The sack is back! And it’s not going away this time. After peaking in the 80s and 90s, hacky sack has surged back into the spotlight in 2026.
Hacky sack was created by Mike Marshall and John Stalberger in Oregon City, Oregon, in the summer of 1972, according to Wham-O. It was created as a rehabilitation exercise for Stalberger’s knee injury. They developed a small, beanbag-like ball designed to be kicked and kept off the ground, later patenting the “hacky sack” name in 1974.
Following its invention, the pastime became a staple on college campuses and playgrounds, leading to its acquisition by Wham-O in 1983 and the rise of organized, competitive, and worldwide tournaments during this period. However, due to the rise of technology, the popularity of the game dipped in the 2000s.
Hacky sack became popular again in 2026 by offering students a break from their screens and giving them a fun and cheap social activity to do. Especially with summer approaching, some students are looking forward to being able to socialize with friends with a five-dollar bag of beads.
Pascack Valley High School Junior Brendan Haller, who is also a member of the unofficial PV hacky sack team, is a strong believer in the revival of hacky sack.
“It’s a great activity to do when you’re bored. When it’s a nice day, you can go outside, [or] maybe inside when it’s raining,” Haller said. “You can do it anywhere.”
With the growing popularity of hacky sacks, it has been nearly impossible to find them in retail stores around the country. Many students at Pascack Valley have had to order them online due to their scarcity.
In New Jersey, an Instagram account called NJ Sack has started a March Madness-like tournament for New Jersey High Schools called Sack Madness. Pascack Valley students are among the teams participating. After winning a play-in game against Rutgers Prep, PV Sack will now face Ramapo.
One of the group’s founders is Pascack Valley Sophomore Brady McMorrow. The idea sparked this April when McMorrow and his baseball teammates began playing hacky sack using a baseball.
After experimenting with a homemade version, crafted from a balloon and rice, they eventually upgraded to an authentic hacky sack. Since they created their Instagram account, it has gained traction.
Other Pascack Valley students who haven’t been involved in Sack Madness have also enjoyed the return of hacky sack. PV Juniors Drew Ellner and Matt Simone weighed in on their perspective.
“I enjoy it. It’s something that’s new, so I’m not good at it, but I enjoy learning, getting better, and trying new tricks with friends,” Ellner said.
“It’s a…stress reliever,” Simone added. “It brings us [his friends] so much closer.”
The resurgence of hacky sack highlights a growing desire for simple, face-to-face interaction in an increasingly digital world. For the community at Pascack Valley, hacky sack has taken over. During lunch, the gymnasiums are filled with students playing, and whenever students get the chance to play, they take it.
In the final Valley Cup of the year on Friday May, 22, hacky sack will be apart of the relay. This is a chance to show the comeback of the hacky sack front and center in front of the entire school.
