If you’ve been playing padel for a few months and you’re starting to wonder what a proper padel outfit looks like – this guide is for you. The beginner question (“can I wear my gym kit?”) is answered in the full beginner’s kit guide. This one is for players who are ready to shop: what does a real padel kit look like, what should I spend, and which brands are worth buying in the UK?
Here’s the short version: you need very little to look the part, and the most important purchase is shoes.
What to wear: the honest baseline
Any breathable sports kit you already own works fine for padel. There’s no dress code, no colour rules, no formality requirement. The vibe is closer to five-a-side than tennis. If you’ve been playing in running shorts and a football shirt, nothing about that is wrong.
The case for padel-specific clothing comes later – once you’re playing twice a week or more. At that point, the lighter fabrics, the better shoulder movement, and the practical details (ball pockets, mostly) start to matter. Before that, you’re spending money on marginal gains.
Building a padel outfit by budget
| Budget | What to buy | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| £0 | Use what you have | Gym shorts, sports top, running shoes – works fine for your first few months |
| £50–80 | Padel shoes + padel shorts or skirt | The two upgrades that make the most functional difference. Shoes first, always. |
| £120+ | Full padel-branded kit | Matching top, shorts/skirt, and padel shoes from Bullpadel, Nox, or Adidas Padel |
Shoes are the upgrade that changes your game. Padel shoes with lateral support and herringbone grip transform how you move on court in a way that no shirt or shorts can match. If you’re working with a limited budget, spend it there – the padel shoes guide covers exactly what to look for.
Men’s padel outfit
Tops: Any sports top with moisture-wicking fabric. Padel-specific shirts tend to be lighter than general gym tops, with a looser cut through the shoulder that helps on overhead shots. They’re worth the upgrade once you’re playing regularly – but a running shirt or football top works until then.
Shorts: This is where padel-specific gear earns its price. Padel shorts usually have a deep pocket for the ball you hold for your second serve – PDH Sports lists side and back pockets on Nox’s Pro shorts and side pockets on Bullpadel’s Melea. A padel ball is slightly smaller than a tennis ball, but a shallow gym-short pocket can still let it bounce out. Look for a stretch waistband and a length that doesn’t restrict low, wide stances.
Brands to look at: on 19 October 2026, Bullpadel men’s shorts were £24.75–43.20 at PDH Sports (full price £30–52) and Nox’s Team and Pro shorts £35–40. Adidas men’s shorts cost about the same: £34.25–40.50 at PDH Sports and £34.99 at Padel Market.
Shoes: This is the most important part of any padel outfit. See the dedicated padel shoes guide for the full breakdown – the short version is herringbone grip, lateral support, low profile. Budget £60–100 for a solid pair.
Women’s padel outfit
Tops: Same principle as men’s – breathable sports tops work fine, padel-specific versions are lighter and cut better for overhead movement. The difference is worth it once you’re playing regularly.
Skirts, skorts, or shorts? This is the distinctive decision in women’s padel kit. Padel skirts and skorts have become a strong category in the UK women’s game, and the reason is functional as well as aesthetic. The built-in compression shorts underneath handle the constant lateral movement and low-ball retrieval demands padel places on your kit. Many padel-specific skirts include a ball pocket in the side seam or built into the inner shorts, which makes holding a ball for your second serve much easier. Regular tennis skirts work equally well – padel and tennis share the same movement range in the lower body. Shorts are a perfectly fine alternative if that’s your preference.
Prices on 19 October 2026: Bullpadel skirts £31.49–39.99 at PDH Sports (full price £45–50), Nox Pro skirts £34.99 at Padel Market, and Adidas Club skirts £20.99–29.75 across the two shops, with the Adidas Classics skirt at £46.75.
Shoes: The same advice as for men – this is the purchase that matters most. Lateral support, herringbone grip, low profile. See the padel shoes guide.
Padel clothing brands in the UK
Bullpadel – Spanish padel brand with a full range: shirts, shorts, skirts, shoes, accessories. Available at Padel Shack, PDH Sports and Padel Market. On 19 October 2026, men’s T-shirts were £25.20–38.70 at PDH Sports (full price £28–43) and shorts and skirts roughly £25–45.
Nox – another Spanish padel specialist, at similar prices: Pro and Team T-shirts were £30–40 at PDH Sports on 19 October 2026. Available at the same UK specialist retailers.
Adidas – sells padel clothing through UK padel shops such as PDH Sports and Padel Market. Prices vary by item, so compare before buying.
HEAD – known primarily for rackets, but makes clothing too. PDH Sports listed HEAD Club shorts at £27.99–31.99 (full price £40) on 19 October 2026.
Wilson – a racket-first brand. We found no Wilson clothing at PDH Sports or Padel Market on 19 October 2026.
Decathlon – sells padel clothing under its own Kuikma brand. Its UK website blocked our checks in October 2026, so we couldn’t confirm current prices or ranges.
Outdoor padel: what changes
Many UK venues have indoor or covered courts, but plenty also have outdoor ones. Your choice of venue affects which kit details matter most, so the guide to choosing a padel club is worth reading before you invest in surface-specific footwear or outdoor layers. A few additions are worth having for outdoor sessions:
Layers: British weather being what it is, a lightweight padel jacket or zip-through is worth carrying to outdoor sessions. Padel jackets are cut for movement – fuller range of motion through the shoulders than a regular tracksuit top. On 19 October 2026, Bullpadel jackets were £40.50–103.96 at PDH Sports and Nox’s Team jacket £50.40.
Cap: Direct sun on outdoor courts creates glare, especially on glass walls. A low-profile sports cap helps. No padel-specific requirement here – any cap works.
Sunglasses: Optional but useful on bright outdoor courts. If you wear them, clip-style or strap-secured sports sunglasses stay put better during the lateral movement and low retrieval work padel demands.
Grip and sweat: Outdoor courts in warm weather mean more sweat, which affects grip. A fresh overgrip in your bag and a wristband on your racket hand are worth having. The padel accessories guide covers grip options in more detail.
What to avoid
A few things that come up in every new player’s kit decisions:
Cotton tops – functional but heavy once wet. They cling, chafe, and stay damp. Not a session-ender, but easy to upgrade.
Loose, baggy clothing – you’ll often be playing close to the glass and mesh, and very loose kit can get in the way of a full swing. Fitted or semi-fitted sports kit is the practical choice.
Jeans – the padel movement demands (low stances, wide lateral steps, pivots) make them badly restrictive. Any non-stretch trouser in this category.
Running shoes – for kit, not clothing, but worth repeating here: running shoes provide almost no lateral support for the sideways movement padel demands. They’re fine for a first session, but padel or clay-court tennis shoes should come before any other kit upgrade.