Best Outdoor Basketball Shoes of 2024 – Buyer’s Guide & Reviews

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There is no doubt about it, basketball is a really fun game to play, not to mention that it will help you get back into the best shape of your life in no time at all. However, in order to make the most out of your outdoor basketball playing experience, you will need a decent pair of shoes. The best outdoor basketball shoes will help improve your game immensely by ensuring good traction, support, cushioning, energy transfer, and all-around comfort.

Let’s get right into it, talk about what you need to consider before buying outdoor basketball shoes, why you need good outdoor basketball shoes, and of course, we have a list of the top 7 outdoor basketball shoes that your money can buy.

Summary: The Best Outdoor Basketball Shoes

Why Do I Need Good Outdoor Basketball Shoes?

Outdoor basketball can be a whole lot of fun, but not so much when you don’t have an adequate pair of outdoor basketball shoes. There are a few different reasons why a good pair of outdoor basketball shoes is a must have for any game.

First of all, basketball involves a whole lot of running and jumping around, both things which generate painful impact energy that can become very uncomfortable very quickly. Therefore, any good pair of basketball shoes will provide you with an adequate level of cushioning for a soft running experience, plus they should be able to absorb impact energy and transfer it into takeoff energy. This will help to minimize foot pain and will help you run faster and jump higher too.

Moreover, basketball involves a lot of quick movements and back and forth action, so you definitely need good basketball shoes with a high level of traction to keep you from slipping and falling, not to mention that traction is essential for getting past your opponents with the ball.

A good pair of basketball shoes will also offer you a high level of support and stability. First off, basketball shoes will support your ankles in order to keep them from rolling or snapping when you land the wrong way. Also, basketball shoes will support your heel and arches in order to keep your heel in place and to reinforce the natural shape of your feet. The best pair of basketball shoes will also offer great all around support from all angles for the ultimate of a basketball experience.

Finally, a good pair of basketball shoes will also help to minimize heat and weight, because heavy shoes that make your feet hot, sweaty, and tired are obviously not ideal for any game of basketball. The point of the matter is that a good pair of basketball shoes will keep your feet well-cushioned, well-supported from all angles, pain free, cool, and extremely comfortable.

Why Should I Play Outdoor Basketball?

There are a few different reasons why a good game of outdoor basketball is something that you should engage in on a regular basis. Simply put, it is a great game that will make you a much healthier and skilled person in several different ways.

Benefit #1: Coordination

One of the things that basketball will help you with is improving your overall coordination. Basketball makes you catch the ball, pass it at certain times, make precision shots, it requires excellent footwork and dribbling skills, and you have to be able to work closely with teammates if you have any hope of winning the game at hand. All of these factors inherent in basketball will over time train your coordination to become better than ever before.

Benefit #2: Strength

Basketball is also great for your overall strength. Sure, the game of basketball is not as effective at training your muscles as something like weight lifting, but it does still utilize your muscles. Running for a whole game of basketball, dribbling, jumping, passing, and shooting are all things that can go a pretty long way in strengthening your muscles, and it does so from the top to the bottom of your body. Basketball is something that will help you run faster and jump higher too.

Benefit #3: Teamwork

Another valuable aspect of basketball is that it helps to build you social and teamwork skills. Being alone is never fun, being lonely is depressing, and not being able to work with the people around you will definitely not get you very far in life. Basketball requires an immense amount of support, teamwork, and social skills if you want to win a game, social skills and teamwork that are also required for many other aspects in life including relationships and your job. There is no better way to practice good teamwork than on an outdoor basketball court.

Benefit #4: Aerobic Health

Yet another thing that is so great about outdoor basketball is that it is a fantastic aerobic exercise, or in other words, it does a great job at increasing the strength and efficiency of both your heart and lungs. This is a game that will without a doubt get your heart beating in that aerobic zone and will have your lungs heaving for air in no time at all. The end result of this is greatly improved heart and lung health, a greater ability to process oxygen, oxygenate your blood, and supply your body with lots of oxygen, blood, and nutrients. Moreover, heart and lung exercise is essential for preventing and controlling a very long list of heart and lung related illnesses.

Benefit #5: Stamina

Something else that is so great about the game of basketball is that it will help you increase your stamina or endurance. Having stronger muscles that can work harder is obviously a big part of this. However, the fact that your lungs can process more oxygen, that your heart has an easier time distributing blood and oxygen, and that both your lungs and heart don’t have to work as hard to do their jobs are all things that will make you more enduring.

Considerations To Make Before Buying Outdoor Basketball Shoes

Basketball shoes are essential for any game of outdoor basketball, but they can end up being fairly expensive, especially for the high-quality brand names. Therefore there are a few important considerations to keep in mind before you invest any amount of money in a pair of outdoor basketball shoes.

Durability

Something that is very important when it comes to outdoor basketball shoes, especially when playing on a concrete court, is their durability. This will come down to things like the materials the shoes in question are made of, as well as their overall build quality. Leather and synthetic leather are materials that are great for outdoor basketball shoes. Concrete and playing outdoors in general can put a whole lot of strain on any pair of basketball shoes, so you definitely want to find a pair made of durable materials, preferably with reinforcement in key areas, in order to minimize the wear and tear that they suffer during any game of outdoor basketball.

Ventilation & Weight

Another important thing to keep in mind when it comes to outdoor basketball shoes is how heavy they are as well as how well ventilated they are. Simply put, this is a game that involves a lot of jumping and running, so heavy shoes are definitely not ideal. Moreover, this is a high paced game that will raise your body temperature and make you sweat, so you are going to want shoes with some kind of mesh upper or lots of perforations in order to provide you with breathability. The bottom line is that hot and tired feet are not going to cut it for an intense game of basketball.

Cushioning & Energy Transfer

The next extremely important thing to keep in before buying any pair of outdoor basketball shoes is how well cushioned they are. This is a game that involves a ton of running and jumping, and that means lots of impact being transferred to your feet. Well, a good pair of basketball shoes will have a lot of cushioning in all of the right places in order to minimize impact and make it feel like you are walking on a cloud. Moreover, the best pair of basketball shoes will be able to harness that impact energy and transfer it into takeoff energy to let you run faster, jump higher, and remain pain free no matter how long you play for.

Support

Yet another important aspect that any good pair of outdoor basketball shoes needs to have is a high level of support, and that goes for multiple aspects of the shoe. First and foremost, a good pair of outdoor basketball shoes needs to have a high top design that will support your ankles. Basketball comes with a fairly high risk of rolling or breaking your ankles, so the more ankle support that your basketball shoes provide the better. Also, the basketball shoes in question should have a lot of arch support to reinforce the natural shape of your feet and to keep your feet from becoming painful from the bottom up. Finally, they should also provide good all-around support from the top in order to keep your feet snugly in place and as stable as can be.

Traction

The final important thing to keep in mind before purchasing any pair of outdoor basketball shoes is the traction which they provide. You need to be able to run fast, turn on a dime, and cut across your opponents while maintaining ball control, so a good outsole with great traction is without a doubt a total must have.

Outdoor Basketball Shoes Reviews

Our Rating

These shoes really do help Michael Jordan live up to his name because they have a whole lot of features that will make your basketball game better than anyone else on the court with you. Lots of support, cushioning, traction, and energy rebounding capabilities make this pair of outdoor basketball shoes some of the best out there without a doubt.


Design

One of the things that everyone can appreciate about this particular pair of basketball shoes is that they feature patented FlightPlate Technology. This technology is specially designed to harness as much impact energy as possible, which is great for absorbing the painful impact that would otherwise be transferred to your feet, plus it is amazing for providing you with useful take off energy for better rebounds and higher jumps.

Another thing that makes the Jordan Super Fly 5 Basketball Shoes ideal for everybody is the forefoot Zoom Air Unit. This air unit is fantastic because it provides you with great forefoot cushioning to make it feel like you are walking on a cloud, plus it also helps to provide you with good energy transfer and very fast response times too.

Yet another thing that makes these shoes so great is the webbed lacing system that provides you with a very snug and locked down fit, which means that these shoes won’t move around on your feet, plus they offer a whole lot of support and stability too. There is also the fact that the great rubber sole helps to provide you with stable and quick acting traction too.

This is combined with the external TPU heel counter which helps to support your heels and stabilize your foot to reinforce your natural range of motion, which is also great for preventing rolled ankles. Speaking of your ankles, these outdoor basketball shoes have a high top design which helps to support your ankles to prevent injuries, not to mention that they also have good underfoot arch support to help minimize painful feet.

Finally, we also really like that fact that this pair of Jordans is made with both leather and synthetic materials. The leather helps to keep water at bay, plus it is very durable too, plus the mesh-like upper helps keep the weight on these shoes to a minimum, not to mention that they are very breathable too.

Value for money

This pair of Jordan Basketball shoes will run you somewhere around 150 dollars. Of course, this is a pretty big price tag for a pair of basketball shoes, but Nike does know the game, and they have done a very good job at designing these shoes. They literally have everything you need to play a fantastic game of outdoor basketball.

Build quality

The build quality of the Jordan Super Fly 5 Basketball Shoes is just phenomenal. The leather build makes them durable, the mesh-like upper makes them lightweight and breathable, the great outsole provides you with traction, and they also have various support features and great cushioning too. You will definitely be hard-pressed to find a better outdoor basketball shoe.

Pros

  • Awesome level of support
  • Great for the ankles
  • Lots of cushioning
  • Good responsiveness and energy transfer
  • Really good traction
  • Durable leather build
  • Mesh-like upper for lightweight breathability

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Plastic on tongue is very rigid

Our Rating

This is a fantastic pair of outdoor basketball shoes to go with and it is thanks to the plethora of features they offer, all of which help to improve your outdoor basketball game drastically.


Design

One of the reasons that the Nike Men’s Hyperdunk 2016 Basketball Shoe makes for such an amazing choice is the injected Phylon midsole that they feature. This midsole helps to support your feet from the bottom up by supporting your arches, plus it helps provide a superior amount of cushioning too. This midsole also helps to transfer impact energy into takeoff energy for increased running, jumping, and rebounding power.

Another thing that helps to provide you with lots of cushioning, rebounding power, and responsiveness is the Nike Air Zoom Units located in the heel and toe. These Zoom Units bring you split second crossing abilities and cushioning that will help to immensely improve your basketball game.

Moreover, these outdoor basketball shoes also feature Flywire cables along the sides and upper. These cables serve the purpose of providing you with a locked down and ultra-snug fit that makes sure that these shoes don’t move around, plus it helps to make them much more stable when running and jumping.

In terms of comfort, these shoes also feature a well-padded mid-top collar which gives you a whole lot of comfort but also does not restrict movement. The collar and ankle section of this shoe is also great for providing you with a very high amount of ankle support to prevent rolled and broken ankles.

Yet another thing that these shoes do very well is provide you with lots of traction so you can make on the dime turns without falling or slipping, and that is thanks to the superior rubber sole with a herringbone pattern. The next thing that makes these shoes ideal for outdoor basketball is the synthetic and mesh combo which they are made of. The synthetic materials are very strong and durable, while the mesh upper makes these shoes lightweight and breathable at the very same time.

Value for money

The Nike Men’s Hyperdunk Basketball shoes will run you somewhere around 140 dollars. This may seem a little pricey when compared to some other options on this list, but when you consider the superior comfort, traction, cushioning, and support they offer, the investment is definitely worthwhile.

Build quality

There is absolutely nothing wrong with this pair of basketball shoes. They are made with very durable materials, they are lightweight and breathable, they let you turn on a dime thanks to superior traction, they are snug and offer good support, and they also have an unprecedented amount of cushioning and energy rebounding capabilities too.

Pros

  • Durable
  • Lightweight and breathable
  • Great cushioning and energy rebounding
  • Good ankle and underfoot support
  • Great traction
  • Comfortable tongue and collar

Cons

  • Fairly rigid
  • Fit a little tight

Our Rating

This particular pair of basketball shoes is a very durable, comfortable, and affordable option to go with. They come with several different features that make them absolutely perfect for any game of outdoor basketball.


Design

One of the things that you will like about the Adidas Performance Court Fury Basketball Shoes is that they are made out of a combination of textile and synthetic materials. This makes them very durable and resistant to the wear and tear that comes with playing outdoor basketball, plus they are quite water resistant for those damp days too. The top of the shoe actually features a perforated textile upper that provides you with an adequate amount of ventilation to keep your feet cool and comfortable no matter how long you play for.

Something else that everyone will appreciate about these basketball shoes is that they have a durable rubber outsole. The outsole helps to provide you with a whole lot of cross cutting traction, plus it is non-marking for outdoor basketball courts too. These shoes also feature diamond pattern perforations that wrap around the heel and toe box for an increased level of support and stability, not to mention that they also have pretty decent arch support to reinforce the natural shape of your feet.

When it comes to comfort, these shoes will definitely do the trick. First of all, they feature a flexible and well-padded textile collar that won’t dig into your ankles. Also, these shoes feature full-length ADIPRENE+ cushioning for superior softness and rebounding. The Adidas Performance Court Fury Basketball Shoes provide you with a great level of cushioning so your feet don’t become painful, plus they do a great job at absorbing impact and transferring it into takeoff energy for a more efficient game of basketball.

Value for money

The Adidas Performance Court Fury Basketball Shoes come with a whole lot of value. These things will cost you around 70 dollars, which is really not a high price for such durable shoes that will provide you with great comfort, cushioning, and function for an amazing outdoor basketball experience.

Build quality

The build quality of these outdoor basketball shoes is simply outstanding. They are made with awesome materials that are not going to break down anytime soon, plus they can withstand the rigors of being outside. The fact that they are well ventilated, have good arch, toe, and heel support, and provide for superior cushioning and energy rebounding are all factors that add to the build quality of these outdoor basketball shoes.

Pros

  • Well ventilated
  • Good traction
  • Good heel, toe, and arch support
  • Great cushioning
  • Superior energy transfer
  • Durable
  • Non-marking outsole

Cons

  • Fit slightly small
  • Seams are a little weak

Our Rating

The Nike Men’s Kyrie 2 Basketball Shoe is yet another good outdoor basketball shoe choice provided to us by Nike. Besides the fact that they look simply amazing, they also provide a whole lot of support, comfort, and traction too.


Design

One of the things that everybody will appreciate about these particular outdoor basketball shoes is that they offer a whole lot of traction. The superior rubber sole won’t mark up the ground, and at the same time, it also has a great herringbone pattern which lets you grip the ground with ease to cut across opponents with ease.

These outdoor basketball shoes also help to offer you a ton of support in various ways. First of all, the midsection of these shoes is designed to offer you great arch support for a pain free game of basketball. The combination of laces and a thick Velcro strap makes sure that these shoes stay snug and stay in place at all times.

Moreover, these basketball shoes also offer great multi-directional support from all angles to keep your feet locked in place and keep you stable to prevent rolled ankles. On that same note, these shoes also have a fairly high collar which helps to provide your ankles with great roll preventing support.

To keep your feet comfortable, the Nike Kyrie 2 Basketball Shoes also have a large amount of cushioning in the bottom. This awesome level of cushioning is combined with the Nike Zoom Air Unit to give you more comfort than ever. These shoes are well-padded to make it feel like you are running on a cloud, they offer great rebounding abilities thanks to their energy transfer capabilities, and they also have good responsiveness too.

We also like the fact that the textile upper of these shoes is fairly lightweight and breathable in order to provide your feet with good ventilation. When it comes to comfort, support, and energy transfer, these shoes definitely do it all, plus they are also fairly durable, yet another bonus we can’t ignore.

Value for money

These particular basketball shoes are going to cost you upwards of 120 dollars. This may seem a little bit expensive, but considering the fact that they are some of the most durable, supportive, well-cushioned, and high traction basketball shoes out there, the money you invest in these shoes will definitely pay off on the basketball court.

Build quality

The build quality of these basketball shoes is simply outstanding. These things have a very durable outside which is combined with a well-ventilated textile upper for a cool basketball experience. Moreover, the high level of support, cushioning, energy transfer, traction, and responsiveness that these shoes offer helps to greatly improve your game without a doubt.

Pros

  • Well ventilated and lightweight
  • Good energy transfer
  • Lots of cushioning
  • Great ankle and arch support
  • Velcro lockdown strap for a superior fit
  • Amazing traction

Cons

  • Seams are a little weak
  • Quite expensive

Our Rating

Adidas has done it again because this outdoor basketball shoe does everything you require for a good game of basketball. Comfort, durability, traction, energy transfer, and support are all things that the Adidas Cloudfoam Ilation Basketball Shoes do very well.


Design

We really like the fact that these basketball shoes are high tops, which means that they do a great job at supporting your ankles and keeping them in place to prevent rolled or injured ankles when jumping and running. These shoes also offer decent heel and under arch support in order to reinforce the natural shape of your feet and keep painful soles at bay.

Something else that makes these shoes so comfortable for any game of outdoor basketball is the air mesh tongue, collar, and real quarter. This makes these shoes very comfortable, well-padded in the aforementioned areas, and it keeps them fairly lightweight too, all things that a good basketball shoe needs to provide you with.

Yet another thing that makes these ideal basketball shoes is the high traction rubber outsole that will have you crossing your opponents like a pro. There is also the fact that these shoes have a superior durable build that goes a long way in preventing wear and tear. There is also the fact that the combination of textile and synthetic materials makes these shoes extremely durable, plus the perforations located in strategic points provides for more ventilation than ever before.

Next, these particular basketball shoes also come equipped with a CLOUDFOAM Sock Liner. This sock liner is great for providing you with a snug fit for great stability, it provides you with amazing cushioning and energy transfer, and it does a great job at wicking away moisture too. At the end of the day, while these shoes may not be very expensive, they still do an amazing job at improving your outdoor basketball game.

Value for money

The Adidas Performance Men's Cloudfoam Ilation Mid Basketball Shoes are going to cost you around 60 dollars, which is a very low price for such a high-quality pair of Adidas basketball shoes. These things are comfortable, fairly lightweight and well ventilated, they have good cushioning and energy transfer, a decent amount of support, and great traction too, all things which make these basketball shoes a valuable find without a doubt.

Build quality

The build quality of these shoes is simply outstanding. Their special build makes them durable and resilient towards wear and tear, the sock liner provides for a lot of cushioning and energy transfer, they have a high amount of traction, and they provide good all-around support as well.

Pros

  • Quite durable
  • Fairly lightweight and breathable
  • Good all-around support
  • Decent amount of cushioning
  • Great traction
  • Very affordable

Cons

  • Rubber on the sole may start to peel after prolonged use

Our Rating

This is a very good affordable pair of basketball shoes to go with. They are some of the cheaper outdoor basketball shoes on this list, yet they still manage to provide you with good traction, support, cushioning, and energy transfer too. If you want to save money and improve your basketball game at the same time, the AND1 Fantom Basketball Shoe is definitely a good option to go with.


Design

We really like this affordable pair of basketball shoes, mainly because they are so lightweight, breathable, yet very durable too. Their synthetic build makes them highly resistant to average wear and tear, and the mesh upper combined with the laser cut vents makes them very lightweight and breathable. If you want a light and well ventilated pair of shoes that won’t fall apart after the first use, then the AND1 Fantom Basketball Shoe is a good choice indeed.

Yet another thing that makes these shoes so ideal is that they have a lightweight EVA midsole. This midsole does not add much weight to the shoes, and it also helps to provide you with lots of underfoot support and cushioning.

These shoes have just the right amount of cushioning to keep your feet comfortable, plus they do a good job at absorbing impact energy and transferring it into takeoff energy. Moreover, they also have a decent amount of arch support to reinforce the natural shape of your feet and keep your arches pain free.

Moreover, these AND1 Basketball shoes also have a hexagonal lacing system with flex zone technology. This helps to provide you with a snug, stable, and well supported fit, while also remaining flexible and working with the shape of your feet instead of against your feet.

These particular basketball shoes also come with a reinforced toe and heel on the rubber outsole which goes a long way in preventing wear and tear on the outside. The great rubber outsole is also fantastic for providing you with a lot of traction for quick movements both on and off the court.

Value for money

These particular basketball shoes are only going to cost you around 60 dollars, which makes them some of the most affordable options on this list. Even though they are cheap, they still go a long way in supporting your feet, keeping them in place, keeping them pain free, and allowing for a great game of basketball every single time you wear them.

Build quality

The build quality of these shoes is pretty good indeed, especially considering how low of a price tag they have. The synthetic build is durable, the mesh upper and the breathing holes makes them lightweight and well ventilated, they have a good amount of cushioning and underfoot support, and they do a good job with impact energy transfer as well.

Pros

  • Decent arch and heel support
  • Alright ankle support
  • Inexpensive
  • Good underfoot support
  • Decent amount of cushioning
  • Good at impact energy transfer
  • High traction rubber outsole

Cons

  • Very small and narrow

Our Rating

This is another great pair of affordable basketball shoes brought to us by AND1. These things are very low priced, but they still provide you with everything you need for an awesomely comfortable and high performance game of outdoor basketball.


Design

One of the things that we really like about these basketball shoes is that they are made of synthetic leather, something which helps to make them extremely durable, easy to clean, and keeps moisture where it belongs. At the same time, the collar and tongue of the shoe are well padded for comfort, yet also very lightweight. Also, the tongue, collar, and upper of this shoe features drilled perforations to provide you with good ventilation and breathability. The bottom of this shoe features a high traction rubber outsole that will have you crossing your opponents like never before, not to mention that it is very durable as well.

Moreover, these shoes feature a classic rocket overlasted construction which provides for a low profile shoe that keeps your feet close to the ground for ultimate stability. The low-sew construction helps keeps points of weight and friction very low for more stability than ever. Also, there is the fact that these shoes have a decent amount of cushioning as well as impact absorption for an awesomely comfortable game with great performance.

Something else that we can all appreciate about the AND1 Men's Rocket 4.0 Basketball Shoes is that they have a reinforced upper to provide you with amazing ankle, heel, and medial support. Your feet will fit very snuggly in these shoes, they won’t move around, and your ankles will definitely not roll. These things are designed to provide you with multidirectional support at all points and from all angles including the top, your ankles, heels, and arches for the ultimate in a comfortable basketball game.

Value for money

This particular pair of AND1 Outdoor Basketball Shoes is going to cost you just around 50 bucks. Once again, even though they are cheap and affordable, they still manage to provide you with a high level of comfort, support, cushioning, and more, all of which help to drastically improve your game every single time you play.

Build quality

Overall there is really nothing to complain about when it comes to the build quality of these shoes. The synthetic leather makes them extremely durable, the perforations make them lightweight and breathable, and the superior construction helps to offer a whole lot of support, comfort, cushioning, and energy rebounding ability.

Pros

  • Durable construction
  • Fairly lightweight and breathable
  • Good cushioning and energy transfer
  • Lots of support from all angles
  • Good traction
  • Very affordable

Cons

  • Collar is a little low for ankle support
  • Cushioning may bottom out after prolonged use

Conclusion

As you can see, the choices in terms of the best outdoor basketball shoes are very diverse. Just remember that any pair you buy needs to provide you with several things including all-around support, cushioning, traction, energy transfer, and lightweight breathability. As long as you find a pair with all of those things, you will undoubtedly be happy with them.

If you have any questions or comments about finding the best outdoor basketball shoes, just leave a comment below or shoot us a message and we will get back to you as soon as we can!