I didn’t buy an extended gate or playpen as I was keen to encourage my son to explore, but as he gained confidence and I realised how active he’d become, I often wondered if this type of product would’ve made my life a bit easier! My son has outgrown this gate now, so I took it to my friend’s house to try out with her 13-month-old son, Harry. Harry is a typical into-everything kinda guy and has just started to find his feet, so he’s the perfect candidate to test the Summer Super Wide Custom Fit Gate gate!
What we love
I have never seen a gate like this in action, but once set up, the Summer Super Wide Custom Fit Gate definitely ticks all the safety boxes. The instructions are really easy to follow, but I’ll explain briefly how to set it up: the gate comes fully assembled in three hinged sections, and all you need to do is unfold it and secure it in place. Simply add the feet to keep it sturdy and screw in the four adjustable hinges. Next, decide where you want your gate to go and screw the wall brackets into place. Finally, slot the hinges into the wall brackets and you’re good to go!
The Super Wide Custom Fit is hinged and designed to be used as a corner barrier or room divider. Because the gate is hinged, it will even work in awkward spaces or uneven openings. It can cover openings from 178cm to up to 360cm, so you’re getting lots of coverage.
The middle section is a traditional style gate that can be opened with one hand, in both directions. It can provide your child with as much or as little play space as you like. It’s also the ideal way to keep your child away from harmful areas such as the kitchen.
My friend’s home is open plan so we used the barrier to create a safe (and substantial) area for the boys to play, with no concerns that 13-month-old Harry would wander off. We also tried the gate in a corner position, which worked well. My son particularly enjoyed this as we covered it over with a blanket to create a den!
The gate is made from a neutral-coloured, wipe-clean nylon and mesh, There are fabric covers with Velcro that you can use to cover over the metal poles and hinged adjustments, so little hands can’t get to them.
When the Summer Super Wide Custom Fit Gate is not in use, you can simply remove it from the brackets, fold it up and put it away.
What to watch out for
At £69.99, it’s not a budget option, so you’ll need to know you’ll get plenty of use out if it.
The Summer Super Wide Custom Fit Gate only comes with one set of wall brackets, so it can only go in one place (unless you’re not bothered about unscrewing the brackets from the wall if you want to use it elsewhere – but who wants the hassle of having to do that?). For this price, it would have been more useful if it came with another set of brackets, so that you have more options on where to put the gate. I called Summer to enquire whether another set of brackets was available to buy and they said they would send me a set free of charge. Result!
The Summer Super Wide Custom Fit Gate is only recommended for use from birth to 2 years for safety reasons as an older child may be able to climb over it.
Who is the Summer Super Wide Custom Fit Gate best for?
Perfect for open-plan living and parents after a versatile safety gate with lots of coverage.
The Summer Super Wide Custom Fit Gate is neutral enough to fit in with your décor, adjusts to various lengths, has a built-in gate and will provide a barrier for a variety of areas. However, it’s not that cheap and only comes with one set of brackets so you won’t be able to move it around the house without a fuss – or a phone call to the Summer team!
