Being an adult you can play outside freely but kids and young teens cannot, as for their own safety especially in this pandemic when all-seasoned players also prefer to stay indoors.
When it comes to playing indoor basketball in your backyards or driveways with your family and loved ones, without spending a lot of money, Lifetime 1529 Courtside Height Portable Basketball System offers you a decent combo of premium quality and cheap amount Basketball System with a huge 5 years warranty.
Manufacturers need to strike a balance between low prices and durability hence instead of tempered glass or acrylic, Polycarbonate aka Plexiglas is used to ensure their customers a fair rebound from the 50-inch Backboard.
Polycarbonate backboard provides safety as Lifetime called it Shatter Proof Fusion Backboard and durability as the system is weather-resistant, so the graphics won’t get dull over time even under direct sun exposure.
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Features Of Lifetime 1529 Courtside Height Portable Basketball System:
lifetime 1529 portable basketball system is not so professional as compared to Spalding and Silverback NXT but with this price, it is up to the mark for its durability and quality. Most hoops have small bases that would affect their stability but Lifetime managed to create a reasonable base with 31 gallons without raising the price.
The backboard is not made of tempered glass which could be considered as its drawback. Yet polycarbonate backboards are way better than acrylic ones regarding rebound and durability. Overall the hoop will feel great and a good present for kids and a family who loves to play along.
The Pole:
The Pole system comes with a 3-piece system made of steel coated with a powder that acts like ultra-protective metal laminate against scratches, dings, fading, discoloration, and rusting.
Assembly of this pole-system is easy but some costumers found it difficult so we recommend you to read the instructions carefully. The centre pole has the information sticker on it. The other two poles each have one end that is slightly tapered with a small slot. Those tapered ends go into the centre pole.
This system provides decent sturdiness but if we compare it with a 2-piece pole system or single pole system, due to more connection points, this pole system does not hit the mark like the others. The 3 inch round speed shift pole mechanism makes the height adjustments easy. The hoop is adjusted from 8 to 10 feet for different heights of players.
The Backboard:
The 50 inches Shatter Proof backboard is the main highlight in this portable hoop as Lifetime uses polycarbonate instead of acrylic or tempered glass. Lifetime designed this polycarbonate backboard especially for family and friends to play along without worrying if the backboard shatters down upon hitting the ball.
Polycarbonate backboard handles the harsh environment and still looks brand new, except for the inevitable dust from being outside unlike acrylic that turns yellowish over time due to sunlight.
The backboard doesn’t deaden the ball as some portable hoops do, but as compared to the glass tempered backboards it lacks the responsiveness that could be a drawback of using polycarbonate. But at this price, this is the best portable hoop with a decent rebound.
The Rim:
Lifetime calls it the ‘slam it’ rim which proves to be true as it has double compression springs that can handle slams upon the shots and provides a fair bounce of it. But we recommend you avoid leaving the hoop under the sun round the clock and cover it because the spring may get rusty.
The Base:
As compared to 50 gallons base systems, Lifetime 1529 comes with a 27 gallons base system which is a good deal in terms of price. The base could be filled with water or sand for sturdiness. But we recommend you fill it with sand as it is denser than water. Though makes it a bit difficult to move the hoop with sand.
If you are using water instead of sand we would suggest you pour in a gallon of car anti-freeze which prevents the water from freezing and cracking the plastic base weight. Don’t stand on the base as to keep the system under a low budget, the base material is somehow cheap than other premium hoops.
How to assemble:
Lifetime offers a professional assembly to put the system straight away flawlessly. If you want to assemble it yourself, the instructions suggest for at least 2 persons which may take almost 2-3 hours to stand it up. We would suggest you read the instructions carefully to save your time and also get familiar with the material list (yellow-colored document).
For more durability, we would recommend you to use silicone lubricants on moving joints to prevent them from rusting and a UV-resistant clear coat on labels to prevent them from fading.
- Budget-friendly.
- Easy assembling.
- Quality material.
- Great for kids.
- Rigid considering budget.
- Not sturdy enough for dunks.
- Three-piece pole system.
- Rim spring might get rusty over time.
Our verdict:
Lifetime 1529 Courtside Height Portable Basketball System is basically the best choice for kids and young teens who would love to mess around but for professional intense games and serious players, it’s a big no-no. It is a durable, trustworthy, and budget-friendly Basketball hoop which makes it stands out among the other hoops. If you’re looking for a present for your children and need a sporty gift, Lifetime 1529 is recommended.
