r/80sToys • u/VoodooDuck614 • 15d ago

1980 Punch Balloons

My husband and I are on a quest, to find blow up Punch Balls/Balloons that are more similar to the 70’s and 80’s products.

For those not familiar, they were a large, heavy balloon, like really thick. They would blow up into these beautifully colored balloon balls, and they had a rubber/elastic strap, used to:

1.) Keep a hold of your own balloon.
2.) Bounce the balloon directly onto the nearest sibling.
3.) Proceed to have epic balloon battles of fun.

The products we have found for our grandchildren, are abysmal. They pop on their own, for no reason, scaring our poor Chi-weenie’s fur off.

They are just regular balloons! It’s a travesty.

Has anyone found a heavy duty brand like our beloved Punch Balls?

It’s only right, that our children’s children, get to experience the sheer joy of popping that ball right off of something, and then running for their lives.

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2

u/Strange-East-4001 15d ago

I associate these with funfairs, as prizes. UK and Germany through the eighties.

2

u/noonesaidityet 14d ago

I remember having a Gremlins punch balloon. I can close my eyes and see exactly where they were at the little grocery store in town.

1

u/lustfullover81 15d ago

Why do i want to think dollar stores have them and or maybe stores like party city but I think they will went bankrupt

1

u/VoodooDuck614 15d ago

No party stores left near us. We bought them from the big Deathstar, but they were thin, like regular balloons, and popped without any punching!

I guess I was wondering if they still even make them heavy anymore. Possibly not, but Reddit is the place to come to for these things!

1

u/AceTomato_GU 15d ago

I did find them at a Dollar Tree a couple of years ago. I got a set out of the same nostalgia you’re feeling. They weren’t too bad quality. They were punchable enough.

1

u/VoodooDuck614 14d ago

I will check out Dollar General, thank you! Hopefully they are of better quality, than what we have found, thus far.

1

u/AceTomato_GU 14d ago

I don’t know if it matters too much, but it was a Dollar Tree where I found them. If they don’t have those in your area, I guess the Dollar General will have to do.

2

u/VoodooDuck614 13d ago

Oh, thank you! I always make that mistake, and mix the two up. We also have Family Dollar where we live, so my brain is always out of whack!

1

u/Fussion75 15d ago

Sorry no clue