11 Popular Products From the 1970s
Back when everything was cool beans and copacetic, things like easy dinner alternatives, simple toys, and funky fashion were incredibly popular. The 1970s holds some of the best nostalgic products, and we’ve rounded up 11 of the most beloved below.
1. Pet Rock
Can you imagine boxing up a rock, calling it a pet, and marketing it to the masses to create a consumer craze? Pet Rock creator Gary Dahl knows exactly what that’s like.
2. Star Wars Action Figures
When the first “Star Wars” film came out in 1977, cinema and pop culture were permanently changed. The saga inspired an instant cult-like following, and action figures—and other types of Star Wars memorabilia—were all the rage from then on.
3. Mood Rings
People were so in tune with their auras, emotions, and vibes in the ’70s — all thanks to mood rings, obviously.
4. Microwave Ovens
Microwaves weren’t invented in the 1970s, but that was the decade that unleashed more affordable models, opening the appliance up to more consumers and households.
5. Bell-Bottom Jeans
Both men and women rocked bell bottom pants during the 1970s, from denim to paisley prints and bold colors. These pants ruled the ’70s fashion scene.
6. Tab Soda
Before Diet Coke, there was Tab, and that diet cola was in just about every refrigerator during the 1970s. The drink fell to the wayside after Diet Coke’s usurping, and was finally discontinued in 2020.
7. Bean Bag Chairs
Because sitting super low to the ground and sinking as soon as you plopped into your seat was all the rage in the 1970s.
8. Crock-Pots
Let’s be real: Crock-pots are still beloved in 2025. But as a brand new 1970s product, they were particularly popular and celebrated, and made dinnertime easier for everyone.
9. Weebles
Weebles wobble but they don’t fall down! If you know you know.
10. Platform Shoes
Because you didn’t want your bell bottoms dragging on the ground, platform shoes were the go-to during the 1970s. The taller the better.
11. Hamburger Helper
Hamburger Helper was to the 1970s what TV dinners were to the 1960s. The latest, greatest, simple meal option that gave consumers dinner without the hassle.