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A speed hurdle looks like a bar and two feet—until you clip one at full sprint and spend the next drill chasing it across the gym. The right set gives you a predictable height to clear, a base that stays put, and enough adjustability to move from warm-up footwork to game-speed lateral drills. That matters whether you’re a guard working on first-step quickness, a coach running a team session, or a parent setting up a driveway workout.
I started paying attention to speed hurdles after watching a stack of flimsy ones collapse mid-drill at an open gym. Since then, my team and I have put 12 sets through four months of workouts—solo sessions, team practices, and a few driveway sessions when the gym was closed—and the differences are obvious once you start changing heights and knocking them over on purpose. Here’s the thing first-time buyers miss: a hurdle that feels sturdy on the shelf can skate across a hardwood floor when your shoe grazes it. The picks below are the ones that held up.
Our Top Picks
The Best Speed Hurdles for Basketball Drills, Reviewed
SKLZ 6X Agility Hurdles – Best Overall
Key Features
- Height: 6 in
- Material: Composite
- Carry bag: Included
- Hurdles per set: 6
- Price: Premium
Six inches does not look like much of a barrier until you are the one sprinting at it. That is the height we keep coming back to for basketball footwork, and it is where the SKLZ set earns its keep: the composite arch flexes when a foot catches it and springs back into shape instead of snapping or planting a player on the floor.
That rebound is the reason this is our default recommendation for a gym full of players. Six hurdles set a full ladder without anyone stopping to move them between reps, and the yellow reads clearly against hardwood from the far end of the court. What we appreciated most over a few sessions is how little the hurdles interrupt: a mistimed step costs a stumble instead of a stoppage, and the drill keeps going.
What it does not do is grow with the athlete. Six inches is the right height for quick-step and knee-drive patterns and the wrong tool once you start programming bounds, where the adjustable sets here climb to nine and twelve. For a player or a team that lives in the footwork end of the drill book, that is a small sacrifice, and the payoff is the one thing a hurdle cannot fake: you can hit it and keep running.
Pros
- Springs back when a foot catches it
- Six-inch height suits footwork drills
- Six hurdles and a carry bag in one trip
- Bright yellow stands out on hardwood
Cons
- Composite arch can crack after repeated hard landings
Our default pick: six-inch composite hurdles that give when a foot catches them and spring back, so a footwork drill keeps its rhythm instead of stopping for a broken hurdle.
QUICKPLAY Adjustable Speed Hurdles – Best Adjustable
Key Features
- Adjustment: Rotate-the-foot Quick-Click
- Packed size: 17.5 x 12.25 x 3.25 in
- Height settings: 6, 9 and 12 in
- Hurdles per set: 6
- Price: Midrange
Adjustable hurdles usually mean a pin to lose or a clip that jams. This set does it with the feet: rotate one and the bar settles at six, nine, or twelve inches, with nothing to detach and drop. We think it is the most versatile set here, and the one we hand a coach working with a mixed-age group.
A minute with the set explains the appeal. The dog-bone top bar is bevelled so a clipped foot slides over it rather than hooking, and the whole thing packs down to about 17 by 12 by 3 inches, a shoebox of a training kit that lives in a car without complaint. Six hurdles at one height gives a team a full ladder; the same six at twelve inches turn the same drill into jump work.
Indoors on a gym floor they sit where you put them. Outside, on grass or in a breeze, the light adjustable feet are easy to knock over, so we treat this as an indoor-first set and pick a still day for turf sessions. What you get in return is running the same drill with a twelve-year-old and a varsity guard in the same session.
Pros
- Three heights from one set of six
- Rotate-the-foot adjustment, no loose clips
- Bevelled top bar is easier to clear
- Packs down to roughly shoebox size
Cons
- Light plastic makes long-term wear the question
The adjustable set we hand to anyone coaching a spread of ages: six hurdles that switch between six, nine, and twelve inches by turning a foot, with nothing to lose in the grass.
NWS Forza Speed Hurdles – Best for Team Seasons
Key Features
- Height: 6 in
- Material: Shatterproof plastic
- Warranty: 6 months
- Hurdles per set: 6
- Price: Midrange
The Forza hurdles are the plain, sturdy option: shatterproof plastic, six of them, six inches tall, and no drama. For a coach whose kit lives in a trunk for six months of the year, that is the whole argument. Durability is the running theme of this category, and this is the set in our group with the least of it attached.
The trade is excitement. There is no adjustment here, so six inches is what you get, and the only thing that stands out is the yellow. The warranty runs six months, which tells you something about how the maker reads its own plastic. What we noted in its favour is that a set ships in a package around 20 by 13 by 7 inches, so a full six travels like a briefcase and stacks flat on a shelf.
If you want one set covering footwork and jump work, this is not it, and an adjustable set is the answer. For a team that drills footwork every day and wants the hurdles to be the least interesting thing in the gym, this is the pick.
Pros
- Shatterproof plastic that holds its shape
- Six-inch height for footwork drills
- Stacks flat for trunk storage
- Bright yellow, visible in a dim gym
Cons
- Shortest warranty in this group, at six months
The sturdy, unexciting choice: six shatterproof six-inch hurdles for a coach who wants equipment that holds its shape and never becomes the story of the session.
Trademark Innovations Speed Hurdles – Best Budget
Key Features
- Height: 6 in
- Material: Plastic
- Warranty: 1 year
- Hurdles per set: 5
- Price: Budget
Five six-inch hurdles in bright orange, nothing to assemble, nothing to adjust, and the lowest price of any multi-pack here. If you need hurdles on a driveway by the weekend, that is the entire pitch.
The practical case is straightforward. Five hurdles make a decent stagger line or a short straight, and the orange shows up well outdoors, which saves you walking a course twice to find a hurdle on grass. Setup is walking the line and dropping them. There is also a year of manufacturer coverage behind them, which is more protection than most of the sets here offer.
Our read: the height is right, the count is right, and the money is small. This is the set for one player’s driveway, a parent coaching a middle-schooler, or a coach who wants a spare ladder in the car. Five of these and a patch of flat ground is a complete footwork session, and that is the buyer we have in mind.
Pros
- Cheapest five-hurdle route here
- Six-inch height suits footwork drills
- One-year manufacturer warranty
- Bright orange for outdoor courses
Cons
- Plastic can crack under a heavy daily team schedule
The budget buy for one player’s driveway: five six-inch hurdles at the lowest multi-pack price here, and the plastic is exactly where the money was saved.
Body Sport Adjustable Hurdles – Best Adjustable Value
Key Features
- Frame: Collapsible
- Carry bag: Extra-large bag included
- Height settings: 6, 9 and 12 in
- Hurdles per set: 5
- Price: Midrange
The QUICKPLAY set is the adjustable one we reach for first. This is the adjustable set we point to when the adjustable-set price is the sticking point: the same three heights, one fewer hurdle, and a bigger bag.
It is a sensible piece of kit. Each hurdle collapses flat, so five of them stack into a shape that fits a trunk shelf or a garage wall, and the carry bag is generous enough to take cones and a rope alongside. What we appreciated is that the height is set hurdle by hurdle, so you can run three at six inches and two at nine for a staggered course without rebuilding the whole line.
Setup takes a moment per hurdle, which is the price of the folding frame; a fixed set is faster to throw down. Five hurdles is also one short of the six-packs here, worth knowing if you want a full straight line. Neither is a dealbreaker, and the smaller set comes with the biggest bag in this group.
Pros
- Three heights across a five-hurdle set
- Folds flat for trunk and shelf storage
- Extra-large bag takes extra kit
- Cheaper than the other adjustable set here
Cons
- Five hurdles, one fewer than the six-packs here
The adjustable set for a tighter budget: three heights per hurdle, a bag that swallows the rest of your kit, and one fewer hurdle than the six-packs here.
GHB Agility Hurdles – Best for Jump Work
Key Features
- Carry: Bag and carry strap
- Height: 8 in
- Hurdles per set: 10
- Weight per hurdle: 8.82 oz
- Price: Midrange
Ten hurdles, eight inches tall, 250 grams apiece, and every one of them comes apart.
Detachable is the design decision that shapes the rest. It is why the set stows into a bag about the size of a duffel, and it is why the joints are the part to watch: the pieces push together and pull apart every session, and a hurdle that has been assembled and knocked over a few hundred times starts to work loose exactly there. A wrap of tape at the connections is the usual fix, and it is worth doing before the first session rather than after.
Our take: ten hurdles at eight inches is a lot of training for the money, and the bag-plus-strap pairing makes it easy to move between a gym and a field. We think of it as a set for a coach who packs up after every session, not one that lives outdoors under a bench.
Pros
- Ten hurdles stretches a station further
- Eight-inch height for bound and jump work
- 250 g per hurdle, easy to stack
- Bag and carry strap give two ways to move it
Cons
- Push-together joints work loose with repeated setup
Ten eight-inch hurdles for a coach who wants more stations and packs everything away afterwards, with push-together joints that need watching.
ASENVER Hurdles and Cones Set – Best for Circuit Stations
Key Features
- Straps: 2 hand straps
- Material: ABS plastic
- Set contents: 12 hurdles, 10 cones
- Price: Midrange
Twelve orange hurdles, ten disc cones, and two hand straps. This is less a hurdle set than a station kit.
The cones are what make it useful. A coach can lay a straight of hurdles, turn it with cones, and keep a group moving through a circuit without hunting for extra gear, and the straps bundle the hurdles so they carry in one hand. The hurdles are ABS, the same family of plastic as most of the sets here, and the orange is loud enough to see from across a field.
The gap is height. It is not stated, so this is not the set to buy if you are building a specific progression from six to nine to twelve inches for a player. Long-term wear is an open question too, though the set arrives well wrapped and undamaged, which is more than some plastic hurdles manage.
Where we land: buy it for variety, not for precision. Paired with a fixed six-inch set, it covers a whole session, with hurdles for the straight, cones for the turn, and a second group working on footwork in the middle.
Pros
- Twelve hurdles plus ten cones in one kit
- Straps keep the stack together
- ABS plastic in high-visibility orange
- Cheap per piece for a full station
Cons
- Hurdle height is not stated, so plan around it
A station kit rather than a hurdle set: twelve hurdles and ten cones for building circuits, but the height is unstated, so do not buy it to anchor a progression.
Wettarn Speed Training Hurdles – Best for Advanced Jump Work
Key Features
- Height: 9 in
- Material: PVC
- Each hurdle: 17 x 12 x 9 in
- Hurdles per set: 12
- Price: Premium
Twelve hurdles, nine inches tall, in orange PVC, each one about 17 by 12 by 9 inches.
Nine inches is a real step up from the six-inch sets. That is the height for bounds, lateral hops, and jump work, where the point is a bigger knee drive and a longer flight. It is also well above what a smaller or younger player should be stepping over at speed, so if the group is under twelve, this is the wrong set and a six-inch one is the right purchase.
Build-wise it is the beefiest set in this group. The whole thing runs about seven pounds, the PVC holds its shape, and the orange stays visible in poor light. It does not collapse, though, so twelve hurdles at that footprint need real shelf or corner space between sessions.
The way we see it: this is the set for a varsity program or an older athlete who has moved past footwork into jump work, and for a coach who prefers buying once to replacing a cheap set midseason. For a youth team, drop back to six inches and spend the difference elsewhere.
Pros
- Twelve nine-inch hurdles for jump work
- PVC that holds its shape
- About seven pounds for the set
- Bright orange in poor light
Cons
- Twelve fixed hurdles need real storage space
Twelve nine-inch hurdles for a varsity program that has moved past footwork into bounds and jump work, provided you have somewhere to store them.
How We Tested the Speed Hurdles
I built the shortlist by looking at sets sold for basketball footwork and general agility, then narrowing by adjustable height range, base footprint, materials, and whether the same set could handle both solo drills and team circuits. We ended up with 12 sets and used them for four months in gyms, on driveways, and at a few outdoor court sessions. Setup was part of the test: I timed how long one person needed to unpack, adjust, and reset each set, and noted whether the height markings matched a tape measure.
During drills, I ran high-knees, lateral shuffles, dribble moves, and short sprints through each set, then deliberately caught a toe on the crossbar to see what happened. A good hurdle stayed roughly where I put it on hardwood and rubber; a weak one slid, tipped, or bounced out of line and made me reset mid-rep. I also changed heights repeatedly to check the clips, pins, or slots, because a hurdle that is annoying to adjust tends to stay at one setting.
After each session, I folded and carried the sets, packed them into a trunk, and checked for cracks, bent rails, loose joints, and sharp edges. I noted whether plastic crossbars flexed too much under a clipped foot and whether metal bases felt secure or skated on smooth floors. I compared what came in the box—carry bags, spare clips, clear instructions—and whether those parts survived four months of regular use, since value is less about the first impression and more about how many sessions you get before something rattles or snaps.
How to Choose Speed Hurdles for Basketball
Height and how the hurdle behaves when a player clips it matter far more than the number of hurdles in the box, so start there.
Match the Height to the Drill
Six inches is the working height for basketball footwork: high enough to force a knee drive, low enough that a player clears it at full speed without breaking stride. Eight to twelve inches is jump and bound territory. The common mistake is buying twelve-inch hurdles for a young team because they look like more of a challenge; at speed they turn a footwork drill into a stutter, and a stuttering player is a player about to catch a foot. Buy low first, then add height once the athlete’s mechanics hold.
What Happens When a Foot Catches It
Every player clips a hurdle eventually, and the design decides what happens next. Composite and flexible hurdles give and spring back, so the drill continues. Rigid plastic holds its shape but can trip the player who catches it. Light adjustable sets tend to go over sideways, which is harmless on a gym floor and irritating on grass.
We weight this heavily. A hurdle that survives being hit is worth more than one that is slightly cheaper, because the alternative is a stoppage and a limping player. Look for a maker who describes the flex or the rebound explicitly, and treat the word durable on its own as marketing.
Fixed or Adjustable
Adjustable sets cost more and add a mechanism that can loosen, and in exchange one set covers a whole roster: six inches for a guard’s footwork, twelve for a forward’s jump work. For a single athlete training one way, fixed is simpler, cheaper, and has less to break. For a coach, a family, or a club with a spread of ages, the adjustable set is usually the better buy.
Count, Carry and Surface
Five or six hurdles build a full line; ten or twelve let you run two stations or a longer course. More hurdles also means more to carry, so check what holds them: a bag, a strap, or nothing at all. The surface matters just as much. Plastic feet are fine on a gym floor, but light hurdles slide and blow over on turf and in wind, so a sheltered court or a still day gets more out of a set than an exposed field.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do speed hurdles actually improve vertical jump?
They improve the parts of jumping you can train on your feet: ground contact, rhythm, and coordination. The raw power comes from the weight room. Used as a warm-up or a twice-weekly session, hurdles make a player quicker off the floor; used as the whole program, they do not.
Keep the height low, work in short sets of five or six reps, and stop when the feet get sloppy.
How much space do I need for hurdle drills?
Six hurdles over about ten yards is a standard footwork set and fits a driveway, half a court, or a gym sideline. You also need a couple of yards of run-in before the first hurdle and a few yards after the last, so measure the whole run rather than the hurdles.
Short on room? Space them closer and train quick feet instead of top speed.
Can I leave speed hurdles outside all season?
Most are PVC or ABS and sold as weatherproof, but sun and cold make plastic brittle, and a brittle hurdle is one hard landing away from a crack. If yours live outdoors, bring them in over winter and keep them out of direct sun.
A garage shelf costs nothing and stops the feet getting crushed under other gear.
Are speed hurdles safe for kids?
At six inches, with an adult nearby, yes. Keep the height low enough that a young player clears it without breaking stride, and walk the line once before anyone runs it.
Check the maker’s age guidance too: the Trademark Innovations set is labeled for ages 14 and up, so it is not the one to hand a 10-year-old.
Final Verdict
The SKLZ 6X set is the one we point most players to. Six inches is the right height for footwork, the composite gives when a foot catches it, and six hurdles plus a bag is a complete session in one carry. The extra cost over the budget packs buys the thing that keeps a drill moving.
If your group spans ages, or you want one set that covers footwork and jump work, the QUICKPLAY adjustable set does both. And if the money is tight, the Trademark five-pack covers the basics for a single player.