Koochi Modhero travel system review

At £589.95 with everything included, it is more expensive than other all-in-one travel systems like the Red Kite Push Me Fusion, which is a budget friendly £270, and the Ickle Bubba Stomp V3 (£449), but comes in at a similar price to the ABC Design Salsa 4 (£650).

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The brand also makes much of the product’s lightweight quality and compact fold, trying to corner the globetrotter market with superior luxury and style. Compared to other products aimed specifically at the travelling parent, the Modhero doesn’t attempt to fold itself into overhead lockers. It is a full-sized travel system, but extremely sturdy and versatile. And its colourful graphic prints will look equally at home in an urban jungle and on a sunny beach.

Buy the Koochi Modhero travel system from Koochi, Precious Little One, and Amazon.

First impressions?

My first impressions were of quality. Everything felt plush and lush, from the leather trims and extensive padding, to quality zippers and a very well-made and durable basket. Overall, it looked invitingly comfortable. The quality of the detailing was apparent, conveying superior craft and attention to detail.

Another first impression was one of size. I always thought my Babyjogger Versa was a seriously sized buggy, but the Koochi Modhero trumps it. It’s that bit higher and wider. This is not a bad thing, as it still manages to be light on its feet, but if you’ve got a narrow entrance to navigate on a daily basis, you might want to think twice. It certainly didn’t convey compactness to me on first viewing.

In addition, I didn’t like the in-your-face aesthetic. This is not a travel-system for shrinking violets. The distinctive ‘Java’ fabric is complemented by shocking pink accents on the chassis and car seat. You might want to go for the Modhero ‘Saigon’ edition, which has a more toned-down, yet still bold print. However, even though I might not be one for colourful buggies, some of my friends really loved the eye-catching colourway, so this definitely comes down to personal preference.

How does it compare to other travel systems you have used?

The Modhero travel system is very comprehensive. I love the fact that includes a car seat with adaptors, a belly bar, rain cover, and an extended sun hood.

I really resent the way brands make additional money out of an endless list of accessories. Confused first-time parents often don’t realise how handy car seat adaptors, rain covers and so on are, so end up miscalculating the real cost of their travel system. With the Modhero everything you need is included. It is also very easy to switch between carrycot, car seat and toddler seat. The mechanism is simple and smooth.

At the same time, it doesn’t feel like it’s skimping on quality - the finish is high-end, and the construction and design is very functional, yet luxurious. I really enjoyed using it for the first time, as it felt very special.

How comfortable does it feel for your little one?

This system couldn’t be any more comfortable for little ones. The seat has a lovely depth and padding to it; the foot well is adjustable; the hood can provide extensive shade (or even cover from the rain); the harness is padded; the included footmuff is wonderfully snuggly - a godsend on an unexpected snow flurry kind of day; and the car seat is also comfortable and adjustable.

The toddler seat has three reclining positions, and it can face forward and towards the parent, which is great if you’re out and about for long stretches of time. The seat is also nice and upright when adjusted to the high recline, and almost horizontal when lowered.

The harness is adjustable and comes with shoulder and tummy pads. Unfortunately, it is one of those harnesses, where the shoulder straps slide off the waist strap. This means the pads easily slip off, and I ended up storing them in the basket, as I didn’t want to lose them. In addition, if you’ve got a particularly buggy-averse toddler, you will struggle to keep him in place while clipping everything together.

However, the all-over suspension makes using the buggy a lovely smooth ride (with enough jiggle to put baby to sleep).

What age child is the Koochi Modhero suitable for?

The Modhero is suitable from birth with its carrycot, and the toddler seat has a recommended limit of 15kg. However, my daughter, who has already surpassed that weight, also loved to ride in it, and it didn’t feel compromised at all by her size.

How is interacting with your little one when in the buggy?

It’s very easy to interact with your little one on the move. First of all, the seat can be parent-facing, which is great for younger ones and for an en-route chat. But even facing the world, a generous peep-hole lets you check up and interact with your child.

What do you think of the height of the buggy?

The height of the buggy was one of the aspects I loved most. Compared to my Babyjogger Versa, the Modhero allows the child to sit much higher off the ground. My little one enjoyed surveying the world from his higher vantage point.

In addition, the handle bar is a great height. I am taller than average (1.74cm) and I loved the handle at its highest setting. It can also be adjusted to a lower setting, so it’s likely to suit everyone.

Is it affordable for what it is?

Yes. With an RRP of £589.95, it compares very favourably with competing, high-end travel systems, such as the Bugaboo Cameleon (RRP from £859), the Uppababy Vista (RRP £849.99) or the Stokke Xplory (which costs more than £1,000 with a similar selection of accessories). As all the extras you need are included, and considering the quality of fabrics and the overall feel of quality to the product, the price is very reasonable.

What do you think of the seat size?

The seat size is great. It comfortably accommodates my large one-year-old, with plenty of room to grow. He enjoys the size of the seat and lounging about in it. He falls asleep quickly when he’s tired and has plenty of room to adjust his position.

Does it recline? How many recline positions are there?

The Modhero has three recline positions which take the seat back from near upright to almost horizontal. This makes it suitable for the most fussy of sleepers.

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Is the frame strong, durable?

Koochi likes to emphasise the Modhero’s lightweight aluminium chassis, and it does indeed have a light, elegant feel to it. At the same time it seems durable, with a sturdy construction. There are no jangling bits and there is no give in the wrong places, it feels very solid and strong.

What is the weight of the buggy – did you find it heavy/light?

The company makes much of the Modhero’s lightweight chassis, and it does feel light and manageable. The chassis with wheels weighs 7.9kg, plus another 3kg for the seat unit and 5.1kg for the carrycot.

Nonetheless, the system is very light to manoeuvre. Getting it on and off public transport is easy, and I’d happily bounce it up and down some steps. But you wouldn’t want to be lifting it too much. This is a seriously sized buggy, so it’s not really designed to be carried for any length of time, and I wouldn’t say its weight is something to shout about.

Would you recommend it for use from birth?

I would definitely use this from birth if I had another baby. This is a one-stop shop travel system. The fact that the infant car seat and its adaptors are included makes it a great option for parents right from the start.

Tell us about the carrycot

The carrycot features the same bold fabric and is a good size, with a padded inside, and you can fold it flat when you’re not using it. My little one was too old to test the carrycot, but it seems very sturdy and comfortable for tiny tots. As it uses the main hood from the toddler seat, it benefits from the same extended shade and sun protection, and the use of the belly bar makes it easy to carry around.

What do you think of the fold system?

The fold system is very intuitive and straight-forward.

1. Fold down the handlebar

2. Release a trigger with your foot to fold the remaining chassis in two.

3. A catch locks everything in place automatically.

4. To unfold, you release the catch and it sets up within seconds.

It is a fantastically smooth fold system. You don’t need to nudge, jiggle or yank - satisfyingly simple.

Given how lovely the chassis fold is, it’s a real shame that the seat doesn’t fold or go flat. You can fold the chassis with the seat forward facing and attached, but the seat itself doesn’t fold. This means that the buggy is ungainly when storing in a car or on public transport, and you’re better off folding the chassis with the seat removed.

Is it compact when folded?

The chassis turns into a neat folded pack, which I measured at about L68 x W64 x H30 and was definitely more compact than my Babyjogger Versa. It also compares favourably with other competitors.

The Babyjogger Select, for example, has a L83 x W65.5 x H32cm fold and the the Uppababy Vista measures L84 x W67 x H34cm folded without the seat attached.

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However, the biggest oversight is that the seat doesn’t fold or flatten. The chassis fold is super easy and clever, yet the seat remains unfolded and cumbersome. This means that it remains a bit awkward to pack or store.

On the other hand, if you do want a full-sized travel system with multi-terrain tyres, this product is definitely worth your consideration.

How easy is it to store?

The Modhero is not great for a house with narrow entrance halls. I don’t tend to fold my pushchairs when I get home, so we would struggle squeezing past the buggy in our hallway. Having said that, the folded chassis can stand upright, so can be tucked away around the house. If only it wasn’t for that pesky unfoldable seat.

What do you think of handle?

I love the handle of the Modhero. It is a wide arch, covered in foam, so it’s very comfortable to grip. It also feels sturdy. Best of all, it has three height settings, with the highest setting providing a very comfortable handle for me and my husband.

What do you think of the hood? Can it be used as a sun protection?

The hood is extra large, can be extended and has UPF50 protection. It extends and folds with neat clicks, and is perfect to protect kids from sun, wind and rain.

What are the basket and storage pockets like?

The basket and storage pockets are every parent’s dream. The basket is so huge that my three-year-old wanted to hitch a ride in it. It even fits a supermarket basket, which makes life very easy.

The basket also includes a separate compartment with a zip, which is great to keep things more secure. In addition, the toddler seat has pockets at the back, to store drinks, wipes, wallets and so on. You couldn’t ask for more.

How easy is it to push?

The Modhero is lovely to push. The suspension made me feel confident tackling all sorts of terrains and bumping the buggy up and down kerbs and other steps and hurdles. The generous handle is very adaptable and user friendly and overall the buggy is easy to manoeuvre, even one-handed. I actively looked forward to test driving this buggy every day as it’s such a pleasure to push, I couldn’t fault it.

How does it ride on different surfaces?

The Modhero rides very well on different surfaces. We took it along on a weekend visit to a farm, where it made light of cobbles, gravel, mud, sand and other surfaces (my friend’s Maclaren Quest fared much less well). It feels sturdy and didn’t get stuck once. Days out in park or sandpits were also a doddle, and I would be happy using it on more extensive journeys.

How is the Koochi Modhero on public transport?

The Modhero feels very nimble, so you’re always in control while getting on and off public transport, and the brake is very secure and easy to engage, which is useful on the move.

I was worried that I might find the buggy too bulky to take on the bus, but it fit well.

However, I wouldn’t attempt to fold and lift the buggy anywhere on my own, with babe in arm and toddler in tow, as the seat is unwieldy. In addition, storing it on a train might be a bit of a palaver, again due to the seat.

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What do you think of the wheels – are they suitable for all-terrain?

The wheels are puncture proof and officially ‘multi-terrain’. They provided a very good ride on a number of terrains, including gravel at a local farm and cobbles.

Tell us about the brakes.

The brakes are engaged by pressing down a lever at the back, right-hand wheel with your foot. It’s an easy push and release, and when engaged, the brake seems very secure.

It’s sold on fitting in compact car boots - does it fit in the boot of your car?

The buggy does fit in the boot of my BMW X3, but I wouldn’t really sell this system on being especially compact. The fold is really easy, and the chassis does go flat and compact. But as mentioned, the seat doesn’t fold, so altogether the whole set-up occupies quite a bit of space in the boot.

Tell us about the compatible car seat – what did you think of it?

The infant car seat is great. It is slightly bigger than our Maxi-Cosi Cabriofix, but has an infant insert for very little ones, and an adjustable harness. It’s really easy to adjust the harness from the back of the seat and doesn’t require any fiddly rethreading. It also matches the buggy fabric, which is a lovely touch for the style conscious.

The carseat is very easy to secure within the car. You can use it with the brand’s Upstart ISOFIX base, which you would need to buy for £99.95, or secure it with the seatbelt.

Car seat safety – what is ISOFIX

It has really clear seatbelt guides, and once installed properly it doesn’t budge. The clip that secures the seatbelt at the back is a bit fiddly, but it’s easy enough to figure out.

Obviously security is the most important feature of a car seat, but it’s worth mentioning that my one-year-old seems to find this seat much more comfortable than the Maxi-Cosi. He doesn’t get as hot, and he can peek out of the window better. He also finds the bold fabric fascinating.

What age child is it best for?

The seat is a group 0+, suitable from birth to 12-15 months. My one-year-old is tall, but still fits well in the seat.

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What’s in the box?

• Chassis
• Wheels
• Seat unit
• Carrycot
• Footmuff
• Raincover
• Infant car seat
• Car seat adaptors
• Instruction manual

Is it easy/hard to build the product?

It’s easy to build. All the fabrics are already in place and it was just a case of clicking on the wheels and zipping the hood on either carrycot or toddler seat. Changing between them is really easy.

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

I would have wanted to know that this system shouldn’t really be described as compact. The fold is nice and easy, and compact to an extent. However, the product is really not what I would call a lightweight travel product. Yes, the chassis is light and easy to lift, but everything together is still bulky, as full-sized and sturdy travel systems tend to be.

Who would the product be most useful for?

The product would be most useful for a new family, as it has everything needed for everyday and travel in a sturdy, durable yet stylish package. The Cosatto/Koochi four-year guarantee also provides peace of mind and backs up the brand’s claim of producing durable and safe products.

What is the price? Is this good value for money?

The RRP is £589.95, and provides great value for money. You don’t have to buy any additional extras to be ready to face any weather and mode of transport. In addition, the materials and finish are of superior quality, so it really feels as if it will stand the test of time. There is an optional extra of the ISOFIX base, but as the seatbelt works really well with the infant car seat, it’s not a must.

MadeForMums verdict:

I really liked this travel system. It was a pleasure to push, and my little one loved sitting - and sleeping - in it. The footmuff was lovely and snuggly, the materials and finish felt of high quality, the chassis combined a light feel with great sturdiness. The buggy is stylish (if you like bold prints), and it was lovely to have everything matching from the start. I would definitely recommend it, and I am looking forward to seeing what next products Koochi comes up with.

However, I wouldn’t market it as compact or as particularly globe-trotting friendly, as the brand insists on doing - “Adventure is out there” is emblazoned on the seat, for example. It is great at dealing with the world’s different terrains and weather. However, you wouldn’t be allowed to take it to airplane gates, as it doesn’t fold well with the seat attached; and it’s not great for storing on train luggage racks, again due to the seat not folding.

If I had this system as my main buggy, I would no doubt buy a supplementary ‘travel buggy’.

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