If you've bought a squishy in the last few years, there's a good chance it was a slow rise one — and if you've watched a squishy video online, it was almost certainly a slow rise. Here's what the term actually means and why it matters when you're choosing one.
What "slow rise" means
A slow rise squishy compresses fully when you squeeze it, then takes several seconds to expand back to its original shape. That's the whole definition. Press a standard stress ball and it snaps back the instant you let go; press a slow rise squishy and it stays flat for a beat, then slowly puffs out.
The effect comes from the foam. Slow-rise squishies use a soft, open-cell foam that has to draw air back in as it recovers, and that air exchange is what creates the delay. It's the same principle as memory foam in a mattress.
How slow is slow?
Usually somewhere between two and ten seconds, depending on the size of the squishy and how hard you compressed it. Larger squishies show the effect much more clearly than small ones — there's simply more foam to recover, and more visible movement while it happens.
That's why the two largest items in our range, the Jumbo Strawberry Squishy and the Dumpling Squishy, are the best demonstrations of a slow rise. A pocket-sized cube like the Ocean Cube Squishy still does it, but the recovery is quicker and less dramatic.
Slow rise vs the other squishy types
Slow rise vs a standard stress ball
A stress ball springs back immediately. Slow rise doesn't. If you like the rhythm of squeeze-release-squeeze-release, a stress ball is actually better; if you like watching the recovery, slow rise wins.
Slow rise vs gel filled
Gel-filled squeeze toys move slowly too, but differently. A gel toy shifts and settles like dough — it doesn't really "rise" so much as redistribute. It's also noticeably heavier in the hand. Our Transparent Apple Squishy is the gel version of the idea.
Slow rise vs crunchy
Crunchy squishies are filled with textured beads. They give resistance and a soft crunching sound rather than a smooth squash and a slow recovery. Completely different sensation, same category.
How to tell if a squishy has lost its slow rise
Slow-rise foam degrades in predictable ways. If yours has started snapping back quickly, or feels stiff and crumbly, one of these is usually the cause:
- Sunlight. UV hardens the foam and fades the colour. This is the most common killer.
- Heat. Radiators, car dashboards and hot windowsills all do damage.
- Water. Slow-rise foam absorbs it and doesn't recover well. Never wash one.
- Long-term compression. Stored under something heavy, foam can take a permanent set.
None of these are reversible once they've gone far enough, so the fix is prevention. We've written more on this in our guide to cleaning and storing a squishy toy.
Should you buy slow rise?
Buy slow rise if you want the classic squishy experience, if you like the visual side as much as the tactile one, or if you're buying for someone who's seen them online and wants one. Buy crunchy or gel instead if you want texture, weight, or something more durable that you can carry around every day.
Browse the full range of slow rise squishies, or read our guide to choosing a squishy toy if you're still deciding.