By Rob Dunn
Contributing Writer, [GAS]

When Kiltak asked me to review a chair for [GAS], I couldn’t refuse. Little did I know that THIS review was for a bean bag chair.

Incredulous, I accepted the opportunity, keeping in mind that I love reviewing stuff!

Since I’m not very photogenic, the picture below shows my daughter enjoying the Omni. ;)

 The what:

According to the Sumo Omni product page, “It’s a crash mat, lounge chair, love seat or floor pillow (to name a few), but the possibilities really do go on.”

Intended audience:

This product is geared towards college students, geeks or anyone who doesn’t mind lounging in something without four legs.  The Omni is great for sitting down with the laptop, gaming, movie watching or board meetings at Google, you name it.

Specs:

• Space-age, rip-proof nylon
• Little foam beads
• Huge: 5.5 x 4.5 feet
• Lightweight (18lbs.)
• Versatile – 10 in 1
• Colorful
• Water-repellent
• Stain-resistant
• Easy-to-clean
• Incredibly comfortable

Prelude to the Omni

As I eagerly anticipated the chair’s arrival at my home, memories of plopping down on a shapeless vinyl orb while tiny white foam pellets blasted from unseen holes danced through my head.  I flashed back to playing with Star Wars action figures (“What, they don’t bend at the knee?”) and reading Choose Your Own Adventure books while sunken into that ratty old bean bag chair during the early 80’s.

So, with my Imperial Biker Scout Trooper action figure in hand, I awaited the arrival of my new bean bag chair.

Simply packaged, the chair was wrapped in a clear plastic bag inside a large and unwieldy (but surprisingly lightweight) box. Frankly, I was not sure what to make of the Omni at first. Did Sumo oversell themselves with the tantalizingly sexy models lounging comfortably on their website?

First glance: build quality

The charcoal green (it comes in 10 colors) chair is BIG. Like the Web site stated, the Omni is 4.5′ x 5.5′, and is certainly big enough to handle my 6′ 2″, 250-pound frame, with room to spare!

The material is very durable with heavy-duty stitching throughout and is obviously stain and moisture resistant. I would liken the construction and nylon fabric of the Omni to a canvas tarp made to withstand high-pressure tension and inclement weather conditions.

Sitting

After I was done analyzing (giving it the skeptical “up-down”) the Omni, I turned it on its lengthwise side and plopped it on the floor. Straddling the Omni, I dropped myself down, and “…aaaahhhhh…” I just about fell asleep. It really is that comfortable.

The main difference between the Omni and the old school bean bag chair is that when you sit down on the Omni, you actually have somewhere firm to place not only your arms, but most of your legs and even your head (depending on the configuration you go with). Because of the heavy-duty construction and quality of materials, you don’t get that “stretchy-blob” feel when you sit in it.

What’s more, as you sit, the chair firms up. You won’t find yourself sitting completely on the ground after all the air has been pressed out of it.  The chair holds its shape quite well over time, probably due to the heavy-duty outer covering.

Problems?

Something I noticed was that since the outer material is moisture-proof, it apparently doesn’t breathe too well. My back began to get a little sweaty after sitting in the Omni for 40 minutes.  However, by placing a blanket on it, I was able to continue to lounge comfortably.

My non-geek wife says:

“I wish I had this when I was pregnant!”

She was very impressed with the ease of manipulating the chair to support the areas where she needed it. So, ladies, if for nothing else, the Omni might be great to have while you are trying to make it through the third trimester (you know, when everything you do is uncomfortable?).  While relaxing in the Omni may provide great comfort, extracting yourself from the chair may be more difficult.

Multiple configurations

Sumo’s Web site shows about six (the sales pitch says ’10 in 1′) different ways to position the Omni, but I tend to favor the aforementioned on-its-long-side and the flat-on-the-ground configurations. These seem to offer me the maximum amount of support and surface that I need while lounging.

While testing a couple different configurations, I realized that I needed somewhere to put my lower legs. I thought to myself, “If they only made a smaller version of this to go with the Omni… you know, like an ottoman?”

Well, it turns out they do (called the ‘Otto’)…Unfortunately, I did not get one to review, but I would bet that the Otto is the perfect accessory for the Omni.

Price

Sumo’s Web site states that the Omni is $129 with free shipping, which for me, is a bit high. Of course, this might have something to do with the fact that my wife and I had our first child in February, so it may just be the typical new parent finances talking. However, even with that in mind, I would like to see a chair like this at a price point of $99. There’s just something psychological about that $100 mark, especially for something as informal as the Omni.

Summary

Overall, I LOVE this chair. It is comfortable, easy to move around, highly configurable and is very durable. It definitely is not for your mom and dad, well, if they are my parents’ age, but you could invite them to take the couch, and you could take that “uncomfortable bean bag chair” when they come to visit. Any lounge-seeker who isn’t turned off by the $129 price tag and is in the market for high-quality relaxation gear, look no further.

Likes:

• Firm, shape-hugging characteristics
• Highly durable materials
• Size

Dislikes:

• Fabric could breathe for longer sitting durations
• Price

If you want to order your own chair, or take a closer look at the merchandise (and the eye-candy!), head to Sumo’s Web site.