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5 Fads of the 90's
One part novelty toy, one part fashion accessory, the slap
bracelet was the most fun you could have for $2 in the 90’s. Basically a flat
strip of plastic with a colorful outer design that wrapped around your wrist
upon contact, these things were the talk of the playground that had a very
specific progression of use. First off you would slap it on your own wrist or
ankle for about 5 minutes and when that got boring, you went looking for a
“victim” to attack with a surprise slap. Even though the process was harmless,
people still flinched whenever a slap bracelet was involuntarily applied to
their arm, which provided a rush of malevolent glee. Next you would treat the thing
like a mouse trap, dropping items of various weights on the open strip to make
it grab them in its clutches.
The final stage was dissection. Kids are curious, we wanted
to know what "magic" made things go, unfortunately that’s where the fun ended. I
remember having this great fear that there was a coiled wire inside just
waiting to rip my flesh off and always feared one of my classmates using a
butchered slap bracelet as a means of torture. On the lighter side, my favorite
slap bracelet design ever was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles themed. It was
basically just the movie poster and other illustrations of the Turtles inside a
film strip design. I just loved the whole aesthetic. I’m sure these things
still exist, but just like we’re not seeing today’s 3rd graders sporting neon friendship bracelets, slap bracelets are no longer an acceptable
piece of jewelry to be seen with.
mickyarber Posted on Oct 23, 2015 at 04:31 PM
Great article. I was into all of them except for the roller blades.
Had a huge collection of POGs, and when my friends and I played, it was for keeps. I remember it was usually three of us, and we each would put in 2 pogs each round. Whatever you won, you kept.
I had the fanny pack, but that was around 7th grade. Everyone wore them to school for some reason.
Slap bracelets made their way through our school in around the 5th grade probably. I can remember spending a whole week's allowance on nothing but slap bracelets one time. What a waste.
Laser pointers were huge for me, mainly because they were popular when I was into buying and selling goods...mostly stuff you would find at a flea market. I'd pick up these pointers that came with 10 changeable tips for $4. I turn around and sell them for $10. It may be hard to believe, but I could sell anywhere from 25-50 of those things a week for several months in the midst of their popularity! And that was just dealing them out of my trunk. I made a lot of money with laser pointers.
And you know fanny packs were cool since Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is sporting one in that photo.
This article may could have used a sixth item....Hackey Sack. It was every bit the fad these others were too.
Really fun read that brought back a lot of memories.
Poshy2005 Posted on Oct 14, 2015 at 05:31 AM
I still have my POGS. Never played just collected them. Great article.
jkatz Posted on Sep 24, 2015 at 02:30 AM
A bit later in the decade, but I remember frosted tips being a thing.
Speaking of fanny packs, a few weeks ago I saw a lady wearing a "Baywatch at Seaworld" one. I wish I offered to buy it off her!
pikachulover Posted on Sep 23, 2015 at 01:29 AM
Funny I was just thinking about laser pointers a few days ago. My professor had one she let somebody in the class use it as a prop for a skit we had to perform in class.
Talk about fads! I had a fanny pack that came with special pockets for troll dolls and it came with a troll. I had a few
others too. Although I don't remember using them besides the troll one to hold my other trolls.
I didn't really get into pogs until my neighbor did. I would always lose to her because she had this Nala bootleg slammer that thing was so heavy! My parents refused to buy me an adequate slammer.
I loved rollerblading or inline skating.I got rid of my old small skates years ago. I was really thinking of getting myself another pair and taking it up again.
Caps 2.0 Posted on Sep 22, 2015 at 06:44 PM
Me and my brother still have a laser pointer that we use for our cats. It's fun to play with them that way. As for fanny packs, I still regularly use them when I go on major trips, like whenever we go to Walt Disney World. I also wore one to Chiller Theatre last year, and I'll be wearing it when I attend again this year as well. I do what I feel most comfortable with. For example, it's why I still refer to things as cool when most everybody else is now saying chill instead.
Vaporman87 Posted on Sep 22, 2015 at 05:46 PM
The laser pointers and fanny packs are easily the worst offenders of this list, with special recognition as a REAL problem going to laser pointers. I'm so glad that, although they are still around, nobody seems interested in annoying others with them any more.
On the subject of skating, I too made attempts at rollerblading, but since the home I lived at during the time had very little concrete to use, I resorted to using my blades for miniature hockey matches with my brother, some sticks, a puck, and a goal. I didn't enjoy it nearly like I did the skating rink. But then again I think much of that has to do with the sense of community at the skating rink.
I recently caught a glimpse at what will surely be the next wave of skating-related hooplah:
Cruisers, by the Cardiff Skate Company. I saw these on an end cap of the toy and sport section at Target. Will they be the next big thing?
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