In order to get in your daily dose of exercise, sometimes the gym just does not cut it. Sports are an amazing way to get up and moving and can be played with multiple people. This holds true for basketball and many other sports. To get decent at the game, you are going to need to practice, and to practice you are going to need a basketball hoop. However, a lot of people do not want to install a permanent hoop in the ground, and hanging one up on the side of your garage is ugly at best. So what can you do? Well, buying a portable basketball hoop is a great choice. They can be moved into the garage or shed when you are not using it, and they do not take up much space at all. Best of all, they are generally cheaper than in ground units. Below I want to go into the best portable basketball hoops starting from the cheapest and going up to the higher end products that should last you longer.
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Keep in mind that our small reviews below are based on products that are sold from Amazon. This lets us (and you) to go read what other people are saying about these portable hoops that they bought. The price is a factor we took into an account as well. Our hope is that this guide should be enough for you to find a great portable basketball hoop, set it up, and get playing as soon as possible.
Portable Basketball Hoops Under $300
Depending on the sale price of these items, they may be below, or above $300. Now that you know that, lets get into our top picks!
Lifetime 1529 Adjustable Portable Basketball System (Shatter Fusion Backboard)
The lifetime 1529 portable hoop is the cheapest option that we could find that we believe is still a quality unit. This hoop allows yo to adjust the height of the unit (perfect for children), portable so you can store it away, and looks pretty good as well. The 50 inch backboard is made out of poly-carbonate which makes it shatterproof so you will not have to worry about walking outside and seeing your kids have broken the basketball hoop. To keep the adjustable basketball system in place, the base is filled up with water. This “tank” is 27 gallons so fill it up with your hose. One of my favorite features of this hoop is that the rim has springs for if there are any children or even adults who like to jump high and grab on. This rim is high quality, and will not break under stress.
This unit is adjusted in increments of six inches that goes from 8 feet all the way up to a towering 10 feet. Now, understand that if you pay more money, you will be able to adjust your hoop in any increments you want, but this is a budget unit. It certainly will make your family or your children very happy and will be enough to shoot around the basketball any day of the week!
Lifetime 52 Inch Shatter Proof Portable Basketball System
As you can see by the title here, lifetime makes some great cheaper hoops out there on the market. This particular unit is a 52 inch shatter proof portable basketball hoop. It has springs to reinforce the rim so it always pops back to the position it should be in. If you want to adjust the height on this bad boy, all you need to do is go to the back where you will find the handles, squeeze them together, and you can place the height of the hoop anywhere from 7.5 feet all the way up to 10 feet.
This portable basketball hoop is one of my favorites for a budget unit because it has wheels on the base. This makes it extremely easy to move and transport out of the way when you are done using it. To keep the the unit stable, lifetime has made use of two pieces. One is the large base to keep the hoop upright. Next you have the pole that attaches to the backboard. This pole is 3.5 inches around which is pretty thick. This will keep the backboard from vibrating or causing too much noise when you are out there practicing and getting in your exercise for the day. If you have the money to spend and get a little bit nicer portable hoop, this is the one you should consider purchasing.
Spalding 66291 Pro Slam Portable Basketball System
Now we have to step it up a level but still remain in the lower end of the portable basketball hoops here. Spalding is a well known brand that you probably know yourself. This pro slam unit comes with a giant 37.5 gallon base to keep the hoop in place. If you take a look at the other hoops on this page, this is a lot bigger and thus a lot more stable. Another thing this portable hoop has is a much nicer system to lifting the unit up. In fact, this is the exact hoop that I had when I was growing up. If you want to change the height of the system, simply go to the back, and squeeze the handles and then move it up or down. They call this the EZ touch system. The height can be adjusted from 7.5 feet up to 10 feet tall.
The backboard is really nice and will stand up to the abuse you and your kids give this thing. If your family is looking for a low cost hoop that can still stand the test of time and be easy on your wallet, you might want to consider the Spalding Pro Slam.
Portable Basketball Hoops $300-$800
Spalding NBA Portable Basketball System
This is an amazing basketball hoop that is meant to last nearly a lifetime. This NBA portable system comes with a 54 inch acrylic backboard which looks and feels like one you would find at a professional game. A great part of this system is that there is a system in tbhe back so you can get rid of the lift handle. This means you will not be able to change the height or tamper with it in any way while a game is going on. The backboard as I mentioned is acrylic. This is not top of the line yet, but the acrylic is still very nice and will hold up to a lot of abuse and shooting you give it. To make this unit portable, the base has wheels which makes rolling it into your garage pretty simple. This portable basketball hoop also comes with a fairly large base at 40 gallons and can be filled with water or sand to keep it safe and stable.
Finally, you have the rim on this NBA portable basketball system. Out of all the hoops listed so far, this is the best one! If you do a slam dunk on this hoop, it will feel a LOT like if you went to a local gym or a basketball court. This really is a great unit if you are looking for a mid range price point that mimics the real thing.
Spalding 60 Inch Acrylic Backboard
As I said up above previously, spalding is one of the best when it comes to manufacturers of portable basketball hoops. This one is a real gem. You get an awesome rim that has springs for a heavy duty game of basketball. You get a heavy duty steel frame to hold up under abuse and a large 40 gallon tank on the bottom to keep it in place. The pole leans in at an angle to keep it out of the way. This increases the safety of yourself or your children when playing so no one will run into it.
The main feature that makes this different then the NBA portable we went over above is the massive backboard. This comes with a 60 inch acrylic which not only gives you a larger shooting area but looks amazing as well. This unit goes from 7.5 feet up to 10 feet and can be adjusted infinity meaning you can go up as little or as much at a time that you want.
This is the perfect hoop for any beginner who wants a decent hoop to practice their skills or get some outdoor exercise once in a while.
High End Portable Hoops ($800+)
The Beast Portable BBall Hoop
This is actually called “The Beast” and for good reason. You get a 60 inch glass backboard this time. When you are at the glass backboards, you know you are getting a quality unit. The pole system is a 2 piece system. You get a square angled pole system that scews into the base. The base has this awesome water level gauge base cap. If you buy this unit, you may want to plan on a few hours to set it up properly.
Speaking of the base, this base is massive. It holds up to 50 gallons of water and if you want, you can fill it up with sand as well. Adjusting this unit is just like the others with 7.5 feet to 10 feet being the range. To change the height, all you need to do is use the screw jack system in the back.
There is no padding on the backboard which is a shame, but if you want a high end quality product, you want to get this one. This is only for people who love basketball and have the money to spend, but if you do get this, your family is going to love it for many years to come.
Street Tournament Side Court
This portable basketball hoop from spalding is one of the most top of the line hoops you can get if you want something that is going to last, look great, and be durable under any conditions you throw at it. This is also perfect if you like to hold tournaments in your neighborhood.
You get a backboard that is cushioned, there is a large offset from the pole system and the hoop to give you the feel of a gym hoop, and if you want to move it, simply fold it up, and store it.
This is the perfect hoop for hosting any kind of tournament in your area. Check it out!
Wrapping It Up
There are so many different options out there. I would suggest if you are looking for the best portable basketball hoop, that you look at something in your price range. You want to spend enough money where you get a quality product, but not more than you need to. Think about what this will be used for. Is it for your kids? If this is the case, you can probably get away with something a little more affordable but if you have a teenager who is really into basketball, you may want to get something that is going to last when his friends come over to shoot some hoops.
Anyway, best of luck with your decision. If you already have one of your own, let us know in the comments how you like it and how long you have had it for!
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