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Do you love to shoot hoops, dunk, or cross over your friends? Then you definitely need a portable basketball hoop for your home.
While your kids will love it too (especially since you can lower the rim for them, so they can slam dunk!) – it’s great daily exercise to just relax and shoot some hoops. Of course, there are thousands of different portable basketball hoops on the market, so we did the legwork and reviewed them all.
After aggregating hundreds of thousands of actual user reviews, doing many hours of research, and testing the top hoops – we can confidently recommend the best portable basketball hoops on the market today. Whether you want something expensive, a budget pick, or just a reliable hoop you can get thousands of hours of use out of – we’ve got you covered.
Our Top Pick
Spalding NBA Portable Basketball System
If you want the best quality portable basketball hoop, and you want to feel like you’re in the NBA – you’ll want to get our top pick. The officially licensed Spalding NBA portable hoop is extremely well-crafted, durable, looks sleek, and held up perfectly during all of our testing.
With hundreds of perfect user reviews, and amazing craftsmanship – there really is only one top pick, when it comes to portable hoops. While not the cheapest option, if you care about basketball, and love to play – we highly recommend this model.
Other Great Picks
MaxKare Portable Basketball Hoop & Goal
This affordable portable basketball hoop from MaxKare is almost as good as our top pick. It’s sturdy, looks beautiful, and can take absolutely any slam dunks you can throw at it.
Of course, since a basketball hoop is likely a once in a lifetime purchase, it makes more sense to us to spend slightly more, and go with our top pick. But if you’re on a tight budget, or you don’t play basketball too often and still want a hoop – this is a great option.
Silverback NXT Portable Height Adjustable Basketball Hoop
We weren’t as familiar with Silverback as a brand when we went to test this hoop, but we loved our experience with it. It was easy to adjust the height of the hoop up and down, and came with every feature you’d expect from the most expensive models.
It also features a wheelbarrow design, so it was extremely easy to move around. Though we doubt we’ll ever need to move our hoop very much (except when moving) it’s still a great feature to include, as many people will need to shift their hoop around in their driveway.
Lifetime Portable Basketball System
This best-selling hoop has thousands of stellar user reviews, and is almost as well known as the official NBA licensed model made by Spalding. However, the Lifetime model is more affordable, while still offering extreme durability and high quality craftsmanship.
Lifetime is well known for making gym treadmills and other fitness equipment, so their same stellar craftsmanship is on display here. We also trust the Lifetime brand, as they have a great reputation for products that hold up to even the most extreme wear and tear.
MARNUR Portable Basketball Hoop & Goal
We weren’t at all familiar with Marnur as a brand, before testing this hoop. However, we were pleasantly surprised at how well it held up.
As an additional bonus, it comes in at a pretty low price point, making it a great budget option. It’s also easy to assemble, which is much appreciated, since some portable equipment like this can be an absolute terror to put together.
Body Well Portable Basketball Hoop & Goal
This kids hoop is newer on the market, and only goes up to a little over 8 feet in height. So it will be exclusively for your kids, but that shouldn’t put a damper on your fun.
We don’t recommend putting a lot of weight on the rim (like an adult dunking and hanging on it, Shaq style) – but your kids will love it. It’s also one of the more affordable models on our list, so it’s great for anyone on a budget.
SKLZ Pro Mini Hoop Basketball System
We fell in love with this mini hoop, as we used it by the pool, as well as in our office. It’s made for kids (but adults can play on it too) – and it’s straight up fun.
While obviously not built for the serious basketball player, it is a perfect fit for exercise and growing kids. With thousands of stellar consumer reviews, a killer price point, and fine craftsmanship – it’s impossible to go wrong with this pick.
Lifetime 32″ Youth Portable Basketball Hoop
Lifetime brings its well known brand name to the market of kid’s basketball hoops. It’s not a full 10 foot NBA size model – but your kids will absolutely love it.
With thousands of glowing user reviews, the feedback on this model is also stellar. If you want a 10 foot regulation hoop, this isn’t the pick for you – but if you’re looking for a great mini model, this may just be the one.
ZENY Portable Basketball Hoop
This kids hoop is great for your little ones, and it comes in at a rock bottom price point. With hundreds of great user reviews, the feedback is also unanimous.
You can move this hoop indoors or outdoors, it doesn’t matter which location you prefer. We also found it very easy to move around, so it makes it simple to quickly switch locations for shooting hoops.
PEXMOR Portable Basketball Hoop
Pexmor wasn’t a brand name we recognized when we went to test this hoop, but it ended up being a pleasant surprise. Fully adjustable to 10 feet, this model is perfect for both kids and adults.
While you may opt for a more expensive model, this more than meets the needs of most basketball players. If you’re on a budget – this may just be the best pick for a full size, regulation hoop. Definitely recommended.
What Is A Portable Basketball Hoop?
It’s fairly easy to explain the premise of a portable basketball hoop – it’s simply a backboard and rim, which allows you to shoot basketballs through it. Usually the backboard is constructed of glass, and steel often makes up the rest of a good model’s construction.
Portable hoops offer one extra benefit – they can easily be moved around. Adding wheels to the base of the hoop means you bring it indoors, outdoors – or anywhere your mind can dream up.
Hoops also come in multiple sizes – while the regulation NBA rim rests at 10 feet, some portable hoops are only made for kids. Meaning they might only go up to 7 feet.
Most portable hoops allow you to adjust the height of the rim, so you can practice your dunks, even if you can’t quite do it on a 10 foot rim. The only other thing to note, is that most portable hoops require water or sand to weigh them down.
What Are Portable Basketball Hoops Made Out Of?
Most hoops are made with either acrylic, polycarbonate, tempered glass, steel, and/or aluminum. The more expensive models are usually made with sturdier materials, so this is often where the extra cost goes.
Who Needs A Portable Basketball Hoop?
Anyone who has a smaller driveway, many cars, or just needs portability – is a perfect candidate for purchasing a portable basketball hoop. If you have your own designated basketball court, you likely would be better off with a regular basketball hoop, since it will be a little bit sturdier, as it’s put in-ground.
Portable hoops need to be properly weighed down with either water or sand, and it’s crucial to make sure you put enough weight in the base. You don’t want the hoop to fall down on you (or your child) just after you’ve hit a sweet dunk.
Should I Use Sand Or Water For My Portable Basketball Hoop?
While the material you put in the base of your hoop is ultimately up to you, we recommend water. For one, it’s easier to remove from the base, meaning your hoop will be more portable.
Secondly, it’s far easier to find (especially in bulk), and is a cinch to clean out. Sand is a little bit sturdier, but everything else about it is a royal pain in the neck to deal with.
What Features Are Important In A Portable Basketball Hoop?
There is nothing too complex to understand about choosing the right model of basketball hoop. Ultimately it comes down to how high you want the rim to be, how much you want to spend, and how what you want your hoop to be made out of.
Glass (and other high-end materials) are the most expensive to construct a hoop with, so models with these elements are always higher on the price spectrum. On the plus side, these hoops can take more of a beating, and can sometimes last longer.
If this is important to you, and you don’t mind spending a little bit more – opt for a hoop with a glass backboard. Other than this, it’s fairly straightforward to choose the right portable hoop for you.
Are Portable Basketball Hoops Safe To Use?
While it is safer to go with an in-ground hoop, portable hoops are still extremely safe to use. Of course, it’s smart to follow a few ground rules when utilizing a portal hoop.
For starters, don’t hang on the rim. While hoops will usually be able to withstand this – it’s just asking for trouble. Secondly, make sure you have properly assembled the model, and secured the base with plenty of water (or sand).
It’s also vital to be safe when moving the hoop, as you don’t want it to fall on you. Make sure your kids are also well versed on how to safely use a portable hoop, and you’ll be good to go.
Where Should I Put A Portable Basketball Hoop?
Most people put a portable hoop in their driveway – but that doesn’t mean you can’t put it elsewhere. Poolside is another popular location, as well as in a fun office.
Other Factors To Consider
There isn’t too much to consider when it comes to buying a portable basketball hoop. The materials it’s made from, the price point, and how long the hoop might last – those should be your three biggest concerns.
We did not come across any best-selling hoops that had basic problems – like poor craftsmanship, parts that break, or hoops that aren’t stable. However, we did not review cheap models, or ones with no user reviews.
So we would tread very carefully, if venturing outside of a model on our list – as a cheap basketball hoop could spell disaster, in terms of safety concerns. Because of this basic safety issue (and the fact that kids are often the ones playing on a portable hoop) – we don’t recommend going with an off-brand model, or one with very few user reviews.
It’s also important to remember that while most of the hoops on our list can be used for regulation play (at the standard height of 10 feet) – most portable hoops are used for fun. They’re a great way to practice, but almost every official basketball game uses hoops that are secured in the ground.
The Best Portable Basketball Hoops
There you have it – our top picks for the best portable basketball hoops. While you may opt for an in-ground hoop instead, that’s really the only reason you wouldn’t want to grab one of these stellar portable models.
Whether you want a top of the line NBA replica, or a budget model that is easy to move around – one of the picks on our list will more than get the job done. We still remember spending countless hours playing basketball in our backyards as kids, so it can be a perfect (and healthy) pursuit for your entire family.
No matter if you want to shoot hoops with your kids, or practice dunks yourself – any of our picks for the best portable basketball hoop will have you thinking you might just be the next Michael Jordan.