As a way to remain fit and healthy, many families enjoy playing basketball together. This is why it remains so popular in the United States. The love for basketball in the country is apparent in the number of public parks that provide facilities for the sport.
However, not everyone wants to go through the stress of driving to a park and getting a spot. For parents with young kids, creating time out of their busy schedule is often an issue. To solve this problem, getting a portable basketball hoop is an excellent idea.
These hoops provide your kids with the option of playing their favorite sport in the driveway or backyard. Now, you no longer need to drive long distances for your kids to practice – they can do so anytime they want.
To help you choose the best portable hoop, this guide offers information on several features you need to look out for. This will help you as you do your research on the best portable hoop for your needs.
Factors to Consider
When selecting a portable basketball hoop, there are several factors you need to keep in mind. These are crucial in choosing a hoop that will last a long time and offer excellent features and a reasonable price.
Before considering these factors, you must answer a few questions. These questions will help you determine the level of play you need the hoop for, and they include the following:
- Is the hoop for children who are just learning the game?
- Is it for teenagers looking to advance to high-level play?
- Will adults who want to play pickup games also use the hoop?
Once you answer these questions, you will have a good idea of what you need from the hoop. Now, you should consider these factors when making your selection:
Durability
The durability of the hoop is one of the most important factors to consider. Since your kids will be playing for a long time and the best hoops aren’t cheap, you want one that will last for a while. Going for the cheaper options translate to more expenses in the long run.
The material in use usually determines the durability. However, some materials may offer excellent durability at the cost of lower performance. When selecting backboards, polycarbonate hoops provide the best durability, followed by the acrylic backboards and then tempered glass.
However, the tempered glass backboards offer the best performance, followed by the acrylic backboards, and then polycarbonate.
Stability
The size of the base and the backboard material determines the stability of a basketball hoop. The backboard materials include tempered glass, acrylic, and polycarbonate, with tempered glass being the heaviest and polycarbonate the lightest.
The design of portable hoops features a hollow base that you can fill with sand or water to increase its stability. The capacity of the hoop base will usually vary depending on the material in use. For example, portable polycarbonate hoops often have a small base with a 27-gallon capacity.
The portable acrylic hoops have 35 – 40 gallons capacity since they are heavier than the polycarbonate hoops. The tempered glass hoops need larger bases since they are the heaviest. They also need to provide a professional feel by offering the best stability.
The portable polycarbonate backboards usually have a capacity of around 55 gallons to achieve this stability.
Adjustability
The adjustable height option on portable hoops is one of the main reasons why they are so popular. Depending on your child’s preference, you can adjust the hoop to their height or yours.
The adjustability feature requires a mechanism, and different hoops use one of several mechanisms available today. Certain hoops allow individuals to select a height that lies between a minimum and maximum threshold. The threshold is known as the “infinity” settings, while other hoops support increments of 6-inches.
The height adjustment mechanisms you can find on the market include the following:
- Broomstick adjustments
- Pneumatic adjustments
- Telescoping pole adjustments
- Crank handle adjustments
- Trigger handle adjustments
The broomstick adjustments are present on many low-end basketball systems. However, they are a step above the telescoping pole adjustment mechanism that is in place on basketball hoops for children.
For high-grade portable basketball hoops, you will find the crank handle adjustment. Using this mechanism is very easy, but it isn’t easy to find residential hoops that feature this mechanism.
The trigger handle adjustment and pneumatic adjustment mechanisms are also very easy to use. You can operate the mechanism on the trigger handle with one hand, while the pneumatic adjustment system features a hydraulic technology.
Portability
Despite the name, certain portable basketball hoops are more challenging to move around and store than others. For this reason, you must consider the possibility of you moving to another location when choosing your hoop. Will it be easy to transport?
For individuals who select a portable hoop due to a high possibility of changing residences in the future, the portability factor is crucial. For those that go for this option due to in-ground hoops restrictions, then the hoop’s portability isn’t a significant factor.
On many portable hoops, you will find wheels to ease mobility. This is an excellent feature that will come in handy when you need to move the hoop around your driveway or backyard.
The portability of the hoop will also depend on the size of the base and the backboard. A hoop with a small backboard and base is easier to transport than one with a larger backboard and base.
Conclusion
Choosing an excellent basketball hoop isn’t just to improve your playing experience, but to also help you maintain your health. Doing extensive research will help you make the right choice and get the best deal from the hoop.
With so many hoops on the market, you need to be sure of your needs before shopping around. This guide is an excellent starting point to get the best portable hoop for your home and kids.
