When people think about basketball, they imagine the court, the NBA, and professional players. But you and your family can enjoy this sport from the comfort of your own backyard. Investing in a portable basketball hoop system can give you and your kids countless hours of enjoyment. You just need to pick the right one.
Here we take a closer look at the Lifetime 48” Portable Basketball System. Does it have the qualities of a good basketball hoop? Will it give you your money’s worth?
About The Product
The Lifetime 90491 Portable Basketball System has a 48-inch shatterproof Fusion backboard. Here, “Fusion backboard” refers to Lifetime’s combination of a Makrolon polycarbonate playing surface and a polyethylene frame. The result is a very durable backboard with a professional-looking design.
The backboard also has screen-printed graphics with UV-protected inks. This means that the design won’t fade easily, even after years of use.
Its height adjustment mechanism lets you adjust the hoop from 8 to 10 feet high, meaning it is suitable for players of all ages.
The rim is a pretty standard basketball rim, partnered with an all-weather nylon net. It has a 3-inch diameter round steel pole, secured by a portable base that can hold 31 gallons of water or sand.
Assembly is required, but video and written instructions are provided to make the process easier. A nice addition, is the Lifetime 90491 Portable Basketball System comes with a single red, white, and blue rubber basketball.
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What We Like
Lifetime 48” 90491’s backboard is certainly durable because of the materials used in it. Overall, durability is one of this product’s star qualities. It is also very easy to move around. Some portable basketball hoops, are not actually ‘portable’ and are too difficult to relocate once they have been set up. But this is not the case for the Lifetime 90491 Portable Basketball System. Being easily portable comes in handy if you ever need to move the basketball hoop from your driveway to the street, etc.
Despite the fact that it is portable, the system is also quite sturdy. You should fill the base completely with sand or water, to ensure the maximum stability of the unit. A nice point about the Lifetime 48” is that shots do not make the basketball hoop shake excessively, which is a problem for other basketball hoops.
The so-called Strong Arm height adjustment feature enables users to quickly change the height of the basketball hoop, with just one hand using the built-in locking steel bar mechanism.
The screen-printed graphics add a nice touch of color, and the UV-protection means that the hoop colors are fairly fade resistant.
The general consensus among reviewers, is that this is an impressive, high-quality hoop with very few drawbacks. In fact, complaints are few. So if you want a good basketball system for your property, this is not a bad pick. Your whole family will love it.
What We Don’t Like
No product is perfect, but the Lifetime 90491 seems to have very few flaws. The most common complaint is from buyers who found it difficult to put the whole thing together. However, it is important to note that not everyone struggled with assembling the product. It seems to be dependent on the user’s level of experience.
One reviewer expressed dissatisfaction over the video instructions because they did not match the written instructions provided by Lifetime. Granted, the directions for assembly could be a little clearer on some steps. To make the process easier, make sure you have at least two people working together, even if it’s just because two heads are better than one!
The average assembly time is two to four hours. Although it may be time-consuming, this is actually consistent with the average assembly time of other portable basketball systems.
Aside from the potential difficulty of installing the basketball hoop, you may also need to deal with the occasional missing part or broken piece. In the rare instance that this happens, Lifetime’s customer service is actually very reliable and are able to send you replacement parts in no time.
Our Buying Advice
When choosing a portable basketball hoop system, it is important to consider qualities like durability, adjustability, portability, and stability. It is rare for products to have all four of these qualities, but Lifetime certainly delivers with their 90491 model.
There is a reason why Lifetime is one of the most reliable manufacturers of basketball hoop systems in the market. This particular model is an effective demonstration of that. We recommend this hoop for those who want to engage in a fun and casual recreational activity.
Just as a note - there are models out there that give a more ‘professional’ feel, by using an angled pole, which lets players play under the net like the pros do. The Lifetime 90491 Portable Basketball System does not have this angled pole and instead goes for a straight pole. Of course, this is not necessarily a drawback; it’s a matter of preference.
Final Word
If you and your kids want a simple but durable and stable hoop, then this is a great choice. It is made with good materials that will give you more than your money’s worth. On top of this, you have Lifetime’s reliable customer service in case things are not delivered to your doorstep in pristine condition.
Reviewers love it and have purchased the basketball hoop for their loved ones. It is a solid investment that you can enjoy for years.
