Gear Best Inflatable Hammock
Note: The Gear Best Inflatable Hammock is no longer produced, although there are many similar products on the market. Gear Best does sell a variety of hammocks at amazing prices on their website.
The Gear Best Inflatable Hammock is one of many inflatable cushions that have become a huge fad in the past several months. It’s a hammock in very loose terms, but as it is an elevated sleeping platform, I thought it would be fun to test it out.
Product Description
The product is built like a large water-tight stuff sack with a roll-top enclosure. The outside material is made from ripstop nylon. Inside, there is a bladder made from plastic to help seal the air inside. The roll-top enclosure has a very stiff insert and uses a tough interlocking plastic buckle. The “couch” is essentially two tubes that are connected in the middle. Once inflated, there is a distinct deep and shallow side you can sit in.
To inflate, you lay the fabric out flat and then open one side and quickly pull it through the air and then snap it shut. Do the same to the other half. It helps if there is a slight breeze to help force air inside the tubes. I used a fan indoors, which really helped. Once both sides are filled sufficiently, quickly roll the top and snap the buckle closed. The stiff roll top will “pop” back and be somewhat flat against the end of the couch.
Overall Impressions and Updates
The inflatable hammock was an instant hit with the family. The kids would fight for a chance to lounge, and was often used to read books, watch movies, or play in with friends. The couch makes a great lounging spot. It’s important to note that there are two distinct sides. The tubes are sewn together off-center, so there is a deep and shallow side. I found the shallow side much easier to lay in.
It can be a little hard to get the tubes inflated. My biggest disappointment, however, is that the tubes slowly leak. I was hoping to try sleeping overnight, but even after a few hours, the tubes lost enough air that it wasn’t as comfortable. Rolling the tubes tighter after the air loss helps to firm it back up, but that also shortens it incrementally at the same time.
I love that the couch deflates and rolls up quickly to pack. The trick to stuffing it back into the bag is to curl the stiff roll top into a “U” shape as you roll.
Recommendations and Review
While the leaking doens’t really allow for a long-term relaxation station, the inflatable hammock is a fun piece of gear for around the house, the park, or other recreational activities. Everyone I showed it to enjoyed it and wanted to get one of their own.
| Criteria | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension and Anchor System (?) | N/A | The roll-top enclosure is the only “anchor” system. It is sturdy and has a nice locking mechanism to prevent pop-outs under pressure. |
| Construction and Craftsmanship (?) | ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ | I don’t have a lot of experience with this type of gear, so while I was disappointed that the bags leak over time, I don’t know if that is common. It seems reasonable, considering the type of enclosure and the pressure exerted on the tubes. In all other ways the bag is well-constructed. |
| Modularity (?) | ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ | I love that you can pull this bag out pretty much anywhere. It works on water too. I used it at work as a fun lounger on a Friday for my team and they loved it. |
| Aesthetics (?) | ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ | This bag definitely has the “fun” factor. You can find it a variety of colors. |
| Price and Value (?) | N/A | Since this particular product is no longer available from Gear Best, I can’t really comment on the price and value. It is available on the market at a variety of price points. |
- Manufacturer: Gear Best, made in China
Available Features/Specifications
Features
- Inflatable couch
- Ripstop nylon
- Locking roll-top enclosure
Specifications
- 94 × 28 in (239 × 71 cm) flat
Weight
- 41 oz (1,175 g)
Similar Products
- N/A
Disclosure of material connection: The author (Derek Hansen) was provided with a free sample from the manufacturer for testing and evaluation purposes. The comments in this post (written & spoken) are of my own opinion, which I formed after personally handling the gear.
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