A modern classic, the multi-award-winning Micro Mini Deluxe defines what a 3-wheel kick scooter ought to be.
The Mini Deluxe is beautifully engineered, durable, and effortless to use. It rides smoothly and safely, handling so intuitively that the youngest of children will get the hang of it in no time.
Our little scooting-mad kiddos test-ride all the scooters we review. We also believe that if you want genuine feedback, then find a family who has paid for and owned the scooter for more than a year to dish the dirt – which is just what we do!
Read on to learn if the Micro Mini Deluxe is really all it’s made out to be and whether it will actually withstand the real-life punishment your child will put it through.
In this article:
At a glance
Our rating: 4.9 out of 5
Best suited to: Toddlers and young children learning to scoot
Scooter type: 3-wheel lean-to-steer kick scooter
Max rider weight: 110lbs
Handlebar height: 17″ to 25 ” (above the deck)
Recommended age: 2 to 5 years
Durability: Solid construction for years of use. Watch out for small nuts that can occasionally work loose.
Price: $$
What we love:
- Solid construction and impeccable engineering
- Smooth ride on wheels that can go indoors without marking
- Easy to learn lean-to-steer mechanics
Watch out for:
- Prone to flipping forward over bumps
- Detaching handlebars can be a pain
- Some nuts can work loose and will need tightened
Related: Micro Maxi Deluxe Review (1 year later)
Micro Mini Deluxe review (1 year on)
The Micro Mini has been a culture-defining scooter for years. The ubiquitous Swiss company, Micro, really nailed it with its now-classic 3-wheel, lean-to-steer mechanism.
Arguably the best 3-wheel scooter for toddlers, the Mini Deluxe feels robust and handles beautifully. It has also been designed to withstand the brutal treatment that kids often subject their scooters to!
That said, you’d be wrong to think that the Micro Mini is the only decent option out there.
The competition has had enough time to catch up. From our tests, there are several other scooters that can (almost) match the riding experience of the Micro Mini Deluxe while being more affordable. (One example being the Svolta Ace.)
Let’s hear some honest feedback from a family who has owned and ridden the Micro Mini Deluxe for over a year.
Meet the Benton-Brownes
Family: Mama, Papa, and three kiddos
Scooter: ‘Little’ Benton-Browne is 4-years old and has been tearing up the Mini Deluxe for over a year.
Environment: The Benton-Brownes live in a rural village in the countryside. ‘Little’ routinely rides on rough terrain, forest walks, and just about everywhere. It’s safe to say that he’s put this scooter through its paces more than the average suburban rider would.
Philosophy: Any excuse to get outdoors. Scooting over gaming any day!
Performance & handling (how does it truly ride?)
The Micro Mini Deluxe is intuitive to learn and can be mastered in one short session. It has an exceptionally smooth turning mechanism, sits low to the ground, and is lightweight. All these features make it easy for a young child to control and balance.
Mama Benton-Browne remarks, “This is the ideal first-scooter. We’re exceptionally happy with it. Our kids are always tearing about on it at breakneck speed.”
During testing, we also found that it was a fantastic ride. And, while easy for beginners, the simple handling and light frame mean that more adventurous riders will pick up speed and soon be twisting and turning like pros.
In short, the Micro Mini Deluxe will grow with your child from tentative beginner through to wicked speed-freak.
Durability (does it survive real life?)
The Benton-Brownes are more than happy with the durability of this scooter. After two years of heavy use (much of it off-road and on country paths), the Micro Mini Deluxe has survived remarkably well.
“The scooter has been passed from older sibling to younger and is still going strong. It rides like new and there are no broken parts so far. ” – Mama Benton-Browne
This is great to hear and is surely down to the quality Swiss design and top-notch engineering. The Mini is built to last and can withstand all the daily bruising an average child will put it through.
One small point to mention — we’ve noticed a few times that the Micro Mini is constructed with nuts and bolts that can sometimes work loose. Regularly check your Micro and tighten these up. (See pic below.)
You can find Micro scooter maintenance tips here.
Sizing (will it fit your kiddo?)
Micro recommends 2 to 5 years. We’d agree with that.
Handlebar height: Adjustable from 17″ to 25″ above the deck. This is a substantial range of motion and allows the scooter to grow with your child for several years.
Scooter weight: 4.3 lbs (1.8 kg) compared to classic Micro at 3.7 lbs., making it lightweight and easily manageable for the youngest riders.
Maximum rider weight: 110 lbs, enough for any child who can safely use the 25″ handlebar. In other words, your kid will outgrow it by getting too tall, never too heavy.
Recommended age: 2 to 5 years (as long as they fit the handlebar height and are under 110 lbs). Sometimes we’ve found manufacturers’ recommendations to be a little deceptive, but in this case, Micro has them spot on.
Related: Svolta Legend Scooter Review (1 year later)
Parts & build
The Micro Mini Deluxe is well-designed with quality components. Let’s take a closer look.
Handlebars + grips: A classic fixed T-bar design with two robust rubber grips that are comfortable to hold and durable. The grips can be easily replaced with one of 25 different colors, though this shouldn’t be necessary for at least 2 or 3 years.
Stem: The lightweight carbon fiber stem looks great and houses an anodized, height-adjustable T-bar. Adjustments are easily made.
Deck: Carbon fiber for strength and light for easy handling. The footplate is 14″ x 4.5″ — not the biggest, though the feet using it are relatively small. The deck is injected with silicone for flexibility and reinforced by fiberglass for stability and strength.
Wheels: Non-marking, anti-slip, thick polyurethane wheels give a smooth, secure ride both inside and outside the house.
Brake: Classic rear brake works with a spring and pin assembly. Though it’s replaceable, it’s unlikely to need it.
Colors: Comes in 15 bright colors: ocean blue, lavender, aqua, blue, green, red, pink, purple, yellow, orange, ice blue, ruby, turquoise, black/gray, and navy.
Related: The 10 Best Scooters for Kids (2021 Guide & Reviews)
Everyday use (from setup to storage)
Assembly: Couldn’t be simpler. Comes with two pieces of equipment, the handlebar and the deck, plus one tool, a hex wrench.
Line up the steering clips of both the handlebar and the base, then push them together. Open the clamp on the handlebar and raise it to the desired height.
Keeping the clamp open, tighten the latch with the hex key to reach maximum compression. Close the clamp, and you’re done.
Be sure to register your scooter with the serial number found on the side of the black frame.
Folding: Neither the frame nor the handlebars fold. However, the stem does detach when you need to stow it away, and, because it’s pretty small, it doesn’t take up much room.
Raising/lowering handlebars: (1) Open stem latch, (2) Press the black button, (3) Slide T-bar up or down, and (4) Close stem latch.
It’s quick and easy and can be performed by a child.
Storage size: 3.94 x 2.36 x 1.97 inches
Ease of transport: Folding the scooter is quick and easy. Kids or parents can easily carry it in a bag.
Our verdict
The Micro Mini Deluxe Scooter is a multi-prize-winning engineering feat. Stable on three soft wheels, easy to steer by merely leaning, and lots of fun for new riders from 2 to 5 years.
Little ones will instinctively learn how to move, steer and stop this scooter.
As a first scooter, you can’t go wrong with the Mini Deluxe. It’s arguably the best 3-wheel toddler scooter on today’s market.
That said, several competitors have now come close to matching it, and some of these alternatives can cost less.
(For a possible alternative, check out our review of the Svolta Ace.)
