Mifold Hifold Booster Seat Review: Life Saver for Family Travelers

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In today’s Mifold Hifold Booster Seat Review, we aim to give you an unbiased in-depth analysis of the product so you can decide whether this is for you.  

Your child has reached the age of maturity and you need a booster car seat for him/her to be safe while you are driving or while you are going on a trip with your family.

Deciding on a booster seat may be a lot of work, you need to consider safety, ease of use, comfortability, and whether the seat is suitable for your child and vehicle.  

There is a lot to consider!

We understand that this can be a daunting task for you as a parent. Today, we’ll be reviewing one of the top booster seats in the market, the Mifold Hifold booster car seat, in an attempt to help your decision process.

Overall, Mifold Hifold booster seats feature “multi-fold” technology that can be folded into a small and convenient size for storage, travel, carpooling, and more. It is lightweight and includes a convenient carry strap.

An incredible seat with high-end adjustability features Designed to grow with your child, this seat can be adjusted to 243 individual settings.

The Mifold Hifold is one of the best booster car seats along with the WayB Pico in our recommended Booster Car Seats.

The multifold technology is an incredible feature but is there all there is to the Mifold Hifold booster. 

Let’s read on and see if this is what you are looking for. 

Mifold Hifold Booster Seat Review : Image: Amazon
Image: Amazon

 

Pros & Cons of the Mifold Hifold Booster

Pros

  • Can fit 3-across in most vehicles
  • Foldable to a compact size for easy carry around 
  • Adjustable in 4 key areas (seat width, body width, head width and height)
  • Safe (FAA-approved; No chemically-treated materials)
  • Excellent choice for globetrotters 

Cons

  • Folding and unfolding is a long process that requires getting used to 
  • No latch system to tighten the seat against the vehicle seat
  • The seat is not well padded.

What is the Mifold Hifold Booster Car Seat?

Mifold Hifold Booster Seat Review : Image: Amazon
Image: Amazon

Mifold Hifold booster car seat is a high back booster that can be adjusted to suit your child from 4 years old to about 9 years. Known as the Mifold Hifold Fit-and-Fold Highback Booster because it can be folded down so small that it can fit into a car trunk, under an airplane seat, or even for easy carrying around.

Designed by the Mifold company, this car seat is adjustable in 4 key areas – the seat width, body width, head width, and height. 

At the time of writing this seat review, the hifold booster seat is the world’s most adjustable booster, with unique  “multi-fit” technology that can be adjusted to 243 individual settings. This car seat is designed for kids aged 4+, 40-100 pounds., and 40 to 59 inches tall.

The most interesting perk about the mifold booster seat is the multi-fold design which makes it very portable and easy to use. One would say it is the perfect travel booster seat for family travelers but we do not think so.

The Mifold Hifold does not come with a latch system, so it only relies on the vehicle seat belt for a tight installation. And so, we found that a lot of users say the seat wobbles the vehicle seat.

What comes with the Mifold Hifold Booster Car Seat?

Mifold Hifold Booster Seat Review : Image: Amazon
Image: Amazon

The booster seat model comes with a seat and a convenient carry strap for easy carry around when the seat is folded.  A cup holder is included in some other booster seats but the mifold hifold does not come with one. 

The seat is integrated with a lot of adjustment and fold locks that make it easy to be folded and strapped with the carry strap.

Unlike traditional car seats, the hifold does not feature harnesses, nor is it flexible enough to be used as a backless booster, so because there is a back seat, you cannot place your child’s backpack on it while they are on the seat.

Who is the Mifold Hifold Booster Car Seat for?

Mifold Hifold Booster Seat Review : Image: Amazon
Image: Amazon

Designed for kids aged 4+, 40-100 lbs., and 40 to 59 inches tall. More specifically, the seat is for children from 4 to 9 years old. The seat is not appropriate for older kids because they would have outgrown it; in addition, as they grow older, a booster would not be necessary.

For parents who travel a lot for business, vacation or other reasons, the mifold hifold is the travel booster for you. You only need to fold it up and it becomes pretty mobile with the carry strap. There is even an optional protective carry bag. 

In most cases, a four-year-old’s strength and mind are not mature enough yet for them to use a booster seat. Most child safety experts recommend that kids use a rear-facing seat until 4 years old, so it is reasonable to use a forward-facing booster seat for a year or two after that. 

A five-year-old child would be the best to use the mifold hifold booster seat. 

This travel booster seat is easy to use and has won many awards, including the 2019 Creative Child Product of the Year Award. Quite durable enough to be used for older kids, grandparents’ cars or for fitting three children in a row.


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Where can I buy a mifold hifold booster seat?

Mifold Hifold Booster Seat Review : Image: Amazon
Image: Amazon

In general, Amazon will be a fast and easy option. 

How to fold the mifold hifold?

Mifold Hifold Booster Seat Review : Image: Amazon
Image: Amazon

Folding the booster car seat is quite easy if you follow the steps in the manual. It is a process of adjusting and folding. 

First is for you to adjust the headrest sides, seat backsides, and seat bottom sides inward using the width settings. Then adjust the seatback high down and fold the seat back sides inward. 

Use the seatback fold lock to fold the seat, unlock and fold the headrest backwards and the headrest sides inward then buckle and tighten the storage straps.

The hifold Booster Seat is now at its most compact size. Store the hifold in a secure location such as the trunk, luggage compartment, or storage area.

Overall Rating

  • Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐(4.1 out of 5)
  • Safety: ⭐⭐⭐(3.4 out of 5)
  • Durability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5 out of 5)
  • Ease of Use: ⭐⭐⭐⭐(4.0 out of 5)
  • Market Reviews: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(4.3 out of 5)
Our evaluation of this product is based on 4 metrics: 1) Safety, 2) Durability and 3) Ease of use, and 4) Market Consensus. We write about each of these metrics in its own section below. 

#1. Safety – How Safe is the Mifold Hifold Booster Car Seat?

Mifold Hifold Booster Seat Review : Image: Official website
Image: Official website

 Total Safety Score = ⭐⭐⭐(3.4 out of 5)

In terms of Safety, we rate the Mifold Hifold based on the formula below: 

Safety Score = Safety Features + Certifications + Recall/Quality Issues 

Safety Features ⭐⭐⭐

Boosters produced by Mifold can be used in every country across the globe except Australia and Canada. The Hifold car seats have passed the strict German ADAC Automobile Association Testing and both seats comply with or exceed the following safety standards: ECE R44.04 in the UK and Europe, NHTSA FMVSS 213 in the US, the CCC in China, and the RSSR in Canada

We have seen car seats with incredible safety features aside from side impact protection. The only safety feature recognizable with this car seat is the 6 advanced impact protection zones, hence, the 3-star.

Mifold Hifold gets it right with the incredible adjustment features that allow it to grow with your child and also ensures optimal seat belt fit and comfort. But they do not pay close attention to advanced safety features when designing the seat. 

Features like a tether to attach the seat to the vehicle, a harness system, or increased padding would have increased the use of the car for safety purposes. 

Generally, the Mifold Hifold is safe with the presence of the side impact protection and seatbelt system but it may not offer maximum safety in intense situations such as during a serious car crash. 

The seat is also not the best padded because the materials used are lightweight, they include EPE, EVA, PU foam, and a polypropylene shell. 

The Mifold Hifold safety features include

  • Side Impact Protection.
  • Adjustable headrest

Safety Certifications ⭐⭐⭐

Motor vehicle 

USA: This child restraint meets or exceeds all applicable requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 for use in motor vehicles.

EU and the rest of the world, except Canada and Australia: This booster seat is approved to ECE R44.04, Group 2-3. This hifold Booster Seat is for use from 18 to 45 kg (40 to 100 lbs.). The hifold is approved by UN ECE R44 as a Group 2-3 booster seat with a weight range of 18 to 36 kg (40 to 80 lbs.).

The hifold has been successfully tested for use by children weighing 45 kg (100 lbs.) or less. This hifold Booster Seat is for use in passenger cars, multi-purpose vehicles (vans and SUVs), trucks, and school buses that have Vehicle Lap and Shoulder Belt systems.

Flight: This child restraint is not certified for use in aircraft. Aircraft seats do not provide a lap and shoulder belt system required to use a booster seat.

Recall/Quality Issues ⭐⭐⭐⭐

At this time, there are no known recalls for the mifold hifold booster seat. Some quality control issues such as low-quality strap locks were spotted.

We did not spot any reports about the funky smell of the products due to storage or delivery process issues.

Tips: Keep your receipt. You should examine all sections of the seat as soon as you receive it. The sooner you can reach out to customer support, the better, as they might be slow to respond at times. Be ready to take pictures of the product defects if any. 

#2. Durability: How Long Can You Use Mifold Hifold Booster Car Seat?

Mifold Hifold Booster Seat Review : Image: Amazon
Image: Amazon

Total Durability Score = ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(4.5 out of 5)

In terms of Ease of Use, we rate the mifold hifold based on the formula below: 

Durability Score = Range of Use + Expiration + Warranty

Range of Use ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

  • Minimum weight limit recommendation is ‎40 pounds (18 kg) which should be equivalent to a 4+ years old child.
  • The maximum weight limit recommendation is ‎100 pounds (45 kg) suitable for children between 8 to 10 years of age. Pretty good range.
  • The minimum height limit recommendation is 40 Inches (101.6cm).
  • The maximum height limit recommendation is 59 Inches (149.8cm)
  • Weight range: 40 Pounds (18 kg) – ‎100 Pounds (45 kg)
For the best use of the car seat, the manufacturer recommends the Range of Use. Exceeding those limits might be okay if you had to. In the end, though, it is about risk, safety, and your child’s comfort. If your baby weighs less than the minimum weight and height limit, you should not put them in the car seat. Additionally, the maximum weight and height limit also tells you if your child has outgrown the car seat, if you can’t already tell or if they aren’t complaining about it.

Expiration ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The mifold hifold expires 7 years from the manufacture date. Most car seats have their product life due to the constant wear and tear and hot/cold temperature change with different places you go. 

We have seen car seats with a 10-year expiration date, the Diono Radian 3RXT is the perfect example. However, we think 7 years is a good duration for a booster seat.

Keep an eye on the expiration date as a safety precaution for your youngster. This information is provided by baby car seat manufacturers depending on the design and materials they employ. Due to the typical predicted wear and tear, car seats that have beyond their expiration dates are more likely to have safety hazards.

Warranty ⭐⭐⭐⭐

1-year warranty from the date of original retail purchase.

#3. Ease of Use: How Will Mifold Hifold  Car Seat Fit into Your car?

Total Ease of Use Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐(4.0 out of 5)

Mifold Hifold Booster Seat Review : Image: Official website
Image: Official website

We rated the ease of use 4.0 -star because the installation process is pretty much a very long process and the seat is not stroller compatible.

In terms of Ease of Use, we rate the mifold hifold booster seat based on the formula below: 

Ease of use = 

Installation + Adjustability + Maintenance + Carry +Stroller Compatibility

Installation ⭐⭐⭐⭐

How to use the mifold hifold

Installing the mifold hifold is quite straightforward but requires a lot of processes of adjusting. So users found it pretty easy and fast to install while it took a long time for some others. 

Ensure you check you read the user manual of the booster seat and the section about child’s safety seats in your vehicle manual before installation.  

Mifold warns that your child should not slouch underlap belt, move the shoulder belt underarm or behind the back, or lean forward or sideways out of position during installation. You should also check the position of the hifold Booster and vehicle belt to avoid them becoming trapped by a movable seat or in a door of the vehicle during everyday use.

  • To begin the installation, unfold and place the hifold Booster on your vehicle seat in a seating location that has a Vehicle Lap belt and Shoulder Belt. Slide the hifold Booster back on the vehicle seat cushion in a manner that the back of the Headrest and Seat Bottom make contact with the vehicle seat back cushion.
  • If your vehicle’s back seat is adjustable, you may need to adjust the seat to ensure proper positioning of the hifold booster. 
  • Seat your child on the booster seat with his/her lower and upper back in contact with the seatback of the hifold, not slouching down on the Seat Bottom with the lower torso forward of the Seat Back. Then adjust the bottom/lap seatbelt guides into position next to your child’s thighs. 
  • Adjust the width of the seat backsides so they are close to your child’s shoulders. Also, adjust the width of the headrest sides so they are close to your child’s head then secure your child with the vehicle lap and shoulder belt. Check the manual on how to secure your child.
  • Adjust the height of the headrest to position the shoulder belt guide just above the top of your child’s shoulder and the full width of the shoulder belt is on the child’s shoulder. Snugly adjust the vehicle lap and shoulder belt around your child. 
  • Snugly adjust the lap belt and then the shoulder belt. Ensure that the belts are positioned in the right way, such that they will not inconvenience your child. 

Adjustability ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Mifold boasts that the hifold booster is the world’s most adjustable car seat. We agree with them on that, but we hope the claim lasts a long time because other booster seat brands are designing seats with incredible features.

The hifold features the MultiFit technology. It is adjustable in 4 separate areas including the seat width, the body width, the head width and the height. This means that the hifold not only grows with your child but also ensures optimal seatbelt fit and comfort, no matter the size or shape of the child. 

 This is not a harnessed car seat so there is no harness adjustment system. 

Maintenance⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

First, Seat covers are an integral part of the booster seat and so you should never use this booster seat without its seat covers. 

Fabric seat covers are machine washable in cold water, delicate or gentle cycle. No bleach. Line dry. Do not wring. Do not tumble dry. Do not iron. Remove the fabric cover prior to washing.

Plastic seat surfaces and white foam can be wiped down with a mild solution of soap and water. Wipe with clean water to remove soap.

Carry-Around ⭐⭐

Mifold hifold is not stroller compatible. Only meant to be used as a booster car seat. 

Measures & Specs

  • Seat Weight: 10 lb / 4.5 kg
  • Product Width: 17 in / 43.2 cm
  • Maximum User Height: 59 Inches (149.8cm)
  • Material Type: Polypropylene
  • Harness type: ‎3-Point
Closed dimensions (When folded)
Lenght14.6’’ (37.0 cm)
Width13.5’’ (34.3 cm)
Height10.7’’ (27.2 cm)
Open dimensionsMinimum Maximum
Head width11.5’’ (29.2 cm)13.7’’ (34.7 cm)
Body width16.0’’ (40.7 cm)18.9’’ (48.0 cm)
Base width12.8’’ (32.5 cm)15.6’’ (39.6 cm)
Height24.7’’ (62.7 cm)29.7’’ (75.4 cm)

#4. Market Consensus: What others say about Mifold Hifold highback booster seat

Mifold Hifold Booster Seat Review

Total Market Consensus ⭐⭐⭐⭐(4.3 out of 5)

In terms of Market Consensus, we rate the hifold with a 4.3 star based on the formula below:

Market Consensus =
Customer Feedback (Quantitative) + Expert Reviews (Qualitative)

Customer Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Mifold Hifold Booster Seat Review : Image: Official website
Image: Official website

Overall Rating (4.5 out of 5 based on 1,038 ratings)

Note that for highly-rated products, we will avoid bombarding you with more praises about the product. We intentionally look for substantiated negative reviews or criticisms that add to our knowledge. 

So, if you’re going to jump right into this section, know it has its own merits we’ve discussed before. 

Selected Critical Mifold Hifold Review

⭐⭐ “It’s foldable and compact, but not comfortable for the child. There’s no cushioning on the seat and because it is compact, it sits low… at the car’s seat level. This means that the child’s head is below the window level. My son is almost 4 and is at the 98% percentile in height. He can’t see anything outside in our SUV on this seat. We’ll be going on a long road trip and will have to return it, unfortunately. If it had a booster-like base and then the folding part, it would be perfect.” – Amazon review

⭐⭐⭐ “LOOKS AWESOME looks futuristic and the kids think it’s cool. Not sturdy enough for me and moves around a lot. I can deal with it as I use this as a backup and carry it around in my car in case of an unexpected emergency. A few weeks here and there would be amazing. However, so far it’s ok. Still using and want to test on road trips with 2 or more hours.” – Amazon review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “This seat has been awesome for our family. I have 4 kids and often need to fit 3 across in my van. Recently my oldest outgrew his car seat and needed to move to a booster. We bought another booster, but it just wasn’t small enough to fit. We bought a small inflatable booster, but it didn’t feel safe for everyday use, and my son said it wasn’t comfortable. Then someone recommended the HiFold, and I am impressed. Setup took about 5 minutes once I read the manual, the seat adjusts well to fit my son, and, best of all, leaves plenty of room to buckle in a 3 across situation! He says it’s comfortable to sit in, the adjustments are great, and I’m really looking forward to being able to fold it when we’re traveling.” – Amazon review

Expert Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Selected Expert Mifold Hifold Review

“The HiFold Fit-and-Fold Booster is an adjustable and collapsible Group 2/3 car seat, from the brand that makes the foldable backless booster seat. It claims to be ‘the world’s most portable high-back booster seat’ as it can quickly fold down to a compact and convenient size for storage, or to take in a bag on holiday with you. Read our full review to see how the HiFold Fit-and-Fold Booster fared in our tests” – which.co.uk

Conclusion of Hifold Booster Seat Review

Mifold Hifold Booster Seat Review : Image: Official website
Image: Official website

We would recommend the mifold hifold booster seat for your booster needs. 

It’s the most adjustable booster car seat out there, narrow enough to fit in 3-across most midsized vehicles and easily carry around when folded. The hifold is safe and comfortable for children between 4+ to about 9 years of age.  In addition to giving you peace of mind, the model’s design and range give you a little more flexibility as your baby grows.

Amazon has seasonal offers from time to time. Check it out now to see if there is an ongoing deal. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. How safe is the Mifold Hifold Booster seat?

The Hifold is a safe booster seat with a 6 advanced impact protection zones.

Q2. Is Hifold booster seat a good car seat?

Mifold Hifold is a good booster seat regarded as the most adjustable booster seat out there.

Q3. How long is the Mifold Hifold booster seat good for?

The car seat can be used for 7 years after the manufacturing date.

Q4. How much does the Mifold Hifold weigh?

This product weighs 10 lbs.

Q5. At what age can you use the Mifold Hifold?

The hifold is suitable for children between 4+ years – 9 years of age.


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Shane
Shane is passionate about researching baby stuff for his baby girl. He worked for a premium brand consultancy. He runs the research on this site.