7 Best Outdoor Basketball Shoes in 2024

How we test basketball shoes

To keep our opinions on basketball footwear as objective as possible, we do the following:

• Steer clear from sponsorships. While freebies are nice to have, we don't want them to colour our judgments. We see it fit to purchase the outdoor basketball shoes using our own cash.
• Test the shoes on outdoor courts. We make sure to do it on surfaces that are typical of outdoor courts: rough, dusty, and made of solid concrete with asphalt on top.
• In addition to our qualitative descriptions, we also cut the shoes in half to perform lab tests on them. We then publish the results in our in-depth reviews and make them comparable across all basketball shoes.

5 qualities of the ideal outdoor basketball shoe

A vast majority of basketball shoes are designed with smooth indoor courts in mind.

But because outdoor courts are often more readily available for spontaneous games in public parks and community spaces, there is a considerable demand for shoes that can handle rough surfaces.

If you are on the lookout for a streetball-ready shoe, make sure that it checks the following five boxes:

• Hard, durable, and thick rubber outsole
• Thick tread pattern
• Sufficient cushioning and impact protection
• Durable and reinforced upper
• Good breathability

Choose hard, durable, and thick rubber outsoles for the blacktop

Hard outdoor courts will almost always put more miles on your shoes but different surfaces can have varying effects on your basketball shoes:

• concrete and asphalt are the harshest and most abrasive ones
• rubberized courts are more forgiving
• artificial turf is not very common but is the least demanding on shoes

Thus, the type of rubber used in the shoe’s outsole is a critical consideration.

In our lab, we perform three tests with four different tools to determine the essential characteristics of each shoe’s rubber outsole: hardness, abrasion resistance, and thickness.

Hardness

We press a Shore C durometer against the bottom of the shoe to measure its outsole hardness. The readings range from 50 to 90 HC, where the lower number indicates softer rubber.

Shoes with a softer rubber outsole tend to wear out quickly and lose their grip on the outdoor court, compromising both the shoe's longevity and the player's performance.

Shoes with a harder rubber outsole offer better durability and grip on concrete and other outdoor surfaces. However, hard rubber can affect the shoe's cushioning and comfort, making it crucial to find a balance between durability and comfort when choosing basketball shoes for outdoor play.

Abrasion resistance

In the next step, we turn to a Dremel with a sandpaper tip to test how much damage the shoe’s rubber can sustain within 22 seconds. The speed of the tool is set to 10K RPM while the pressure remains at 3.2N.

After that, we measure the depth of the indentation with a tread gauge. It shows how much rubber the Dremel managed to burn through. The results typically range from 0.2 mm to 2.0 mm, where the smaller number represents better abrasion resistance.

Outsole thickness

Last but not least, we want to make sure that the shoe's outsole rubber is thick enough because this directly affects the shoe’s lifespan.

We measure outsole thickness on half-cut shoes for higher accuracy of the calliper measurement. The results typically range from 3 to 6 mm averaging at 4 mm.

Putting all these measurements together, we can see which of our lab-tested basketball shoes live up to the durability criteria needed for the blacktop.

Tread pattern matters in outdoor basketball shoes

A good grip on the court means better control over your movements and the ability to jump higher. This is why the tread, traction, and grip of your basketball shoes are crucial.

But here's the thing: outdoor and indoor basketball shoes have different needs in this regard:

Indoor basketball shoes have thin razor-like tread lines that have a strong bite on hardwood but are instantly destroyed on concrete or asphalt. Some indoor shoes also feature circular flat spots on the sole that allow for a suction-like grip on smooth and flat surfaces. But take them outside and you may find them slipping and sliding all over asphalt, especially if the surface is not smooth.

Outdoor basketball shoes typically come with larger thicker tread patterns that provide good lateral stability and grip on all types of surfaces.

If you are in doubt about the treading on your pair of shoes, try this quick DIY test:

1. When trying a shoe on foot, test the outsole by firmly pressing down against the floor.
2. Try to slowly rock your foot back and forth and side to side. With most soft outsoles and thin tread lines, you are going to feel the rubber grooves warping and bending. You don't want that outdoors.
3. You can further test it by running a bit, slamming the brakes (stopping to change direction), and stomping with your forefoot.

Sufficient cushioning and impact protection are essential

Concrete courts are much less reactive than wood or PVC courts, so if you’re aiming to play as hard as you would indoors you should invest in a pair of well-cushioned shoes to protect from overloading injuries in the ankles and knees.

The findings of Zhou et al., 2023 suggest that players who habitually strike the ground with their rear foot may be at a higher risk of developing overuse injuries when running on hard surfaces such as concrete.

In basketball, most explosive movements involve a forefoot strike. These can occur while boxing out, jump shots, cutting, and finishing off two feet.

To make sure you’re fully covered for streetball, we meticulously check each shoe’s heel and forefoot stack height as well as cushioning softness in our lab.

Stack height

Stack height indicates how much material sits between your foot and the court. Using a calliper, we measure its thickness in both the heel and the forefoot.

The average stack heights of our lab-tested outdoor basketball shoes hover around:

• 29.5 mm in the heel
• 21.5 mm in the forefoot

Depending on your individual needs, position, and playing style, you may want to go for a more pronounced ground feel or for more impact protection. But keep in mind that concrete and asphalt courts are going to be much harder on your feet and legs than indoor courts. Sometimes betting an extra couple of milimeters can elevate the comfort quite a bit!

Midsole softness

Choosing how soft you want to go in a pair of streetball shoes is also entirely up to you. We are only here to measure cushioning softness on each pair with the help of a Shore A durometer.

To help you understand what each HA reading means in a real shoe, here are two videos illustrating cushioning foams on both sides of the spectrum:

Softer cushioning with a 20.1 HA reading

Firmer cushioning with a 33.3 HA reading 

To give you an overview of cushioning in our best-rated basketball shoes for outdoor courts, we gathered the data on stack height and softness in the table below:

Consider upper materials too: are they durable enough?

Playing basketball outdoors WILL deteriorate your kicks faster than playing indoors. This is an important cost factor to keep in mind when considering the upper construction of your shoes.

But how do you know if the shoe’s toebox is reinforced enough to survive constant toe drags against the blacktop?

We are here to test that with our trusty Dremel.

Drilling each shoe’s toebox with sandpaper at a constant speed (5K RPM) and pressure (3.2N) for 12 seconds, we can assess the damage it caused to different types of uppers.

For example, a minor cosmetic scuff that doesn’t affect the shoe’s integrity gets a score of 5 whereas a see-through hole gets the lowest score of 1.

Here is the overview of outdoor basketball shoes with the most wear-resistant toebox materials:

Also do check the inner side of the shoe’s forefoot for any additional layers of protection against toe drags and slashes.

These days, synthetic, knit, and mesh materials are much more common among basketball shoes. That’s because they offer better breathability, lightness, and instant form-fitting comfort compared to old-school leather hoop shoes.

Of course, no one can stop you from getting genuine leather or suede uppers for outdoor courts as these can withstand rough use, providing excellent support and stability. But do keep in mind that the nature of streetball is so abrasive that you will find yourself splurging on this type of shoe more often than you may wish to.

Check breathability to avoid toasty feet in summer

Did you know that basketball was originally invented as a winter sport? It was meant as an indoor activity for the cold and rainy season. Maybe that explains why most hoop shoes these days lack breathability so badly???

Anyway, the basketball scene has evolved quite a bit since 1898 and for Asian countries, for example, outdoor courts have become the most popular and readily available playground for basketball.

Considering the high temperatures and humidity of these areas, breathability becomes of utmost importance.

In our lab, we perform a series of breathability tests to check each shoe’s ventilation capacity. In one of these tests, we fill the upper with smoke and observe how quickly it passes through the upper material. We also take note of the areas that expel the smoke most effectively and happen to be most transparent in our light test.

We summarise our findings in a breathability score between 1 and 5 where 5 stands for the highest level of breathability we’ve come across in a hoop shoe.

Other factors to consider in outdoor basketball shoes

Ankle support and stability features

Look for shoes that provide adequate ankle support to minimise the risk of injuries. That doesn’t necessarily mean choosing high-top shoes!

Contrary to the common stereotype, a higher collar doesn’t give more ankle support according to science. Here is what does:

• high torsional rigidity
• wide base with a lateral outrigger
• stiff heel counter
• secure lockdown
• grounded platform
• solid traction

To learn more about basketball shoes with the best ankle support, see our guide.

Your playing style and personal needs

Even though basketball is becoming increasingly positionless, there are some features that guards may appreciate more than forwards and centres, and vice versa.

Guards

These athletes may benefit from a shoe with a lighter weight and more flexibility for faster movement and agility on the court.

You’ll want to look for low-profile cushioning to keep the shoe light and your movements liquid. It’s recommended to look for a more snug-fitting upper with additional features like a mid-foot strap or structured lacing systems so that you’re not worried about the foot moving inside the shoe.

Forwards

These highly versatile players shoot both from far away and close up, throw passes, perform rebounds, and take layups. Thus, they will also benefit from a basketball shoe that can do it all - grip, cushioning, and solid stability.

Centres

These players will benefit from maximum support and cushioning, as they often engage in more physical play under the basket.

When playing in front-court positions, regardless of outdoor or indoor your shoes are subject to additional wear and tear. As a player positioned in the paint during a basketball game, the constant need to box out and secure rebounds puts you at a higher risk of encountering moving feet and potential impacts, and setting picks will have smaller guards regularly colliding with you.

If what we’ve just described is your bread and butter on the court, it’s recommended that you look for a stiff upper construction with plenty of added ankle coverage to:

1. Protect your feet
2. Have your outdoor basketball shoes last a reasonable amount of time.

Famous centres: Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, Shaquille O’Neal

FAQs about outdoor basketball shoes

How much break-in time should I give my outdoor basketball shoes?

It really depends on the materials used in the shoe and how often you play in them. We try to give new basketball shoes at least 6 hours of light activity before playing a game in them.

This way you can get used to the shoe’s cushioning and response as well.

How much wear should I get out of outdoor basketball shoes?

Again, it depends a lot on game intensity, how much you drag your feet, and the conditions of the court you play on. Generally, you should get about 70 hours of playtime in with a solid outdoor pair.

Are outdoor basketball shoes more expensive?

They are not! With both premium and affordable options available, you can choose a shoe within your budget.

But based on our personal experience, getting a £200 shoe just to play outdoors is not the best investment considering how quickly you burn through shoes on concrete and asphalt.

If you are a beginner who needs a solid outdoor shoe below £100, there are a few excellent options: