If you play a lot of outdoor basketball you are probably familiar with this problem: Most basketball shoes are designed for indoor use and won't last very long on rugged outdoor courts.
So, unless you want to buy a new pair every month, it is important to find shoes that can take the beating of playing on blacktop.
How do you recognize good outdoor basketball shoes?
- The outsole is made from hard and durable rubber
- The traction grooves are wide and deep
- They shouldn't cost a fortune because they won't last forever
- The upper material needs to be tough and resilient
Unfortunately, big basketball shoe brands release very few (or none) dedicated outdoor basketball shoes these days. So if you can't afford to customize your favorite Nike ID sneaker with a durable XDR outdoor rubber sole, you need to find regular basketball shoes that also work well outdoors
In reality, this means you need to watch dozens of shoe reviews and hope that the reviewer mentions if this particular shoe works outdoors. Check any Youtube video about a basketball shoe and there is a good chance that someone asked this question in the comments!
To help you avoid wasting so much time watching sneaker videos I have checked out 1351 reviews of 272 of the most popular basketball shoes and recorded the opinion of the reviewers about traction, cushion, material, support, fit and also outdoor usage.
Users of thehoopsgeek.com can also leave their own outdoor rating for their shoes. You can check out the complete list of shoes here.
Below you can find a list of affordable basketball ranked by combined user and expert outdoor ratings (minimum 5 ratings):
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100% Outdoor Rating based on 7 reviews
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Nike's Cosmic Unity 3 offers tons of support and durability.
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This shoe is potentially an excellent pick for outdoor players.
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100% Outdoor Rating based on 1 reviews
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The Under Armour Curry 2 Low FloTro is the latest Curry model to receive the Flow upgrade, and the shoe performs as expected.
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The shoe is a solid pick for fans of older Curry models who want modern tech.
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95% Outdoor Rating based on 10 reviews
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The Li-Ning Wade Fission 8 is a responsive and fast shoe. The traction and cushion cater to quicker styles.
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The Fission 8 is best for faster players who use quick movements to their advantage.
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92% Outdoor Rating based on 13 reviews
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The Nike Fly By Mid 3 definitely punches above its weight class.
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Players who are budget conscious or who're looking for a pair to beat up.
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88% Outdoor Rating based on 24 reviews
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One of the best Harden models to date
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Great shoe for fans of the full-length Boost setup
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86% Outdoor Rating based on 7 reviews
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The Li-Ning Ice Blood V2 offers top-tier traction and solid responsiveness.
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Lighter, shifty guards will enjoy the Ice Blood V2.
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85% Outdoor Rating based on 13 reviews
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The Wade 808 2 offers fantastic traction and a versatile drop-in midsole.
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Players who are fans of the Kobe 9 traction and cushioning setup
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83% Outdoor Rating based on 23 reviews
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The Adidas Dame Certified offers reliable grip and comfortable materials at a low price.
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Budget-conscious players will enjoy the traction and versatility of the Dame Certified.
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83% Outdoor Rating based on 20 reviews
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Nike's Precision 6 offers solid support and traction for its price range.
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Excellent shoe for budget-conscious players.
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80% Outdoor Rating based on 15 reviews
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The D.O.N Issue #4 provides outstanding lockdown and containment for players with quick moves.
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A solid pick for shifty guards who need containment.
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The Best Outdoor Basketball Shoes
Performance Rating:
Nike's Cosmic Unity 3 offers tons of support and durability.
Pros:
The shoe is sturdy and supportive
Cons:
The drop-in midsole feels dense
What do the experts think?
The latest shoe in the Cosmic Unity line is best suited for outdoor play. The traction is durable and grips well to outdoor courts. One reviewer reported some slipping when playing indoors.
All reviewers agree the drop-in midsole Nike uses is dense. The responsiveness is decent, but there isn't much impact protection.
The materials are sturdy and durable. The upper does a good job of containing your feet during play.
The support and lockdown are where the shoe shines. The materials work well with the shoe's base to keep you stable.
Not many reviewers reported issues with the fit, but some say it's tricky to put on initially.
The Nike Cosmic Unity 3's stability and durability make it one of this year's best outdoor performance shoes.
Performance Rating:
The Under Armour Curry 2 Low FloTro is the latest Curry model to receive the Flow upgrade, and the shoe performs as expected.
What do the experts think?
Under Armour updates the Curry 2 Low with the Flow cushioning and outsole setup, making the traction excellent.
The cushioning is smooth and comfortable. It feels similar to all other Flow model shoes.
The materials are lightweight and breathable. This might be the lightest shoe in the Curry lineup.
Reviewers mention the support and lockdown are adequate. Nobody reported any issues, but it is said that the lockdown is nothing special.
The Under Armour Curry 2 Low FloTro is another successful update to an older Curry model.
Performance Rating:
The Li-Ning Wade Fission 8 is a responsive and fast shoe. The traction and cushion cater to quicker styles.
Pros:
Ankle and heel support are impressive
Traction performs on multiple surface types
What do the experts think?
The latest offering from Li-Ning has consistent traction performance indoors and outdoors. The rubber also holds up well.
The Fission 8 uses both Light Foam Plus and Boom foam. It feels responsive and sits low to the ground.
There is a heel counter setup Li-Ning is calling Heel Lockdown. Combined with the lacing system, it keeps your ankle contained and supported. The shoe feels very supportive.
Materials are light and thin. The shoe is mostly mesh. It's comfortable and breathable.
The fit varies. Some reviewers report a generous fit, and others have a snug fit.
Li-Ning's Wade Fission 8 is another impressive performer. The consistent traction, responsive cushioning, and lockdown support are all standouts.
Performance Rating:
The Nike Fly By Mid 3 definitely punches above its weight class.
Pros:
The cushion feels surprisingly good.
Cons:
Materials look and feel cheap.
May not be wide-foot friendly.
What do the experts think?
Nike's latest entry in the Fly By Mid lineup feels like one of the best bang for your buck models on the market.
The traction does everything that players need it to do. It performs well on clean and dusty courts, and it only needs minimal wiping.
Cushioning is also a pleasant surprise considering the price of the shoe. It feels low to the ground and gives plenty of impact protection. The only con is that it isn't the most responsive.
The materials are the one part of the shoe that reflects the price. They feel and look cheap. In terms of performance, they hold up nicely.
When it comes to support and lockdown, the shoe does what you need it to do.
The Nike Fly By Mid 3 may have the lowest price tag in Nike's basketball shoe lineup, but it is far from being Nike's lowest performer.
Performance Rating:
One of the best Harden models to date
Pros:
The traction is better than last year
Full-length Boost midsole is plush
Cons:
Materials don't feel premium
What do the experts think?
The Adidas Harden Vol. 6 is a much-needed improvement compared to Vol. 5.
Reviewers agree that the traction performs very well, and is minimally affected by dusty conditions.
Adidas's Boost foam makes a return on this year's iteration, and the shoe feels responsive. The court feel on the shoe is also fantastic.
The materials start out stiff, but they quickly become foot-conforming and comfortable.
The fit is also much more forgiving than previous Harden models. Most reviewers had no issues with the sizing.
When it comes to the support and lockdown, the materials and fit combine to keep your feet secure no matter what movements you're making.
Adidas returns to their roots with the full-length Boost, similar to the Harden Vol. 1, and they've revitalized the Harden lineup with the release of the Harden Vol. 6.
Performance Rating:
The Li-Ning Ice Blood V2 offers top-tier traction and solid responsiveness.
Pros:
Impressive traction for the price
Support and lockdown keep you secure
What do the experts think?
The Li-Ning Ice Blood V2s most consistent and praised feature is the traction, especially considering the shoe's price.
The cushioning is responsive but low to the ground. There's also not much impact protection.
Reviewers agree that they felt locked down and well-contained laterally during play. There were no issues with heel containment either.
The fit and materials are comfortable. The shoe feels soft around the foot.
D'Angelo Russell's second signature shoe is an excellent pick in the budget shoe market. There aren't many options that offer similar performance for the price.
Performance Rating:
The Wade 808 2 offers fantastic traction and a versatile drop-in midsole.
Pros:
Traction grips courts hard
Comfortable drop-in midsole
Cons:
Cushioning on hard impact can be better
What do the experts think?
The traction of the Wade 808 2 is grippy and reminiscent of the Kobe 9 traction. The rubber is also hard enough to take outdoors.
Li-Ning's drop-in midsole is comfortable, and it feels bouncy. The only downside is the impact protection on hard landings.
Reviewers describe the materials on the shoe as minimal and breathable.
Despite not having an outrigger, the shoe has plenty of lateral containment and stability.
Overall, the Li-Ning Wade 808 2 is a versatile shoe with enough traction and cushioning for most players.
Performance Rating:
The Adidas Dame Certified offers reliable grip and comfortable materials at a low price.
Pros:
Consistent traction performance
Solid construction and material setup
Cons:
The cushioning is not bouncy
Inconsistent heel lockdown
What do the experts think?
Damian Lillard's affordable shoe hits the market with reliable, consistent traction. Make sure to wipe to keep the performance consistent.
The Bounce cushioning doesn't have much bounciness. It feels low profile and offers a decent court feel.
Reviewers agree the fit is comfortable, especially after breaking in the shoe.
Support and lockdown didn't cause many issues, but some reviewers report inconsistency in the heel lockdown.
The materials are a highlight. They aren't premium, but the comfort and performance outperform expectations.
Adidas' Dame Certified is an impressive budget-friendly shoe, particularly for players who don't need much cushioning.
Performance Rating:
Nike's Precision 6 offers solid support and traction for its price range.
Pros:
Support and lockdown are solid
Cons:
Not a lot of impact protection
Can pick up dust fairly quickly
What do the experts think?
Nike's latest entry in the Precision lineup, the Precision 6, provides grippy traction that performs well, especially considering the price point.
Because the shoe is a budget model, the cushioning lacks any tech. It's responsive, but there is little impact protection.
The materials are nothing special, but they feel comfortable and don't hinder performance.
Support is where the shoe excels. Reviewers report the support and lockdown exceeded their expectations, despite being a budget shoe.
Overall, the Nike Precision 6 is a shoe all players on a budget should consider picking up. It offers plenty of performance outside of cushioning.
Performance Rating:
The D.O.N Issue #4 provides outstanding lockdown and containment for players with quick moves.
Pros:
Comfortable and supportive materials
Stability and containment
Cons:
Lightstrike foam bottoms out quick
What do the experts think?
The traction on Donovan Mitchell's fourth signature shoe is consistent and decently grippy most of the time. Dust can cause the occasional hiccup, but it doesn't happen too often.
Reviewers agreed the Lightstrike foam is comfortable underfoot, but the cushioning doesn't provide much energy return.
Materials on the shoe are lightweight, breathable, and offer plenty of support during lateral movements.
The support and lockdown are outstanding on the shoe. It covers you throughout all kinds of different moves.
The Adidas D.O.N Issue #4 is a solid next entry in Mitchell's lineup. It's a lightweight shoe with traction and support to fit guard playstyles.
How do you find good outdoor shoes?
Before you start to search for your next pair of outdoor basketball shoes, you should be clear about what you are actually looking for. What differentiates a great outdoor sneaker from a regular indoor performer? Let's find out!
Durability of the rubber
The rubber of the outsole suffers the most from playing on rougher outdoor courts. If your shoes feature a soft rubber compound you will probably end up with a completely slick outsole, or even worse, holes in your shoes, pretty fast! Overall, there are two things you want to look for when it comes to outsoles:
Solid and dense rubber:
You can either go with regular shoe models that come with a firmer rubber compound out of the box like the Adidas D Rose or the Nike Lebron Soldier line. Or you look for shoes that are specifically made for outdoor use. Especially Chinese brands produce a lot of outdoor models like the Anta KT Outdoor Low as indoor courts are much harder to find there compared to the US.
If you can afford to spend a little more on your outdoor shoes, you can also customize your favorite Nike Sneaker with an XDR (extra durable rubber) outsole using NikeID.
Wide traction pattern:
A very narrow traction pattern will attract a lot of dirt and rubble and lose grip quickly. Make sure to get a traction pattern with wide and deep grooves that will last a lot longer on dirty blacktop.
Durability of the upper material
The upper material usually suffers less from outdoor play as it shouldn't be in contact with the surface of the court all that often. But if you tend to toe-drag a lot, or if other players are stepping on your feet all the time you might want to look into more durable upper materials like fuse or mesh.
Cushion
Indoor courts are much easier on the joints than less-forgiving outdoor courts. Especially, if you have recurring knee problems, you shoud look for shoes with more comfortable cushioning that reduce the stress you put on your joints. If you are a younger and lighter player, additional cushioning is probably not as important, but firm shoes can still lead to sore legs after a day of playing outdoors.
Price
Inevitably, shoes that you use outdoors will have a shorter lifespan than shoes that are only used on pristine hardwood courts. Therefore, it might make sense to look for cheaper shoes that you can replace more often. Playing in $200 Air Jordan outdoors could become expensive really quickly!
Gr8 advice
Don’t forget honorable mentions like. The Kobe protro’s , Q4 sports enforcer
& Jordan jump man quick 23 (quick 6).
I really got to say, I’m impressed by your blog. Keep up the good work!