Gear up forevery possession.
Buying guides for basketball shoes, balls, hoops and training gear, with the sizes, materials and specs that matter for your court, your level and your age group.
Gear for your game
Indoor or outdoor, youth or adult, driveway or gym. Start with where and how you play.
Shoes
Indoor, outdoor and youth basketball shoes
Basketballs
Indoor, outdoor and youth balls
Hoops & court
Portable, in-ground and wall hoops
Training & protection
Training aids, rebounders and braces
Apparel & bags
Shorts, jerseys, compression and bags
Teams & coaching
Uniforms, coaching supplies and youth gear
Know the game's gear
Basketball ankle braces compared: lace-up, stirrup and compression sleeves, what research says about preventing ankle injuries, fit with shoes and knee pads.
- 02
Basketball Size Chart by Age: Sizes 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7
Ball sizes
- 03
Basketball Training Aids: What Each One Actually Trains
Training aids
- 04
How to Choose Basketball Shoes: Fit, Traction, Cushioning and Cut
Basketball shoes
- 05
Indoor vs Outdoor Basketballs: Leather, Composite and Rubber
Ball covers
- 06
Portable vs In-Ground Basketball Hoops: Backboards and Installation
Hoops
Basketball Gear questions, answered
Do ankle braces prevent sprains in basketball?
Research on high school players found lace-up braces reduced acute ankle injuries. They reduce risk but do not remove it.
Read: Ankle Braces for Basketball →What size basketball for a 10 year old?
Size 5 (27.5 inches) for most players ages 9 to 11. Check your league's rules.
Read: Basketball Size Chart by Age →What is the best basketball training aid for shooting?
A ball return or rebounder net for home hoops, or a shooting machine for gyms and teams.
Read: Basketball Training Aids →Do high top basketball shoes prevent ankle injuries?
Evidence that high tops alone prevent sprains is weak. Lace-up ankle braces have stronger evidence for reducing ankle injuries.
Read: How to Choose Basketball Shoes →Can I use an indoor basketball outside?
Leather and indoor-only composite balls wear out quickly on asphalt and concrete. Use an outdoor or indoor-outdoor ball.
Read: Indoor vs Outdoor Basketballs →What size backboard is regulation?
Regulation backboards are 72 by 42 inches. Home hoops are commonly 44 to 72 inches wide.
Read: Portable vs In-Ground Basketball Hoops →Straight answers about basketball gear
Every recommendation starts with indoor or outdoor play and the player's age and level.
Each guide says who the gear suits, who should look elsewhere, and what to check before you buy.
Brands cannot buy a review or a spot on a list. Partner codes save you money; they never decide what we recommend.
Prices are dated, codes are updated across the site at once, and pages are revised when a product, standard or rule changes.
The basketball gear index
- 01ShoesBasketball shoes by court, cushioning, traction and fit, including youth sizes.1 page
- 02BasketballsLeather, composite and rubber basketballs in every size.2 pages
- 03Hoops & courtPortable, in-ground and wall-mounted hoops, backboards, rims, nets and court flooring.1 page
- 04Training & protectionShooting aids, ball returns, dribble trainers, agility gear, knee pads, braces and sleeves.2 pages
- 05Apparel & bagsBasketball shorts, jerseys, compression wear, socks and bags.0 pages
- 06Teams & coachingTeam uniforms, custom gear, benches, coaching supplies, drill sets and youth equipment for teams and schools.0 pages