# what was this toy called? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 20, 2009, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-toy-called/490212 "2009-03-20T20:02:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![batsto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b2d939/32.png) [@batsto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batsto)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-toy-called/490212/1 "2009-03-20T20:02:51Z")
I remember commercials for a toy that was like a big rubber ball you could sit on and bounce, and there were handles at the top to hold on to while you did it. I remember there was one that looked like Mickey Mouse, and his ears were the handles you held on to. Anyone know what they were called? ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-toy-called/490212/2 "2009-03-20T20:05:23Z")
> [@batsto](#): > > I remember commercials for a toy that was like a big rubber ball you could sit on and bounce, and there were handles at the top to hold on to while you did it. I remember there was one that looked like Mickey Mouse, and his ears were the handles you held on to. Anyone know what they were called? Space Hopper, aka hippity-hop [Space hopper - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_hopper) ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-toy-called/490212/3 "2009-03-20T20:25:02Z")
The toys sold in the USA were Hippity Hop, and the variations like Hippity Hop Horse. ---
**Author:** ![Bamboo\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@Bamboo\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bamboo_Boy)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-toy-called/490212/4 "2009-03-20T23:23:18Z")
I had a red Hippity-Hop in my youth, before those new-fangled animal models. I considered it a mode of transportation. God, I loved that thing. Thanks for making me think of it! -BB ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-toy-called/490212/5 "2009-03-20T23:29:00Z")
My office area has been invaded by Hippity-Hops. Or those bubbles from _The Prisoner_. Out of seven people in our part of the office, there are seven large ‘rubber’ balls that people use as chairs. (They’re supposed to exercise one’s legs while one is sitting.) All they need is a handle, and they’d be adult-sized Hippity-Hops. BTW, I had one when I was a kid. I can’t remember whether it was red or blue. ---
**Author:** ![Bamboo\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@Bamboo\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bamboo_Boy)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2009, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-toy-called/490212/6 "2009-03-21T00:28:43Z")
I know what strange exercise balls you’re talking about! A friend of mine has an orange one and I made the prisoner joke too and he didn’t get it. ☹ But I don’t think those would really work as well as the Hippity-Hop, even if it had a handle attached. I don’t think they’re durable enough. We need to start an urban myth about them and then get Mythbusters to try it! Exercise balls + handle = Adult-sized Hippity-Hop? I sat on his while using his computer, and I felt encouraged to roll around, back and forth. I noticed he does the same thing. Then his sister got on it and did the same thing. Do people with those in your office do this and isn’t it weird looking and distracting? ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2009, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-toy-called/490212/7 "2009-03-21T04:35:08Z")
They already make one that adults can use - [here you go](http://www.brandsonsale.com/tg-002299.html). [This page](http://www.athleticstuff.com/astuff/product.asp?pf_id=8045.af&dept_id=3630&s_id=0) seconds the claim that adults can use the 26" and 28" sizes. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2009, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-toy-called/490212/8 "2009-03-21T04:37:21Z")
I had a red one with a handle and I remember you could use that handle to have duels with the things. Anyone do that, or just us? ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2009, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-toy-called/490212/9 "2009-03-21T14:04:50Z")
They still make them, btw, I got two for my kids on Christmas. $5.99 on Walgreens. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2009, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-toy-called/490212/10 "2009-03-21T15:07:52Z")
> [@Bamboo\_Boy](#): > > I sat on his while using his computer, and I felt encouraged to roll around, back and forth. I noticed he does the same thing. Then his sister got on it and did the same thing. Do people with those in your office do this and isn’t it weird looking and distracting? I work in a home office, so there’s no one here to laugh and point, but I use both a [balance ball chair](http://www.isokineticsinc.com/category/ex_ball_chairs/product/FBC1) and a balance ball. (Right now I’m using a regular chair because the other day my balance ball chair rolled too close to my space heater. I came back into the office to hear ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss . . . I’ve ordered and received a new ball but haven’t gotten around to inflating it yet.) The idea is that the constant small motions necessary to keep you upright work the small stabilizer muscles in your back and improve your posture. I’ve always had posture issues, and last year I had some neck trouble that affected my ability to sit and work. The neck issue remains, but the symptoms are resolved, and the funky chair helps. I prefer the balance ball chair to the ball alone, because I can roll and swivel in it better (the ball alone tends to force you to stay in one place) and it fits under my desk whereas the ball doesn’t. It’s a little easier to slouch a bit on the chair, but overall I think it helps. At first it was tiring to sit on the chair for very long, but that’s just evidence that it’s working. Now I have no trouble at all. ---
**Author:** ![Zany\_Zeolite\_Zipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zany\_Zeolite\_Zipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zany_Zeolite_Zipper)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2009, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-toy-called/490212/11 "2009-03-21T16:05:20Z")
Hippity Hop [porn](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw5MT63_j78). Probably not safe for work, but funny. (There is no real porn at the end of the link)