To start with, the front seat is not two miles from the handles, and the Cosatto Duet Lite Tandem actually doesn’t feel a great deal longer than a single pushchair. It also definitely doesn’t have the juggernaut feeling when you’re pushing it. The handles are padded, but have an easy-grip covering that makes it easier on the hands when you’re pushing it uphill. The wheels are fairly chunky, and it’s easy to steer on pavements, but they’re not really big enough to make it easy to push two heavy kids over grass or gravel.
The rear seat lies almost flat, and has nice high sides and a panel at the back, which makes it feel nice and cosy for a tiny baby. There’s also a flap that attaches the back seat to the front, supporting your baby’s legs. You can then undo the flap when your baby’s older so that his legs can dangle freely.
The hoods are independent, and I found it easier to chat to my toddler in the front seat if I removed the front hood, but left the back one on to keep the baby shaded. They have viewing windows, too, so you can keep an eye on your passengers. The Duet Lite Tandem doesn’t have any luxury features, like cupholders or cosy toes, but this is reflected in the price, which is excellent value.
You work the brake with your foot – push down, and pull up - and although it was a bit stiff to begin with, it soon loosened up and felt very secure. Both seats feature 5-point harnesses with shoulder pads to make them more comfy for your children.
What we love
The best thing about the Cosatto Duet Lite Tandem is definitely the compact fold. I actually got an “ooh!” reaction from another mum when I unfolded it in a car park – she was astounded that it was a tandem, as it looks so much like a single pushchair when it’s folded down. It’s also really easy to lift in and out of the car with the carry strap, and the Velcro strap that holds it folded is a great addition.
The seats are very comfy and nicely padded, and although the rear seat doesn’t lie completely flat, it does recline to 150 degrees.
This tandem is great value, one of the cheapest around, and it also looks very stylish. The bubble detail inside the hoods adds a bit of pizzazz to the sleek black looks, and it’s completely unisex, which is perfect if you have one child of each sex. It also doesn’t show dirty marks, as often happens with light-coloured pushchairs!
What to watch out for
The front seat isn’t very deep, and it doesn’t recline very far. My 2-year-old is really happy sitting upright and looking around, but it’s not ideal if you want your toddler to have a sleep while you’re out and about.
The front bumper bar can’t be removed, and my toddler found that a bit annoying to begin with as he’s used to a buggy without one.
Once you’ve got the fold mechanism cracked it’s easy to do, but it does take a bit of practice, as you have to release the lock mechanism, then pull up the buttons on each handle and push the buggy forwards. It’s also not possible to do it with one hand.
The shopping basket is a bit small – this isn’t surprising considering that it has to be fitted under two children, but it’s not ideal if you want to do lots of shopping.
It can be a bit of a challenge to get the Cosatto Duet Lite Tandem up kerbs, because of the length and the weight with two children in it, but this is something that’s a problem with all tandems.
Who is the Cosatto Duet Lite Tandem best for?
Parents on a budget, with two children of different ages.
The Cosatto Duet Lite Tandem is slimline, not too long, and has an umbrella fold, making it the ideal choice for lifting in and out of cars or storing neatly indoors. While there aren’t luxury extras, like cupholders, this value-priced tandem still has very stylish looks and performs well on pavements.
