Outdoor Basketball Court in Evening

Best Outdoor Basketball – Buyer’s Guide

Have you ever played basketball outdoors and realized your basketball isn’t suited for the concrete floor?  Do you have a hard time dribbling it on the outdoor concrete or dusty court? Does the ball pick-up dirt when you dribble and make your hands dirty?

If you answered YES to any of these questions, I bet your performance and game play may have been negatively affected because you didn’t have the “right” basketball for outdoors.  It’s summer and the weather outside is really hot and nice… Why not look for the best outdoor basketball?

It wouldn’t be an easy decision, especially considering the plethora of options, but that is where we come in. We have done the hard work for you and listed the best outdoor basketballs you can find.  You want an outdoor basketball that is durable and has excellent grip for ball handling. 

Below are the 6 best outdoor basketballs available for you to buy.  All you have to do is choose the one that works best for you and voila! You will be good to go.

So, without wasting any more time, let’s get right into it:

Product

Customer Rating

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Spalding NBA Street Outdoor Basketball

  • Price: $

Wilson NCAA Replica Game Basketball

Price: $$

Mikasa BX1000 Premium Rubber Basketball (Official Size)

Price: $

Baden Crossover Composite Indoor/Outdoor Basketball

Price: $

NIKE Versa Tack (Size 7) Basketball Size 7
 

Price: $$

Wilson NCAA Illuminator Glow in The Dark Basketball, 28.5" Blue/Yellow

Price: $

Best Outdoor Basketball


Spalding NBA Street Outdoor Basketball

Spalding NBA Street Outdoor Basketball
Spalding NBA Street Outdoor Basketball

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There are several important factors when selecting outdoor basketball. Some of those factors include durability, grip and balance. The first basketball on our list, Spalding NBA Street Outdoor Basketball, checks all those boxes. While all of this ball’s features are excellent, but what takes the cake is that you can use it for years to come. If you have played with basketballs by the brand Spalding, this shouldn’t come as a surprise.

People usually buy the ball, thinking it is excellent for outdoor playing, and it is, but it is also comfortable to play with indoors. Maybe that is the reason why Spalding is the official basketball provider in tournaments like the NBA. Whether you are playing with it outside on a concrete surface or inside on a court, you would find plenty of reasons to like this ball.

If you want a basketball that is soft yet it is perfectly fine when it comes to balancing it, then you would be glad to have bought this ball. This ball is especially useful for you if you have just started playing basketball. As it is user-friendly, beginners shouldn’t have difficulty learning how to dribble it or pass it around. With that being said, if you like challenging yourself and leaving your comfort zone, then it can help you prepare as well.

The size and weight of the ball are the same as used in official NBA matches. If you have always wanted to experience how it is to play in those real tournaments, this is the closest you can get.

Pros:

  • It is durable
  • Suitable for outdoor and indoor playing
  • It provides an excellent grip

Cons:

  • The rubber seam might start leaking after a few weeks

Wilson NCAA Replica Game Basketball

Wilson NCAA Replica Game Basketball
Wilson NCAA Replica Game Basketball

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Wilson is an excellent brand that manufactured high-quality balls. Players have been using their basketballs for years and have never found a reason to complain about it. The next ball on our list by Wilson is no different. It is for those who want their ball to look a bit different from other basketballs. This basketball comes in multiple colours, including pink, black and gold and the original brown. This isn’t something that a lot of basketballs offer.

The outer shell of the ball is manufactured out of high-quality leather, which provides an excellent grip. Whether you are playing indoors or outdoors, you would experience the game of your life, guaranteed. Often people complain that the official size 7 of a ball is too much for them to handle. Such people would be glad to play with this ball as it is size 6. If you are young or are not strong enough to play with size seven ball, then playing with this ball would be no trouble for you.

One look at the ball, and you would notice that it looks quite similar to the ball used in official league games. The design of the product is made specially to replicate that ball. You might not know this, but Wilson provides balls to some big leagues for both men and women. If this doesn’t assure you of the quality of the balls by the brand Wilson, nothing else will. Overall, if you tend to get competitive during games, this ball would help you push yourself and win those matches.

Pros:

  • It comes in exciting colours
  • It is excellent for young and weak players
  • It replicates the official balls used in matches

Cons:

  • You would need to inflate it again and again

Mikasa BX1000 Premium Rubber Basketball

Mikasa BX1000 Premium Rubber Basketball
Mikasa BX1000 Premium Rubber Basketball

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Often people complain that since outdoor surfaces are rough, the durability of the balls is always compromised. Whether they are playing on a road or in a court outside, they cannot play more than a few matches before they start facing issues with the ball. It seems like the brand Mikasa was especially listening to people’s complaints about the balls’ durability because this ball is excellent in not just durability factor, but other factors as well. 

First of all, this basketball has premium quality rubber covers, which makes this ball extremely durable. Though the ball only comes with a one-year warranty, we can gladly say that you would not have to use that anytime soon as it will serve its purpose for years to come. You would not need to replace it with another ball. This ball offers excellent grip, and the credit for that goes to the design. Misaka has given this ball a dense pebble design, which helps in balancing the ball.

The dense pebble design also helps people have a secure grip on the ball who have small palms. People with small palms have trouble passing the ball to another player. While they cannot do anything about their palms, what they can do is play with this ball, giving them an excellent game experience. Another exciting feature of the ball is its ability to retain its grip even if it becomes dirty. This feature is only available in a handful of basketballs, and fortunately, this basketball is one of them.

Pros:

  • It is made out of premium quality rubber
  • It offers excellent grip to players
  • It provides a pleasant experience for people with small palms

Cons:

  • It has a hard time retaining air and thus, deflates quite often

Baden Crossover Composite Indoor/Outdoor Basketball

Baden Crossover Composite Indoor/Outdoor Basketball
Baden Crossover Composite Indoor/Outdoor Basketball

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Baden might not be a household name, but that doesn’t mean we should let its creativity go unappreciated. This basketball has so many amazing features that we are unsure where to begin, but we will try anyway. The first quality we would like to talk about is its composite cover. The ball might look sturdy when you look at it, but when you take it in your hands, you will find the same softness premium basketballs have. The cover also helps the ball stay durable.

If you are worried about having a firm grip on a basketball, you can breathe a sigh of relief as it offers exceptional grip. The credit for that goes to the ball’s unique, symmetrical panels. Whether you are shooting, passing, or merely dribbling, you would be able to master the art of different playing basketball techniques. The basketball comes in multiple exciting colours, so people who like a particular colour don’t feel left out.

As you can guess, this basketball is a crossover. This means that whether you prefer playing indoors or outdoors, you would find this ball sufficient. The ball doesn’t offer any extra bounces that would ruin the flow of your game. Overall, playing with this outdoor basketball would be a smooth experience for anyone.

Pros:

  • The widely spaced symmetrical panels offer a perfect balance
  • The composite cover ensures durability
  • It offers a smooth playing experience

Cons:

  • It doesn’t bounce properly

NIKE Versa Tack (Size 7) Basketball Size 7

NIKE Versa Tack (Size 7) Basketball Size 7
NIKE Versa Tack (Size 7) Basketball Size 7

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Nike is another brand that is especially popular among sports enthusiasts. So, it was impossible to make a list of best outdoor basketballs without mentioning Nike’s outdoor basketball. This ball caught us by surprise, to be honest. After having a look at it, we could not believe that it was an outdoor basketball. The reason is that it has a specific type of texture that is only found on indoor basketballs. However, once we tried playing with it, it changed our minds.

It has some fantastic features that make it an excellent outdoor basketball. It uses a combination of a pebbled surface and a soft rubber core with two significant benefits: one, it enhances the overall feel of the ball and two, you feel more in control when you are playing with it. The butyl bladder ensures that the ball retains its size, even if you continue playing with it for weeks. The ball’s weight and size are correctly distributed, and not once it felt something out of our control.

Talking about the manufacturing material, the ball is made out of rubber, nylon and synthetic leather. Some users have even said that they have been playing with the ball for almost six years, which just shows the quality of the ball. While other basketballs lose their touch with time, this basketball does the opposite. It ages gracefully without giving players something to worry about.

Whether you want it to buy for your child or yourself, you would only have nice things to say about this ball. Inflating the ball is also very easy; you just need a pump, and you would be good to go. It provides a comfortable playing experience to the user that hardly other outdoor basketballs do.

Pros:

  • It has a unique texture
  • It allows you to have control
  • The size and weight is ideally distributed

Cons:

  • Doesn’t come in exciting colors

Wilson NCAA Illuminator Glow in The Dark Basketball, 28.5″ Blue/Yellow

Wilson NCAA Illuminator Glow in The Dark Basketball, 28.5" Blue/Yellow
Wilson NCAA Illuminator Glow in The Dark Basketball, 28.5″ Blue/Yellow

Click Here for Best Price

 

The last basketball on our list is for those who are looking to shake things up a bit. Who says you cannot be creative around basketball? This basketball by Wilson is a perfect example of what happens when creative minds meet with athletic minds. Every basketball has that one feature that makes it stand out among the rest. The cover of the ball is very simple; it is made of rubber. However, things get interesting here. The ball glows in the dark.

Yes, you read that right. The ball can glow in the dark. If you find it hard to play during the day due to the hot weather or school/work, this ball is perfect for you. Gather a few friends and start playing with the ball. Whether you want to play in the evening or at night, it is entirely up to you. With an ordinary ball, you would have to call it a day once the sun is down. However, when you are playing with this ball, you can play it as long as possible.

Apart from the exciting glow in the dark feature, this ball covers all other aspects of a quality basketball. While other basketballs lose their touch once they fall in the water, that would not be the case with this ball. You would be able to play with the ball just fine even if you accidentally leave it in water for days. You should keep in mind that if you want the ball to not lose its glow in the dark ability, keep it away from the sunlight.

Pros:

  • It glows in the dark
  • It bounces perfectly
  • It makes for an excellent gift

Cons:

  • Sunlight ruins the glow in the dark feature

Wrapping it up

There you have it; the best outdoor basketballs you can find right now. Like we said in the beginning, buying one isn’t an easy task. You have to do your homework. But luckily, we have done that for you. While all of them offer exceptional playing experience, they are for different people. For instance, some might be good for beginners, while others might be good for experienced players. If you are a beginner, remember to take it slow. One needs time and practice to become really good at basketball. Though it is not hard, it is time consuming. But once you start playing professionally, it would all seem worth it. Practice with a friend or a coach so he/she can tell you about your shortcomings.


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