Adult-sized ball pit

[justben]

After a random chat with radiantbaby, vatavian, and rslatkin, I've become obsessed with the idea of an adult-sized ball pit, particularly with potential application as a bed. The big question in my mind, though, is one of volume. How much floor space would it need to take up to comfortably sleep -- or play -- two adults? Four? Six? And how deep would it need to be to support

Comments

[zhelana]

you sink in those things if they're deep. Maybe you could have it gradually get deeper though so there would be a shallow end for sleeping and a deeper end for ball fights?

[justben]

Ooh, good idea! A shallow side and a deep side, like with swimming pools.

[zhelana]

You need a slide, too!

[justben]

Maybe. Then you start getting into vertical space issues, though.

[akiko_kalla]

That actually sounds like a lot of fun. I would say start with the...what are they called...foam parties? The ones with soap and bubbles and such. They might have information on the amount of space needed.

[justben]

Ooh, very good idea. I haven't been to one of those parties, though, so I don't know if the dynamics would be similar or not. At the very least, foam parties would be more asphyxiation-prone than ball-pools. Still, for surface area, they may be able to lend some guidance.

[akiko_kalla]

Hehe, well I've not been to one either; it was on an episode of CSI. But it seems like they might have some things in common. I'd go to a ball party though! (that doesn't sound right does it...) ^_~

[justben]

My next house needs to have a full-sized basement, I think, just so I can fill it with balls. Could you imagine a whole basement set up like that? Awesome. I have all sorts of unwholesome thoughts.

[missakins]

What if the balls were soft, like nerf instead of hard plastic?

[justben]

I was thinking that, too. Could be more comfortable for sleeping. Then again, they crush more under occupants' weight, so I imagine the pool would need to be deeper to support a person well.

[ashlupa]

I hope you're thinking about something with soft foam balls, rather than the usual hard plastic ones. That would hurt, and not in a good way.

[justben]

I'm not so sure. I remember being in one as an adult and finding it rather comfortable. It's a weight distribution thing.

[ashlupa]

Even with your weight sufficiently distributed, I'm not seeing it being really comfortable, especially to move around in--and the hard balls don't exactly feel nice on the skin.

[justben]

Clearly some experimentation is in order!

[adrian76]

...but do you really want to be the one cleaning all the spooge off of all of those balls after a party?

[justben]

If the fun is well-had, it would be worth it.

[mybabythoughts]

aahahahahahaha agreed!!

[justben]

Bah, can't let a little squeamishness ruin a wonderful idea! :-)