Best cheap volleyballs
The best cheap volleyballs, it can be tricky to find quality products when you are looking for an affordable volleyball. However, there are definitely good options out there, you simply need to know where to look. I did some in-depth research and testing so you don’t have to!
Let’s start with a quick overview before diving into more detail.
| Softness | Durability | Pump included | Shipped inflated | Main usage | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilson AVP Soft Play | 3/5 | 4/5 | No | Yes | Indoor/outdoor | $$ |
| EVZOM Super Soft Volleyball | 4.5/5 | 3.5/5 | No | No | Beach | $$ |
| Tachikara Institutional | 3.5/5 | 4/5 | No | No | Indoor | $$$ |
| GoSports Soft Touch Volleyball | 3.5/5 | 3/5 | Yes | No | Indoor/outdoor | $ |
| Molten Premium Competition L2 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | No | Yes | Indoor | $$$$ |
List of best cheap volleyballs
Let’s take a look at every cheap volleyball in detail.
Wilson AVP Soft Play
If you are looking for a solid beginner option, you can’t go wrong with the Wilson soft play. It’s a solid, but affordable volleyball that can be used both indoors and outdoors.
It has a synthetic cover, which should make the ball more durable. However, it does give it a slightly harder touch than one might expect from a soft play volleyball. If you are looking for a really soft touch, Wilson does make a super-soft variant, which is also budget-friendly. Keep in mind that the Wilson AVP Soft Play does soften up quite a bit after a break-in period.
In theory, this should be a very durable volleyball. However, there have been a good amount of complaints about the outer fabric getting cracks. That said, most people do support the statement that the Wilson soft play is durable volleyball.
You can expect them to last around 1 year if you are using them for your weekly training sessions, which is pretty good considering the price.
These balls are also suitable for outdoor use. The one thing I would recommend, don’t put the durability and quality on the test by using the balls for things they are not made for (read: don’t kick the ball).
This ball is delivered inflated, but a pump is not included. Sometimes the ball deflates a little bit during transportation, so having a suitable pump is always recommended.
The good
- Good value
- Good overall volleyball
The bad
- Not super soft
The cheapest place to get this volleyball is usually amazon: Wilson AVP Soft Play
EVZOM Super Soft Volleyball
The next option on the list is the EVZOM Super Soft volleyball. The super soft touch makes it great for beginners or even children.
It’s mainly promoted as a beach volleyball because it’s waterproof and easy to clean.
The surface is made of natural rubber, easy to clean, not extremely durable.
That said, it’s definitely not a low-durability volleyball. Especially considering the price, I mean it’s still a cheap volleyball.
In the end, it’s pretty simple, if you are looking for a cheap, soft volleyball that is suitable for beach volleyball, this is the one to get.
The ball is also suitable for indoor or outdoor (non-beach) volleyball, but if you don’t intend to use it on the beach, I would say that there are better options out there.
The ball is shipped deflated, and a pump is not included.
The good
- Waterproof
- Easy to clean
- Soft touch
The bad
- Not as good for indoor volleyball
- Shipped deflated
The cheapest place to get this volleyball is usually amazon: EVZOM Super Soft Volleyball
Tachikara Institutional
Tachikara is a very popular Japanese volleyball brand. It’s very clear that these guys provide high quality, for an affordable price.
The Tachikara Institutional is made from a high quality composite leather.
It’s still labelled as a beginner volleyball, but it’s clearly a very high quality product.
It can be used outdoors, but it’s mainly made for indoor volleyball. Especially in wet conditions, I would recommend against using this ball.
The good
- High quality
- Great value
The bad
- Not as good for outdoor volleyball
- Shipped deflated
The cheapest place to get this volleyball is usually amazon: Tachikara Institutional
GoSports Soft Touch Recreational Volleyball
The GoSports Soft Touch is the cheapest option on the list (at least, at the time of writing). Therefore, it has earned its price as the best, cheapest option.
It might not be the highest quality product on the list, but it’s still a pretty decent quality product. Once you consider the price, you’ll realize it’s a very good value volleyball.
If you care about your budget, you will be happy to know that this ball comes with a pump included. The price will be even lower if you buy these in a six-pack.
This really is the budget deal to get if you don’t care too much about quality, but you really care about the price.
Balls are shipped deflated.
Obviously, there are some complaints about durability and built quality, but there isn’t a single ball that gets 0 complains. All I can say is that the GoSports Soft touch really is a great bang for the buck.
It’s usable indoors and outdoors and is pretty washable.
The good
- Very cheap
- Great value
The bad
- Not as high quality as some other options
- Shipped deflated
The cheapest place to get this volleyball is usually amazon: GoSports Soft Touch Recreational Volleyball.
Molten Premium Competition L2
If you want to get a cheap volleyball that is made for Competition, the Molten Premium Competition L2 seems like a really good option.
It’s cotton wrapped and made from ultra soft microfiber composite, making it a great indoors volleyball.
It’s USA Volleyball and NCAA Approved.
The differences with the other balls is simply the feeling of high quality. The first touch will already confirm that this ball has a nice, soft touch and feels very well-balanced.
Except for that, it’s also a very durable product. I always remind readers that durable products are often better for your wallet in the long run (even if the initial purchase is slightly more expensive).
The conclusion is simple, if you want a high-quality volleyball, but you still care about your budget, the Molten Premium Competition l2 is the one to go for!
The good
- Very durable
- Great value
- High quality
The bad
- Not as cheap
The cheapest place to get this volleyball is usually amazon: Molten Premium Competition L2.
What to look for in the best cheap volleyball
So what made us decide which balls would be added to this list of “the best cheap volleyballs”? A very good question, let us explain.
Size & Weight – It’s important to think about the weight and size of the volleyball before making the purchase. In most cases, you just want to verify that it’s an official size & weight volleyball. In certain specific situations (for example for kids) you might want to go for a lighter ball.
Softness – The softness of the touch is often one of the first things a volleyball player notices. Often a softer touch is considered better, but this definitely isn’t always the case. In any case, it’s important to check that a ball is really as soft as it claims to be.
Usage – Are you going to play in a competitive setting? Will you only play indoors? Are you looking for a beach volleyball? Many different usages that should dramatically impact your decision. Certain balls should only be used indoors.
Price – When researching the best cheap volleyballs, it’s obvious that price is an important factor. Usually it’s still a balance. Do you want a higher-quality volleyball? You will not have to go for the cheapest option on the list.
Durability – Durability is very important when budget shopping. A cheap product that only lasts a couple of weeks will not be budget-friendly in the long run. Therefore, all options on the list have at least decent durability. Some are still better than others, of course, often there is a link between price and durability.
Best cheap volleyballs – conclusion
There are plenty of good options when looking for the best affordable volleyballs, but you need to know where to look.
If you don’t do proper research, you might end up with a product that you really don’t want. Make sure to look for official size and weight balls (at least, if that’s what you are after) and make sure you are buying a durable product if you want to get the best bang for the buck.
If you are looking for cheap volleyball gear, you might also be interested in my post about the best cheap volleyball shoes.
