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A portable basketball hoop is easy to move around, but you also want to make sure you’re able to dunk on it. Dunking is one of the most important skills in basketball as it almost guarantees some points. While you can easily dunk on in-ground hoops, portable hoops aren’t usually stable enough to handle dunking.
Can You Dunk on a Portable Hoop?
You can safely dunk on a portable basketball hoop if it has a breakaway rim, a strong metal pole, a base that has at least a 35-gallon capacity, and a strong backboard that won’t shatter. Don’t hang on the rim if you are on the heavy side.
Although most portable hoops are not safe for dunking, there are a few portable hoops that are designed with dunking in mind. These hoops have several characteristics that make them sturdy enough to support dunking movements:
- The base and pole are the parts of the hoop that support your weight when you’re dunking. To achieve this, the base gets filled with either water or sand. The more capacity the base can hold (not less than ~35 gallons), the more stable it will be. When it comes to the pole, the two-piece one is stronger than the 3-piece.
- The type of breakaway rim is another important factor. The rim should be able to bend with the dunk and snap back to its original position afterward. It needs to be as sturdy as possible to support the dunk. The steel covered breakaway rim is the most sturdy option, the rim with double compression springs is second, and the classic rim with no springs is the least strong one.
- The backboard vibration that happens during the dunk can cause the hoop to become unstable, so it’s really essential to use a hoop that has minimum vibrations.
Our Top Picks
There are few portable basketball hoops that possess all or some of the characteristics we’ve discussed. These are the ones we think are best.
Spalding The Beast Portable Basketball Hoop
Last update on 2022-10-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Spalding Beast is an amazing portable hoop that you can safely dunk on. It has a 60 x 36 inches backboard made from 60 mm thick tempered glass that provides true rebound.
The 1 x 2 inches steel board frame with the pro image breakaway steel rim ensures that the hoop and springs are covered and protected from corrosion. Its sturdy construction and powerful spring return guarantee for great dunks. The height of the rim can be adjusted between 7.5 to 10 feet using a screw jack lift.
This hoop also features a two-piece 5 inches square angled pole made from steel to make it more sturdy. The base of the hoop is mounted on four wheels and can hold up to 55 gallons of water or sand which gives it high stability. It’s almost vibration-free and can withstand long shots and dunks without any problems.
Pros
- 55 gallons base gives great stability
- Nearly vibration-free backboard with high rebound
- Sturdy steel breakaway rim with adjustable height
- Only portable hoop having a two-piece pole which makes it more solid
Cons
- Its assembly requires several strong people and it takes a very long time
Spalding Hybrid NBA Portable Basketball System
Last update on 2022-03-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Spalding NBA Hybrid portable system is another great hoop for dunking. The acrylic backboard comes in two sizes: 54 x 32 inches and 60 x 34 inches. The steel board frame and the arena-style padding makes it strong enough to withstand hard slams.
The hoop features a breakaway rim with board pad and double compression springs. The height is adjustable between 7.5 and 10 feet. It has a three-piece 3.5 inches round steel pole angled at 20 degrees to make it more balanced.
The base incorporates a hybrid system, where you can fill it with 19 gallons of water at the bottom and 200 lbs of sand on top. This makes the hoop extremely stable to support dunks.
Pros
- Hybrid base filled with water and sand provides improved stability
- Weather-resistant breakaway rim with board pad and compression springs
- 20 degrees angled pole keeps the hoop balanced
Cons
- Experiences slight vibrations
Lifetime 51544 Front Court Portable Basketball System
Last update on 2022-03-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Lifetime Front Court portable system is less expensive yet a good hoop for dunking. It has a 50-inches polycarbonate backboard with a steel frame. The height adjustment ranges from 8 to 10 feet using an easy mechanism of 6-inch increments.
The hoop has a three-piece 3 inches pole that is powder-coated for weather resistance and is covered with a pole pad. It also has an 18-inches rim with an all-weather net. The base’s capacity can hold up to 34 gallons of water or sand.
Pros
- Affordable stable option for dunking
- Sturdy rim with compression springs
- An easy and fast mechanism for height adjustment
Cons
- Smaller size backboard
- Vertical pole instead of an angled one
Conclusion
While not all portable hoops are safe for dunking, the Spalding Beast provides excellent stability and a dunking experience similar to that of in-ground hoops so you can dunk safely without any worry.
The Spalding hybrid is an alternative option if the Beast is too expensive for you.
A perfect portable basketball hoop for dunking should have a high capacity base, a two-piece pole, sturdy steel covered breakaway rim, and a stable backboard with a steel frame.