What to Wear to Padel: The Complete Gear Checklist

Everything to bring to your first session — and the stuff you can leave at home

You’ve booked your first padel session. Now you’re standing in front of your wardrobe wondering what to wear to padel and what to bring. Good news: padel doesn’t require much gear, and you probably own most of what you need already.

This is the checklist we wish we’d had before our first time on court. It covers the essentials, the nice-to-haves, and the things you definitely don’t need (despite what the ads tell you).

The Essentials: What You Actually Need

Shoes — The One Thing Worth Getting Right

If you’re going to invest in one piece of padel gear, make it your shoes. The court surface is artificial turf with sand, which is slippery in normal trainers and dangerous in running shoes. You need soles that grip without sticking.

Best option: Padel-specific shoes or clay court tennis shoes. Both have a herringbone sole pattern designed for this exact surface. Expect to pay €50–120 for a quality pair.

Acceptable for your first time: Any flat-soled gym shoe or indoor court shoe. Avoid running shoes (curved soles = ankle risk) and anything with deep lugs or studs.

Our picks: Head Motion Pro, Asics Gel-Padel Pro, or Adidas Barricade Padel. All offer excellent grip, cushioning, and durability in the €70–110 range.

💡 Smash & Glass Tip: Padel shoes wear out faster than you’d expect because of the sandy surface. If you play twice a week, budget for a new pair every 6–9 months. Buying mid-range shoes and replacing them regularly is a better strategy than buying expensive ones and wearing them flat.

Clothing — Comfort Over Style

Padel is an intense sport with lots of lateral movement, short sprints, and overhead shots. You need clothes that let you move freely and handle sweat. Here’s what to wear to padel in terms of clothing:

• Top: Any breathable athletic t-shirt or polo. Avoid cotton — it absorbs sweat and gets heavy. Look for polyester or moisture-wicking fabrics. A standard gym shirt works perfectly.
• Bottoms: Padel shorts, tennis shorts, or any athletic shorts with some stretch. Women often prefer padel skirts or tennis skirts with built-in shorts. Leggings work too, especially in cooler indoor courts. Avoid anything restrictive around the hips.
• Socks: Athletic socks that sit above the ankle. Low-cut socks tend to slip down during fast movement and can cause blisters. Padel-specific socks exist with extra cushioning in the heel and toe, but regular sports socks are fine.

You don’t need branded padel clothing to play. Any comfortable activewear you’d wear to the gym or a tennis court works perfectly.

Racket — Rent First, Buy Later

Most padel clubs rent rackets for €3–5 per session. For your first few times, this is the way to go. It lets you try different shapes and weights before committing to a purchase. When you’re ready to buy, check out our guide to the best padel rackets for beginners.

Balls — Usually Provided

Most clubs provide balls as part of the court booking fee. If yours doesn’t, or if you want your own for practice, a tube of three padel balls costs around €5–8. Head and Bullpadel are the most common brands. Padel balls look like tennis balls but have slightly less pressure, which makes the game more playable.

The Nice-to-Haves: Gear That Improves Your Experience

Overgrip

A thin wrap that goes over your racket’s existing grip. It improves sweat absorption and gives you a tackier, more secure hold. At €1–2 per grip, it’s the cheapest upgrade you can make. Replace it every few sessions when it starts feeling smooth.

Wristband or Headband

Sounds old-fashioned, but a wristband on your racket hand prevents sweat from running down your arm onto your grip. On a hot day or in a warm indoor court, it’s surprisingly useful. A headband keeps sweat out of your eyes. Both cost next to nothing.

Water Bottle

Obvious but worth mentioning — padel is more intense than it looks, especially in doubles rallies. Bring at least half a litre. Most courts have spots to place your bottle between points.

Small Towel

For wiping your hands, grip, or face between games. A small gym towel does the job. Some players clip it to their shorts or bag for easy access.

Cap or Visor (Outdoor Courts)

If you’re playing outdoors, a cap or visor keeps the sun out of your eyes during lobs and overhead shots. Not needed for indoor courts, which is where most padel is played in Scandinavia.

What You Don’t Need (Yet)

Don’t let marketing convince you to buy everything before your first session. These items are unnecessary for beginners:

• Expensive padel-specific clothing: Regular activewear is fine. Branded padel clothing is nice but adds zero performance benefit over what you already own.
• A racket bag: A backpack works. Buy a dedicated bag only if you’re playing multiple times a week and want to carry multiple rackets.
• Elbow or wrist supports: If you’re using the right racket (round shape, soft core) and not swinging too hard, you shouldn’t need supports. If you develop pain, it’s usually a technique issue, not a gear issue — consider a lesson before buying supports.
• A premium racket: Seriously. Rent for your first 3–5 sessions, then buy a beginner-friendly racket in the €60–150 range. A €300 racket will not make you better.

The Complete Checklist

Here’s everything at a glance. Screenshot this or print it before your next session:

Must Have

• ☐ Padel shoes or clay court tennis shoes (or flat-soled gym shoes for your first time)
• ☐ Breathable athletic top (no cotton)
• ☐ Athletic shorts, skirt, or leggings (something stretchy)
• ☐ Athletic socks (above the ankle)
• ☐ Racket (rent at the club or bring your own)
• ☐ Water bottle

Nice to Have

• ☐ Overgrip (€1–2, improves racket hold)
• ☐ Wristband (keeps sweat off your grip hand)
• ☐ Small towel
• ☐ Cap or visor (outdoor courts only)
• ☐ Spare t-shirt (for after the session)

Want a printable version? Download our free Padel Starter Checklist (coming soon) — a print-friendly PDF with everything you need for your first session.

Ready to pick your first racket? Check out our guide to the best padel rackets for beginners 2026.

Completely new to the sport? Start with our complete guide to padel for beginners — it covers rules, scoring, strategy, and etiquette.