Silverback Basketball Hoop: NXT Portable review

Silverback NXT Portable Basketball Hoop

There are numerous types of basketball hoops on the market. Some are permanently affixed to concrete in the ground. Others are mobile and free standing. Some have a fixed height, while others are adjustable to allow even us non-jumpers to pretend we can dunk.

If you're looking for a high quality, non-permanent hoop with easy height adjustment, then consider the Silverback NXT Portable Basketball Hoop (available at Amazon) . With a solid steel frame, a 50-inch backboard, and one of the better height adjustment mechanisms on the market, the Silverback Basketball Hoop will fit the needs of the vast majority of families. I've been using this hoop with my kids, ages 7, for several months now. Here's what I think.

What we like

This basketball hoop is easy to adjust 

My favorite feature of this basketball hoop is the handle to raise and lower the hoop. I grew up with a hoop that you needed to push up and down with the end of a hockey stick or broom handle.

Having a handle feels like an incredible luxury. The movement of the handle is smooth, and the locking mechanism is effortless to use.

As you get to max or minimum height, the weight and resistance of the spring do make it a bit harder to push or pull, but still much easier than the hockey stick trick.

My seven year olds won't be able to adjust it themselves for a few years, but I would imagine that middle schoolers would have no problem doing it on their own. The only easier way to raise and lower would be with a crank handle or a motorized mechanism, both of which are at a higher price point.

It is durable and stable 

The Silverback NXT basketball hoop has a frame made of solid steel, with heavy duty nuts and bolts holding everything together. After assembling it, I have no question about whether it will stand up to whatever abuse my kids throw at it over the next ten years.

Even the plastic components of the hoop, which include the ballast tank and wheels, are thick and heavy-duty enough to withstand years worth of playing.

In addition to the durability, the entire base feels stable and secure, especially after filling the tank with sand—the instructions call for water, but I don't want to have to empty it every winter to avoid freezing.

It's quite difficult to tip enough even to move it, and I doubt that my kids will be strong or heavy enough to tip it accidentally for a long time.

It's easy to assemble thanks to the clear instructions 

The biggest surprise of this hoop was the instructions. The manufacturer claims a 90-minute assembly time, which is probably generous for most people. It took me closer to 3 hours, though to be fair I had a pair of seven-year-olds committed to "helping."

That said, the instructions are clear and simple enough that my children were able to understand and follow them. Every step has pictures and written instructions, as well as accurate lists of the hardware needed. That hardware is contained in a segmented, well-labeled package.

What's more, they have a number of helpful tips to avoid typical frustrations. These tips include items like "don't tighten these bolts down yet until step 17," "make sure to put the bolts in this order," and "this part will be tricky, try using a screwdriver to move the ballast tank to get the holes to line up."

Honestly, I hope whoever wrote these instructions is hired to write the assembly manual for every other product on the market.

What we don't like

The support braces deflect a lot of balls

One of the challenges of basketball, no matter where you're playing, is chasing down errant balls—it's part of the game. However, the Silverback NXT hoop has a pair of support braces on the front to hold up the pole.

From a structural standpoint, they make sense, and add to the rigidity and stability of the hoop. That said, they are basically ball-launchers.

When the ball touches one of them, it speeds away in a random and unpredictable direction. It's honestly to the point where I'm considering building a cover for the supports to eliminate the problem.

The basketball hoop is heavy

This is a double edged sword. On the one hand, the weight is because of the incredibly durable and stable construction. The well-built steel frames with 50 pounds of sand inside are heavy, no surprise there.

On the other hand, that weight does make it difficult to move around the driveway. This isn't a hoop that your kids are going to easily be able to move around on their own.

This isn't that big of a problem for most people, but if you do foresee a need to move it around semi-regularly, this might not be the best option for you.

Warranty

This Silverback Basketball Hoop is covered by a limited five-year warranty, which offers to repair or replace the hoop if there are any manufacturing or material defects found in the product.

Should you buy the Silverback Basketball Hoop?

Yes, this is a fantastic adjustable basketball hoop.

We have had ours up for about six months now and we absolutely love it. It's sturdy, easy to adjust up and down, and still feels as solid as the day we built it.

For so many kids, basketball is or was a core part of childhood. It's a great game because it can be played by just about any number of people you have around. My kids will play solo, with me, or with their gaggle of friends. It's a sure-fire way to get them outside, making the Silverback NXT basketball hoop a purchase the whole family can enjoy together.

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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

Silverback NXT Portable Basketball Hoop

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