Back in the ’80s, school wasn’t just about learning—it was about showing off your stuff. The right school supplies could instantly make you the envy of your classmates, and if you had the coolest gear, you weren’t just prepared for class—you were legendary. From flashy folders to high-tech (for the time) gadgets, certain items gave you instant status in the hallways. If you walked into school with any of these, you knew you were turning heads. Let’s take a trip back to the days when a Trapper Keeper could make or break your school year and relive 14 of the most coveted school supplies from the ’80s.
1. Rubik’s Cube Keychain
Even if you couldn’t actually solve a Rubik’s Cube, carrying around a tiny keychain version made you look like a genius. Clipping one onto your backpack or pencil case gave you instant credibility—bonus points if you could actually twist it without it falling apart.
It didn’t matter that nobody actually used them for anything. Just having one dangling from your zipper meant you were cool by association.
2. Calculator Watches
If you had a calculator watch in the ’80s, you were either a math whiz or just wanted to look like one. These clunky digital watches let you do simple math right on your wrist, which was absolutely mind-blowing at the time.
Most kids didn’t actually use the calculator part much, but the fact that you could was enough. And during tests? Let’s just say teachers weren’t too thrilled when they saw you punching in numbers mid-exam.
3. Yikes! Pencils
Forget boring yellow pencils—if you really wanted to stand out, you had Yikes! Pencils. These wild, neon-colored, sometimes glittery, sometimes textured writing instruments made you feel like you were holding the future in your hands.
Writing with one made even the most boring homework feel exciting. And let’s be honest—half the time, you didn’t even use them. They were too cool to actually sharpen, so they just sat in your pencil case as status symbols.
4. Erasable Pens
Erasable pens seemed like a game-changer—a pen you could write with and erase? Unbelievable! The reality, of course, was that they didn’t really work. The ink barely erased, and if you rubbed too hard, you’d either smear your writing or rip the page.
But that didn’t stop kids from carrying them around like they were the height of innovation. Even if they were impractical, having an erasable pen meant you were ahead of the curve. It was like a glimpse into the future—one where mistakes could magically disappear.
5. Scratch-and-Sniff Stickers
Okay, technically not a school supply, but if you had a collection of scratch-and-sniff stickers, you were basically royalty. These stickers came in all sorts of scents—bubblegum, chocolate, popcorn, even skunk—and trading them was serious business.
Teachers used them as rewards, but the real collectors had full albums dedicated to their prized stickers. If you had the rare pizza-scented one? You were an icon. And let’s not forget that half the fun was sticking them on your folders or desk, then scratching them until the smell completely wore off.
6. Giant Pink Erasers That Said “Big Mistake”
Were they necessary? No. But did they make you cooler? Absolutely. The Big Mistake erasers were oversized, impractical, and completely useless for actually erasing anything. But that didn’t matter—what mattered was that you had one.
They were more of a desk decoration than an actual school supply. And if you were really showing off, you’d pull it out in class and dramatically erase something, just to get a few laughs.
7. Multicolor Click Pens
A pen that had four different ink colors in one? That was pure wizardry. These chunky pens let you switch between red, blue, green, and black just by clicking down a different lever. They were fun, practical, and oddly satisfying to use.
The problem? They were huge, and sometimes the ink would get jammed, but who cared? The real power move was clicking down all the colors at once, even though it never worked.
8. Trapper Keeper
If you had a Trapper Keeper, you owned the classroom. This wasn’t just a binder—it was a statement. The Velcro flap, the colorful designs (unicorns, race cars, neon geometric patterns), and the organizational genius made it the ultimate school supply. It was like a command center for all your subjects, with built-in folders that kept your papers from getting crumpled in the bottom of your backpack.
Opening that Velcro in the middle of class was both satisfying and disruptive, and teachers either loved or hated them. If you really wanted to flex, you got the version with the built-in pencil case. Trapper Keepers weren’t just practical—they were a social currency. If you had one, you were cool. If you didn’t, you wanted one.
9. Pee-Chee Folders
Before Lisa Frank took over the ’90s, Peachy Folders ruled the ’80s. These simple yet iconic folders featured all sorts of designs—sports themes, puppies, outer space—and were the perfect way to show off your personality. They weren’t just about holding papers; they were about sending a message.
Some kids went for the classic, solid colors, but the real MVPs had the folders with wild graphics or motivational slogans. And if you took the time to doodle all over them in class? Even better. A well-worn Peachy Folder covered in band logos and inside jokes was basically a work of art.
10. Neon Highlighters
Before highlighters became standard, neon highlighters were a big deal. If you wanted to look serious about school, you needed a full set—yellow, pink, green, and blue.
Highlighting your notes made you look like you were really organized, even if you had no idea what you were doing. And of course, the true test of coolness was whether or not you could resist the urge to sniff them.
11. Flair Pens
Teachers loved them, but kids did too. These felt-tip pens came in a rainbow of colors, and if you had a full pack, you were practically an artist.
They made even the most boring notes look fancy, and writing with one just felt better. Sure, they bled through paper sometimes, but that was a small price to pay for looking stylish while taking notes.
12. Lisa Frank Everything
If you were a kid in the ’80s, Lisa Frank’s neon-colored, rainbow-spotted, glitter-covered designs were everywhere. Trapper Keepers, folders, pencils, stickers—you name it, Lisa Frank made it.
If you had a Lisa Frank binder, you were automatically in the cool club. And let’s be honest, we’re all still a little obsessed with those psychedelic dolphins and rainbow leopards.
13. Pencil Toppers
Why settle for a regular pencil when you could top it off with something fun? Fuzzy troll dolls, tiny erasers shaped like animals, or even weird googly-eyed creatures—pencil toppers were an easy way to make your school supplies stand out.
They weren’t useful at all, but that wasn’t the point. The goal was to make your pencil case as fun as possible.
14. Metal Lunchboxes with Matching Thermos
If you walked into the cafeteria with a Star Wars, Strawberry Shortcake, or Knight Rider metal lunchbox, you had status. Bonus points if it came with a matching Thermos.
Plastic lunchboxes took over eventually, but nothing beats the feeling of flipping open a metal latch and seeing a PB&J and a thermos full of lukewarm soup.
Having these school supplies in the ’80s didn’t just mean you were prepared for class—it meant you had style. Some of these might seem silly now, but back then, they were the ultimate flex.
