What Happened to Moon Shoes?

1992–2000 Toys/Games • United States

ℹ️ Fate: Faded from shelves by the early 2000s; occasional limited reissues/nostalgia runs appear, but not a steady national presence.

“Mini-trampolines for your feet” hyped on 90s kids’ TV

Moon Shoes—often billed as *“mini-trampolines for your feet”*—let kids strap into rigid plastic platforms laced with thick elastic bands to add a spring to each step. The look (chunky frames and bright colors) and the promise (a ‘moon-walk’ bounce) fit perfectly into 1990s kids’ TV culture, with heavy rotation during Nickelodeon blocks and weekend cartoon hours.

They delivered momentary thrills but weren’t exactly graceful: the bounce was choppy, they were loud on sidewalks, and rolled ankles weren’t uncommon if you landed off-center. As the fad cooled and safety-minded toys rose, shelf space shrank. By the early 2000s they’d mostly disappeared, resurfacing now and then in nostalgia-themed reissues or limited regional runs.

Today, Moon Shoes live on in memory (and in old commercials on YouTube) as a snapshot of 90s toy marketing—big promises, bright plastic, and a catchy pitch you could hear between episodes of your favorite Nick shows.

Timeline

1992
Moon Shoes arrive at U.S. mass retail; positioned as 'mini-trampolines for your feet'.
1994
Advertising peaks alongside Nickelodeon and weekend cartoon blocks; becomes a recognizable 90s fad toy.
1999
Sales cool; line loses wide distribution as retailers reset toward core sellers.
2010
Periodic nostalgia-driven reissues/limited runs appear; no consistent national program.