Toys TOYS

Lolo Ball / Pogo Ball

This was perhaps my favourite present ever – in my mind! I wanted one as soon as I saw one! This futuristic flying saucer-like contracption, that you stood on to bounce around on.

Pogo Balls – or Lolo balls Springbal, Lolobal, Disc-O or Pogoba as they were known by many names! were great. Though, they were devilishly hard to work, I could only do about 5 bounces before careering off into the wall or an armchair (if I was cavalier enough to play with it inside), or if I was outside would always end up almost falling into the greenhouse!!

The ball / idea itself was a typical 1980’s idea, where crazyness meets technological leaps! It was patented in 1985, and it became a fad when Hasbro mass-produced it. It’s still available today – though Hasbro stopped producing it in the 1990’s. I love the idea of making a million having invented something as individual and kooky as the Pogo ball.

It was about 2 weeks before I was about to use one without almost mortally wounding someone in the vicinity. They looked like they should be a lot of fun, and were, but even for the 7 year old that I was (A fit 7 year old as well) it was exhausting after only a little time. The effort required to clamp your feet together and bounce, while holding onto the pogo ball was substantial.

I used to try and bring the pogo ball with me down the shops, and would always only get so far before I game up and tried wearing it like a hat! Or found some way to string it to my back, or stashed it in a bush to pick up on the way home.

I did get very good at it though and my favourite thing to do was to hop down stairs (okay, wide stairs!), or skip at the same time as using them.


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Do You Remember Lolo Ball / Pogo Ball?

Do You Remember Lolo Ball / Pogo Ball?

  • Anonymous user
    on
    just found mine in my parents loft and given it to my daughter whos now trying to learn it whilst i had a go and can still do it lol
  • Anonymous user
    on
    Wow! I remember these I soooo loved mineit was a lolo ball, does anyone no where i can get one now for my daughter ..
  • Anonymous user
    on
    I had a LoloBall - it was a red ball with an orange disc. I used to jump for hours - literally! We used to see who could last the longest and we'd use skipping rope too. God, I was a healthy kid!
  • Anonymous user
    on
    loved it!!!! i never had a major spill on one personally, but my roommate told me about how he almost broke his wrist. still, the best toys were always the dangerous ones
  • Anonymous user
    on
    I had one of these, though I can't remember it having a specific name. In the UK they must have been cheap copies of loloballs or pogoballs which I am guessing were American brands. It didn't take long for the ball to deflate and the plastic to bend to an unbouncable degree.
  • Anonymous user
    on
    It wasn't easy to get your balance standing on the ring but once you were on board, with the top part of the ball gripped between your feet, you could bounce around till your hearts content. Or until you got blisters...!
  • Anonymous user
    on
    In the US I just saw a commercial for a Zoingo Boingo, which looks *incredibly* similar to the Pogobal, but it has a stick with a handle on it. It's by Spinmaster, I believe - here's the website - www.zoingoboingo.com
  • Anonymous user
    on
    I loved my lolobal... I used to bounce on it to and from first school all the time and envy those who had the coveted glitter lolobal.
  • Anonymous user
    on
    i got a pogoball for my birthday and my older sister got mad (she wanted one) so she broke it, i got a new one tho. it was so fun. i was about 4 years old but i was good. i miss that thing i should find one for my kids they'd love it.
  • Anonymous user
    on
    I never had one but all my friends did and they used to let me use theirs. I always remember getting blisters on the sides of my feet from the ball, but it was a really fun toy and we'd spend hours just bouncing