What to Wear for Padel: Shoes, Clothes & Gear
PADEL
Figuring out what to wear for padel is simpler than it looks once you know where the money and attention actually need to go. When I first started playing padel, the most confusing part for me was figuring out which shoes to wear. They look very similar to tennis shoes, but they’re not quite the same, and the right pair can make a noticeable difference on court.
There’s no strict dress code, unlike traditional tennis clubs with their all-white rules, but shoes are the one piece of kit that genuinely affects both your game and your safety. Everything else is much more flexible than most gear guides make it sound. Here’s what actually matters, and what doesn’t.
If you’re new to padel and want to understand the basics, check out my How to Play Padel guide, where I explain all the rules and how the game works.
Quick Answer: What to Wear for Padel
Shoes: padel-specific or clay-court tennis shoes with a herringbone or omni-directional outsole; never running shoes
Top: any breathable, moisture-wicking technical tee, tank, or polo
Bottoms: shorts or a skirt with a ball pocket, since you'll need somewhere to hold the second ball on serve
Socks: crew or quarter-length, not ankle socks
Racket: a round or teardrop-shaped paddle around 360 to 375 grams is the easiest starting point for beginners
Worth adding: a spare overgrip, a cap or visor, and a padel bag to keep everything organised
Shoes: The Most Important Piece of Kit
Why Running Shoes Are a Bad Idea
If you take one piece of advice from this guide, it’s this: don’t play padel in running shoes. They’re built for straight-line motion, with tall, soft foam and limited lateral support, while padel is almost entirely side-to-side movement and sudden stops on sand-dressed artificial turf. A rolled ankle is one of the most common injuries in the sport, and wearing the wrong shoes can increase that risk.
Plus, running shoes can get destroyed surprisingly quickly on a padel court. I learned this the hard way when I played in my favourite running shoes and ended up wearing them out much faster than I expected. Trust me, you don’t want to sacrifice your favourite pair just to play a few games of padel.
What to Look for in Padel Shoes
Padel courts use artificial turf with a sand infill, and the outsole pattern on your shoes needs to match that surface. Herringbone soles, a deep zigzag tread, grip well on courts with a higher amount of sand, while omni-directional or multi-toe soles suit courts with less sand or a "mondo" carpet surface. Some shoes combine both patterns for versatility across different court types.
Beyond the outsole, look for lateral support to stabilise side-to-side movement, a reinforced toe box to handle the toe-dragging that comes with padel's stopping and pivoting, and a low-to-medium profile that keeps you stable rather than perched. Expect to spend somewhere around $80 to $130 for a solid entry-level pair, with Asics, Babolat, Head, Bullpadel, Nox, Adidas, and Wilson all making dedicated padel models.
Tennis Shoes as a Substitute
If you're not ready to buy padel-specific shoes yet, clay-court tennis shoes are the closest substitute, since they share the herringbone outsole and lateral support padel demands. Hard-court tennis shoes work too, but they grip less on the sand layer.
Clothing: Tops, Bottoms, and Socks
Tops
Padel doesn't have a real dress code beyond appropriate sportswear, so any breathable, moisture-wicking technical tee, tank top, or polo works fine. Skip cotton; it soaks through fast once a rally gets going, and padel-branded apparel specifically isn't a performance upgrade over any other technical sportswear brand you already trust.
Bottoms
For bottoms, comfortable tennis or padel shorts, skirts, or leggings all work well. Look for lightweight, stretchy, moisture-wicking fabrics that give you plenty of freedom to move, and make sure any pockets are secure enough to hold a ball during play. There’s no need to buy padel-specific bottoms if you already have good-quality tennis or training gear that you feel comfortable moving in.
Socks
Wear crew or quarter-length socks rather than ankle socks. Padel's lateral cuts tend to pull ankle socks down into the shoe, which is both annoying mid-match and a fast route to blisters. Look for extra cushioning at the ball of the foot, since that's where most of the repeated impact lands.
The Racket
Technically not clothing, but it’s the one piece of gear that matters almost as much as your shoes. Padel rackets are solid, with no strings, a perforated face, and a wrist strap that should always be looped around your wrist during play. For beginners, a round or teardrop-shaped racket is the easiest starting point, since the larger sweet spot is more forgiving of off-centre hits while you’re still developing your technique.
A mid-weight racket, roughly 360 to 375 grams, gives a good balance of power and manoeuvrability without feeling unwieldy. Most clubs rent rackets to newcomers, so there’s no need to buy one before you know you’ll stick with the sport. If you’re ready to choose your own racket, check out my complete padel racket guide for a breakdown of the different shapes, weights, and options.
Accessories That Actually Matter
Overgrip
The overgrip is the thin layer wrapped over your racket's base grip, and it's worth replacing every 10 to 15 sessions, sooner if you sweat heavily. It's cheap, a few dollars a roll, and a slick, worn-out grip changes your wrist mechanics more than most players realise, since you end up compensating by squeezing harder.
Sun Protection
Outdoor padel courts, and even some indoor ones with glass walls and a bright roof, can throw up surprising glare. A cap or visor blocks overhead sun and helps you track the ball on lobs, and sports sunglasses with a strap are worth considering if you're particularly glare-sensitive.
Wristbands and Headbands
Neither is essential, but both are cheap and small enough to keep in your bag without thinking about it. A wristband stops sweat running down to your racket hand on hot or humid days, and a headband keeps hair and forehead sweat out of your eyes.
Frame Protector
Padel rackets take a beating from contact with the glass walls, the fence, the ground, and the occasional collision with your partner's racket. A frame protector, some rackets come with one built in, extends the life of the racket's edge and is a cheap way to protect what's usually the most expensive item in your bag.
What to Pack in Your Bag
At minimum: your racket, a spare overgrip, your shoes, water, a towel, and a few balls. Padel balls look similar to tennis balls but are slightly less pressurized, suited to the enclosed court; you can technically use tennis balls, but proper padel balls hold up better for consistent rallies. Beyond that, a padded compartment to keep the racket out of direct heat (a hot car trunk will degrade it faster than regular play will) and a separate section for shoes and a change of clothes make the whole kit easier to manage session to session.
What You Don't Need to Buy Right Away
Padel-branded apparel is largely a marketing category rather than a performance one. A tennis tee or any breathable technical top will do the same job as a padel-branded one at a lower price. If you're deciding where to actually spend money as a beginner, put it toward shoes and a racket that suits your level; that's where the real difference in how you play shows up, not in the logo on your shirt.
My Recommendations
If you're headed to your first session and don't want to overthink it, borrow or rent a racket, wear whatever breathable athletic clothes you already own, and put your one purchase toward a decent pair of shoes with proper lateral support, either padel-specific or clay-court tennis shoes. Everything else, the overgrips, the sun protection, the padel-specific shorts with a ball pocket, is worth adding once you know you're going to keep playing.
FAQs
Can I play padel in regular tennis shoes? Yes, especially clay-court tennis shoes, which share the herringbone outsole and lateral support padel needs. Hard-court tennis shoes work too, though they grip less on sanded turf.
Can I use my running shoes for padel? It’s best to avoid running shoes for padel. They’re designed for forward movement rather than the quick side-to-side movements and sudden stops you make on a padel court, which can increase your risk of slipping or rolling an ankle.
What do people wear to padel? Most people wear comfortable, breathable sportswear such as a T-shirt or tank top with shorts, a skirt, or leggings. There’s usually no strict dress code, so you can keep it simple and wear whatever allows you to move comfortably.
Do you have to wear certain shoes for padel? You don’t usually have to wear a specific brand or model, but proper padel or court shoes are strongly recommended. They’re designed for the quick side-to-side movements, sudden stops, and artificial turf used on padel courts. Running shoes are not ideal because they lack the lateral support and outsole pattern needed for padel.
How often should I replace my racket's overgrip? Roughly every 10 to 15 sessions, or sooner if you sweat heavily. A worn, slick overgrip forces you to grip harder than necessary, which shows up as forearm strain over time.
What racket shape is best for a beginner? Round or teardrop-shaped rackets have the largest sweet spot, making them the most forgiving choice while you're still developing consistent technique.
Final Thoughts
What to wear for padel comes down to two real priorities: shoes with the right outsole and lateral support, and a racket that suits your level. Everything else, the shirt, the shorts, the accessories, is far more flexible than the gear guides sometimes suggest. Spend where it actually changes how you play, and borrow or keep it simple everywhere else until you know padel is a sport you're sticking with.
I hope this What to Wear for Padel guide helped you feel more confident about what to wear and what gear you actually need. Now all that’s left is to get on the court and have fun!
You May Also Like: