Safety 1st Kokoon review

The end result is a cheaper, but less eye-catching product. The Kokoon, suitable from birth up to 15kg (approx 3 years), comes in a very modest collection of three colours; black, red and blue.

What’s in the box?

• Chassis
• Bumper bar
• Seat unit
• Basket
• Hood
• Sun canopy
• Car seat adaptors
• Harness pads
• Crotch pads

Any additional extras?

• Day dream footmuff - £21
• Mod' changing bag - £30
• Parasol - £18

Tell us about assembling the Kokoon.

In my house one of us is practical by nature and one of us is a bit more creative. I fall into the latter camp so it fell to my long-supporting boyfriend to assemble the buggy. From time-to-time my boyfriend and I like to plays games so when assembling the buggy we decided to make a game of it and time it.

It took him 20 minutes from the moment he opened the packaging until the pram stood proudly in our holiday cottage and although he did give in and look at the instructions, once he did so, all became clear very quickly. Perhaps if he’d looked at these first it would have taken him even less time.

How does it push?

I have rarely used our old travel system over the past six months (a Mothercare Spin), as it was getting so heavy and the wheels were just too troublesome. Granted, it was tested to the limit, with endless walks, bus trips and park missions. But it was the weight that really got me down, especially as we live in a rather hilly suburb of London.

I tested the Kokoon with my two and a half year old son on a long family weekend away in Gloucestershire. I then tested it around London, it handled both the concrete of the inner city and the off-road track of the Forest of Dean equally well.

Pushing the buggy is so smooth; the wheels work so well that you don’t even think about them. It managed all terrains and felt nice on the pavement and on a woodland path. Cobbled roads are a bit bumpier, as you would expect, but mounting a curb is a breeze.

How comfortable is the buggy?

My son (who is very opinionated in such things) took to it instantly, happily sitting in it as we travelled. It was so comfy that he even took a lengthy snooze, which meant we could pop into a pub in the afternoon for a cheeky drink – something we haven’t done in a very long time.

What about the weight of the Kokoon?

It is very light to lift and push! The Kokoon is sold on its weightlessness and true to its word; even with a hefty toddler in tow it really does not feel weighty.

Despite being easy to lift, it still feels sturdy and the structure gave me confidence, although I do wonder how much it would withstand going up and down train steps repeatedly. So putting it to the test, we a did run for the train, going up and down the steps and it coped well. Saying that, I wouldn’t want to put it through this regularly.

How does it fold?

Once up it is very easy to collapse and put up again and it can be done with one hand, though it’s easier with two.

Does easy fold mean compact?

No it doesn’t. The Kokoon doesn’t fit very easily down the side of my wardrobe like my old stroller and you may need to make extra room in your car boot to accommodate it when travelling, because it takes up a lot of space.

Personally I don’t think I would take it on holiday again as with just a Ford Focus I could do with space in my boot and besides, my little boy is big enough to be on foot most of the time now.

Is the Kokoon built to last?

In quality yes, but in size, I don’t think so. The seat is spacious but legroom only just fits, and my son is average size for his age. It makes me question whether the pushchair would really last the full four years.

Is it a secure pram?

Yes and no, my boyfriend frequently comments on how good the central brake is. It was simple to adjust the handle height and my son sat high in the chair and never seemed too far away from me, which was reassuring to us both.

The viewing panel is handy for sneaking a peak as to whether your little one is snoozing or up to no good.

One thing that is a bit of a let down is the fact that my toddler seems to find it quite easy to undo the straps. I would probably be more worried if I didn’t know that when it comes to any straps, my son is like some kind of Houdini.

Does it have a good-sized basket?

Yes, it is really spacious, there are also storage pockets at the back of the buggy that will come in handy.

Is it value for money?

I think it’s a bargain! It may not come equipped with everything you would get from a high-end buggy and you would have to probably buy the Day Dream footmuff for an addition £21 when using with smaller babies when it’s cold. But at just £219 you get everything you need and more.

Made For Mums Vedict?

The Kokoon lightweight, value for money, comfortable and a buggy that I would definitely recommend. We like it so much we are already thinking about using it for our next baby and he or she isn’t even an apple in their daddy’s eye yet.