I’ve always been a bit apprehensive when it comes to inflatable furniture. Uncomfortable memories of hot sweaty days and skin-sticking awfulness come to mind when I think about that inflatable couch we had in my backyard when I was a kid. What were my parents thinking?
But when I came across the Chillbo Shwaggins (what a name am I right?) I decided to throw caution to the wind and give it a try. It just looks too cool to not want to take this on my next camping trip.
For those unfamiliar with what this piece of gear is, it’s not just an inflatable chair. Not even close. It’s almost like the perfect hybrid between a hammock, an inflatable mattress, and sitting on a cloud. No clunky pumps are required and you aren’t going to pass out trying to blow this thing up.
The Chillbo has two chambers that you fill with air by simply unrolling, dragging through the air with a swooping motion, trapping that air with a cutoff similar to that found on the top of a waterproof gear bag, rolling the chambers in place to isolate it and then clipping it in place.
There is a bit of a learning curve to the process but once you got it down It literally takes seconds to fill up and start lounging around in.
Who is it for?
The Chillbo Shweggins is great for taking to the park or to an outdoor music festival. It would be an interesting talking point at a beach or pool party. I’m not sure I’m going to just lounge around the house with this but it certainly comes in handy when I’m out and about or camping.
That brings me to my next point. It’s ridiculously lightweight. It’s about the same size and shape as a camping hammock when stored. You could easily throw one of these bad boys in your pack and bring it with you on your next camping or backpacking trip.
My friends kid loves this thing. Every time I inflate it, it’s like a flashlight to a moth. In a way, the Chillbo brings out that childlike feeling within me as well.
Materials and Construction
Made from tear-resistant and durable nylon, this inflatable is soft to the touch and not exceptionally sticky on hot sweaty days. Its parachute-like feel allows for airflow. The seams are all really solid and leak-proof.
You don’t want to jump on this thing or anything but regular use should keep this thing airtight for years. The clips also are a bit heavier duty than I expected. I’m used to products slipping up and equipping things with cheap plastic components but these feel like they’ll put up with quite a bit of regular use.
Specifications
●Folds to 13” x 7” x 3.5”
●3 lbs when deflated
●Ripstop nylon
●large side pockets
●7′ when inflated
●Travel bag with arm strap included
Last update on 2022-02-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API