Basketball Hoop Reviews

Lifetime 71566 XL Portable Basketball System

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Pros

Polycarbonate backboard, portable, affordable, spring rim, easy height adjustment, 5 year warranty

Cons

Small backboard, incremental height adjustment, lack of stability

Overall Rating

The Lifetime 71566 XL is an entry-level portable system that features a 50″ shatter-proof polycarbonate backboard. The height adjusts from 7.5 to 10 feet with the use of a handle. You raise and lower the handle to make the adjustment. The 3.5″ round pole is broken down into three sections. Included is a solid steel double compression rim for dunking. The backboard offset is 22 inches. The base holds 35 gallons of water or sand. The 71566 XL is backed by a 5 year limited warranty.

What To Like

  • Portable. Talk about stating the obvious. Nonetheless, portability allows you to move it from one spot to another and requires no installation. You can take with if you relocate.
  • Affordable. Basketball hoops can get awfully expensive, but the 71566 XL is priced in a range that is affordable for many families.
  • Polycarbonate backboard. This is a very strong material, as it’s stronger than the often seen acrylic backboards. Therefore, it’s not as likely to break because of dunking.
  • Spring rim. It provides some give so players can dunk. However, I wouldn’t recommend hanging on it.
  • Easy height adjustment. Squeeze the handle, and lower it up or down. That’s it, the process is quick and easy.
  • 5 year warranty. If something breaks within five years, Lifetime will send a replacement part.

What Not To Like

  • Backboard size. 50″ is a bit small, so players don’t have as big of a target when shooting.
  • Height adjusts in increments. If you look at more expensive hoops, they’ll adjust infinitely. In other words, you’ll be able to set it anywhere in the height range, typically 7.5 – 10 feet. This hoop adjusts in 6-inch increments, so users don’t have as many options.
  • Lack of stability. Naturally, a portable hoop isn’t going to be as stable as an in-ground. Plus, the pole and backboard aren’t very sturdy, so it will have some wobble.
  • 22-inch offset. Not much space under the basket. Not a huge deal, but it’s less safe and doesn’t give players as much room to maneuver.
  • 3-section round pole. A one-piece square pole is best for performance.

Summary

The Lifetime 71566 XL is pretty similar to many entry-level hoops. It’s well-suited for children or adults, as long as they don’t abuse it. The backboard is solid, the spring rim allows for dunking, and the height adjustment is pretty straightforward. It’s not going to perform as well as an in-ground. But if you want a portable hoop at a reasonable price, then it’s a good option.

As with all of the portable hoop systems that we have reviewed, installation is not a cakewalk. Once the hoop is up, it is actually a pretty sturdy hoop for the price. I would say that this hoop is fine for families with young children or old people with young grandchildren. I would not consider this the best alternative for families with rough teenage children that like to play basketball.

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Spalding 72354 Portable Basketball System

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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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Spalding 68395R Portable Basketball System

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Pros

54″ backboard, no installation, 4-inch square pole, pole padding, crank adjust

Cons

Polycarbonate backboard, 3-section pole, stability

Overall Rating

The Spalding 6839R features a 54″ polycarbonate backboard, a 4-inch square pole, and infinite adjustment from 7.5 to 10 feet. The adjustment is made with the Screw Jack Lift System, which is a crank handle mechanism. The pole comes in 3 sections. Also included is a pole pad, an Arena Slam rim, and a 40 gallon base that can be filled with water or sand. The 68395R is backed by a 5-year limited warranty.

What To Like

  • 4-inch square pole. A square pole is more rigid than a round one, and 4-inches is slightly thicker than the lower level hoops.
  • No installation. In-ground hoops are superior as far as stability is concerned, but the installation process takes time and effort. Another benefit with portable hoops is being able to easy transport them to another location if necessary.
  • 54″ backboard. A 54″ is a good size for either a one or two car driveway. This is just large enough to realistically be able to shoot bank shots. The ideal size for most homeowners is 60″, but this is the next biggest size. Simply put: it’s not ideal, but it’s good enough.
  • Pole padding. This may not seem like a big deal, but most hoops in this price range don’t have one. In fact, I have seen some hoops cost over $1000 that didn’t come with a pole pad. It provides a nice cushion in case a player runs into it, plus it has a nice look to it.
  • Crank adjust. I prefer crank adjust over gas assisted mechanisms because they last longer and are more precise. The only downside is that you will have to do some manual labor while lowering or raising the hoop, though it’s really not much trouble.

What Not To Like

  • Polycarbonate backboard. This is a very strong material, and there is nothing wrong with it. However, the reason I have it as a con because you can get the Spalding 68454 for just a little more money, and it has a tempered glass backboard.
  • 3-section pole. A pole with this many sections is not going to be as sturdy, plus putting them together takes some work.
  • Stability. The one thing I really don’t like about most portable hoops is they just aren’t as sturdy as their in-ground or mounted counterparts. This is such a key feature for the overall performance of a hoop. What you gain in mobility, you lose with stability.

Summary

If cost isn’t a factor, then Spalding 68454 is the better buy because it has a tempered glass backboard. This material is far superior to polycarbonate. Not only does it perform better, but it’s also more durable.

The Spalding 6839R is a middle of the road to low end Spalding Portable hoop. This is the scenario in which I would buy this hoop: If I only have one or two kids, if I was putting it into a shop or other area where it is rarely played or if I my kids are young and you want a less expensive hoop. The Polycarbonate backboard is not going to wow anybody, but it is sturdy enough. I would quit being so cheap and spend a little more money and upgrade to a better Spalding portable hoop.

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