Basketball Hoop Reviews

SKLZ Pro Mini Basketball Hoop System

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Pros

Polycarbonate backboard, breakaway rim, height adjustment, portable, small footprint, easy assembly, customer service

Cons

Stability, value, durability

Overall Rating

The SKLZ Pro Mini Hoop System can be played on virtually anywhere, whether it be indoors, outdoors, or poolside. It adjusts in height from 3′ to 7′ with the use of a handle. This hoop is primarily suited for children, but adults can use it for playing basketball in the pool. It also has a breakaway rim, which allows children to dunk without being too concerned about breaking it. The polycarbonate backboard is shatterproof. The base comes with wheels, and can be filled with water or sand. Dimensions: 35 x 25 x 9 inches ; 38 pounds.

What To Like

  • Polycarbonate backboard. This is a very strong material, as it’s used on real portable and in-ground basketball hoops. It’s durable, and performs well. This is as good as you could expect for a mini-hoop. You see children in the video dunking on it with authority, so it must be strong to hold up over time.
  • Breakaway rim. This rim has a lot of give, which will protect the backboard when dunking. It’s pretty neat to see a mini hoop with a breakaway rim like this one. It makes it that much more fun for children to play on.
  • Height adjustment. This feature makes it more versatile. Children of all ages can shoot on a hoop like this one, even toddlers. Plus, it can be lowered if placed poolside or indoors if the ceilings are low.
  • Portable. It can be used virtually anywhere, plus it’s easy to transport if you decide to relocate.
  • Small footprint. Because it’s not a full-sized hoop, it can fit into small spaces. Plus, it can be easily stored.
  • Easy assembly. Instructions are easy to follow, and the hoop is pretty lightweight. There aren’t a lot of parts, so it shouldn’t be too much trouble. Most customers said it took about an hour to assemble.
  • Customer service. A customer review on Amazon.com mentioned how some parts were missing, and a representative from SKLZ actually replied to the comment. He apologized, then gave their customer service number so they could get the missing parts sent out. You don’t see that very often.

What Not To Like

  • Stability. What you gain with portability, you lose with performance. The backboard and rim wobble quite a bit when shooting.
  • Value. You can buy the Lifetime 90040 for less money, and it’s actually a 10 foot hoop.
  • Durability. While some elements of it appear to be durable, overall the hoop is susceptible to breaking down, particularly if it’s abused. The pole and base aren’t particularly strong. A few customers overall noted that the base was flimsy. A lot of portable hoops have this problem, even some of the more expensive ones. Though, I will say that durability is a problem for any mini hoop, so I wouldn’t be too discouraged by this.

Summary

If you are looking for a mini hoop that can be used for a variety of purposes, the SKLZ Pro is one to consider. It’s probably most ideal for those who have children and a pool. It is a basketball hoop that you can put in the driveway for your young children to enjoy.  It is a great hoop for children under 10 years of age that would like something better than an indoor plastic hoop but that aren’t ready yet for a full size hoop system.

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Lifetime 1269 Pro Court Portable Basketball System

By

Pros

Inexpensive, reputable brand, 5-year warranty, easy to move, perfect for young children, height adjustment

Cons

Small backboard, not sturdy, questionable durability, no overhang, adjustment mechanism

Overall Rating

The 1269 is the entry level portable system by Lifetime. It has a 44-inch acrylic backboard and a 27 gallon base that can be filled with water or sand. The height adjusts from 7.5 – 10 feet in 6-inch increments using a telescoping design. It has a classic style rim and a 3-section pole that is 2.75-inches round. The latter is powder coated for protection, and the graphics on the backboard are U-V protected. Lifetime backs the 1269 with a 5-year limited warranty.

What To Like

  • Inexpensive. The best feature of any entry-level basketball hoop is the price. Systems can cost thousands on the high end. Priced around $155, you won’t have to break the bank. As long as it’s not abused, it should last for as long as you need it do.
  • 5-year warranty. A warranty on an inexpensive hoop is important because it’s naturally not made with parts as strong as more expensive models. The backboard in particular will be more susceptible to cracking or breaking. With a 5-year warranty, you are protected just in case.
  • Reputable brand. Lifetime has been around since 1986, and they produce a long line of basketball hoops. They sell products that can be trusted.
  • Easy to move. It weighs less than 60 pounds, so kids can move it themselves without much trouble.
  • Perfect for young children. Kids under the age of 10 don’t need a $1000 basketball hoop. It’s perfect for just shooting around and enjoying the outdoors. This hoop isn’t built for rough play, and it doesn’t need to be. It’s not anything fancy, but that’s what makes it appealing.
  • Height adjustment. Not all hoops in this class can adjust, so this is a plus. Children can really benefit from this because it takes awhile before they can realistically begin making shots on a 10 foot hoop. This is particularly ideal for families with children of varying ages.

What Not To Like

  • Small backboard. A 44″ backboard is one of the smaller ones that you’ll find for an outdoor hoop. It makes it harder to shoot bank shots, plus it doesn’t give as much of a target.
  • Not sturdy. The hoop will shake quite a bit while shooting on it. It’s not cemented in-ground, the backboard is small and lightweight, and the 3-section pole isn’t sturdy. The ball naturally won’t bounce as well off the backboard.
  • Durability. I have no reason to believe that this hoop won’t last for at least 5 years as long as it’s not abused. But it’s naturally more susceptible to breaking down, particularly the backboard, because the material isn’t as strong.
  • No overhang. This refers to the space between the pole and the backboard. Since the backboard is directly attached to the pole, there is no space for playing under the backboard.
  • Adjustment mechanism. It’s a bit inconvenient, as you really have to tilt the hoop over to do it. You pull a pin out, make the adjustment, the insert the pin back in. Most hoops allow you to adjust it while upright.

Reviews from Around the Web

Amazon.com: 5 Stars – ‘Economical, relatively simple to put together, and pretty sturdy’: See Review Here

Amazon.com: 4 Stars – ‘Love the Hoop – Height not as easy to adjust as you would thinking’: See Review Here

Amazon.com: 3 Stars – ‘Tedious Height adjust system’: See Review Here

Summary

The Lifetime 1269 is ideal for families who don’t want to invest a lot of money into a hoop for their children. It’s very basic, and functions as it should. The height adjustment is beneficial, and it’s made by a good brand. It’s not as sturdy or durable as some more expensive models, but that’s why it costs less. Overall, it’s a well made hoop, just don’t expect it to last forever.

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Spalding 72354 Portable Basketball System

By

Pros

No installation, portable, polycarbonate backboard, space efficient, affordable, brand

Cons

Stability, durability, small backboard, increment adjustment, base prone to leaking

Overall Rating

The Spalding 72354 is an entry-level portable basketball system designed primarily for children and amateur players. It features a 48-inch polycarbonate backboard. The height adjustment ranges from 7.5 to 10 feet in 6-inch increments using the Pro glide lift mechanism. The 37-gallon capacity base can be filled with either water or sand. The 3.5″ round pole comes in 3 sections. The breakaway rim consists of 5/8″ steel. The 72354 is backed by a 5-year limited warranty.

What To Like

  • No installation. While the hoop requires assembly, it won’t have to be installed on a wall or in the ground. Installations can require a lot of time, energy, and resources.
  • Moveable. It can be transported or moved to various parts of your property if necessary. If for instance you live in a court, then you can move it out onto the street to take advantage of all the space.
  • Polycarbonate backboard. It’s stronger than acrylic, and therefore not as likely to break due to rough play or dunking. As long as you aren’t too rough with it, there’s no reason why it won’t last as long as you need it to. I would not recommend hanging on the rim.
  • Space efficient. This size is well suited for a one-car driveway. It’s also lightweight for a portable, so moving it shouldn’t be too much trouble.
  • Breakaway rim. It’s not heavy-duty by any means, but it has some give so the backboard doesn’t break when dunking.
  • Brand. Spalding is a reputable brand, they are known for quality and providing good customer service. The 5-year limited warranty is more than adequate.
  • Affordable. Priced around $300, this hoop is affordable for the average family.
  • 5-year limited warranty. If the backboard or any part of the hoop should begin breaking down, then Spalding will send replacements.

What Not To Like

  • Stability. Portable hoops naturally lack stability, particularly entry-level models because they are lightweight.
  • 48″ backboard. It’s on the small side, as it’s not really big enough for a 2-car driveway. It makes it harder to shoot bank shots. Numerous customers also noted that the backboard is pretty thin, which makes it a bit more susceptible to damage, plus it doesn’t play quite as well.
  • Durability. If it’s primarily used for shooting/playing purposes, then it should be fine. Children can dunk on it as long as they don’t hang on the rim. But this hoop naturally isn’t going to be as durable because the pole and backboard aren’t as strong.
  • Adjustable in increments. The more expensive hoops adjust infinitely, which means you can change the height anywhere between 7.5 to 10 feet. This hoop adjusts in 6-inch increments, so it’s a bit more limited in this area.
  • Leaky base. All portable hoops have a base, and the entry-level ones in particular seem to be prone to leaking. They aren’t usually made with strong materials.

Summary

The Spalding 72354 is built for children and families who want to play games together. It’s not ideal for adults, but they could still play on it as long as they aren’t rough with it. The hoop is made by a good brand, it takes up little space, can be moved around, and is affordable. It’s not the most sturdy or durable, so I wouldn’t expect it to last forever. But if you are looking for an affordable hoop for your children, it’s one to consider.

If you want a slightly less expensive hoop with similar characteristics, check out the Lifetime Complete Portable Basketball System

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