It's easy to see why skateboards, rollerboots and BMX's were so popular among kids in the 70s, but Space Hoppers? For one, it seems a little odd to be bouncing up and down on a big orange rubber ball at the best of times, and considering it didn't help - but rather hinder - getting from A to B, it could be labelled a bit pointless, really... They didn't enable you to jump higher, go faster or run further than you could on foot. But you had to have one.
The space hopper (Hippity Hop in America) was invented by Italian, Aquilino Cosani in 1968, though he referred to it then as the Pon-Pon, and it was launched in Britain just as trance/rave culture was picking up speed in the summer of '71. This may help provide some explanation behind the trend, and space hoppers went on to make appearances at Glastonbury and Birmingham psychedelic trance parties well into the 90s.
Despite being marketed as 'the amazing inflatable riding ball', its design was pretty simple. The earliest space hoppers were made of red or blue rubber, inflated via an internal valve system, reaching up to around 20 inches. These days though, adult versions are available too, enabling the children of the 70s to relive their bouncing glory days - this time with fewer grazes on their knees.
Each hopper featured two handles on the top so you could keep your balance - but still many kids ended up flying right over these very handles after things got out of control! It really wasn't the safest toy around - its saving grace was its apparent inability to burst, although we had a good try at it. But it was great fun, especially when your mates lines up on theirs and you raced each other to the end of the playing field.
The majority of space hoppers had a smiley, kangaroo's face painted on the front, but kids were also treated to themed hoppers in the late 70s, which featured plastic moulds of Disney characters, including Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse, on the front. Despite such efforts, though, the US Hoppity hop went out of production and the Space Hopper's popularity is sporadic. So, let's hope the people of Folkestone might spark a revival after they broke the world record for the most people hopping simultaneously, taking it to 1000 people on 4th July 2006.
Other space hopper world records of note include the fastest time for 100m on a space hopper, which was set by Ashrita Furman in 2004 when she did it in just 30.2 seconds. And Ashrita also set the fastest mile on a space hopper in January 2005. Fancy setting your own record?
Do You Remember Space Hoppers?
Do You Remember Space Hoppers?
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Anonymous
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i did call mine a hippity hop. and i heard them called kangaroo hoppers too. i loved mine so much! it traveled with my from the uk, to the us and lasted for close to ten years. i was about nine when it finally busted. and i think it was from my uncle trying to be funny with it. the face is something i will never forget, it was the best toy ever! and you can't find them anymore which is sad cause there are lots of cheap imitations with silly characters on them that discgrace the origonal!
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Anonymous
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I had a dark red/maroon hoppity hop, as did most of the kids in my neighborhood. One kid's family had an inground swimming pool and it was only a matter of time before we were bouncing from the patio into the pool with our hoppity hops. Then we took it a step further and bounced from the diving board. I'm 40 years old and I'd still do it all again--even though I'd look a prat.
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Anonymous
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i have fond memories of me my sister and all the kids in the neighbourhood having a space hopper,and can still hear that empty thudding sound when wacked across a person you didnt particually like,oh i can remember actually using it for its purpose and craking my head on the curb!!
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Anonymous
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PS - the 1969 Space Hopper has the face on it - but I don't know where it came from! However, for those asking for a 60s section, well, the space hopper became part of UK pop culture late in that decade, so it seems you have one!!
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Anonymous
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Actually, Space Hoppers arrived in 1968 - and were very popular by 1969. I have a newspaper advertisement for them which my sister has used on her blogspot - http://70struth.blogspot.com/ - from 1969. Anybody that would like a copy of the ad, please go to the blog and click on the ilustration. I don't know why the BBC lists it as "70s" - they do tend to hype that decade! A great source for 80s info from the blogosphere is http://80sactual.blogspot.com/ - but honestly, folks, I wouldn't rely on the BBC sites or programmes for accurate nostalgia!
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Anonymous
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I had an american hoppity hop ,which is the same as your space hoppers. I came accros it just the other day and was so sad that it was so small. I got out my air pump and inflated it to what I thought would be a good size. Then I thought to myself, just how big can this thing get, so I inflated it to the max, and still it did not pop. I think it was about 35 inches and realy fun to bounce on. I bounced for a realy long time and was haven the time of my life when the darn thing exploded on me. Boy did my behind sting from that one. Jenny
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Anonymous
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Im 43 and had a spacehopper when I was 9years old. My funniest memory is when my little brother who was aged 3 at the time and I were playing at a field near our house. I told him a bull was coming out of the field and was going to chase us. He jumped onto the spacehopper, never looked back and bounced all the way back to our house. Hysterical for me seeing a little 3 year old bouncing along away from an imaginary bull!!! Yes I know I was a wicked sister.
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Anonymous
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I purchased one on eBay and didn't realise how small they were... just shows I've grown a little since I was 6 - who would have thought... After my disappointment I splashed out and brought a brand new massive 75cm space hopper which is brilliant! I'll race anyone now - first one to the end of the road!
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Anonymous
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Loved my big orange Space Hopper - my kids have got one now (not and original) but it keeps deflating - very disappointing.
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Anonymous
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I still have my original 1970 space hopper, still fully inflated. Can still bounce around on it!
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