However it's not all good news. The first thing that confused me about the Hula is that on the box and Cosatto website it states the Hula is suitable from 3 months, but on the included instruction manual it states 6 months, which might give some people pause for thought when using it with a very young baby. It's lightness of weight is a double-edged sword, too, as it does mean it's easy to lift into and out of the car and on and off buses, but it's very easy to tip over if you try and load any shopping on the back (which I did!).
What we love
My boy was happy in the seat and as it reclines fully he was able to have a snooze on the move. While I don’t like the Hula’s swivel wheels when unlocked, once locked our daily walk along a gravel path to feed the ducks isn't too arduous for Jack, 14 months, or me.
The hood is very good as with the additional pull down sun visor it did actually shield Jack from the sun.
The rain cover is well-made and good quality, which is surprising for such a low-priced buggy.
It’s also guaranteed for four years in the UK and Ireland, which indicates Cosatto has confidence in its product.
What to watch out for
I am someone who overloads my current buggy with shopping – to the extent where I've bust the below-seat shopping basket, but I couldn't fit more than a tin of beans and the rain cover in the Cosatto Hula's basket!
I’m not particularly a lightweight buggy fan, and I found that – as with others I've tried - the front wheels swivel about too much when unlocked. This makes pushing it with one hand quite difficult.
The fabric design and colour was a problem for me, too. However I’m the sort of mum that despises logos on Jack's clothes and prefers the subtlety of wooden toys to plastic (despite the fact that Jack prefers the opposite). I know some mums will love the bright colours – complete with 'fun' writing saying stuff like 'Hello' and 'Hola' or bright green with flowers, which is the one I prefer.
The Hula is designed to be a one-handed fold and release design, but really it's more of a two-handed job, which would get to be annoying with a toddler as it's nigh on impossible to contain an energetic 14-month-old while trying to collapse the buggy to fit in the boot. The foot brake is a bit of a joke – on the model I tested I could still push the pram with the brake on, and when it was supposed to be off it constantly felt like something was dragging on the rear wheels.
The seat back is not very high and, at 14 months, my son's head was almost at the top so I'm not convinced it would last much longer. The lack of adjustable handles is also a problem and my husband spent most of the time he was pushing it complaining about backache from leaning over.
Over time there's a rattley quality, which started to make me nervous as I could see visions of it collapsing under Jack's (ample) weight after too much use.
Who is the Cosatto Hula best for?
Mums after a featherweight value-for-money stroller for occasional use.
Value-for-money and lightweight, the Cosatto Hula is certainly a “holiday buggy” contender, but not the best for nipping to the shops unless you're only after a tin of beans. The seat can recline fully, so a worn-out child can nap. The seat back isn’t as high as you might require for older toddlers, and it’s bright and fun design you’ll either love or loathe.
