Which of the 3 poolside basketball hoops that we carry is best for you?
To start off, Spalding and Lifetime Products, as I have mentioned before in other posts, are each others' main basketball equipment competitors. Because of this, many of the features and designs are very similar between the 3 products. I will simply go through a few features that are the same, and a few that are different to aid you in the selection process.
Spalding | Poolside Basketball Hoops.
Model Number: 77054.
Backboard Material: Eco-composite Plastic.
Adjustable rim height: Yes.
Pole Size and Shape: 3" diameter Round.
Rim: Breakaway.
Base: Portable.
Base Capacity: 28 gallons.
This poolside basketball hoop is great for any situation, in that it features higher end items such as a breakaway rim and a full size base. This unit also comes with a swimming pool basketball. With that said, you will get these added features at a premium costing you about 15-25 dollars more than the Lifetime 1306 Acrylic Backboard and about 30-40 more than the comparable 1301 Lifetime plastic backboard poolside baskeball system.
Lifetime Pool Side Basketball Hoops | 1306.
Model Number: 1306.
Backboard Material: Acrylic.
Adjustable rim height: Yes.
Pole Size and Shape: 3" diameter Round.
Rim: Static.
Base: Portable.
Base Capacity: 26 gallons.
The Lifetime 1306 Poolside Basketball system is the highest end swimming basketball hoops Lifetime Products offers. The unit save you some money as compared to the Spalding system or the Lifetime 1301 basketball system, while giving you a better backboard material as far as rebound goes. With this system compared to the 77054 you lose the breakaway rim and the size of the base is slightly smaller as well. You will also need a basketball since this unit does not come with one.
Lifetime Poolside Basketball Hoops | 1301.
Model Number: 1301.
Backboard Material: Polyethylene Plastic.
Adjustable rim height: Yes.
Pole Size and Shape: 3" diameter Round.
Rim: Static.
Base: Portable.
Base Capacity: 26 gallons.
This unit, while not having the same features as the 1306 and the 77054, is still a great unit for most situations. The pole size is still the same as the other units and the base is the same size as the 1306. Where you lose against both units is on the backboard material when compared to the 1306 pool side basketball system, and on the breakaway rim and base size on the 77054 poolside basektball hoop. All is not lost, however, as you will save anywhere from 20-25 dollars on this system compared to the 1306 and 30-40 dollars compared to the 77054.
So, what should you ask yourself before making a purchase? First, does price mattter to you? If not, than you can safely exclude the 1301. Second, what functionality is more important to you: breakaway rim or better rebound? If dunking is big for you, the 77054 is a great fit because of the breakaway rim. If the playability of the backboard is essential, than the 1306 is your best option there because of the acrylic backboard. Lastly, the size of the base is important in that the weight and stability increases with a larger base. The 77054 give you the largest base, but only by 2 gallons. In most cases this weight difference is minimal. The only reason to really want a larger base is if you anticipate very aggressive play, in which case the 77054 is your best bet. Please keep in mind that no matter how large the base, there is always a possibility of tipping the unit over so please never hang on the rim on any of these systems. Good luck shopping.
Related Poolside Basketball Goals Posts:Poolside Basketball Hoops | Basketball Backboards | Types of Materials Comparison.
Lifetime Basketball | Spalding Comparison.
Basketball Hoop | Acrylic vs. Glass.
