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 1822 reviews of 346 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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50% Outdoor Rating based on 2 reviews
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The Nike LeBron NXXT Genisus offers impressive support and containment through a rigid upper.
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This shoe is best for players who like supportive uppers.
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0% Outdoor Rating based on 2 reviews
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The Puma Scoot Zeros 2 is an upgrade from the first shoe, especially regarding traction.
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This shoe is best for laterally quick players who use side-to-side movements.
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0% Outdoor Rating based on 3 reviews
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The Curry Fox 1 is reminiscent of the main signature Curry shoes with minor tweaks to the midsole.
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This shoe is best suited for nimble guards with good footwork.
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50% Outdoor Rating based on 3 reviews
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The Adidas Dame Certified 3 provides decent cushioning and support for a low cost.
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This shoe is a good low-budget shoe for stability.
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25% Outdoor Rating based on 6 reviews
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The Jordan Tatum 3 makes minor improvements to the cushioning and is the best shoe in the lineup so far.
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The Tatum 3 is best for players who move a lot on their forefoot.
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45% Outdoor Rating based on 10 reviews
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The recent LeBron signatures are some of the best shoes for traction and cushioning, and the Nike LeBron 22 is no exception.
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This shoe is best for anyone looking for a comfortable, responsive, and bouncy cushioning setup.
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19% Outdoor Rating based on 8 reviews
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The Nike Ja 2 makes minor changes but delivers a similar experience to its predecessor.
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The Ja 2 is best for players who enjoy light, speedy shoes with a bit of pop.
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20% Outdoor Rating based on 5 reviews
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Puma's MB.04 is a solid performance shoe featuring a soft Nitrofoam midsole.
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The shoe is best for those who enjoy the comfortable midsole and upper materials from previous Puma MB shoes.
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13% Outdoor Rating based on 8 reviews
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The Adidas Dame 9 is an excellent performance shoe. It features impressive traction and support.
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The Dame 9 is best for players looking for soft cushioning and containment.
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67% Outdoor Rating based on 9 reviews
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The Immortality 4 is a solid performer that provides improved support at a manageable price.
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The Nike Giannis Immortality 4 is best for players looking for a budget shoe with a durable outsole and supportive upper.
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The Best Outdoor Basketball Shoes
Performance Rating:
The Nike LeBron NXXT Genisus offers impressive support and containment through a rigid upper.
Pros:
The forefoot Zoom unit feels bouncy
Lockdown and containment are supportive
Cons:
Materials require a break-in time
What do the experts think?
LeBron's latest NXXT Genisus uses an outsole similar to the Air Zoom Generation, and it feels consistent but isn't the tackiest.
The cushioning features a Phylon-like foam and a forefoot Zoom Turbo unit. It feels comfortable and offers impact protection with some bounce.
The upper material feels stiff initially, but it breaks in to soften up. It provides solid support, lockdown, and containment.
There isn't much else needed for support, but the carbon fibre shank and rigid heel counter also provide stability. The only downside is that the ankle collar can feel stiff and restrictive.
The Nike LeBron NXXT Genisus is a decent performance shoe, excelling at support and containment.
Performance Rating:
The Puma Scoot Zeros 2 is an upgrade from the first shoe, especially regarding traction.
Pros:
Confident and consistent traction
Secure during lateral movements
Cons:
Material quality feels cheap
Cushioning feels slightly stiff
What do the experts think?
The Puma Scoot Zeros 2 is a genuine improvement from the original Scoot Zeros.
Reviewers agree the traction performs surprisingly well, especially on clean courts. Dust also isn't much of a problem.
Puma's NITRO foam feels stiff but is slightly bouncy. Responsiveness and the court feel could be better.
The materials feel cheap, especially the textile mesh upper. Performance-wise, the materials are comfortable.
Support and lockdown are secure through lateral movements, and containment is not an issue. The front-to-back support is not as good, but it's not a serious flaw.
Overall, Puma does a good job of improving some key features, like the traction, in the Puma Scoot Zeros 2.
Performance Rating:
The Curry Fox 1 is reminiscent of the main signature Curry shoes with minor tweaks to the midsole.
Pros:
Excellent traction on clean courts
Cons:
Flow foam struggles on dust
The cushioning setup is not too explosive
What do the experts think?
De'Aaron Fox's first signature shoe under Curry Brand has a lot of similarities to Curry's signature line.
The Flow outsole is the exact outsole found on some Flotro models. The grip and traction are excellent on clean courts but struggle with dust.
There is a dual-density Flow midsole for cushioning. The main difference is the larger shank. It provides some extra pop and liveliness.
The materials are breathable and soft. The shoe conforms nicely to your feet.
Support and lockdown are solid. The midfoot strap doesn't do much for stability, but it does help contain your heel slightly. Torsional support and containment are also not an issue.
The Curry Fox 1 is a solid debut signature model. The Flow foam setup is safe and reliable, particularly on clean courts.
Performance Rating:
The Adidas Dame Certified 3 provides decent cushioning and support for a low cost.
Pros:
Decent cushioning for the price
Accommodating fit and support
What do the experts think?
The Adidas Dame Certified 3 is a decent budget option with some pros and some glaring cons.
Traction is solid on clean courts, but reviewers report dust causing issues for them.
Adidas' Bounce foam feels soft and provides decent impact protection. The stack height is a bit high, though.
The materials feel stiff and are not breathable. The rest of the performance gets the job done.
The fit is accommodating and felt good to all reviewers.
Support feels secure, particularly laterally. However, some reviewers reported some mild heel slippage.
The Adidas Dame Certified 3 is a solid option for cushioning for the price.
Performance Rating:
The Jordan Tatum 3 makes minor improvements to the cushioning and is the best shoe in the lineup so far.
Pros:
Cushlon 3.0 feels soft and comfortable
Lightweight and flexible upper materials
Cons:
Lacks a lateral outrigger
What do the experts think?
Jayson Tatum's third signature shoe is his best yet, but not by much.
The traction performance is inconsistent. Sometimes, the grip performs well, but other times, reviewers mention slipping.
Jordan Brand uses Cushlon 3.0 as the midsole foam. It feels soft and comfortable.
The materials are flexible, lightweight and breathable. The upper conforms to your feet well, but the materials loosen with time.
Support and lockdown are not the best. The upper lacks containment, and heel stability could be improved. There's also no outrigger.
The Jordan Tatum 3 improves, but not enough to be a good performer. The traction is too inconsistent.
Performance Rating:
The recent LeBron signatures are some of the best shoes for traction and cushioning, and the Nike LeBron 22 is no exception.
Pros:
Excellent, bouncy cushioning
Supportive midfoot saddle
Cons:
Forefoot is not breathable
What do the experts think?
The Nike LeBron 22 continues to try and build on the performance of the previous two models but takes a slight step back in one regard.
Traction performance remains top-tier. Most reviewers agree the outsole grips well and feels safe, especially on cleaner courts.
The cushioning is outstanding for impact protection and bounciness. The midsole also feels responsive, which is a plus.
Materials are where the shoe regresses. The upper is comfortable and supportive, but the shoe feels heavier than the previous models.
The fit is accommodating, thanks to the spacious forefoot.
For support and lockdown, Nike implements a unique midfoot saddle to help with stability and torsional support. Your foot also feels secure during lateral movements.
LeBron's latest signature shoe maintains impressive performance, highlighted mainly by the traction and cushioning.
Performance Rating:
The Nike Ja 2 makes minor changes but delivers a similar experience to its predecessor.
What do the experts think?
Ja Morant's second signature shoe remains reliable and fun but bears too many similarities to other Nike shoes.
Traction performance is the shoe's best feature. Reviewers report feeling confident with how the shoe grips.
The cushioning feels basic. The foam is slightly dense, but the Zoom unit is bouncy. The main complaint is the lack of impact protection.
Reviewers agree the materials feel basic and cheap. They get the job done performance-wise, and the shoe feels light.
Support and lockdown performance is solid. Torsional support could be better, though.
The Nike Ja 2 is a fun performer because it's light and has grippy traction.
Performance Rating:
Puma's MB.04 is a solid performance shoe featuring a soft Nitrofoam midsole.
Pros:
Comfortable midsole for impact protection
Upper materials feel comfortable during play
Cons:
The outsole picks up dust quickly
Forefoot is not very breathable
What do the experts think?
LaMelo Ball's fourth signature shoe doesn't change much compared to previous models.
Reviewers agree that the traction grips and performs well on clean courts. However, the outsole picks up dust quickly, so beware.
Puma's signature Nitrofoam makes up the midsole. The step-in comfort and impact protection feel soft underfoot. There's plenty of impact protection but not much bounce.
The materials conform to your feet nicely, and the padding provides extra comfort. One reviewer mentions the forefoot area is not well-ventilated.
Support and lockdown are sufficient. The shoe does not feel unstable because of the midsole and the upper design overlays, but Puma could do more by utilizing an outrigger.
The Puma MB.04 is a solid performer. It has good traction performance and comfortable cushioning, but Puma didn't do much to improve the shoe in the latest model.
Performance Rating:
The Adidas Dame 9 is an excellent performance shoe. It features impressive traction and support.
Pros:
Lightstrike is bouncy and comfortable
Excellent traction performance
What do the experts think?
Adidas has another impressive basketball shoe on their hands with the Dame 9.
Most reviewers were impressed with the traction performance. The outsole has an impressive bite and feels grippy.
The Lightstrike foam feels soft and plush. It feels better than most other Lightstrike setups.
The materials are not breathable, but the upper keeps your foot contained.
Support and lockdown are also impressive. The upper provides containment, and the shank and base provide stability.
Reviewers also agree the shoe fits slightly large. Many recommend going down half a size.
The Adidas Dame 9 is an excellent performer thanks to its combination of traction, cushioning, and support.
Performance Rating:
The Immortality 4 is a solid performer that provides improved support at a manageable price.
Pros:
Great traction performance
Cons:
Lack of impact protection
Materials require break-in time
What do the experts think?
The Nike Giannis Immortality 4 is one of the better Nike budget performers.
Traction performance is great, and dust isn't much of an issue.
The midsole is Renew foam with a top-loaded shank. It feels light, and there's a bit of impact protection. The setup is better suited for responsiveness.
Some reviewers had issues with the fit because of the length and extra padding in the upper.
The materials are upgraded and improved. The upper is more supportive and thicker but requires a break-in period.
The improved materials contribute to the shoe's impressive support and containment.
Overall, Giannis' latest budget shoe can compete well with the main line because of the upper and midsole.
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!
Founder of thehoopsgeek.com. A passionate basketball enthusiast and coding geek, Andy combines a love for sports with technology.
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!
Wait I thought the Curry 2 Low FloTro was made out of the easily-worn-out foam Flow sole! Wouldn’t that be terrible for outside play? It wouldn’t last a week 😂