![Fortress Ultimate Baseball Batting Cage [20’, 35’, 55’, 70’] | #42 Grade Net with Steel Poles | Baseball & Softball Batting C](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A17kpt2p4sL._AC_UL160_SR160,160_.jpg)
I really enjoy the Heater Sports cages. We have now purchased 3 of these over the last 12 years. We recently purchased the 24ft cage since my son is older now and need the extra room. The first one would have lasted longer, but our lawn mower ripped up the netting, so we needed a new one, but the first cage lasted 3 years before the nets demise. We're smart with the cage since it's basically a tent pole system, meaning, we take it down during big storms or the threat of big storms (also noted in the manual). Most times though, if you've anchored it nicely, its fine to stay up for most of the year.
We live in the Mid-Atlantic, near the ocean, so we get breezes and varying storm patterns as they cross the Chesapeake Bay, but the cages always do fine. We usually take our cage down before Christmas since it gets too cold to use them here and the Nor'easters we get can be pretty brutal with their wind gusts during our Winters.
You can easily set up the posts and tie on your guide ropes with 1 person in about an hour, but you MUST have a second person for the netting. Thats probably the hardest part. Be patient though, as it takes maybe 20 minutes to drop over the posts, so not terrible. I wish they gave more guide rope though. It comes with (14) 12ft pieces, which is okay, and you end up only truly using 12 for the system. But you need more to keep the net from getting in the way of the batter on their backswing. We've saved the ropes from the previous systems to help us now, so its not a problem, but for a first time user, you may find the netting kind of gets in the way on the backswing. Not a huge ordeal, as its fixable, but wish they maybe did (20) 12 ft sections of rope.
If you're on a budget, tight with space, and need flexibility, then this system is perfect for you. Make adjustments as needed. Again, dont stress on the weather / wind, but be smart. If something happens while you're out of town, so be it, but if you're home and have the ability to take it down real quick before a gnarly storm, then do so.
If you have or purchase extra anchors you can make sure the structure stays stronger during windy moments. The day after setting up my system, we had wind gusts of 21mph + and my system stood strong w/o my anchors in place yet. Once I get everything the way I like it, the system should be stronger and durable.
We have always used real baseballs in the net, and holes will naturally happen over time. Replacement netting is available on the web, so not an issue.
If you’re expecting a $300 system to compare to a $5k system, then you need to be realistic in your expectations. This is a great cage for the money.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2020
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Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2018
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Poor Quality - Not for real baseballs as description and answers indicate
By Lisa Conover on February 20, 2018
This net was a waste of money. We bought it so our son could hit in the backyard year round. After just a couple uses the net was riddled with holes. We bought additional material and a second piece of netting to block the balls that went thru the holes. We have had this net since November and had to continually do repairs to holes and every time the wind blew a pole would lean over. With less than 4 months of use the net completely snapped in half. It did snow lightly, probably about an 1" and this is what it looked like after. I don't know if just can't be left outside but I guess then what is the point of buying a cage? Spend the money on a better quality product. My son is 16 and used real baseballs. I don't think using a lit-flite ball would have made much of a difference, may have extended the life another month, maybe but I don't think so.
By Lisa Conover on February 20, 2018
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Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2021
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Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2009
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Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2020
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Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2020
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