One of the great things about padel is how little you need to start: a racket, a pair of shoes, and clothes you can move in. But what you wear genuinely affects how you play — the wrong shoes can roll an ankle on the artificial turf, a cotton t-shirt will soak through in ten minutes, and a glare-prone visor will cost you points off the back glass.

This guide is the complete checklist for what to wear and bring to a padel session, whether it's your first one or your fiftieth. We'll cover shoes (the most important purchase), clothing, accessories, and the things experienced players keep in their bag that beginners forget.

Shoes: The One Thing You Cannot Skip

If you take one piece of advice from this guide: do not play padel in running shoes. Padel is played on artificial turf with sand infill, and the lateral movements involved — sliding, pivoting, sharp direction changes — are exactly what running shoes are not built for. You risk rolled ankles and torn ligaments, and you'll slip when you don't want to and stick when you need to slide.

What to wear instead: a proper padel-specific shoe or a tennis shoe with a herringbone or omni-pattern sole. Look for these features:

Herringbone or "fishbone" tread — releases the sand cleanly and grips on the cuts, but allows controlled sliding when you need it.
Reinforced toe box and lateral support — padel involves a lot of drag-stepping and stopping; you want the upper to hold your foot in place.
Low-to-medium profile — keeps you stable in side-to-side movement.

Budget around $80–$130 for a good entry-level padel shoe. Models from Asics, Babolat, Head, and Bullpadel are all reliable. Avoid clay-court tennis shoes — the soles are too aggressive and will tear up the turf.

Shorts or Skirts: Pockets Matter

For tops you have plenty of latitude (more below), but for bottoms there's one feature you actually need: pockets. Specifically, pockets deep enough to hold a padel ball, because the standard convention is to carry a second ball during your service game so play doesn't stop after every miss.

Shorts: athletic shorts with at least one zippered or deep side pocket. Length is personal preference. Avoid cotton — it gets heavy with sweat.
Skirts and skorts: the built-in undershorts on most padel/tennis skorts have ball pockets sewn in, which is genuinely useful.
Leggings or tights: fine for cooler conditions, but verify pocket capacity before buying.

Fabric matters more than brand. Polyester or polyester/elastane blends wick sweat and dry fast. Cotton does neither.

Tops: Function Over Fashion

Any moisture-wicking athletic shirt works. Sleeveless tops, t-shirts, polos, and tanks are all common on court. A few practical notes:

Avoid 100% cotton. It clings, weighs you down, and chafes.
Light colors in summer, layers in winter. A thin long-sleeve under a t-shirt is a common setup for cool indoor clubs.
Sports bras matter for women — padel involves a lot of running and lateral cuts. A medium-to-high support bra is worth it.

Socks: Higher Than You Think

Don't wear cotton ankle socks. The constant lateral movement creates friction at the heel and arch, and cotton socks soak through and rub. Look for:

Mid-calf or crew length — protects the Achilles from the shoe collar.
Synthetic blend or merino wool — wicks moisture and resists blisters.
Cushioned heel and ball of foot — absorbs impact during stops.

The Racket and Bag

Your racket is obvious. What's less obvious for beginners is the padel bag. A small backpack is fine to start, but a dedicated padel bag has a thermal compartment that keeps the racket out of extreme heat (which softens the EVA core and ruins it over time) and dedicated slots for balls, towels, and shoes. Worth the $50–$80 once you're playing weekly.

Grip and Overgrip

Every padel racket comes with a base grip, but virtually all players add at least one overgrip on top. Reasons:

Replaces the absorbing layer when it gets sweaty without removing the base grip.
Lets you customize handle thickness — thicker is more cushioned, thinner gives more wrist feel.
Cheap (~$2–$3 per grip) and easy to swap every few weeks.

Carry two or three spare overgrips in your bag. Most players replace them every 10–15 sessions, or sooner if they sweat heavily.

Wristbands and Headbands

Not essential, but useful. A wristband stops sweat from running down to your racket hand on humid days. A headband keeps hair out of your eyes during the bandeja motion. Both are cheap and small enough to throw in your bag and ignore until you need them.

Sun, Eyes, and Outdoor Conditions

Outdoor padel is great, but the glass walls and white roof of some courts create surprising glare. Consider:

Cap or visor — blocks overhead sun and gives your eyes a frame for tracking the ball on lobs.
Sports sunglasses with a strap — only if you're sensitive to glare. Many players find sunglasses distort depth perception on volleys; try with and without.
Sunscreen — a one-hour session in summer is plenty to burn shoulders, neck, and the back of your legs.

What to Pack in Your Bag

The standard kit experienced players carry:

Racket (in thermal sleeve if your bag has one)
Tube of balls (3 balls per tube; one tube is enough for a 90-minute session)
2–3 spare overgrips and small scissors
Towel — small microfiber for the bench, plus one for the shower if your club is on the way home
Water bottle (650ml minimum; refill at the club)
Spare shirt for after the session
Plasters/band-aids for blisters
Vibration dampener if your racket uses one

What NOT to Wear

A quick "don't" list:

Running shoes — covered above, but worth repeating.
Jewelry, especially rings — affects grip and can scratch the racket handle.
Loose-fitting shirts that flap into your follow-through.
Heavy cotton everything — by the end of the session you'll be wearing a wet sponge.

Realistic Starter Budget

A complete beginner setup, including a decent racket, runs about $200–$300:

Padel shoes: $80–$130
Entry-level padel racket: $80–$150
Shorts and shirt: $30–$50 (or use what you have, if synthetic)
Balls (one tube): $5–$8
Overgrips (pack of 3): $7–$10

You don't need to spend more than that to start. As you play more, you'll learn what features matter to you specifically — and that's when investing in better gear actually pays off.

What to Wear for Padel: A Complete Clothing and Gear Checklist