• A portable netball post is a freestanding post that one or two adults can move, reposition or store without tools or groundwork. It stands on its own base rather than slotting into a socket set in concrete, which is how fixed court posts work. In practice, "portable" covers two quite different designs:
• Wheeled, weighted posts. The base is filled with sand or water for stability, and wheels built into the base let you tilt the post and roll it. You move it full, so it stays heavy and stable once it is back in place.
• Lightweight, no-fill posts. The post stands on a steel base that needs no ballast. It is light enough to carry, and quick to take apart and pack away, but it is lighter on the ground.

Both count as a portable netball hoop. The right one depends on how often you move it, how far, and how exposed your garden is to wind.

Portability matters more than most buyers expect. Families often want the post on the drive for after-school practice, then off the lawn when it needs mowing. Schools move posts between the playground and the hall. And almost everyone benefits from putting the post away during the worst of the winter weather.

Wheels are the single biggest difference between a post you will actually move and one that stays put. Look for wheels set at the back edge of the base, so that the base sits flat during play and only rolls when you tilt the post. That way it cannot creep across the patio mid-game.

Without wheels, a filled base usually has to be drained before it can be moved, which most people only do once.

A telescopic netball post has pole sections that slide inside each other and lock with a hand screw or turn wheel. That gives you two benefits. You can switch heights in seconds between a younger and an older child, and you can lower the post fully before moving it, which makes it far less top-heavy.

Check that the range reaches the regulation 3.05m, and that it covers the heights your children need now: 2.44m for High-Five Netball (ages 5 to 9) and 2.74m for junior netball (ages 9 to 11). Our netball post height guide covers every age.

The more ballast a base holds, the more stable the post. For a wheeled, filled base, look at the stated capacity. As a guide, the Bee-Ball Pro Level base takes up to 75kg of sand or 50kg of water.

Use sand where you can. It is denser than water, so the same base weighs more, and it will not freeze and crack the plastic in a cold snap. If you do use water, do not overfill, and empty it before a hard frost.

Bigger bases are more stable but take up more room and are harder to turn in a narrow side return. Measure the route from where you will play to where you will store the post, including gates and steps. A base around 80cm deep and 60cm wide fits most patios and garage doorways.

A portable post spends time being wheeled across wet grass and stored in damp sheds. Look for steel with a powder-coated or sand-coated finish, a solid steel ring (16mm is the standard worth having), and a UV-stable net.

Some posts are sold as foldable. None of the posts we stock fold in half; instead, their telescopic poles collapse and their sections come apart for storage. In our experience, that is the more robust choice. Hinges are a weak point on a pole that takes repeated impacts from a netball, and a solid telescopic pole holds the ring steadier.

For homes and most schools, a portable post is the better choice. A fixed post only makes sense on a dedicated court where nobody younger than 12 will play. Our guide to adjustable vs fixed netball posts goes deeper.

This is the post to choose if you will move it regularly. Its curved base has integrated wheels, so you can tilt it and roll it into a garage or shed without emptying it. Once in position, the full base keeps it planted through wind and enthusiastic rebounds.

The telescopic upper section adjusts from 2.4m to 3.05m by hand, using two handle screws, with no tools, and it can go lower by removing a middle section. The steel is sand-coated for rust resistance and the hoop is a regulation 15 inch (38cm) ring. The base measures 80cm deep, 58cm wide and 13cm high, so check it fits through your gate.

If you would rather lift than roll, this post stands on a steel cross base that needs no sand or water. That makes assembly quick and storage simple, and it is light enough for one adult to carry. It is also our best-reviewed post, rated 4.91 out of 5 from 54 customers.

It adjusts from 2.25m to 3.05m and has a 38cm ring in 16mm steel. Because it has no ballast, tether it with a ground anchor if your garden is exposed.

The Round-Based post is less portable than the other two once its base is filled, but it is easy to break down into sections and store. Its big advantage is height: it can be built down to 1.2m for toddlers and extended to 3.05m as they grow. For the full comparison of every post we stock, read our guide to the best netball posts for home and garden.

Moving a 3m post is easy once you know the order. Follow these steps every time:

Lower the pole first. Loosen the handle screws and slide the telescopic section down to its lowest setting. A shorter post is far less top-heavy and much easier to control.

Check the path. Clear toys and garden tools, and look for steps, kerbs or soft ground on the way.

Tilt from the front. Stand facing the post, hold the pole at chest height and tilt it towards you until the wheels take the weight. Only adults should move the post.

Roll slowly, with two people for long trips. One person steers at the pole, the other guides the base over bumps.

Set it down on a flat, firm surface. Lower it gently so the base sits level and the wheels lift clear of the ground.

Reset the height and check it is stable before anyone plays.

Store the post in a garage or shed between November and March if you can. This protects the net and finish.

In high winds, lower the post to its lowest height, as the manufacturer recommends.

If the base holds water, empty it before frost, or switch to sand.

Take the net off and keep it dry. A damp net in a dark shed goes mouldy quickly.

Check the bolts and the handle screws at the start of spring and tighten anything that has worked loose.

The best portable netball post rolls on built-in wheels, adjusts by hand and holds enough weight to stay upright in a British breeze. For most families, that is the Bee-Ball Pro Level Netball Post.

If you would rather carry than roll, the no-fill Bee-Ball Freestanding Adjustable Netball Post is quick to set up and simple to store. For younger children, the Round-Based post drops to 1.2m.

Browse the full netball range. Every post ships from our Oxfordshire base, with fast UK mainland delivery and free delivery on standard items over £50. Equipping a school or club? Ask about our school and club accounts.