The Best Christmas Inflatables for 2012
The Best Christmas Inflatables for 2012
Inflatables have become many people's favorite holiday decorations. It's all about easy, space-saving storage and instant gratification: two of the new virtues that will be included in William Bennett's updated version of The Book of Virtues.*
To refresh your memory, inflatables come in boxes that are often no larger than 2' x 2'. Yet, when plugged in to an electrical outlet, inflatables quickly fill up with air, grow taller and wider, are lighted, and sometimes include extra features, like animation and music.
Decorators put them on their front lawns, porches, balconies or roofs -- pretty much anywhere they will fit. For some, it's fun to place their airblown snowmen and helicopters next to nativity scenes and older blow-mold decorations, just for kicks. Others plan out sections of their yard to include groupings of related characters. Like everything, websites exist for collectors and fans of inflatables.
So, what's new for 2012 in the world of inflatable, airblown holiday characters? We've noticed a few trends:
Inflatable Polar Bear and Pals
This polar bear reminds me of my beloved older dog, Charlie: a bit stooped over, loyal, a good sport, and wearing the sweetest expression on his face. He's kind of like a patient taxi for his high-spirited, partying penguin pals who are perched atop his back.
Made by BZB Goods, this cute guy stands 96 inches tall, is 101.57 inches wide and measures 59 inches in diameter.
Other great things about the polar bear:
If you're an inflatable polar bear fan, you might want to add this charmer to your collection.
Redneck Nutcracker
It's a natural: rednecks and the curious though much-revered Christmas nutcracker (On account of The Nutcracker ballet and all.) Can't you see the marketing and product development meeting now?
And that is how an inflatable star is born.
Redneck Nutcracker stands 7 feet tall.
*An episode of Honey Boo Boo, called "Christmas in July," featured the clan getting out their Christmas inflatables on the lawn during the summer for a charitable reason. In another episode, the family attended the nearby Redneck Olympics.
XL Inflatable Santas: Size Matters
For years, Santa Clauses have given us big style in small packages. That theory is shattered in many tiny pieces with this loveable team of big lugs that come in XL, XXL and XXXL sizes. Meet:
Also spotted on the team of Big and Talls are a reindeer and snowman. A Christmas tree lot in a nearby small town were I live has placed a 16-foot Santa on the street corner to lure in tree-hunting customers.
If they were to drive a block farther, another tree lot has 20-foot Santa and an XXL reindeer on its street corner. Which lot do you think kids make their parents stop at? Size does matter.
From the looks and behavior of this line of Gemmy Airblown characters, it's downright bone-chilling. These guys are so cold they shake and rattle, thanks to the built-in animatronics -- which gets better each year.
No doubt inspired by last year's humorous Santa in a Trailer inflatable, Gemmy has given Mr. Claus a puffy new RV for 2012: a camper. While it looks quite similar to the trailer, inflatable enthusiasts will surely note the changes and want to park their trailer and camper Santas near one another on their front lawns for a whimsical holiday display.
Set up correctly (you have to read the instructions), Santa is programmed to pop his head out of the camper door, presumably to quiet down the after-midnight revelers at the campground at which he's staying.
Even in the middle of the night, we know that jolly Old Saint Nick would never be a grouch when asking his temporary neighbors to pipe down.
Inflatables have become many people's favorite holiday decorations. It's all about easy, space-saving storage and instant gratification: two of the new virtues that will be included in William Bennett's updated version of The Book of Virtues.*
To refresh your memory, inflatables come in boxes that are often no larger than 2' x 2'. Yet, when plugged in to an electrical outlet, inflatables quickly fill up with air, grow taller and wider, are lighted, and sometimes include extra features, like animation and music.
Decorators put them on their front lawns, porches, balconies or roofs -- pretty much anywhere they will fit. For some, it's fun to place their airblown snowmen and helicopters next to nativity scenes and older blow-mold decorations, just for kicks. Others plan out sections of their yard to include groupings of related characters. Like everything, websites exist for collectors and fans of inflatables.
So, what's new for 2012 in the world of inflatable, airblown holiday characters? We've noticed a few trends:
- Rednecks and rifle-toting hunters (because that's what hunters tote, after all)
- Extra-large characters
- More animation
- Freezing, teeth-chattering characters (see, that global warming thing is true).
Without further assessment, we present to you our picks for Best New Christmas Inflatables for 2012.
*Just kidding. To our knowledge, there are no new virtues, nor is there a revised edition of The Book of Virtues in the works.
Inflatable Polar Bear and Pals
This polar bear reminds me of my beloved older dog, Charlie: a bit stooped over, loyal, a good sport, and wearing the sweetest expression on his face. He's kind of like a patient taxi for his high-spirited, partying penguin pals who are perched atop his back.
Made by BZB Goods, this cute guy stands 96 inches tall, is 101.57 inches wide and measures 59 inches in diameter.
Other great things about the polar bear:
- He self-inflates in minutes
- Comes with lights, internal fan, ground stakes and tethers
- Made of weather-resistant polyester
If you're an inflatable polar bear fan, you might want to add this charmer to your collection.
Redneck Nutcracker
It's a natural: rednecks and the curious though much-revered Christmas nutcracker (On account of The Nutcracker ballet and all.) Can't you see the marketing and product development meeting now?
Wise-talking "executive" with cigar hanging out of the side of his mouth: "Rednecks are big right now and everyone loves 'em. I have a hunch this Honey Boo Boo* series is going to be a hit. Heck--some of my own kin are rednecks. Come weekends, there's a little redneck in all of us. Plus, with the economy and all, everyone can relate. Rednecks are -- authentic."
The marketing director, who is smarter and better looking than everyone in the room and who uses too many air quotes, is the first to reply. "What holiday character can we combine our redneck with for lighthearted family enjoyment and values, along with unadulterated comedic gold? It needs to reach out and 'touch' everyone, regardless of race, religion, age, political affiliation or social or economic status. It has to say, 'I get the joke. I can laugh at myself and am better for it.' And by doing so, it will 'speak' to anyone and everyone who is lucky enough to 'meet' it."
Ned, the computer guy who is inexplicably in the meeting, rattles off a few traditional holiday characters. "Snowman. Santa. Elf. Tree..."
"A redneck tree? That's nuts!" says a voice at the table.
"Nuts: almonds...cashews...Brazils. Say, how about a nutcracker?" suggests the air quoter.
"Hmmm. There's irony there somewhere. Do you understand what I'm saying? Irony!" says Mr. Cigar.
"Wasn't that an Alanis Morissette song?" pipes up the thirtyish temp who wears button-gaping cardigans and fake eyewear to smart-up her image.
All eyes look at her, divert to her cardi, again to her tortoiseshell-rimmed eyeglasses, then back to one another, without missing a beat.
"Redneck Nutcracker -- it's pure genius!" says the cigar-chomping exec. "Let's break for an early lunch!"
And that is how an inflatable star is born.
Redneck Nutcracker stands 7 feet tall.
*An episode of Honey Boo Boo, called "Christmas in July," featured the clan getting out their Christmas inflatables on the lawn during the summer for a charitable reason. In another episode, the family attended the nearby Redneck Olympics.
XL Inflatable Santas: Size Matters
For years, Santa Clauses have given us big style in small packages. That theory is shattered in many tiny pieces with this loveable team of big lugs that come in XL, XXL and XXXL sizes. Meet:
- 12-foot Santa
- 16-foot Santa
- 20-foot Santa
- 20-foot Christmas tree
- Colossal Santa
Also spotted on the team of Big and Talls are a reindeer and snowman. A Christmas tree lot in a nearby small town were I live has placed a 16-foot Santa on the street corner to lure in tree-hunting customers.
If they were to drive a block farther, another tree lot has 20-foot Santa and an XXL reindeer on its street corner. Which lot do you think kids make their parents stop at? Size does matter.
From the looks and behavior of this line of Gemmy Airblown characters, it's downright bone-chilling. These guys are so cold they shake and rattle, thanks to the built-in animatronics -- which gets better each year.
No doubt inspired by last year's humorous Santa in a Trailer inflatable, Gemmy has given Mr. Claus a puffy new RV for 2012: a camper. While it looks quite similar to the trailer, inflatable enthusiasts will surely note the changes and want to park their trailer and camper Santas near one another on their front lawns for a whimsical holiday display.
Set up correctly (you have to read the instructions), Santa is programmed to pop his head out of the camper door, presumably to quiet down the after-midnight revelers at the campground at which he's staying.
Even in the middle of the night, we know that jolly Old Saint Nick would never be a grouch when asking his temporary neighbors to pipe down.
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