Cuddlebag Bean Bag Chairs Review

Cuddlebag Features

I can't deny it. I've tried, but it haunts me as something that will forever mark my life as a memory that cannot be shaken: I love bean bags. One of the most pleasant experiences I can remember was sinking into an oversized gigantic beanbag chair that completely enveloped me such that I thought I may not ever be able to escape its clutches (of course, being 3 at the time this meant that the bag could have been about 3 feet wide). Still, I have always loved the idea of a chair that truly conforms itself to the shape of your body. I thought the day of the bean bag had come and gone - but Cuddlebag has brought it back with a twist.

Gone are the noisy bags of yesteryear whose beany textures filled your ears with the sound of a giant chewing a mouthful of frozen chick peas. Gone are the pleather surfaces that stick to your legs and hands, peeling off with the sound of a roll of saran wrap slowly leaving the spool. Vanquished is the pool of sweat left over in the chair as you rise from having spent a mere 5 minutes trapped in its clutches. Now, like a warm cozy Hobbit hole, the Cuddlebag has redefined the bean bag chair into a simple word: COMFORT. Let's observe the features of the new bags:

Microfiber covers that are washable and removable (there is an inner bag that holds the foam)

• Multiple size and color choices
• Polyurethane (read: silent) memory foam stuffing
• Accessory pillows and ottomans available

And for dealers there are other helpful features like available drop shipping and 50% gross margins. Plus these bags are extremely easy to install and there's no doubt they're comfortable.

Cuddlebag Build Quality & Conclusion

We got our first look at Cuddlebag with a full size Ottoman. It came shipped in a rather small box. At first I thought they had sent me the wrong product. There was no way a 48" x 18" Ottoman was going to fit into a box that was only 28" x 12" x 12". That's almost a 400% reduction in volume! Opening up the box my confusion grew as I saw a black burlap-looking cover with the words "Cuddlebag" surrounding a densely packed pillow that felt like a brick. Not being one to read instructions I proceeded to remove the black cover (seemed fairly intuitive, though I still had no idea what I was in for).

The first problem I ran into was deciphering the Turkish knot that had been applied to the black cover. Feeling that this was an obvious challenge to my manhood, I was determined to undo it without any tools or sharp instruments. That determination lasted about 30 seconds and I pulled out my trusty pocket knife (warning: don't try this at home, I am a trained professional. You could easily puncture your Cuddlebag if you aren't careful and then I would have to laugh at you and say "I told you so" repeatedly.) Besides, I found out later that the burlap material rips quite easily once started. Once I freed the inner bag I stared at the white lump with a rather confused look on my face. Then it happened - The bag started growing right before my eyes. Somewhere in the recesses of my mind a light clicked on. THIS is how you get 20 pounds of potatoes in a 5 pound bag!

Before I discuss the wonders of this bag, here are the official instructions so that you may be spared the uncertainties I had when receiving the product and readying it for deployment:

• Remove Packaging: (DO NOT CUT OPEN!)
• Take Cuddlebag out of box.
  
• Tear the outer shipping bag off after removing the rope.
• Remove the plastic covering and then throw away all packaging items. Once you've removed the packaging, the Cuddlebag will be a white fabric.
• Knead Foam: Break up the foam inside. Continue kneading and rolling the bag, until you have separated all of the clumps of foam. The pieces of foam will begin filling up with air.
  
  
  
  
• Put Cover On: It is easiest if you begin by rolling the bag to stand it up on end. Then cover one end of the bag with the end of the cover that is sewn shut. Then roll the bag so that the cover begins to wrap around the rest of the bag. Stuff the bag into the cover & zip it up as you go!
• Roll Frequently : Continue to roll the bag, which will help the foam inflate. You can start sitting or lying in the bag, but please note, it will get more comfortable and less lumpy. Bags usually take 7-10 days to reach full size. In Rare cases bags may take up to 30 days to fully inflate.

As is indicated above, I found that breaking up the clumps and rolling the bag around was a quick way to get it to grow faster and with a more even shape. It was an easy process and I was able to fully enjoy the Cuddlebag by evening time - though my three-year-old seemed to be able to enjoy the bag the entire day. As the cover showed up about a day after the Cuddlebag, we had a tougher time putting it on since the bag had fully expanded, though it was certainly manageable. In hindsight I would recommend waiting until you have all parts and putting the Cuddlebag into its cover sometime before it reaches its full size.

Conclusion

While this is just a "First Look" article (we'll do a review of a Cuddlebag ensemble later) we were able to really get a feel for the bag's texture and attractiveness. The microfiber covers are wonderful to the touch and don't stick to the body. The polyurethane memory foam is soft and doesn't make any noise when manipulated and reformed. The bag is, in a word, supremely comfortable (OK, that's two words). Stitched along the side of the bag is the Cuddlebag logo, but in a blended color so as to not stick out like a sore thumb (some manufacturers would put their logos in blinking neon thread if it existed).

For $249.99 you could argue that this is one expensive ottoman. I would counter, however that it has a few things going for it. One, it is unique and special in a marketplace that has no real competition in this area - at least none that I have seen targeted for the home theater consumer. Two, the price is inherently targeted such that dealers have a mark-up - this is good as no dealer-centric product will survive if they can't buy the product at a discount. This is also good for consumers as it gives them another choice when contracting their home theater - and a $599.99 Biggie Bag is far cheaper than two or three theater chairs. While I could see a whole theater full of Cuddlebags, they would also work just fine as overflow or "front row seats" for the younger members of your family who want to cultivate a fun environment when watching movies. All in all, this is one company I would like to see flourish and one product that has really made a unique impact on me this year.

Cuddlebag Theater Bean Bag Chairs

MSRP: $249.99 - $599.99
http:/www.cuddlebag.com

About Cuddlebag
The Cuddlebag Corporation had its origins in 2002 when CEO and Founder Ryan Gorham, discovered that the existing bean bags were not meeting his comfort needs. That was when the idea was born to make them a more functional and comfortable shape. Ryan made the first Cuddlebag by cutting up foam with household scissors and stuffing it into the first inner cover sewn by his sister-in-law. The cylindrical design offered the flexibility to sit on it side-by-side without squishing into the middle or falling off the side, or just lay on it lengthwise like a bed. The first Cuddlebag store opened October 11, 2003. The company now has 3 dedicated Cuddlebag stores, over 54 stores or dealers who carry their products nationwide, one in Canada and now 2 in Australia.

The Score Card

The scoring below is based on each piece of equipment doing the duty it is designed for. The numbers are weighed heavily with respect to the individual cost of each unit, thus giving a rating roughly equal to:

Performance × Price Factor/Value = Rating

Audioholics.com note: The ratings indicated below are based on subjective listening and objective testing of the product in question. The rating scale is based on performance/value ratio. If you notice better performing products in future reviews that have lower numbers in certain areas, be aware that the value factor is most likely the culprit. Other Audioholics reviewers may rate products solely based on performance, and each reviewer has his/her own system for ratings.

Audioholics Rating Scale

• — Excellent
• — Very Good
• — Good
• — Fair
• — Poor

Metric	Rating
Build Quality
Ergonomics & Usability
Ease of Setup/Programming/Integration
Performance
Value