Inflatables
Thirteen self-inflating lit figures from Premier and Snow Time: the 5ft Inflatable Gonk at £44.99, snowman, penguin and gingerbread families at 1.5m to 1.8m, each with a built-in fan, internal LEDs, tethers and ground stakes. Plug in and the figure stands up in under a minute. From £35.99 to £299.
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Premier
2.7m Plush Teddy Bear Drumming Nutcracker Christmas Inflatable with LEDs
12 white LEDs
£299.00
How an inflatable works
A low-voltage fan in the base keeps the figure inflated while it is switched on, and white LEDs sewn inside glow through the fabric. Switch off and it deflates to a bundle the size of a cushion. There is nothing to assemble: unfold it, peg the stakes through the base loops, tie the tethers to the fixing points supplied, plug in.
Sizes
A 1.5m figure is adult shoulder height and fills a front lawn seen from the pavement. The 1.8m gingerbread family is taller than most adults and is for a large garden or a commercial frontage. The 5ft gonk suits a smaller lawn or a porch. Width is listed on the product page and matters for a narrow front garden.
Weather
Inflatables are made for the outdoors but not for gales. In wind above about 30mph deflate the figure and bring it in; the tethers hold in normal weather. Rain is fine. The transformer and plug need to be under cover.
Running cost
The fan draws about 10W to 15W and the LEDs a few more, so an inflatable costs roughly 4p to 6p an hour to run at the current electricity price cap. Most people run them from dusk to bedtime on a timer plug.
Common questions
Does it inflate itself?
Yes, the fan in the base inflates it in under a minute when plugged in and keeps it up while it is on.
Can an inflatable stay out in rain?
Yes. Deflate it in high wind and keep the plug and transformer under cover.
How is it fixed down?
Ground stakes through the base loops and tethers from the figure to pegs, all supplied.
How much does it cost to run?
The fan and LEDs together draw about 15W to 20W: around 5p an hour, or 30p for a six-hour evening.