Footbags Trending Among Teens

Some view it as just a meme, while others see it as a welcome break from endless screen time. Regardless, footbags—often called “hacky sacks”—are making quite a comeback.

Charlie, a 13-year-old from New Jersey, shared with a magazine that he and his friends got into the game after spotting it online. “Then we all started playing,” he said.

Online Buzz

There’s a noticeable resurgence in interest around footbags. This popularity, as indicated by Google Trends, saw searches for terms like “hacky sack” and “footbag” increase by over 500% in late April, not to mention the interest in popular brands.

The company behind the original hacky sack, Wham-O, reported that their products are completely sold out on various platforms, including their website and Amazon. This trend began gaining momentum before spring break and seems to be soaring ever since students returned to school.

“On a good day, I’d have around 200 to 300 visitors to my website. Now, I’m seeing about 4,000,” said Mike Heher, who runs Bomb Footbags in Lake Tahoe, California. He only realized the extent of this trend after discussing it with reporters.

Many purchases are likely linked to viral TikTok videos that have fueled curiosity about the game.

Viral Videos

One particularly popular video has garnered over 320,000 views. It mentioned how picking up the hacky sack is a gradual process. Viewers can get lost in a series of videos featuring everyone from high school students to adults demonstrating their skills.

Another user shared her experience of retrieving her father’s old hacky sack, noting that the game is popping up in ways that weren’t common in the ’90s and early 2000s. It seems the trend is really taking off.

The phenomenon appears to be catching on in high schools in Massachusetts, where students are forming “Sack Team” pages on social media.

In a nod to the playful nature of the game, boys have found it amusing to use hashtags like #SpreadSackNotHate to generate interest.

Boston Latin School’s principal commented he’s never seen a trend “explode so quickly.”

Students are noticing the change as well. Ben, a senior at Gloucester High School, remarked, “I never saw anyone playing this at school before, but suddenly, just last week, it’s happening everywhere—even teachers are joining in.” He added, “I have a hacky sack in my car right now.”

Competitive Play

Massachusetts teams are starting to compete in what has humorously become an unofficial ranking by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association. What began as a joke among friends now involves at least 96 teams.

Ryan, an 18-year-old from Westwood High School, mentioned that there’s likely a surge of players in Massachusetts. “It’s chaos, with everyone competing for a better ranking, and it’s just more fun,” he noted.

This resurgence of retro toys, as remarked by Jen Lynch from the Toy Association, can be attributed in part to parents who are members of the “original hacky sack generation.”