Mamas & Papas Mylo 2012 Review

Quick Summary: Altogether, the Mylo is a wonderfully useable pushchair, all the functions that you are going to be using on a regular basis are really simple and work well – removing, rotating or reclining the seat, folding the frame, extending the handle, braking...all a breeze.

Originally launched in 2010, the Mylo offered a fantastic mix and match of colours to suit your taste and the sex of your child. The concept was brilliant and the colours a sumptuous natural palette with names like Raspberry Ripple and Plum Pudding. The delicious colours remain but have been trimmed back to 6 fixed pushchair colours and 4 carrycot colours.

Originally, the Mylo sold for RRP £695 and offered everything – pushchair, carrycot and rain cover. Now the package doesn't include the carrycot but comes at the lower price of £529. Personally, I like the idea of buying a carrycot as an added accessory because not everyone wants to use one. Plus it's a large item that comes in a separate box which also needs to be stored when your baby has outgrown it.

Something I neglected to mention in my earlier review was just how over complicated the Mylo was to put together. You rarely have to repeat your pushchair building performance when it's assembled but it did make Meccano look simple. Good news! The pushchair now comes pre-assembled with only the wheels and the seat unit to attach – no engineering degrees necessary.

Coincidentally, the new model that I have in for review is exactly the same colour as the older model that I reviewed last year – the wonderfully unique Welly Green/Lime Jelly. I adore their dense, earthy colours; they are brave and different from the primary offerings of most manufacturers and this particular colourway will mean you never get lost in a crowd!

Chassis

The narrow tubular construction of the gunmetal/brown chassis is as elegant as ever and Mamas and Papas have retained the leather clad handle that give it that luxury classic car feel. The handle extends from 99cms to 109cms when the clamps on either side of the handle shaft are released.

The back wheels are 23cms and the lockable front wheels are 17cms, it's no off-roader especially as the tyres are smooth foam, however for urban use it is ideal. Braking is controlled near the right rear wheel where it's an obvious red button for stop and green button for go – easily performed in flip-flops or even barefoot.

The new basket, like the old, is slung beneath the frame but has a greater capacity and easier access. It still can't be classed as large but it's a great improvement on the original. I also like the fact that it comes attached to the chassis because the old one was a pain to affix.

The central fixing point for the seat remains the same as does the fold but you need to see the both to believe how clever they are.

Fold

To get the hang of how the Mylo folds, it's probably best to initially attempt it without the seat unit in place. It's not a complicated fold. Beside the central mount are two handles, grab either, twist and the frame collapses. Easy peasy!

If you want to fold it with the seat unit in place this is best performed in parent facing mode. Fold back the canopy and lift the footrest, then clam shell shut the seat. The handle near the central mount is revealed, grab, twist and the pushchair closes. This is by no means a compact fold but is a quick one-handed fold to get you going. However, removing the seat and folding the chassis takes only a fraction of a second longer.

Conveniently, the chassis will stand independently if you let out the handle a fraction however it does balance on the handle to do this and depending up on the surface it could spoil the beautifully leather cladding, so I would only suggest doing this if you have to.

One of the revisions to the new model is the closure strap. It's a little rudimentary and manual but at least it keeps the frame closed when you are transferring it into the car; an overdue and necessary addition. However you might find this Mylo a fraction lighter as the new model only weighs 12kgs as opposed to its predecessor's 13.9kg bulk.

Seat

Although it resembles the clever technology of the Orbit Baby G2 with a swivelling seat unit, the Mylo is not quite as technically clever. The paddles on the underside of the seat can be squeezed to remove it and turn it round, giving you the choice of parent or forward facing but it cannot swivel on its fixing point as it appears it could do. This said, the Mylo feels very easy to manipulate with all the operational elements in the right places. For example, the handle to recline the seat into one of the four angles is on the rear of the seat unit giving you easy, controllable access to put your child into a more comfortable position when they nod off.

The seat unit is moulded plastic with a microfibre seat pad an excellent choice of fabric to be in contact with your child's skin. My earlier review criticised the flappy sides of the seat pad that seemed to fold in towards the passenger, clips have now been added keep them under control.

The long calf rest can be angled in four positions from 0 to 90 degrees, using the buttons either side. The bottom lip of the calf-rest forms the foot-plate. This point of the chair is not covered by the seat pad, which is ideal if your child is jumping on board with muddy boots or shoes.

The bumper bar clips nearly into the stubby arm rests and has a knuckle mechanism to allow it to open like a gate. This type of attachment is by far the best, it means that you don't have to remove the bar altogether to access to the seat. Lifting a child into a pushchair is a two handed operation, the last thing you need is your bumper bar balanced inbetween your knees to drop into a puddle! (Been there)

I'm really impressed with the strap material of the five point harness; it is really soft and would only add to the comfort of your child. The harness can be positioned in one of three shoulder positions but not without the drama of accessing the rear of the seat. This procedure should only be attempted using the instruction manual – it's a pain, but ask yourself how often you need to actually perform it….rarely, so it shouldn't count too heavily as a negative.

The canopy is a beautifully unique shape and large. Originally it had a smaller reach with an extra section zipped away as an optional extension; this has now been abandoned in favour of making it a permanently large canopy. The peephole window in the top has a gorgeous magnetic closure; an element that seems to add such an air of luxury compared to tacky Velcro strips or poppers.

Conclusion

Altogether, the Mylo is a wonderfully useable pushchair, all the functions that you are going to be using on a regular basis are really simple and work well – removing, rotating or reclining the seat, folding the frame, extending the handle, braking...all a breeze.

The changes made to this latest edition have all been a worthwhile endeavour – a larger basket was a must, pre-assembly of the pushchair: a relief and adding the carrycot as an optional accessory: refreshing. The limiting of the colour options has not lessened its appeal, if anything it has simplified things, too much choice is not always a good thing. The colours that remain are plenty, unique and contemporary.

The seat is still a little over exposed and wobbly but with the ability to mount on a central point and fold in the way it does, this is the price of good innovation. The accessories available and the full-time extension to the canopy ensure your child is protected from the elements.

Lowering the price of the Mylo can only make it more accessible to more people – a good thing surely. More sales can only lead to more innovation and this is a product that is already ahead of the game in terms of engineering.

The changes to the Mylo are beneficial but not really significant enough to increase its star rating.