Last month Sumo, a Canadian company that sells a modern, funky, high-quality line of bean bags & soft furniture over the Internet at SumoLounge.com, contacted me about whether I’d be interested in doing a review of their one of their products. It seems that the Sumo folks are big blog readers and supporters and their target market is right in line with the demographics of the blogosphere.
According to their president, whose passion and pride in his products is obvious, Sumo‘s Omni chair is the most comfortable chair in the world. Taking him at his word on the comfort – which is obviously a fairly subjective – I wondered whether the Sumo product line was “kid friendly.”
What better challenge to a bean bag chairs durability could there be than a few weeks of pounding by three rambunctious boys? Short of hitching the chair to the bumper of an SUV and going for an off-road drive, I couldn’t think of one. I wrote back proposing this torture test, warning Sumo that when the bag exploded, turning my living room into an artificial winter wonderland of bean bag stuffing, they’d probably wish they never made the offer as I would be writing about the results – good, bad, or indifferent.
To my surprise the folks at Sumo welcomed the challenge and express shipped out one of their Omni chairs. I pitied them…
I guess I’m old enough to remember the 70’s – though I was but a young child – where it seemed that owning a shag-carpeted conversion van; the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever; bell-bottom jeans; and a bean bag chairs were rights of passage for all baby boomer families. Those 70’s-era bean bags were notorious for their gaudy shapes and colors as well as their propensity to leak Styrofoam beans. The Omni didn’t look like any bean bag I remember from my youth. Here’s what it looks like out of the box…
What exactly were the folks at Sumo smoking when they designed this?
Fortunately the visual disconnect one experiences when first encountering the Omni is short-lived. What you’re presented with is an origami-like, piece of furniture that you mold and shape into whatever form you desire. Here are a couple possibilities (underwear models not included):
The possibilities are essentially endless, which is part of the charm of the Sumo.
So was the Omni popular with the kids? Just a little bit…
So how do Sumo‘s products fare on the durability scale?
Frankly I’m a bit disappointed to report that, despite their best efforts, my three sons could not bruise, scuff, rip, tear, cut, nor otherwise destroy the Omni, though it wasn’t for a lack of trying…
I can report that the Omni makes an excellent landing pad when jumping off couches or swinging from chandeliers (OK, the latter is pure speculation) or when you just need a safe place to do a little child tossing. The kids love it!
What I can tell you is that the chairs (modestly priced from $149 to $179) make a versatile and invaluable addition to any family room. Sumo also makes a matching ottoman which looks like a winner as well. Unfortunately for us grey Omni chair clashes with the decor of the new basement (which is nearing completion), but the chair is such a hit with the kids that we’ve little choice but to order a couple more in a different color – something I suspect was part of Sumo’s evil plan all along… Bastards.
The good news for Wizbang readers is that the one slightly used (but thoroughly cleaned) Sumo Omni chair is now available as a gift to one lucky Wizbang reader. Want it?
Friday I will randomly select one lucky commenter to this post who will get the chair in its original packaging sent directly to them. If for some reason the person who wins doesn’t want it (or fails to respond) I’ll just keep drawing until I get a winner. Just to be clear, if you don’t leave a valid e-mail address on your comment you aren’t going to win; as I’ll have no way to contact you directly…
Update: We’ve got a winner. The good news for everyone here is that you’ve still got a chance to get the chair. The winner has to choose – Let’s Make A Deal style – between the chair or the mystery pot ‘o cash… If they choose the cash they also get to choose who gets the chair…
One of these things is not like the other,
one of these things doesn’t belong..
Wow…my second comment in less than a week …hope I win !
Kevin,
Is that your nanny in the orange one?
My kids would love it too.
Your boys are quite handsome, bet they had a good time.
Pick me, Pick me! I live on a tiny military base with crappy bamboo/tropical print furniture. I need something cool and comfortable to sit on while surfing the blogosphere!
Wizbang Ruels!!!
{/lurk}
And the blogosphere moves one step closer to radio, running contests to count readers/listeners.
Works for me.
{lurk}
Sorry about the spelling…..
Wizbang Rules!!!
If you don’t enter, you can’t win
My baby just turned 13 today, meaning I will have three teenagers for the next 2 yrs 10 months (omigod, that means my oldest is almost 20!!!!!)
Obviously I really need this chair – so I have something to hide under for the next several years!!!!!
Starting up P.E.T.C.I.F.W.G.B. (People for the Ethical Treatment of Cool, Indestructible, Formerly Wizbang-ed Gray Beanbags).
Not the easiest acronym for a T-shirt or mug, but, hey, we’re a pretty mellow group.
HEY! They should have contacted me! Waaahhhh.
I want it! Pick me! Pick me! I neeeeeeeed it but I can’t afford one!
Ok. You’ve proven that it can deal with three kids. I propose doubling the test group. We have 6. They’ll really put it through its paces. Pick us! Pick us!
Kin and the kinder.
Sounds like an awesome chair. I have to wonder if my nine year old and three old couldn’t destroy it. I’d like to throw my name in for consideration. If I recall properly, I’m somewhat local to you (I’m in Leesburg) and could arrange to pick the item up and save everyone on shipping…
Thanks
James
Hoo Ha, I’ll take the bean bag!!
I haven’t had the best of luch with bean bag chairs. I’d like to give this one a try…
The only thing lacking in my life is an Omni chair. Please complete my circle of happiness.
i’m in!
I would love a Sumo chair! Thank you…
“HEH” 🙂
I think it needs some “adult” testing 😉
Me too! Me too!
Funny, I google bean bag, now that the Rottweiler mistook my old one for a fire hydrant, and where do I end up???
GIMME THE DAMN BAG!!…..please….. 🙂
Kevin,
I’d love to randomly be selected for this. I don’t have a sob story to tell you, or pictures of my family to share with you. I also won’t tell you how this Sumo Bag will help feed 700 people left homeless by Katrina or give air conditioning to our beloved troops in harms way.
I will say that: If you send this bag to mesablue first…. I definitely WON’T want it afterwards!
Thanks!