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 1717 reviews of 326 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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17% Outdoor Rating based on 6 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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33% Outdoor Rating based on 3 reviews
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The New Balance Hesi Low V2 is a definite improvement compared to the V1 because of the traction and cushioning.
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This shoe is best for lighter, nimbler players.
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8% Outdoor Rating based on 6 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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58% Outdoor Rating based on 6 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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67% Outdoor Rating based on 3 reviews
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The New Balance TWO WXY V5 does everything well.
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The shoe plays well for all positions. It does it all.
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60% Outdoor Rating based on 5 reviews
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The Jordan Luka 3 is a bulky-looking shoe that plays more balanced than it looks thanks to its tacky traction.
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The Luka 3 is best for shifty, balanced players who mainly play on clean courts.
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13% Outdoor Rating based on 4 reviews
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The Adidas AE 1 Low is a mixed bag with decent performance but the fit may bother some.
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The shoe is best for shifty players who like to feel low to the ground.
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43% Outdoor Rating based on 7 reviews
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The Nike Zoom Freak 6 is another decent performer with reliable traction performance.
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The shoe's responsiveness and light weight are better suited for lighter guards.
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13% Outdoor Rating based on 4 reviews
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The Adidas D.O.N. Issue 6 is a great performer. The shoe is lightweight and reliable.
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The D.O.N. Issue 6 is best for quicker players looking for a bottom-light shoe.
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32% Outdoor Rating based on 11 reviews
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The Nike Sabrina 2 is a lightweight shoe with fantastic traction performance.
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The shoe is a great pick for responsive and quick guards. The court feel and responsiveness will cater well to that play style.
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The Best Outdoor Basketball Shoes
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:
The New Balance Hesi Low V2 is a definite improvement compared to the V1 because of the traction and cushioning.
Pros:
Amazing traction performance
Impressive impact protection
Cons:
The soft upper can affect the containment
What do the experts think?
New Balance makes much-needed improvements on the Hesi Low line with the V2.
Reviewers agree the traction performance is tacky and grippy, especially on clean courts. The outsole is one of the shoe's best features.
The full-length FuelCell midsole is soft and comfortable. The impact protection feels better than the last model.
The materials are nothing special, but they feel comfortable.
Support and lockdown are also solid. Reviewers like the heel counter and the inclusion of the midfoot shank.
The New Balance Hesi Low V2 is one of the best low-cost options. The traction and cushioning are the shining features.
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.
Performance Rating:
The New Balance TWO WXY V5 does everything well.
Pros:
Elite traction performance
Bouncy and comfortable cushioning
Cons:
Cushioning is high off the ground
Materials require breaking in
What do the experts think?
New Balance continues to build on the excellent TWO WXY lineup with the latest V5.
Reviewers agree the traction is elite. It's close to perfect, with an impressive bite and grip.
The cushioning is bouncy and responsive. Reviewers applaud the comfort. The only complaint is the high stack height.
Materials require a break-in period. However, the upper does feel comfortable and supportive around your feet.
The support and lockdown are also solid. The materials and construction help keep you secure and stable.
The New Balance TWO WXY V5 is one of the best shoes available, especially for the price. The traction and cushioning are both excellent.
Performance Rating:
The Jordan Luka 3 is a bulky-looking shoe that plays more balanced than it looks thanks to its tacky traction.
Pros:
Effective traction on clean courts
Cons:
Retains heat with a lack of breathability
What do the experts think?
Luka Doncic's third signature shoe is a step in the right direction in on-court performance.
The traction pattern performs very well, especially on clean courts. However, most reviewers experienced the outsole picking up dust quickly, which hampers performance.
Cushlon 3.0 is the foam of choice in the midsole. It feels balanced, responsive, and low to the ground.
The materials are soft and comfortable. They provide support and containment, but reviewers mention the upper isn't breathable.
Support and lockdown are not an issue. The upper construction and the iso plate provide plenty of containment. The shoe's base also helps with stability.
The Jordan Luka 3 improves on the previous two Luka signatures with reliable traction and balanced cushioning. Just make sure to wipe the dust off the outsole.
Performance Rating:
The Adidas AE 1 Low is a mixed bag with decent performance but the fit may bother some.
Pros:
Lighter than the original
Reliable traction performance
Cons:
Heel slippage is a problem for some
Cushioning is not as bouncy
What do the experts think?
The Adidas AE 1 Low can't quite keep up the impressive momentum of the original mid-top version.
Traction performance is reliable. The setup is similar to the AE 1 Low and feels that way on feet.
Cushioning is a slight downgrade. The setup is slightly different, and it's not as bouncy. It feels lower to the ground, with less impact protection.
The fit is controversial. Some reviewers experienced heel slippage, which affected performance, while others didn't.
Support and lockdown are solid outside of the heel issues. The shoe contains your feet well laterally and feels stable.
Materials are mostly the same except for the tongue setup. Reviewers mention the tongue on the mid-top being better.
Missteps with the fit around the heel and the downgraded cushioning hamper the Adidas AE 1 Low's overall performance.
Performance Rating:
The Nike Zoom Freak 6 is another decent performer with reliable traction performance.
Pros:
Reliable traction performance
Cons:
Synthetic leather material feels cheap
What do the experts think?
Nike's Zoom Freak 6 only makes minor incremental upgrades compared to the Zoom Freak 5.
Reviewers agree the traction performance is reliable. The outsole performs very well on clean courts, and regular wiping will help on dustier courts.
The cushioning setup feels basic. The Cushlon foam and forefoot Zoom Air unit are responsive, but the foam is prone to bottoming out.
There's no shank plate, so lateral stability and containment will only last while the shoe remains fresh.
The synthetic materials feel cheap, but the mesh is lightweight and comfortable. Breathability could be better, though.
The Nike Zoom Freak 6 is still a solid signature shoe. It features impressive traction performance players can rely on.
Performance Rating:
The Adidas D.O.N. Issue 6 is a great performer. The shoe is lightweight and reliable.
What do the experts think?
Adidas continues its run of impressive signature models with the latest release in Donovan Mitchell's line.
The traction is one of the shoe's main highlights. It's consistent and reliable. Some reviewers consider it top-tier.
The cushioning setup has a decent amount of impact protection, and the bottom of the shoe feels light. However, the foam does not feel springy.
Adidas' materials are lightweight, durable, and comfortable. The shoe is well-padded, and the upper construction helps with containment.
Lateral security and containment are not issues, but some reviewers did report minor heel slippage.
The Adidas D.O.N. Issue 6 is a strong performer with impressive and reliable traction.
Performance Rating:
The Nike Sabrina 2 is a lightweight shoe with fantastic traction performance.
Pros:
Grippy herringbone traction
Lightweight and comfortable
Cons:
Overall lack of durability
Not the best material quality
What do the experts think?
Sabrina Ionescu's second signature shoe with Nike is a lightweight performance model. It's reminiscent of the Kobe line.
The traction is consistent and is one of the shoe's best features. It performs well on all court surfaces.
Cushlon 3.0 makes its way into a Nike shoe for the first time in the Sabrina 2. The shoe remains low to the ground, but the comfort improves slightly.
The material quality isn't the best, and the shoe's durability takes a hit. However, the performance is not affected. The shoe feels comfortable, flexible, and light.
Support and lockdown are not an issue. The shoe is secure around the heel and ankle, and the midfoot cable setup keeps your feet contained.
The fit is also improved this year. The width is more accommodating, and most reviewers reported no issues with sizing.
The Nike Sabrina 2 will continue to be one of Nike's most popular shoes thanks to its consistent traction performance.
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!
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 😂