Many families have a custom of shooting hoops in the driveway. And you can’t shoot hoops until you have a basketball hoop. While there are lots of portable basketball hoops under $100 on the market, cheap models often don’t last long — and even when they’re brand new, they’re sometimes unsteady, with a feeble bounce off the backboard.
If all you want is a toy for your tiny kids to get a taste of basketball, a cheap, basic hoop may suffice. Just keep in mind that kids may outgrow it quickly, as the backboards on these models can rapidly feel very small to players, and the shaking from shots off the backboard only becomes worse as bolts loosen with time.
Instead, you’re probably looking for a sturdy basketball hoop that can withstand frigid winters, strong winds, and searing summer sun. For years to come, the idea is to have a gathering spot for family games of HORSE, fierce two-on-twos, ritualistic free throw shooting practise, and more. It also doesn’t hurt if the hoop appears to be ready for real competitions, with a glittering glass backboard and a pro-style breakaway rim that you can periodically lower so that everyone can dunk.
Top 8 Best Portable Basketball Hoops For 2021 Are List Below
1. Spalding The Beast Portable Basketball Hoop
Spalding manufactures the official NBA game ball, hoops, and backboards, as well as the unofficial go-to portable basketball hoop choice for homes worldwide. The Beast is Spalding’s largest, sturdiest, and overall best portable hoop model that is widely available to the general public. It has a tempered glass backboard, which is unusual for portable hoops because glass is too heavy for them, and it has a terrific bounce and touch. The Beast’s 5″ x 5″ steel pole adds strength while minimizing swaying. The “Steel Pro-Image” breakaway rim is similar to what the pros use, and the rim height is adjustable with a hand crank.
The Beast is more heavier, sturdier, and bulkier than other portable hoops, with a foundation that can hold a massive 55 gallons of water or sand. It is, nevertheless, very easy to transport, thanks to four wheels at the base and a pull-out handle that allows it to be dragged by a single person. (Most portable hoops, on the other hand, must be tipped over to roll on their wheels, which is frequently a two-person affair.)
While this is a far higher-quality portable basketball hoop than what you’d find in the ordinary American homeowner’s driveway, it’s also significantly more pricey. The Beast is available in 60 x 36 or 54 x 32 sizes, with prices ranging from $1,000 to $1,200.
2. Goalrilla FT72
The Goalrilla FT72 is a basketball hoop that will be the envy of the neighbourhood — and a magnet for kids looking for pickup games. Goalrilla’s in-ground FT series of hoops is the best option for backyard basketball games. They are available in three sizes: 54″, 60″, and 72″, with prices ranging from about $1,600 to $2,100. Every Goalrilla FT hoop has powder-coated steel frames and 1/2″ thick tempered glass backboards, as well as a 9″ anchor system and heavy-duty breakaway rims utilized at the highest level of competition. The rim height is also adjustable, ranging from 7.5′ to the normal 10′, through a hand crank.
While all of the Goalrilla FT hoops are strong, with little to no shaking after correct installation, the FT72 is especially so. It has a 6″ × 6″ steel pole, as opposed to the smaller Goalrilla FT hoops’ 5″ x 5″. When you consider that the FT72 is the largest model in the series (72″ wide by 42″ high), it’s easy to see why it’s our choice for the best overall in-ground basketball hoop.
Be cautioned that, like with any in-ground basketball hoop, installation must be done cautiously and correctly. In addition to determining the best location for the new basketball hoop, you’ll need exact measurements and a large amount of concrete to pour. Also, while tempered glass backboards look fantastic and are a nice touch for shots “off the glass,” the material is more likely to break from an errant rock or tree branch than acrylic, polycarbonate, or fibreglass.
3. Lifetime Pro Court Portable Basketball System
If you want to buy your children their first height-adjustable basketball hoop without spending a fortune, the Lifetime Pro Court is a terrific option. The height can be adjusted from 7.5 to 10 feet, and the material is strong enough to withstand rain and wind for years. The assembly of the Lifetime Pro Court is simple and should take no more than two hours. While you can put it together on your own, having a second adult on hand makes the job much easier. After assembling the hoop, fill the base with water and you’re good to go!
If you want to lower the hoop for your children, you can use the support pole’s telescope mechanism to modify the height. Unfortunately, this necessitates the participation of two persons and is somewhat complicated. If you need to change heights frequently and rapidly, more expensive basketball hoops have considerably easier adjusting systems.
The Lifetime Pro Court’s backboard is made of Polyethylene and is only 44 inches wide. That’s OK for kids, but if you want to practise bank shots, you should certainly look into larger backboard possibilities.
Another reason this hoop isn’t suitable for more severe use is that the backboard is bolted directly into the support pole. So, if you want to practise your Michael Jordan impersonation and dunk from the free-throw line, you will inevitably collide with the post. The Lifetime Pro Court is best suited for shooting practise rather than actual basketball contests.
Overall, this is an excellent basketball hoop for fun or for children under the age of 13. For older (or more determined) children, you might want to consider something more akin to a professional basketball hoop.
4. Spalding Hybrid Portable Basketball System
Perhaps a $1,000 Portable Basketball Hoop, much alone a $2,000 one, is out of the question, but you still want a product that allows for real play and is much better and more durable than a toy. If this describes you, there is a sweet spot in the $500 to $800 range where you can get really good quality portable basketball systems without feeling like you overpaid.
The Spalding Hybrid, so termed because the base is filled with a mixture of water (19) gallons and sand, is our favourite for this category (four 5-pound bags). In fact, one of the base’s selling points is how it’s filled and emptied. Unlike many other portable hoop bases, which have one little hole at the base for filling with sand, the top layer of the Spalding Hybrid’s base can be removed completely, making it quick and easy to fill with sand. (It’s also really simple to remove the sand if that becomes required.)
When we looked, the Hybrid was available with 54 or 60 acrylic backboards for $550 and $800, respectively. The backboard is held up by a steel pole (either 3.5″ in diameter or 4″ square, depending on the model), which is tilted forward to keep it out of the way of the players. A triangular “rebounder” braces the pole, adding stability to the backboard while also guiding basketballs back into the court after they’ve passed through the hoop.
The hoop has a breakaway rim that won’t bend if someone dunks on it, and the rim height can be adjusted from 7.5′ to 10′ by twisting a hand crank. Ground pegs are also supplied to assist it stay firmly in place, as are a pair of plastic wheels for transporting it to a new site.
5. Spalding 54 Polycarbonate Backboard NBA Portable Basketball System
For around $250, this Spalding model with a 54″ polycarbonate backboard and an angled design that helps with stability and keeps the pole out of the way during play is a great value. Like other portable Spalding models, this hoop has a rim that can be adjusted from 7.5′ to 10′ high. Instead of twisting a crank to adjust the rim inch by inch, however, it has a pin that can be moved to a handful of different set heights.
For casual shooting around and the occasional two-on-two game, this hoop does the trick. It’s more stable and provides a more comfortable playing area compared to most other cheap basketball hoops designed for the driveway — which usually feature a vertical pole that players inevitably bump into, and is prone to wobbling.
However, at such a low price, you shouldn’t be surprised that it’s not the strongest and best-built basketball hoop out there. Polycarbonate is more durable than acrylic, but can turn cloudy when exposed to the sun for a few years. The pole is round and made of steel, and 3.5″ in diameter, which is the same as many mid-range hoops but smaller than the heftiest top models. The base is big enough to handle 34 gallons of water or sand, which again, is less than some other models. As a result, this hoop may shake a little more than you like and could be more prone to tipping over compared to higher-priced competitors. That’s why, in addition to filling the base with sand or water, many owners take addition precautions with their hoops by adding weight on top of the base or just laying them flat when heavy winds are expected.
6. Silverback NXT Portable Height-Adjustable Basketball Hoop
Goalrilla Portable Basketball portable hoops under the Silverback brand, in addition to its excellent in-ground hoops. The Silverback NXT range has polycarbonate backboards and is available in 50 or 54 widths, with prices starting at $430 and going up to $523 when we looked. One of the Silverback line’s strengths is, literally, its strength. The hoops are constructed with a steel frame that runs from the base up into the pole that connects to the backboard.
The main pole is slanted for even weight distribution, and it is reinforced by a pair of angled steel poles that protrude from the base for added stability and less shaking. However, unlike the Spalding portable models, the Silverbacks lack a “rebounder” at the base.
The Silverback NXT’s foundation has a distinctive slanted design that helps keep the hoop balanced and makes it easier to move using a wheelbarrow-like manner. The Silverback is also marketed as a “Quick-Play” hoop that, in theory, can be taken out of the box and fully installed in 90 minutes or less, using primarily preassembled pieces.
7. Franklin Sports Over the Door Basketball Hoop
Silverback’s wall-mounted hoops are designed to be used both outside and inside. However, for most individuals, installing a full-size basketball hoop inside their houses is simply not an option.
You may, however, bring your game inside by purchasing a little basketball hoop that can simply be attached over the top of a door. There are dozens and hundreds of different types of these little hoops, which are extremely popular for kids’ rooms and offices. For $10 or less, you can get an extremely cheap one with a fragile plastic rim, but chances are it will break.
Instead, look for versions with true metal rims and springs that add a great touch to your photographs. Franklin’s over-the-door hoop is a great alternative, with a shatter-resistant backboard and a 9.5″ metal rim that should withstand rowdy games behind a teenager’s closed door.
The Franklin hoop is available in a variety of colours and styles, with prices ranging from $25 to $35. A 5″ rubber basketball with a good grip is supplied, as well as an inflating pump and needle.
SKLZ offers another fantastic choice for over-the-door hoops. The SKLZ Pro Mini Basketball Hoop costs around $30 and includes a 9″ metal rim with springs, an 18″ x 12″ polycarbonate backboard, and a 5″ basketball (but no pump or needle). To boost your indoor game, an XL version of the SKLZ hoop with a 23″ x 16″ backboard and a 9.5″ rim costs around $40.
8. Silverback NXT 54 Wall-Mounted Adjustable Height Basketball Hoop
We prefer the Silverback’s wall-mounted version for the same reasons we like the brand’s portable hoop. It uses high-quality materials throughout, the height adjustment is simple to use, and installation should be faster and less difficult than most competitors.
The frame is comprised of powder-coated steel and comes with a 5-year warranty, as well as a pro-style breakaway rim. To modify the height, hook a steel “actuator” (included) to a hook attached to the frame, then twist to raise or lower the backboard. (This is a somewhat uncommon feature for wall-mounted hoops, which typically have old-school designs that lock in at one height with no adjustment.)
Many of Silverback’s components are already constructed. Even so, mounting hoops on the wall can be difficult and time-consuming. The brand claims that assembly can be completed in “120 minutes or less,” however it may not be a simple task.
Please keep in mind that the Silverback hoop and backboard do not come with any mounting hardware. Why? For one thing, the hardware required varies substantially depending on the surface to which the hoop is attached. So be warned: installing this hoop (or any wall-mounted hoop, for that matter) to your garage or another surface may necessitate an above-average level of home improvement handyness and acquaintance with the local hardware store. Also, according to Silverback, this hoop should not be installed to any brick surface.
