“I feel like the portable hoop is what transformed me to being who I am,” NBA shooting coach Chris Matthews (aka Lethal Shooter) says. “My cousin Justin and I would play on the portable hoop at his house when we couldn’t make it to the playground. He had a garage light and we would shoot all night.”
Memories like that will be made on whatever space you have to make the court. But don’t get caught buying a hoop that’s a waste of money. Not all hoops are the same, so we’re here to cut through the noise. Here are a few details to look for before you buy.
What to Consider
Adjustability
Not every hoop going to have the same adjustability in terms of how low, or high, you can raise. This is crucial if you have little ones and want the whole family to partake in on the fun. It’s also a great way to put on a dunk contest if you still have the bunnies, too. There are also different mechanisms built for adjusting like a hand crank, telescoping pole, pneumatic assist, or gas-spring.
Backboard Material
The types of materials used directly impacts the long-term durability of your hoop. The two types of backboard materials to know about for portable basketball goals are acrylic and polycarbonate (there’s also glass, but glass is used for professional backboards and is extremely rare on portable ones). Polycarbonate is going to be cheaper, but the tradeoff is exposure to weather and UV light will make the backboard brittle and rigid over time. Acrylic is typically more expensive, but the benefit is it’s better suited for exposure to weather and UV light (acrylic is not affected by UV light like polycarbonate), plus you get a more responsive bounce.
Rim Type
Basketball rims are not all created equal. If you’ve ever been to a park court, you know what we mean—one slightly off shot and your ball rockets across the street. There are a few common materials you’ll see: steel and double-rimmed steel, powder-coated rims, and occasionally composite or plastic. You’ll also see that there are breakaway rims, standard, and flex.
Base Capacity
To keep a portable basketball hoop in place, you’ll need to fill its base with something. Most portable goals hold about 35 gallons, and you can either go with water or sand. We prefer sand because it dissipates well. Sand is also denser than water, so filling the base with sand is wiser for a more secure hold. However, choosing water makes it easier to empty the base and refill, making it easier to maneuver, especially if you need to move elsewhere in your driveway (or take it to your neighbor’s for a friendly pickup game).
If you’re curious about how much weight you need to keep your goal in place, a safe number is around 300 to 450 pounds. It sounds like a lot, but if you want to be safe and protect your goal then more weight is always worth adding. And keep in mind that they all include wheels attached to the base to make moving it much easier. If you want to eliminate the labor of filling the base full, you can fill it to a point and then stack sand bags on top of the back of the goal to keep it in place. It won’t be the most pleasing to look at, but it will allow you to move the goal around easier.
Price
Paying more gets you a better playing experience, especially when it comes to a wide acrylic backboard. A wider backboard makes it easier to shoot bank shots and perform layups, and the acrylic material will be much more responsive and last longer. A more expensive goal might also come with better wheels for moving the goal. Keep in mind a portable basketball hoop won’t be as deluxe as an in-ground one, but you can get pretty dang close.
How We Selected
Having spent countless hours as kids growing up playing pickup games in driveways, we know a thing or two about a solid portable basketball hoop. Men’s Health Fitness and Commerce Editor Charles Thorp, NASM has played lots of basketball and helped us dial in on the proper picks for this guide. Considering all those firsthand experiences led us to find the best of the best. Factors like backboard material, adjustability, and special design notes were considered in our selection process. We also took into account price, as some basketball goals provide a better overall value than others.
In addition, we also consulted world-renowned basketball shooting coach Chris Matthews (aka Lethal Shooter) on what makes for a good portable hoop. Our guide below represents our top picks, all approved by Matthews, of portable basketball hoops that will actually last for years to come. Keep scrolling to learn more.
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Best Portable Basketball Hoop Overall
Spalding Momentous EZ Assembly
Cons
- Sells out fast
- Rim isn’t reinforced
Spalding makes a handful of portable goals, but the Momentous EZ is our favorite due to its value-driven price and ease of assembly. Spalding notes its takes about 30 minutes to put together. We found it took just over that time when following the instructions, which makes it the easiest goal to assemble in our book.
As Matthews notes, “The more portable a basketball hoop is the better, so that everyone can move it. That’s one reason I like the models from Spalding.”
As for the materials in the hoop, the Momentous EZ comes with an acrylic backboard in either 50 or 54-inch sizing. You can also choose between a clear view back, an H-frame, or a steel H-frame (for added support and durability). We chose the steel H-frame to help prevent backboard damage. The theory behind the H-frame is it should help absorb stress when someone dunks or hangs on the rim.
There’s a hand crank for adjusting the height of the goal (simple to use if you have kids or if you want to do a driveway dunk contest). The base is wide and supportive and will hold up to 26 gallons of water or sand. If you’re looking for a premium goal that won’t set you back a thousand dollars, there’s nothing better than this pick. Start here in your search. You won’t regret it.
Read more: Damian Lillard Workout
| Adjustability | 8 to 10 foot height |
| Backboard | Acrylic |
| Rim Type | Breakaway |
| Base Capacity | Up to 36 gallons of water or sand |
| Dimensions | 32″D x 54″W x 168″H |
Best Budget Portable Basketball Hoop
Awii Sport Portable Basketball Hoop Outdoor
If you are looking for a portable goal that won’t break the bank, this top-selling $250 model is worth a look. It’s made to adjust to a wide range of height, from 4.8 feet to 10 feet. This means it appeals to everyone from small kids to adults. One cool idea you can do with this goal is you can lower it to its 4-foot setting and position it up against an in-ground pool—something other goals in this guide don’t have a low enough range to make it suitable for pool hoops.
The biggest qualm about this one is the polycarbonate backboard. It won’t last as long as acrylic, and you should expect a few good years out of it with a slight decline in bounce as it braves the changing of the seasons. One way to help preserve this goal, though, is to store it inside whenever possible to avoid weathering.
| Adjustability | 4.8 to 10 foot height |
| Backboard | Polycarbonate |
| Rim Type | Alloy steel |
| Base Capacity | Recommended to place sandbags on top |
| Dimensions | Approx. 88″D x 44″W x 148″H |
Best Competitive Portable Basketball Hoop
Lifetime Competition XL Portable Basketball Hoop System
Cons
- More expensive than the Spalding EZ
Lifetime is another brand that churns out long-lasting portable goals. This one is similar to the Spalding Momentous EZ with a wide acrylic backboard. The base is also just as sturdy as the Spalding EZ, and it has an ability to hold up to 35 gallons of water or sand. The downside of this goal to the Spalding EZ is it’s not as fast of a setup, so you do need to lock in for at least two hours to get it up.
The upside? That would be the 4 extra inches of backboard, the reinforced rim, and the hand crank adjustment. The rim is thicker and outfitted with steel springs, which makes it a lot more capable for handling dunks. The hand crank makes adjusting the goal from 7.5 feet to 10 feet smoother and easier than the turning hand crank on the Spalding EZ goal.
The Spalding has the easier setup and price, but Lifetime has a few premium features that will make competitive play more fun.
| Adjustability | 7.5 to 10 foot height |
| Backboard | Acrylic |
| Rim Type | Breakaway steel |
| Base Capacity | Up to 25 gallons of water or sand |
| Dimensions | 99″D x 54″W x 148″H |
Most Underrated Portable Basketball Hoop
IE Sports Basketball Hoop Outdoor Goal
This model from IE Sports will help save you some cash while still providing decent play. Its made with a 44-inch polycarbonate backboard, which is great when it comes to saving money. The base and frame are similar in design to the Awii Sports option, so there’s no worries on durability here.
Like mentioned prior, we don’t really like the hand crank for adjusting the height; this goal has one. You’ve probably noticed the unique mini trampoline this goal comes with so you can pass the ball to yourself. We think it’s an awesome feature, as it maximizes solo practice by allowing you to work on passing and catch-and-shoot drills. Overall, this goal is reliable, well-priced, and comes with a fun feature.
| Adjustability | 7.5 to 10 foot height |
| Backboard | Polycarbonate |
| Rim Type | Steel |
| Base Capacity | Recommended to place sandbags on top |
| Dimensions | Approx. 88″D x 54″W x 148″H |
Best Portable Basketball Hoop for Kids
Skillz Pro Mini Hoop Basketball System
Remember how fun mini hoops are? This goal takes mini hoops to a whole other level with an adjustable height pole (up to 7 feet) and a sturdy base. Sure you could buy a cheap sub-$100 full size goal for your kids to play with, but for a similar price you get a much better build and a whole lot of fun.
Position it up to your pool for water mini hoops. Bring it down to your basement or put it in the garage for winter mini hoops. You get the point.
| Adjustability | 3 to 7 foot |
| Backboard | Polycarbonate |
| Base Capacity | Weighted base that can hold water or sand |
| Dimensions | 25″D x 32″W x 9″H |
| Rim Type | Breakaway |
Best Indoor Portable Basketball Hoop
Huupe Mini
The Huupe Mini Hoop is the perfect nostalgia pick for any guy, regardless of age. It is quite literally the most portable hoop on our list, with the ability to be tossed on any door. This smart hoop has a wide variety of virtual games you can enjoy. The hoop comes with some heft, namely from the technology, which allows you to test your shot against others online, or even watch your favorite streaming apps.
“I think that mini hoops like the Huupe are another great option for families that don’t have room in their garage or a driveway,” Matthews says. “It’s a great way to have kids to get energy out during the day, even when the weather is not ideal. They are easy to install, too.”
In any case, it’s easily installed using the classic over-the-door mount. You can also wall mount, but you need to buy those parts separately. There are special sensors throughout the device, which follow your shot as well as your distance from the hoop. This means it can reliably track your shot so you can get better after every game. One of our testers even said, “I enjoyed using this hoop to shoot around with my toddler daughter, and when I just wanted to play around a little bit by myself, it was awesome to get to watch the NBA playoffs on the screen as I shot.”
| Adjustability | N/A |
| Backboard | Multiple layers of shock absorption |
| Base Capacity | N/A |
| Dimensions | 1.5″D x 22″W x 17″H |
| Rim Type | Breakaway rim |
What Size Backboard do I Need?
A regulation backboard is typically 48 inches tall by 72 inches wide. Most portable hoops have a 48-inch height, but there’s a variance on width. While 72-inches is fun to play on due to the full ability to shoot bank shots and layups, a driveway goal doesn’t need to be that wide.
Look to a 50-inch or 54-inch width. Anything under 50 is fine, however you will lose space to shoot bank shots and layups. The benefit to buying a goal with a smaller backboard, though, is you save money (they’re almost always cheaper).
How to Store a Basketball Goal
The easiest way to store a portable basketball goal is to lower the rim to its lowest setting, tarp it, then roll it into a garage or shed. Some basketball hoops can be disassembled (or at least partially disassembled) but that process can be pretty annoying. Make sure to drain any water from the base to avoid it freezing and expanding the plastic of the base.
Some of the high-end Spalding portable goals can partially disassemble for storage (not the Spalding EZ we recommend, though). You can take out bolts at the middle of the goal and the backboard will fold down, thus helping store in a garage or shed with a low ceiling.
Jeff Turbett is a fitness and wellness writer who’s based in Miami, FL. His work has been featured in The Manual and FightCamp.
Charles Thorp is the Fitness and Commerce Editor at Men’s Health, where he shares the best product recommendations in gym equipment, recovery tools, supplements, and more. Following an early life in athletics, Charles became a NASM-certified trainer and began writing programs alongside the most respected coaches in the world.
Since entering the world of fitness content, Charles has had the opportunity to learn from and train alongside high performance individuals from the NFL, UFC, NBA, Formula 1, CrossFit, US Olympics, and Navy SEALs. When he’s not writing about training programs or gear, he can be seen at the gym or in the wild, putting them to the test.
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