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…
Cool chair! But more importantly, I am glad to know that my young children aren’t the only ones who insist on running around in their underwear!
And we have the same pj’s except in pink and blue.
Your kids are awesome – BTW!
70’s ?? when was that ??
actually my parents had an old bean bag that barely survived till I was a couple years old. I think using it as an airbag for my first bike may have finished it off.
Count me in !
My wife forwarded this post to me. Looks like a cool chair!
As it stands right now, I have a lovely corner in the living room where the chair can live, complete with Miniature Pinscher and DMH (front claws detached). It’ll make for good stadium seating in front of the big TV for movies that blow back your hair.
Count me in!
I wonder how many hound dogs that thing will hold?
I would be honored to give it a go. My son would give it a work out. Thanks. Bob
Well, since he’s picking randomly, it doesn’t really matter what I say here, eh? 🙂
I’ve got two boys (age 9 and 8), and currently when I toss them onto the glass coffee table or into the fireplace, they complain.
While I don’t want to raise whiners, I can’t help but think that maybe I should take it down a notch and find a softer landing area for them. So add my name to the drawing, please. Thanks.
Nice Review. Now can it survive a Cub Scout Den meeting?
I have a 4 year old who likes to use me as a landing pad. It would be nice to give him an alternative before he kills me by jumping when I am not looking.
You could save a life…
I betcha my two cats and mother-in-laws often visiting Yorkie can tear that sucker up like a bloated sheep carcass….
I’m betting that 3 cats, an 8 year old and a 19 year old daughter can put that sucker to some good use. Add me into the contest.
charles posted:
“well, i would love to have i-so would my 4 yrar old banshee, but in fairness, it sounds like margo DESERVES/NEEDS it…”
I am going to echo that sentiment (thought it the minute I read it…).
charles posted:
“well, i would love to have i-so would my 4 yrar old banshee, but in fairness, it sounds like margo DESERVES/NEEDS it…”
I am going to echo that sentiment (thought it the minute I read it…).
I’d go for it, but where would I put it?
Eh. Guess I’ll just have to find a place for it.
Count me in. 3 Kids (and 2 on the way via adoption).
what the hey….I’ll put my name in the Sumo hat. I know 2 little girls who would put this to the test.
-Sam
I’d like to be in the drawing as well. That chair looks way too comfy. And if your boys can’t destroy it, neither can my cats. Not that I would challenge them!
I didn’t see the where Wizbangers and their families are excuded did I? Did I? lol
It will look great next to my 8-track player.
I saw someone else with a review of this chair about a week ago (Was it the Captain from Captains Quarters?) and thought about buying one.
Seems like a bit of a steep price though. Will have to look into it.
I will say that a 80 pound Weim will have a ball on this….
Promise to send live action shots of Mr. Destructo.
I need to post a comment here as there were only 65 comments when I read this note. That makes it far too easy for the wrong person to win this chair. And if I wind up winning it, well I’m just man enough to take that bullet!
I think I’m gonna have to order one. They look pretty cool. The price seems a little steep though.
Something for nothing. You can’t beat that!
Well,
As I don’t have any kids (at least none of which I’m aware), this wouldn’t be used for anything more than the comfort of my own sore ass..
Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go soak my anus in some epsom salts..
I comment, therefore I am elgible. I’ve seen these guys at several different blogs. I suspect that this sort of “Try a free sample, if you will write whatever you want” are going to catch on. I don’t know what one of you Blogads go for, but I have to think a lengthy post like this has to be worth more.
As a college student, I submit that I would be an excellent candidate for that chair.
Your tests appear very thorough, but have you done the PetTest yet – specifically large breed dogs?
At my age, the “form fitting” nature of a beanbag chair would eliminate the physical pressure points of sitting/lying around.
The emotional pressure points of daily life will continue, however.
Sign me up for the “random draw”.
As a bureaucrat, I can guarantee that if I win the bean bag, that you will get the most amusing digital pictures of its new home. The federal building that I work in is a uniform gray-blue color that the bag will blend directly into. The fun lies in the details – will anyone notice the bean bag, even though it can sit like a chameleon in my cubical? Now that I’m past my probationary period and a member of the union, is sitting in the bean bag a fire-able/disciplinary-able offense? Are there any pertinent government regulations to stop me from doing it? And if so, can I circumvent them with an inventively filled out form (For medical necessity? Reasonable accommodation? Cultural significance?) And most importantly, how will I get it past the security guards and metal detectors that barely fit my lunch through them? Oh, the fun I could have.
Hrm, you can add me into the prize listing too!
That thing looks comfortable for reading.
It’s amazing how many people show up for something free;)I am new to the Blog world…I would also like to plead my case for this cool chair.When I moved in with my boyfriend, he had a wonderful,expensive suede beanbag.I came with a cat,which was non-negotiable,she took it upon herself to make him bitterly regret her presence by rendering the chair unusable(she is now declawed).I would like to ask for this for him,to replace the one he lost because he only screamed and cursed for a few days…
My dogs, two great danes (1.5 & 2.75 yrs old) destroyed a pet version love sac in nothing flat (4 days). My teenage daughter hasn’t yet killed hers. I’d like to test the Sumo in a live fire environment.
Oooo! Oooo!! pick me!
-Josh
billbrasky80@hotmail.com
Hook me up!
As a young adult working in sales, most of my furniture comes from garage sales and Goodwill. And because I am engaged to be married, all of my comfortable yet ugly furniture will finally meet it’s maker when my Wife moves into my house. So I think I should get the Omni because while it is extremely comfortable, it’s still kinda ugly, and will allow some bit of comfort in the Ikea world I will soon inhabit.
I want the red one with the computer monitor…..
Hey, I’m just as random as anybody else (I’ve even been called a standard deviate – is that good?).
I’ll buy the store if it comes with the honey.
Are you just trying to get lurkers to de-lurk?
It worked!
This would so make up for not winning Powerball…almost.
Here’s relying on the randomness factor. It didn’t work for me in the Powerball, but I didn’t enter that on eeither.
I would like to win the chair. I live in a fifth wheel trailer and furniture that can be stored during travel is a real plus.
Judging by the number of comments on this thread, I have about as good of a chance of winning this as I do landing a date with that intelligent young lady modeling the chair.
It fits in with my family room color scheme perfectly, I have a 13- and an 10-year old (both boys), and I loved my 1970s yellow vinyl bean bag chair!
PLEASE PICK ME!!!!
Pick me! Pick me! I have 2 12 year-old boys who would love it, and the grey would not clash with our famiy room!!! Please! Please! Pretty Please!!!!
PS- I’ll even pay for shipping! *frantically looking for checkbook*
My 2 year old would absolutely LOVE to have something soft like that to land on. I fondly remember having a few of those to land on when I did the flying leaps as a child of the 70’s… and mine DID shoot out the styrofoam balls all the time. In fact, that was almost the whole point of landing so hard on them… seeing how far the balls would fly/float.
Ah… good memories.
So my hat is officially in the ring.
Last January, I decided to follow Kevin’s recommendation for buying a new television: the Samsung HL-S5679W due for release this spring. So since I’m buying Kevin’s preferred TV, I think I need his chair as well. Unlike most other commenters who boast of the many destructive forces infesting their homes, I can offer the Sumo chair a congenial, stress-free future completely lacking in vomiting children, clawing pets, and beer-soaked spouses (also vomiting). And gray is the perfect color for my home.