Why Long Islanders of all ages are getting into Hacky Sack

Hacky Sacks are hot stuff again. After lying low for decades, the little beanbags are a low-tech sensation with Gen Z thanks, largely, to Instagram and TikTok.

That’s where Bodhi Griffiths, a 15-year-old homeschooled student, discovered the gameplay gizmos. “I saw on social media that they were coming back,” he says. “My friends were also talking about it and doing it in their schools.”

He tried out a Hacky Sack in his Bellport backyard with a friend who had one. “We had a lot of fun doing it,” Griffiths says. “It’s really addicting. We were out there for about two hours trying to get one trick down.”

Innovative moves are essential in footbag, which is the technical term for the activity. Hacky Sack is a Wham-O brand name that’s become a generic shorthand (like Kleenex). It was conceived in 1972 by Mike Marshall and his friend John Stalberger.

Hacky Sacks have kicked up various cultural vibes. They’ve gone from a 1970s hippie-happy toy to a 1990s street-culture staple, and now they’re essentially a general, all-ages inclusive game.

How to play

The object is to keep a Hacky Sack in the air by using your feet, legs and other body parts. Hands are no-nos. You can play solo, in a group, casually or competitively.

Finn Bunger, 14, a freshman at Babylon High School who plays football, lacrosse and basketball, is another new Hacky Sack devotee. Over the past few months, he has perfected impressive moves.

Picture this: He kicks the sack up over his head and catches it on his back. Then — and this is the tricky part — he passes it to another player who keeps the string of moves going.

“It’s chill,” Bunger says. “It’s something you can do anywhere with your friends.”

Indeed, the do-it-anywhere, take-it-everywhere aspect accounts for a part of the game’s appeal. You don’t need a special court or track, just a bit of open space. Another plus is affordability. Hacky Sacks are budget-friendly.

Why is Hacky Sack cool again?

According to Drew Martin, who’s based in Nanuet and heads the New York Footbag Association, the precise reason for the sudden surge is hard to pinpoint. But the impact of social media videos and posts showcasing the wow factor of footbags can’t be overstated.

“A couple of footbag creators have been posting on Instagram and TikTok for three or four years and steadily growing a following,” he says, highlighting @hackysacktrav as one prime example. “Interest seems to have just spiked like crazy all of a sudden.”

Local Instagram accounts helped fuel interest. Long Island Hacky Sack News and LI Sack began capturing kids Hacky-Sacking at numerous local high schools, fueling interest.

Of course, fun is another reason for the popularity. And besides pluses for coordination, balance and agility, the pastime comes with an inherent perk that’s a winner with parents: You have to put down screens to play. The fact that some schools don’t allow phones makes Hacky Sack a natural for playgrounds.

“It’s such an analog thing to do, which I love,” says Andy Griffiths, 52, a footwear entrepreneur who is Bodhi’s dad. He marveled watching his son and a friend engage in the game. “They’re hanging out, they're talking, they’re socializing, they’re together. I was like, ‘Okay, this is exactly how it’s supposed to be.’ ”

@hackysacktrav

Zulu no plant Pdx Whirl

♬ Blue Morning Hush - Soda Soda

'90s CRAZE FOR EVERY AGE

Hacky Sack struck a nostalgic chord, too, for Andy Griffiths. “I grew up in New Zealand, and Hacky Sack was a phenomenon there. It was everywhere,” he says. “Whether you’re in pairs or big groups, you can make it work and have fun.”

Provided, that is, you can get your hands on one. In the spring, Long Island retailers were blindsided by the almost overnight explosion in demand. Sammy Hito, 43, who owns the sporting store Bunger Sayville, was among them.

“We’ve carried Hacky Sacks in the store for years, and they usually ended up collecting dust,” Hito says. “In April, we started getting constant phone calls for them.”

In-store supplies ran out fast. Getting more in stock was a slow process. “At one point customers were waiting outside the store for the FedEx delivery,” Hito says.

The supply-and-demand dynamic has leveled out. The red-hot intensity of the trend has also cooled, likely as a result of the school year ending. But the interest remains – and it’s not just about Gen Z.

Casey Jata, 39, who lives in West Islip and runs the home-based bakery Belle’s Sweet Boutique, has two kids, Ella, 8, and Dylan, 5. “What I like about Hacky Sack is that it involves them being active and using their imagination,” she says.

Ella has looked to Taylor Swift and other favorite singers to help her improve her Hacky Sack skills. “I like that it's a challenge, and I like doing it to music,” she says. “I feel like it helps me when I go to the beat of the music. It’s kind of easier.”

David Beyers, a 40-year-old BOCES aide who lives in Copiague, has been hooked on footbag long before this current craze. He started playing in high school and joined a club in college at SUNY New Paltz.

“It’s a very individual sport, and it's all about pushing yourself and seeing how innovative you can be with the trick selection,” he says.

His foolproof hack for improving? “Practice,” he says. “It’s all about practice.”