Didofy Cosmos travel system review

Tested by:

Mum-of-2 Laura tested the Cosmos in town, with her 11-week-old daughter and 3-year-old son.

What were your first impressions of the travel system?

I thought the Cosmos looked like a stylish, urban pushchair. It didn’t seem super premium, but certainly felt lightweight and looked quite nippy.

How does the Didofy Cosmos compare to other travel systems you have tried?

The Didofy Cosmos is not as robust as other travel systems I have tried. However, I liked how light it was to lift the different attachments on and off, and that you didn’t need different adapters for the car seat or carrycot.

Its price and weight puts it on par with the likes of Cosatto’s Giggle Quad (£599.95 on Amazon) or the Joie Versatrax (£490). The Didofy Cosmos beats both on weight. Its 10.2kg is significantly lighter than the Versatrax’s 11.7kg (chassis plus seat) and also less than the Giggle Quad’s 10.5kg (chassis plus seat).

Like with the Giggle Quad, it’s also fantastic that the current Cosmos bundle includes an Isofix base for its carseat – this is a great extra to add into a bundle, as so many parents prefer the ease and security an Isofix base provides.

What age is it suitable for?

As travel system, the Didofy Cosmos comes with a carrycot which is suitable for newborns. The toddler seat is designed for kids up to 22kg (approximately 4 years old), but when I used it with my 3-year-old son he only just fitted in. His head was already touching the hood.

I’m also dubious whether the seat can cope with a child of 22kg, as the recline is controlled by a strap and clip which doesn’t make the back of the seat feel very sturdy, however the manufacturer confirms that it has been tested with certification to 22kg.

How comfortable is the carrycot for babies?

My daughter was very cosy in the carrycot. My first impression was that the mattress seemed quite firm compared to other carrycots I have tried. My baby was comfortable and snug, and I liked that the carrycot had lovely cushioned sides.

I also had a good view of her when pushing so she could make eye contact with me. The carrycot can not be used for overnight sleeping, however.

For MFM tester Madeleine, she didn't feel confident that her very tall 4-month-old had quite enough space when using the carrycot. This is worth keeping in mind if your baby is on the taller side.

How comfortable is the seat unit on the Didofy Cosmos?

My little one was too young to go into the pushchair seat, but I did try it out with my 3-year-old and he was comfortable in it, if a little snug.

The footrest lowers for older children and the recline has a good range. The seat back has a gradual recline that you can adjust with a strap and clip device, but MFM tester Jennifer did find this to be fiddly.

I could see my child easily when the seat was facing me and still had a good view of him when it was facing outwards. Jennifer added, "Both my baby and my toddler loved how high up it was to look around."

How much coverage does the hood provide?

The hood feels a little flimsy when moving it up and down, but it offers good coverage to protect your child from wind, drizzle or light.

How do you fold the Didofy Cosmos? The brand claims you can hold the baby while you fold the pushchair – is this the case?

The Didofy Cosmos is relatively easy to fold. It is great that you can fold the Cosmos with the seat still attached.

• You use a lever at the back of the seat to fold the backrest down first, using one hand
• Then you push a button on the handle to fold the chassis, which can also be done with one hand and while holding your baby.
• The gravity-assisted technology makes the pushchair fold down without much effort and it settles into a standing fold.
• Putting it back up again is not as easy to do with one hand, and I would not feel safe doing so while holding a baby. You have to bend down to release the clip holding it together.

My main niggle was the buttons. To fold the pushchair you have to push two buttons at the same time. This is a great safety feature, but the chassis release button in particular was a little stiff at first and took some getting used to.

Our MFM testers highlighted the Cosmos' fold as one of their favourite features. "It's one of the best features of this pram," said mum Madeleine. Jennifer agreed and added, "I can't stress just how easy this pram is to fold and unfold with one hand and no instructions!"

How compact is the Cosmos when folded and unfolded?

The Didofy Cosmos is a pretty compact buggy and stands upright when folded – which is great for storage and if you are short on space. Having said that, its folded dimensions are H88cm x W57cm x L35cm - it effectively folds in half - so it’s not quite as snug as more well-known compact options such as the Bugaboo Bee 6 (H36cm x W47cm x L90cm, £599 on Amazon).

Does it fit in the boot of your car?

The Cosmos fitted easily into the boot my car, even with the carrycot.

How lightweight does the Didofy Cosmos feel to lift?

I was surprised at how lightweight the Cosmos chassis, seat and other attachments were. The chassis and seat together weigh a 9kg, which sits between super lightweight strollers and more heavy duty pushchairs.

Of course you can get much more lightweight buggies, but for a good size travel system, that’s pretty impressive. It also makes the Cosmos a great value choice as an extra travel system to keep at the grandparents’ house for example.

How easy is it to push and steer?

Given that my first impressions judged this pushchair as less sturdy than more expensive options, I was impressed with its handling. The Cosmos whizzed around town and on pavements really easily.

Our MFM testers also praised how well the Cosmos handled different terrains. MFM tester Madeleine managed to steer it one-handed whilst holding her toddler's hand crossing the road. She added, "We live at the bottom of a steep hill and it was a doddle to push up the hill, but also felt safe coming back down, too."

How does the Didofy Cosmos ride on rougher surfaces?

It manoeuvred quickly and made light work of bumpy, uneven surfaces, without rattling or feeling unsteady thanks to its built in suspension. On this front, the Cosmos is one of the best I have tried to be honest.

On grass it was heavier to push but that’s to be expected. Didofy doesn’t recommend using this buggy on sand, rough terrain or mud.

How do you find it on public transport?

The suspension made getting on and off of public transport light work and the Cosmos’ compact size meant that it didn’t need to be folded down on public transport. Also, the fact that it can be folded with one hand makes using public transport much easier.

How do the wheels perform?

I initially thought the wheels looked like they might rattle a bit, but the suspension covered that. I liked the fact that they are all-terrain and puncture-proof.

How strong and durable does the frame feel?

The frame felt pretty sturdy while we are out and about.

How adjustable is the handlebar on the Didofy Cosmos?

There are 3 height settings for the handlebar. These settings are controlled by buttons on either side which lift or lower the top section of the handle.

Other MFM testers found the handlebar very uncomfortable due to the little plastic elements that are designed to help the buggy stand upright when folded. They really thought that this was a design flaw, but it didn’t bother me.

MFM tester Madeleine, who is 5ft 7", found the handlebar to slightly too low. She said, "I found the height choices to be low or lower. Although I found it workable, I'm not sure my husband would be as happy using it on a long term basis."

How easy-to-use are the brakes on the Didofy Cosmos?

The rear wheels of the Cosmos are controlled by a foot pedal brake which is easy to access and operate.

The front wheels are also lockable, but it took me a little while to figure the mechanism out. You have to make sure the wheels are facing forward before pushing the lock down. The lock is located behind the wheel and you have to press it with your hand rather than your foot which I found a little inconvenient.

MFM tester Madeleine did also notice that when releasing the brake, it takes a moment for the back right wheel to get going again.

How big is the basket on the Didofy Cosmos?

The basket is really easy to access, whether the Cosmos is in pram or toddler mode. It is also a reasonable size which MFM tester Madeleine agreed with, "The basket is accessible and large enough to hold a couple of bags of shopping."

What do you think of the Cosmos’ car seat?

The Group 0+ car seat seemed spacious and the straps were easy to release and tighten. My baby was really comfy in there.

I did feel that the car seat could have done with some more support around the head, particularly for newborns. It has a stretchy hood which offers excellent coverage, but it did pop off of the handle on a few occasions.

The latest version of the travel system includes an Isofix base, which gives parents additional peace of mind that they have installed the seat correctly. I wasn’t able to test that, but I think it’s a fantastic extra to include in the travel system package.

In addition, many parents might prefer a more well-known, dedicated car seat brand, so it’s great news that Didofy has launched additional car seat adaptors that allow you to use the chassis with brands such as Maxi-Cosi, Cybex, Recaro or Joie.

How easy was the car seat to install?

I tested the Didofy car seat without the Isofix base, and easily strapped it in with the car’s own seatbelt. It’s great to have the option of the Isofix base, as many parents prefer the more secure fit with Isofix.

How heavy is the the travel system’s car seat?

The infant car seat weighs only 3.2kg, so it is very lightweight. This is ideal if you are using it in multiple cars, or need to carry a sleeping infant into the house.

Our MFM testers also found it easy to take on and off the chassis. "It simply clicks on to the pram frame and releases just as easily by pressing two buttons on the sides," said MFM tester Madeleine. "No need to even open the instruction booklet for this one!"

How did you like the look of the Didofy Cosmos travel system overall?

The Cosmos comes in a fairly standard choice of colours – grey, navy and green. They are all stylish, and the grey and navy in particular wouldn’t look grubby or discoloured after being used for a while.

What’s in the box?

• Frame
• Wheels
• Toddler seat
• Carrycot
• Group 0+ carseat
• Isofix base
• Raincover

Are there any additional extras that you need to or can buy?

You can buy carseat adaptors for Maxi-Cosi, Cybex and Recaro for £30.

How easy is it to build the Cosmos?

Putting the buggy together was self-explanatory, but the instruction booklet has good, sound instructions alongside clear diagrams, in case you need it.

Our MFM testers agreed that assembling the pushchair was very straightforward. Mum Jennifer said, "I didn't need to look at the instructions as it was so easy to put together, literally taking 5 minutes."

What would you have wanted to know before you purchased the item?

It is important to note that the seat wasn’t as sturdy as I would have liked, so I'm unsure if it would offer longevity as a travel system to use for several years as your child grows.

What was your favourite feature of the travel system?

Without a doubt, the suspension was my favourite feature. Followed closely by the one-hand fold function.

What is the price? Is it worth its price tag? Would you recommend it?

The price of this package is £599, and for that you get the pushchair with seat, carrycot, car seat and now the Isofix base. Other bundles are available, such as just the pushchair with seat for £350 or the pushchair and seat with the carrycot for £425.

It’s great to have the flexibility of these different bundles, as you might decide you want to buy a different, compatible carseat, in which case you wouldn’t want to pay the included one. I felt that it was a reasonable price and I would certainly be happy to pay it. I’d definitely recommend this product, I really enjoyed using it with my newborn.

Where can you buy the Didofy Cosmos?

It's available from Didofy, Baby Planet and Kiddies Kingdom.

MadeForMums verdict:

The Cosmos is a competitively priced, good value, nippy little travel system. Perhaps it isn’t as durable as a more high-end product, but it felt sturdy without being heavy. It’s perfect for city dwellers and parents who regularly use public transport or who are short on space. It looks stylish and kept my baby safe and comfortable. A winner for me.

Read More...

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