Solidly made and ideal for rafting...
Now before we get into the intricacies of using a bean bag, let’s have a look at the construction which is so solid and thoroughly stitched that I’d swear the Omni is bomb-proof. Constructed from super tough rip-proof nylon with seams roughly 2 inches wide, I reckon this is the same stuff they make inflatable lifeboats from… and given the size of the Omni and this seasons flood warnings, I’ll probably be using mine as a raft by mid-February.The Omni is filled with a mass of what Sumo say are top quality ‘Sumo beads’, which are polystyrene beads to you and me. But the clever bit is the way the magic Sumo beads are sealed into the bag itself. You see, in a normal bean bag, you get a rather flimsy set of seams, a zip and, well, that’s it. So if perchance the zip should come undone a little, when you flumph into the bag you’re rewarded with a jet of polystyrene beads shooting out to then statically cling to everything within electromagnetic range.
Joypad added for scaleClick for larger image
Not so with the Omni. Yes, you get a zip running nearly the full length of one of the shorter sides, but you also get a 2” wide strip of Velcro running the full length of the zip too, making the Omni near as can be airtight… and if air can’t get out, neither can the beads.
Click for larger imageBut this adds another facet to the Omni, which is getting the balance of air inside the bag just right. Squeeze out all the air and there’s no room for the beads to move, turning the Omni into something akin to nearly set cement… honest to goodness, throw yourself into an under-inflated Omni and you might as well be throwing yourself onto a few kerbstones covered with tarpaulin. It really does get incredibly hard. But let too much air into the Omni and you’ll be wallowing around like a drunken baby on a bouncy castle. Try climbing onto an under-inflated Li-Lo and you’ll see what I mean.
Joypad shown for scaleClick for larger image
Now, believe it or not, it really does make a difference person per person as to how much air you should let into the Omni… One of my, erm, larger bottomed, friends found what was right for me was too much air for him. So, the smaller your bum, the less air you’ll find you’ll need. Still, you’ll still be flailing like a stuck hippo as you try and get out the Omni, not matter how much air is in there.
