INTRODUCTION

   Gaming chairs may currently enjoy high popularity numbers among gamers (primarily PC ones), enthusiasts and even professionals but there's another type of gaming furniture gaining ground in the gaming market especially among console gamers, bean bags. Bean bags have actually been around since the late 1960's (if i recall correctly they are Italian in origin and the first time i saw a really large one was in the Austin Powers movies back in the late 90's) but it wasn't until somewhat recently that they became the go to furniture for countless console gamers all over the world. Of course large size bean bags still are a valid alternative to couches and sofas for young people but the reason for this review is because many of you came forward and asked our opinion regarding Sumo Lounge and their rather large line of bean bags. So today we'll be taking a quick look at their "entry-level" Sumo Gamer Microsuede model which we've been using for slightly over 2 months now.

   Sumo Lounge was founded in 2004, meaning that we have over a decade of experience that allows us to help you find your ideal bean bag chair. Here at Sumo Lounge, we pride ourselves on providing the best for our customers. That means creating the most comfortable, durable and stylish bean bag chairs money can buy. Our chairs are very fluffy and are very simple to clean. We have everything you would need for your collection of bean bag chairs, from enormous bed-like bags to the smallest ottoman shaped chairs, we have something for everyone of every shape and size. You can also choose what kind of material it is made of and your favorite color allowing you to always have a great match for you and your home.

   As mentioned earlier Sumo Lounge has a very wide selection of bean bags in their inventory and the Sumo Gamer Microsuede sits almost at the bottom (just over the Sumo Gamer Mini) when it comes to size and price. That of course doesn't mean that the Sumo Gamer Microsuede is a small bean bag, far from it actually since it weighs almost 23kg (50 pounds) and measures 1.21 meters (48 inches) in diameter and 76cm (30 inches) in height (still with models up to roughly 2.5 meters in diameter and 1 meter in height it's far from the largest one in the Sumo Lounge product line). The Sumo Gamer Microsuede model is filled with superior quality SumoFoam (according to Sumo Lounge this type of foam will last for years and can be replaced by purchasing 16lbs bags from them) and is covered with a designer slip-cover made out of suede (the Sumo Gamer model is also available with corduroy for higher durability and luxury fur for extreme comfort slip-covers). So let's see what Sumo Gamer Microsuede by Sumo Lounge has to offer to gamers and consumers in general of all ages and sizes.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

We received the Sumo Gamer Microsuede inside a large cardboard box (which arrived in bad condition and fell apart before we could even take pictures of it) inside which we found the SumoFoam material wrapped inside a plastic bag.

A second bag included the microsuede slip-cover along with instructions on how to properly prepare the bean bag.

The instructions are quite detailed although the entire package doesn’t exactly scream quality.

THE SUMO GAMER MICROSUEDE

We followed the instructions to the letter and had the bean bag massaged without placing the slip-cover for just over a day (it increased almost twice in size after that).

The microsuede slip-cover may not be the top of the line offered by Sumo Lounge when it comes to durability or comfort (especially if you have cats and/or dogs at home the corduroy version should be best) but it feels nice to the touch.

Sumo Lounge has placed their logo on a piece of fabric located at what should be the front of the Sumo Gamer bean bag.

Measuring 1.2 meters in diameter the Sumo Gamer Microsuede was actually too large for our lab (it actually did fit but we couldn't move around freely) so after just 4 days i had to take it at my place for further use.

CONCLUSION

   After using the Sumo Gamer Microsuede for just over two months most of my friends, family members and even my cat seem to enjoy sitting in it (my cat even turned it into her bed while I’m away). Size is very good for any single person regardless of height and weight (it's actually very large for most rooms but if you happen to have a very spacious living room or even a recreation room then you should opt for one of the larger models - we'll try to get some of them over too), the SumoFoam used is extremely comfortable and unlike its packaging the microsuede slip-cover feels nice and high in quality. Unfortunately although it does feel nice the microsuede slip-cover is not as soft as we would had liked it to be (and in a way it makes the SumoFoam filling feel harder too) and so that's where the luxury fur slip-cover probably comes in. Of course the Sumo Gamer Microsuede is still very soft and you can throw yourself at it from any direction you'd like but if you want the maximum possible comfort (and you can afford it) the luxury fur model is that you should be looking at. Needless to say we will do our best to get more bean bags over to test and if that comes to pass we will also start to rate them just like with gaming chairs thus making it very easy to compare models.

   At the moment of this review the Sumo Gamer Microsuede Bean Bag retails for USD219 (directly from Sumo Lounge with free shipping for U.S orders) a price tag which although set slightly higher than we had expected is actually quite balanced for what you're getting. Of course you can always find similarly sized bean bags from other manufacturers for less but after spending quite a bit of time checking the specifications of such models online it became clear to us that lower-cost models seem to be very "basic" compared to both the interior filling and the slip-cover offered by Sumo Lounge (high-quality models retail in around the same price range). Overall the Sumo Gamer Microsuede is a very comfortable, high-quality and large bean bag aimed primarily towards people who spend long hours in front of their TV's and although it's the entry-level model in the Sumo Lounge product line it's still worth our Golden Award.

PROS

- High Quality
- Comfortable
- Large Size
- Available With 3 Different Slip Covers (Different Prices)
- Available In 15 Colors
- Lifetime Guarantee

CONS

- Price (For Some)
- Packaging