Ask any parent of a teenager and you’ll likely get the same answer. Hacky sacks are making a big comeback. Yes, a 90’s stoner symbol (hello, remember?) ignorance?) is back. This time with the kids too.
Personally, I’m totally comfortable spending money (which can be a lot of money these days – I spent $45 on Etsy on 4 bags for my boys two weeks ago, and I’ve heard it’s a lot more now) to get my boys to play with me off the screen. And sure enough, teens are creating social media accounts and clubs to play the revived game.
But I was curious: How does a ball filled with seemingly tiny pellets come back, and come back so quickly? We spoke to Jonathan Berkowitz, CEO of PlayMonster, which partnered with Wham-O to bring back the popular toy in 2025, about how the company relaunched the product in February.
“From the beginning, we saw Hacky Sack not just as a nostalgic brand, but as a brand that had all the ingredients to become a viral trend,” he told Scary Mommy. “This shaped how we approached our relaunch earlier this year: modernizing our product line, building a social-first presence, and positioning the brand for today’s consumer and creator culture.”
In other words, they knew how trends started now, And so far it’s paying off. According to TikTok, #hackysacks is up 32,400% since the beginning of the year, and searches for “hackysack” are up 6,995%. So PlayMonster turned to the Gen Z playbook. They built an active presence across their TikTok and Instagram channels, connecting and collaborating directly with their fans through their content. In fact, PlayMonster’s channel has garnered 100 million video views across TikTok and Instagram. Berkowitz said the last product drop on TikTok sold out within three hours, and pre-orders on Amazon went about as fast.
The return of Hacky Sack is not a one-time event. “Nostalgia has evolved into what we call ‘reclaiming,’ where people look to the past for solace, but remix it in ways that feel relevant today,” Sydney Stanback, Pinterest’s global trends and insights lead, told me via email. “The resurgence of Hacky Sack fits right into that. It’s playful, low-pressure, and rooted in a simpler, more analog kind of connection that people are really drawn to right now.” It really makes sense. People, including children of course, are looking for nostalgic items. Because everything used to feel, whether it was true or not. Make it simpler.
I asked Stanback what he expects to come back next. “If Hacky Sack is any indication, we’ll continue to see a resurgence of nostalgic, low-tech activities that encourage people to unplug and connect in real life. (Pinterest) has seen a 260% increase in searches for ‘analog aesthetics’…from ‘grandma’s crafts’ like knitting and embroidery to nostalgic rituals with a modern twist,” she said. “Second, we expect to see continued interest in retro hobbies, collectibles, and social activities that feel tactile, playful, and customizable. Think disposable cameras and backyard games in a reimagined sense. What’s interesting is that these trends aren’t going back exactly as they were before. Younger consumers are remixing them through personalization, humor, and aesthetics that feel fresh today.”
This is certainly the case in my family. My sons and their friends are obsessed with collecting sports cards. They spend hours looking at and exchanging cards, but with the modern twist of selling cards online and watching videos of others opening cards. And don’t even get me started on the mini collectibles.
So what’s the next reboot from PlayMonster? Berkowitz isn’t really interested in following trends. He is “focused on identifying iconic brands that, when combined with social storytelling, product innovation, and consumer engagement, have the potential to feel culturally relevant to a new generation.” After all, “classic play is classic for a reason. The best ‘comebacks’ tap into timeless play patterns such as creativity, self-expression, connection, and pure fun, and evolve those experiences for modern audiences.”
But note: PlayMonster owns the Koosh (the stretchy porcupine-like ball you used to play with as a kid) and the Spirograph, so you might want to buy one now before they become hard to come by. And if TikTok is to be believed, junk journaling, dazzling, and even Tae Bo (Billy Banks, anyone?) are gaining popularity among Gen Z.
Even the banks are nostalgic.
