Inflatable furniture?

Fex · Post by **Fex** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 3:54 pm

I've done some research & testing and have settled on a wicked-cool (to me, anyway) shade structure design. Basic 10' wide by 12' long quonset hut design. I'd like to have stuff for folks to sit on, but my transport capabilities are limited, so I thought maybe inflatables...I've seen inflatable armchairs, "beanbag" shape chairs, and sofas online...does anyone have experience with these? Are these common on the playa, or have they been tried & failed and generally avoided?

I'd have some cloth covers to accommodate bare skin, and have a regular lawn chair or 2 for the occasional punk-rock porcupine or Judas Priest buckle-and-spike type...IF blowups are worth having at all. If it's more likely that I'd just end up with a set of expensive gaily colored industrial sandwich baggies by day 4, I'll save my money and just get a cpl directors chairs.

Experiences? Observations?

Post by **AntiM** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 4:36 pm

Even if you think your structure will be solid against the wind, no, it won't. Inflatables tend to fly away if unsecured, and securing them seems hard. A totally enclosed structure will be an oven.

The wind is persistent. We even fold up our chairs when we leave camp so the wind won't walk off with them.

MikeVDS · Post by **MikeVDS** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 4:45 pm

Inflatables suck to sleep on with any bare skin. You have to peel yourself off in the morning. So I assume sitting for too long could do the same thing. It can be fun and is quite durable, but I'm guessing it will be destroyed by the end of the week from sharp costumes and or stuff in pockets.

misfit · Post by **misfit** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 8:59 am

we love our coleman inflateable matress and sofa. only problem is after about 10-12 days they'll need to be reinflated as they tend to lose a little air. as far as flying inflatable furniture from winds, never had a problem in our 11 years with them on the playa...

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 12:46 pm

ThermaRest for sleeping bag comfort (pricey though).

If you're looking for inflatable blow up furniture you really need to insure that you have a carpet/rug/pad or anything else to serve as a ground cover before you put this stuff on it. If you don't I can almost guarantee you that the abrasion form the playa cruft will eventually wear a hole in the material.

Zane5100 · Post by **Zane5100** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 1:44 pm

Inflatable furniture = power source + air pump + patch kits

I spent my first burn in a camp with inflatable furniture and it was work to keep them acceptably inflated for any real length of time. By Sat, you couldn't sit in any of them for more than a few minutes before your ass touched the ground.

Fold up chairs were far more valued and, eventually, fought over as that week came to a close.

Not worth it to me.

P.S. Watch out when your cheapie air pump that plugs into the cigarette lighter dies on you Thurs night. Hoots and hijinx will follow. Almost as much fun as when you lose the needle for inserting into the nipple.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:00 am

Zane5100 wrote:Almost as much fun as when you lose the needle for inserting into the nipple.

I love it when you talk dirty to me.

Post by **trilobyte** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 6:26 pm

I use an inflatable air mattress and love it (put regular sheets and blankets on it). This year, we had an inflatable chair inside our dome, and it was horrible. Maybe it was just the model we had, but my experience was that it constantly wanted to roll over anytime someone sat in it, and after about 20 minutes any flesh touching it was hot and sticky/sweaty. I'm all for getting hot and sweaty, but with campmates and friends NOT furniture lol...

~Trilo~

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 7:34 pm

I had a similar experience with the inflatable furniture that the AEZ had set up for Story Hour. I'm glad to know it wasn't just me! (My reaction was something like: What the heck?! Why can't I sit in this chair properly??!! I finally wound up elsewhere.)

I ALMOST got an air mattress, but, for the price, a folding cot seemed more reasonable. The biggest factor, though, was trying to get a decent pump for the mattresses I was looking at. More accurately, the local stores did SELL the pumps! (Must not have wanted someone like me to buy too badly....

)

Just my $0.01,

B.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 1:10 am

There is great pneumatic furniture.
Just a lot of cheap stuff around as always.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 5:58 am

Just a thought- If you took some scraps of marine vinyl (or old, blown-out inflatable chairs!) and cut rectangular strips, doubled them over, set a grommet near the folded end (with nylon washer, perhaps, to prevent tearout) and then GOOPed this lil' thingie to your inflatable chair, you'd have an anchor point that you could run a lightweight tether to. (You should have GOOP around for patching the things, anyway.) Or if you can find big enough sheets to tie the chair up in, you can just tie a hammock knot and anchor that way. And have a non-stick cover in the process.

The next generation in camp comfort? Custom hammocks. I've been making some for my crazy geodesic spaceship-thingie that had to be pentagonal, and clip into loopeyes on the structure. Weave rope, and then zipstrip shadecloth over top. My pal Dragonfly Jafe also made perfectly comfy chairs for his tank by simply zipstripping shadeclth to a frame of bent conduit. (Just have to use enough zips.)

Fex · Post by **Fex** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 8:45 am

robotland wrote:Just a thought- If you took some scraps of marine vinyl (or old, blown-out inflatable chairs!) and cut rectangular strips, doubled them over, set a grommet near the folded end (with nylon washer, perhaps, to prevent tearout) and then GOOPed this lil' thingie to your inflatable chair, you'd have an anchor point that you could run a lightweight tether to. (You should have GOOP around for patching the things, anyway.) Or if you can find big enough sheets to tie the chair up in, you can just tie a hammock knot and anchor that way. And have a non-stick cover in the process.

In these crazy, unpredictable times, a bit of consistency can provide a much-needed boost of security and confidence.

At some point in time, no matter what the thread, this guy is going to somehow bring the topic around to GOOP.

Robotland, you do us all proud. GOOP for the masses!

zorro sings · Post by **zorro sings** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 9:37 am

We can report fine results with the"3 in 1 Inflatable Sofa".Found it on an infomercial last year and it proved to be very sturdy.Throw a cover on it and difficult to tell right away it is inflatable thanks to very solid construction.Only had to add air once,through a very handy built in battery compressor, the whole week despite it being used every night in our club.Takes 3 minutes to fully inflate-deflate.As the name suggests it can also be used as a very comforable bed,fouton or sofa(more like love seat).In other words everything they claimed it to be as seen on TV was actually true.No wonder I have never seen the infomercial again.

Bottom Line:We will be getting another this year as a whole lot easier when it comes time to truck loading.

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 9:42 am

Darn, I have never heard of the "3 in 1 Inflatable Sofa", and now I want one! Probably they went out of business or were bought out or something. Figures!

B.

zorro sings · Post by **zorro sings** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 10:52 am

I will find the info for you,inshallah.Their shipping location is here(Reno)at the airport and still have the box in storage.

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 12:22 pm

I did sit in this one, and it was more comfortable than most of the sofas I've owned. Very Comfy, one could sleep in it. I would love a set for our guest cottage (which is also a painting studio), actually...

Then again, knowing his most gracious President a'Vie Omar Suarez (the Benevolent) and his wonderful establishment, I would have been surprised to find something not as such.

bb

MikeVDS · Post by **MikeVDS** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 6:00 am

Very Comfy, one could sleep in it.

Again, watch the skin on plastic contact, or you may have to peel yourself off in the morning. Personal experience says it can be quite unpleasant.

zorro sings · Post by **zorro sings** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 8:24 am

MikeVDS wrote:
Very Comfy, one could sleep in it.
Again, watch the skin on plastic contact, or you may have to peel yourself off in the morning. Personal experience says it can be quite unpleasant.

The "3 in 1"not made of plastic but"space age polymers"and Comrade Sue is quite correct,you could sleep on it.Only caveat would be the price which was $99.Still well worth it.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 9:02 am

zorro sings wrote:" space age polymers"

OoOoh, Oooh, Does Sweat actually CLEAN this couch?

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 8:52 pm

Hmm. $99 does seem a little pricey, but if it works as well as advertised, it is probably worth it. I'd like to know how to get one, just so I could order one if/when I am employed again. (After spending the past few days moving [and part of tomorrow], with the prospect of moving again looming in the near future, inflatable furniture sounds like a WONDERFUL idea!!!

)

Yep, I definitely want the ordering info! PLEASE!

Thank you!

B.

zorro sings · Post by **zorro sings** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 3:07 pm

Today we ventured out to our storage unit in search of the inflatable furniture in question.Will remember the dust mask next time we go.In any case we short changed the functionality of the deeply buried treasure.....It is the "5 in 1 sofa bed".I had forgot to consider"Luxurious Lounger"and"Kids Double Bed".Here is the web site where you can secure your very own.

http://www.thane.com/products/houseware ... ofabed.php

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 3:11 pm

zorro sings wrote:Today we ventured out to our storage unit in search of the inflatable furniture in question.Will remember the dust mask next time we go.In any case we short changed the functionality of the deeply buried treasure.....It is the "5 in 1 sofa bed".I had forgot to consider"Luxurious Lounger"and"Kids Double Bed".Here is the web site where you can secure your very own.

http://www.thane.com/products/houseware ... ofabed.php

Thanks!

(Now I just need to work on getting the funds together.)

B.