In-depth reviews guided by a Pediatrician

mifold Review

Super easy to travel with but it has the lowest crash test results
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Price:   $45 List | $35 at Amazon
Pros:  Portable, nicer quality, lower price
Cons:  Lowest crash test results, hard to use, uncomfortable
Manufacturer:   mifold
By Juliet Spurrier, MD & Wendy Schmitz  ⋅  Oct 18, 2017
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45
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#9 of 9
  • Crash Test - 35% 3
  • Ease Of Use - 30% 3
  • Weight/Size - 15% 10
  • Comfort - 10% 2
  • Quality - 10% 8

The Skinny

The mifold is a variation of the traditional booster seat that folds up very small and easy to transport for travel or move for carpooling. Unlike a more traditional booster seat, however, the mifold does not "boost" children up, and into a seatbelt friendly position, rather it pulls the seatbelt down to fit the child as they sit on the vehicle seat. While the ease of transport is convenient, the crash tests results were some of the lowest in the group and the product itself is hard to use and hard for little ones to buckle around. Overall, it didn't fare well compared to the competition, and we feel the BubbleBum, another small and lighter weight booster, is a better choice for travel thanks to the better crash test results.


Compare to Similar Products

(change comparison)
 
This Product
mifold
Awards  Editors' Choice Award Editors' Choice Award Best Value Award  
Price $45.00 List
$34.98 at Amazon - 22% off		$275.00 List$60.00 List
$53.99 at Amazon - 10% off		$100.00 List
$99.99 at Amazon		$110.00 List
$87.99 at Amazon - 20% off
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Pros Portable, nicer quality, lower priceGreat crash test results, high quality, rigid LATCHInexpensive, comfortable, easy to use, lightEasiest to use, better crash test results, priceBetter crash test results, price, lighter
Cons Lowest crash test results, hard to use, uncomfortableHeavy, hard to move, harder to useWider, doesn't LATCHAverage quality, widest seat bottomLess padding, quality
Bottom Line Hard to use with poor crash test scores negates its great portabilityQuality and great crash test results make this heavy seat more desirableBudget-friendly, easy to use booster that functions well and is lightweightBetter crash test results in an easy to use, inexpensive boosterInexpensive option that is lighter with better crash test results
Rating Categories mifold Clek Oobr Evenflo Spectrum Chicco KidFit Diono Monterey XT
Crash Test (35%)
10
0
3
10
0
9
10
0
6
10
0
7
10
0
7
Ease Of Use (30%)
10
0
3
10
0
6
10
0
8
10
0
8
10
0
7
Weight Size (15%)
10
0
10
10
0
5
10
0
5
10
0
5
10
0
5
Comfort (10%)
10
0
2
10
0
7
10
0
9
10
0
6
10
0
7
Quality (10%)
10
0
8
10
0
8
10
0
7
10
0
6
10
0
6
Specs mifold Clek Oobr Evenflo Spectrum Chicco KidFit Diono Monterey XT
Modes Backless Booster High Back Booster,
Backless Booster		 High Back Booster,
Backless Booster		 High Back Booster,
Backless Booster		 High Back Booster,
Backless Booster
High Back Booster Weight Range n/a 33 - 100 lbs 40 - 110 lbs 30 - 100 lbs 40 - 120 lbs
High Back Booster Height Range n/a 38" - 57" 44" - 57" 38" - 57" 38" - 63"
Width 9.4" 17.7" 19.8" 20" 18.4"
Weight 1.5 lbs 19.3 lbs 11.6 lbs 10.4 lbs 14.2 lbs
Backless Booster Weight Range 40 - 100 lbs 40 - 100 lbs 40 - 110 lbs 40 - 110 lbs 40 - 120 lbs
Backless Booster Height Range 40" - 57" 40" - 57" 44" - 57" 38" - 57" 38" - 63"
5 pt Harness Weight Range n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
5 pt Harness Height Range n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
LATCH Equipped No Yes No Yes Yes
Can you use LATCH in booster mode? n/a Yes n/a Yes Yes
Recline Positions 0 2 0 2 0
Foam Type None EPP Air/ Crumple Zone EPS EPS
Seat Lifespan 7 yrs 9 yrs 6 yrs 8 yrs 6 yrs

Our Analysis and Test Results

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.
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.

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.
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.

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 result 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 Evenflow Spectrum (in green) which has the best results in our crash tests.
This graph is a comparison of the mifold HIC results (in black) and the HIC results for the Evenflow Spectrum (in green) which has the best results in our crash tests.

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 lowest (best) result in the group is a HIC of 456. 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.
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.

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 too. Adjusting the seatbelt positioner is also difficult, 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.
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.

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.
The mifold is the smallest product in the group and the second lightest with a weight of 1.5lbs.

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.
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.

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.

The mifold feels like a sturdy well-built product with a simple design and attention to detail without stray stitching or misaligned components.
The mifold feels like a sturdy, well-built product with a simple design and attention to detail without stray stitching or misaligned components.

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.

Manufacturer Video




— Juliet Spurrier, MD & Wendy Schmitz