1. Pet Rocks
In 1975, the Pet Rock craze took off when Gary Dahl marketed smooth stones in little boxes with breathing holes. They came with an instruction manual for “training” your rock. It was part gag gift, part cultural phenomenon.
For a few months, everyone seemed to want one. Stores sold millions, and they became the ultimate low-maintenance pet. The fad burned bright and fast, then vanished just as quickly.
2. Mood Rings
Introduced in the mid-’70s, mood rings promised to reveal your emotions by changing colors. The “secret” was thermochromic liquid crystals reacting to temperature. But kids and teens swore they reflected their true feelings.
They became fashion statements, showing up at schools and malls everywhere. Even skeptics bought them for fun. They’re remembered as a perfect mix of science, fashion, and whimsy.
3. Clackers
Clackers were a toy made of two hard acrylic balls attached to a string with a small handle in the middle. The goal was to swing them up and down so they smacked together with a loud clack-clack rhythm. They were everywhere on playgrounds in the early ’70s.
The fad spread fast because they were cheap, colorful, and mesmerizing to play with. But the balls sometimes shattered, sending shards flying—leading many schools to ban them. Despite their short run, Clackers remain one of the decade’s most unforgettable fads.
4. Waterbeds
Waterbeds were marketed as futuristic comfort and quickly became symbols of the ’70s. Advertisements promised better sleep, relaxation, and a little flair of luxury. Soon, stores were filled with sloshing displays.
They became especially popular with young couples and bachelor pads. But leaks, weight, and difficulty moving them caused the fad to fade. Still, they remain a quirky symbol of the decade.
5. CB Radios
Thanks to movies like Smokey and the Bandit, CB radios became a national craze. Truckers had used them for years, but suddenly everyone wanted a handle and their own set of codes. It felt like joining a secret club.
Families installed CBs in cars, chatting across highways. For a while, it was social media on wheels. Eventually, the novelty wore off, but “breaker, breaker” became part of pop culture.
6. Earth Shoes
Earth Shoes arrived in the U.S. in the early ’70s and promised better posture and health. With their negative-heel design, they looked unlike any other footwear. They were marketed as natural and forward-thinking.
People lined up to buy them, and they quickly became fashion statements. Yet many found them uncomfortable, and the fad passed. Today, they’re remembered as both strange and iconic.
7. Pong
When Pong debuted in 1972, it became the first video game craze. The simple two-paddle tennis game appeared in arcades, bars, and eventually living rooms. People lined up for a chance to play.
It sparked the beginning of home gaming culture. By the end of the decade, consoles like the Atari 2600 carried the torch. Pong’s simplicity feels quaint now, but it was revolutionary then.
8. Platform Shoes
Towering platform shoes in wild colors and patterns became a fashion staple. Men and women alike strutted through discos in them. The higher, the better.
They were impractical, sometimes even dangerous, but no one cared. Platform shoes embodied ’70s excess and flair. Even now, they remain one of the decade’s most memorable looks.
9. Roller Disco
Roller skating collided with disco music, creating one of the most fun fads of the era. Rinks lit with neon and mirrored balls hosted skaters gliding in rhythm to Bee Gees hits. It was equal parts sport and performance.
The craze swept across cities and suburbs alike. For many teens, Saturday nights at the roller rink were the highlight of the week. Though disco faded, the nostalgia for roller disco lives on.
10. String Art
Kits for string art became popular in the mid-’70s, encouraging people to make geometric wall hangings with nails and colored thread. The patterns looked futuristic and groovy at the same time. Everyone seemed to have one in their living room.
It was a cheap and creative fad that fit perfectly with the decade’s DIY spirit. While short-lived, it left behind plenty of retro décor still hanging in basements today.
11. Rubik’s Cube
Invented in 1974, the Rubik’s Cube spread worldwide by the end of the decade. The colorful puzzle was deceptively simple to look at but fiendishly difficult to solve. Kids spent hours twisting and turning it in frustration and fascination.
It became a brainy fad, sparking competitions and endless solutions. Even those who couldn’t solve it proudly carried one around. The Cube remains one of the most enduring pop culture icons from the ’70s.
12. Feathered Hair
Thanks to Farrah Fawcett and John Travolta, feathered haircuts became one of the most sought-after looks. Stylists worked hard to perfect those soft, flowing layers. Every teen wanted their locks to flip just right.
The style took hold everywhere, from schools to dance floors. It defined the image of glamour in the decade. Though trends moved on, feathered hair is still instantly recognizable as ’70s chic.
13. Sea Monkeys
Advertised in comic books, Sea Monkeys were really just brine shrimp. But the ads promised happy, playful underwater pets that resembled tiny people. Kids eagerly mailed away for their kits.
Though they never lived up to the cartoons, they fascinated children for weeks at a time. The fad blended curiosity with disappointment in a way only the ’70s could. They’re still remembered fondly as a classic mail-order craze.
14. Streaked Jeans
Handmade fashion was big, and streaked or bleached jeans swept through high schools. Teens used bleach, sandpaper, and dyes to create unique looks. Each pair became a personal statement.
The fad spread because it was cheap and easy to try at home. It marked individuality in an era of mass culture. That DIY spirit carried into later decades of denim trends.
15. Lava Lamps
Though invented in the ’60s, lava lamps became truly iconic in the ’70s. The hypnotic blobs of colored wax floating in liquid felt groovy and futuristic. They lit up bedrooms and dorms across America.
They were marketed as conversation pieces and mood-setters. For teens and young adults, no room was complete without one. Lava lamps remain one of the strangest and most nostalgic symbols of the decade.