13 Weird Fads from the ’80s and ’90s We All Forgot About
These 13 strange fads from the ’80s and ’90s took over for a moment, then disappeared almost completely.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 5 min read
The ’80s and ’90s were packed with fads that spread fast — usually through TV, commercials, or word of mouth. Some lasted a year, some a summer, but they all shared one thing: they were everywhere… then nowhere. Today, most are forgotten, unless you were there to witness the weirdness.
1. Pogs
Nizzan Cohen on Pexels
Pogs were everywhere in the mid-’90s — cardboard discs you stacked, slammed, and collected like they were treasure. Originally a milk cap game from Hawaii, they exploded into schoolyards and toy stores thanks to aggressive marketing. Kids would bring giant tubes filled with hundreds of Pogs to school. By 1997, they were banned in classrooms and mostly gone.
2. Hypercolor Shirts
RDNE Stock project on Pexels
These shirts changed color based on body heat and were marketed as magic. You’d touch them or sweat a little, and they’d shift from purple to pink, or green to yellow. They were a big hit for about a year in the early ’90s. The novelty wore off fast, especially when people realized sweat patches were now neon.
3. Pet Rocks
Rockfang on Wikimedia Commons
Technically born in the late ’70s, Pet Rocks hit their peak as a gag gift in the early ’80s. You literally bought a rock in a box with breathing holes and a care manual. It was funny, weirdly charming, and sold millions. However, once the joke wore off, it vanished completely.
4. Slap Bracelets
Anntinomy on Wikimedia Commons
Metal strips wrapped in fabric that snapped around your wrist — slap bracelets were cool, loud, and weirdly satisfying. They became a fashion accessory and a toy at once. Some schools banned them when poorly made versions started cutting kids. By the mid-’90s, the craze was over.
5. Fanny Packs
Tmonopoly on Wikimedia Commons
Fanny packs were practical and bold, often worn in neon colors and positioned dead center on the waist. They were everywhere in the late ’80s and early ’90s, especially at theme parks and tourist traps. People proudly rocked them with windbreakers and Reebok Pumps. They eventually became uncool overnight and were mocked for years.
6. Koosh Balls
K Tempest Bradford on Wikimedia Commons
These soft, rubbery balls with hundreds of tendrils were weird to look at but fun to squish and toss. They were marketed as both toys and stress-relievers. Every kid had one hanging from a backpack or buried in a toy chest. They quietly faded from the spotlight by the late ’90s.
7. The Macarena
Kirt Edblom on Wikimedia Commons
This dance hit exploded in 1996 — you couldn’t go to a wedding, prom, or baseball game without hearing it. The song was catchy, and the dance was easy, which made it perfect for mass appeal. It topped charts for weeks and crossed into mainstream culture fast. But after a few months, it was done, and no one wanted to hear it again.
8. Garbage Pail Kids
Appalachian Artworks, Inc on Wikimedia Commons
These trading cards were the gross, rebellious answer to Cabbage Patch Kids — complete with snot, puke, and ridiculous names. Parents hated them, which only made kids love them more. For a while in the ’80s, they were traded like currency on school grounds. However, complaints and school bans slowed the fad, so they were gone by the early ’90s.
9. Mood Rings
Alkivar on Wikimedia Commons
Mood rings supposedly changed color based on your emotions — in reality, they just reacted to temperature. Still, the idea of jewelry that reads your feelings caught on in the ’80s and again in the ’90s. They sold well in gift shops, malls, and arcades. Eventually, everyone moved on from the novelty.
10. Skip-It
Saskatoon Public Library on Wikimedia Commons
This toy was strapped to your ankle with a counter, and you had to hop over the spinning ball as it swung around. It was a playground hit in the early ’90s and looked like exercise, which made parents happy. Kids would compete over who could get the highest count. Then, the hype ended, and Skip-Its became yard sale leftovers.
11. Gel Pens
TylerDignam on Wikimedia Commons
Gel pens came in neon, metallic, glitter, and pastel colors and made every notebook look like an art project. They were especially popular among middle schoolers in the late ’90s. The ink was often inconsistent, but no one cared because the colors popped. They faded out once smoother, better pens came around.
12. No Fear Shirts
Those Fears T-shirt on Wikimedia Commons
These T-shirts screamed bold slogans about courage, toughness, or just random intensity — things like “Second place is the first loser.” They were popular with kids who didn’t even know what they meant, especially in the early ’90s. They became a short-lived identity statement. Once the slogans got tired, so did the brand.
13. Tamagotchis
xmacex on Wikimedia Commons
These digital pets beeped, ate pixels, and died if ignored for more than 12 hours. Tamagotchis were massive in the late ’90s and had kids checking their pockets like anxious parents. They were banned in many schools due to the constant noise. Eventually, people got tired of virtual poop, and the fad disappeared.