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Weber
Monoporter £275 Suspension takes the form of an elastomer, sufficient to tame off-road bounces (thanks in part to a large wheel) without sagging too much under acceleration on tarmac - an issue with BOB's suspended Ibex. Aluminium tubing and a hard plastic base trim half a kilo off the the Yak but the real Brompton-esque advantage of the Monoporter is its superb fold, allowing it to be easily stowed. Attention to detail is typically Germanic - a simple, lockable mounting system, a smooth sealed bearing hub, an Allen key that slots neatly away for a full fold and its own removable feet for stability on the ground, making it easier to park. With its platform base, it's also very adaptable. Clip in the accompanying Ortlieb-made roll down bag (£50), strap on a cardboard box of groceries or attach your own rucsac, though with a lack of bungee points, an extra strap would have been good. Overall, the Monoporter's more practical than the Yak for most uses - even if it ultimately doesn't have the same tough build for expedition touring. Verdict: 8/10. A great all-round single-wheel trailer with a superbly engineered fold.
Cycling Plus: August 2004 Review #2 Weber
Monoporter £275 WMB Verdict
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A hinge allows it to be foded down in the blink of an eye to a size that won't raise an eyebrow. An elastomer suspension and 20-inch wheel improves off-road handling - less bouncing on rocky descents - while still being stiff enough to ensure road riding efficiency too. The loading platform is versatile - Weber's Ortlieb-designed waterproof bag (£50), a conventional rucsac or even a crate of shopping work well. While 2 straps are included, a couple more would have been handy, as there are no easy bungy points like the Yak. Two feet allow the Monoporter to sit on the ground without tipping and , thanks to these feet, the Monoporter parks on itself without straining the skewer. Th efixing mechanism is simple and features 2 locks, but you'll need to replace the existing quick release skeweer to make use of them. In fact, you may need a longer skewer altogether, as the fit can be tight. The hub is welll sealed and there's a quality Vredestein tyre too. An aluminium tubeset and plastic fittings help the Monoporter shave weight to a minimal 5.75kg, but time will tell whether it's as hard wearing as the tough-as-nails Yak. Rated to a lesser 25kg and just over 44cm wide, it doesn't have the same expedition feel and at 1.6m, it's longer too. But if you're looking for an ultra practical trailer that can extend your off-road rides into tours, and is as easy to load onto a train as it is to do the shopping, then the Monoporter definitely fits the bill.