Padel shorts get less coverage than rackets and shoes, but they matter more than people expect. The game is full of quick split steps, sideways movement and low reaches near the back wall, so fit and fabric affect how freely you move. And if you’ve ever had a spare ball fall out of your pocket mid-point, you already know the ball pocket issue is real.
This guide covers what padel shorts need to do, what to look for, and brands and budgets for UK players.
At a glance
| What | What to look for | Price range (18 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Moisture-wicking polyester/elastane blend | – |
| Length | Above the knee, with room to stride | – |
| Ball pockets | Secure enough to hold a ball when you move | – |
| Budget | Decathlon Kuikma, older colourways at specialist shops | from about £18 (Decathlon not checked) |
| Mid-range | Bullpadel, Nox, HEAD, Adidas | £25–£45 |
What makes padel shorts different
Less than the marketing suggests. Padel and tennis shorts share the same basics, and HEAD and Adidas both sell clothing that works for either sport. What the padel-specialist brands sell is fabric and cut tuned for movement: Bullpadel’s Melea shorts, for example, use a “bi-elastic” polyester and elastane fabric with an internal support layer, according to PDH Sports.
Padel involves a lot of sideways movement – split steps, side shuffles, sharp changes of direction near the back wall. Long or baggy shorts add fabric that can get in the way, so most padel shorts sit above the knee. ASICS’s Padel Court short, for instance, has a 7-inch inseam.
The ball pocket is the other thing to check. Padel balls are slightly smaller than tennis balls: the padel rules set a diameter of 6.35–6.77cm, while the ITF’s standard tennis balls are 6.54–6.86cm. So any pocket that holds a tennis ball securely will hold a padel ball. The problem with gym and running shorts is that many have shallow pockets or none at all, and a loose ball tends to pop out on quick stops.
What to look for
Material: Look for a polyester/elastane blend. Bullpadel’s Parele skirt, for example, is 86% polyester and 14% elastane. The polyester wicks sweat; the elastane gives stretch for wide lateral movements. Avoid anything with a lot of cotton – it holds sweat, gets heavy and takes longer to dry.
Length: There’s no rule here. Above the knee is typical for padel; go for whatever lets you lunge and split-step without the hem pulling or flapping.
Ball pockets: Put a ball in the pocket, do a few lateral steps and a low bend. If the ball shifts around or starts to work its way out, the pocket is too loose. Nox lists side and back pockets on its Pro shorts; Bullpadel’s Melea has side pockets.
Waistband: A wide, flat elasticated waistband tends to stay put better than thin elastic. Drawstrings help if you’re between sizes; Bullpadel’s Melea and Parele both have one.
Men’s padel shorts
Prices below were checked at PDH Sports and Padel Market on 18 October 2026.
Bullpadel – the Spanish padel brand’s men’s shorts were £24.75–£43.20 at PDH Sports (RRP £30–£52). Fabrics are polyester-elastane blends with Bullpadel’s own quick-dry finishes, per the listings.
Nox – Pro shorts were £40 and Team shorts £35 at PDH Sports; Padel Market had Nox shorts at £34.99. The Pro shorts have a mesh inner lining and side and back pockets.
Adidas – men’s shorts were £38.25–£40.50 at PDH Sports (RRP £45). Padel Market listed Adidas’s Ale Galán Club shorts at £30.99–£34.99.
HEAD – HEAD’s Club shorts were £27.99–£31.99 at PDH Sports (RRP £40), and its Power shorts £36.99 at Padel Market (RRP £47.99).
Decathlon (Kuikma) – Decathlon sells padel clothing under its Kuikma brand. Its UK site blocks our automated checks, so we couldn’t confirm current prices or which models are in stock; check decathlon.co.uk directly.
Women’s padel shorts and skirts
Shorts are the straightforward option. The same material, length and pocket checks apply as for men. Bullpadel sells women’s padel shorts (the Orfeu was £40.50 at PDH Sports).
Skirts and skorts (skirts with built-in shorts or an inner layer) are widely sold for padel. An inner layer gives coverage during low reaches and deep lunges, and is often where the ball pocket sits. Bullpadel’s Parele skirt has integrated inner mesh, per PDH Sports.
Check what’s underneath. Inner layers vary between models, from full shorts to a mesh lining, so read the listing before you buy – especially from a general sportswear retailer.
Prices on 18 October 2026: Bullpadel skirts at PDH Sports were £31.49–£39.99 (RRP £45–£50); Nox Pro skirts at Padel Market were £34.99 (RRP £43.99).
Budget guide
Under £20 – older colourways and Decathlon Last season’s colourways are the cheapest way into padel-brand kit: Padel Market had Adidas women’s Club Tech padel shorts at £17.99 on 18 October 2026. Decathlon’s Kuikma range is the other budget route, though we couldn’t check its current prices.
£25–£45 – Bullpadel, Nox, HEAD, Adidas The specialist tier at current UK prices. Worth the step up once you’re playing two or more times a week and the kit is getting more use.
Above £45 Some RRPs reach about £50–£60 (Adidas’s NY Printed shorts list at £60.99 at Padel Market, on sale at £34.99), but full price is rarely what you need to pay. For recreational players, the difference over mid-range is mostly fabric finish and styling.
Do you need padel-specific shorts?
If you already own decent tennis shorts or athletic shorts with functional ball pockets, probably not yet.
The case for padel-specific shorts builds once you’re playing regularly – twice a week or more. Getting to that frequency usually means having a consistent group to book courts with – how to find people to play padel with covers the fastest routes to building one. At that point, the fit, the pockets and the fabric start to make a noticeable difference to comfort. Before that, you’re spending money on marginal gains.
The one exception is the ball pocket. If your current shorts don’t have a pocket that holds a ball securely, that’s worth solving sooner. The server gets two attempts, so having the second ball to hand saves a walk to collect one after a fault.
For a broader guide to building a padel kit from scratch – including shoes, clothing, and what to prioritise – see the padel outfit guide. For everything beyond clothing – balls, overgrips, bags, accessories – see the padel accessories guide.