attracted to the mifold. We see the appeal of "grab and go" safety seats, especially for little ones who manage their own seat in a backpack at school or camp. However, this seat's crash test results were so far below the average we think most parents would rather have a heavier or larger option that is safer.
What Other Booster Seat Should You Consider?
If you are in the market for a lightweight uber travel-friendly booster seat, the BubbleBum is the one we'd recommend. This unique booster inflates for use and is small and light, perfect for a child's backpack. The BubbleBum is easy to use and has better crash results.
Manufacturer Video
