Best padel shoes for you

Help in choosing padel shoes

What kind of shoes do I need for padel?

Along with a padel racket, good padel shoes are among the most important essentials for playing padel. Because you make many explosive and varied movements, it is important to have the right shoes. This reduces the risk of injury. As padel becomes more popular, more specially designed shoes are becoming available that are exclusively suitable for padel. These padel shoes offer good grip, cushioning, stability, and durability.

Difference between tennis and padel shoes

A frequently asked question is whether you can use tennis shoes for padel. Tennis shoes and padel shoes are very similar, which is why tennis shoes can also be suitable for padel. This is because the surface of a padel court resembles that of a tennis court. However, since there are different types of tennis court surfaces—and therefore different types of tennis shoes—not all tennis shoes are suitable for padel.

The tennis shoes that are suitable for playing padel are those with a ‘clay’ sole. These shoes have a herringbone tread, which is a coarser pattern that provides more grip on the court. During padel, having shoes with good grip is essential, which is why only tennis shoes with a coarse profile are suitable.

What sole does a padel shoe have?

The sole must provide good grip when you start a movement and at the same time allow you to slide when you want to reach a ball. Padel shoes can have different types of soles:

Herringbone tread: A herringbone sole has deep zigzag lines under the sole. These deep lines provide a lot of grip on the court. Additionally, a herringbone tread is durable and the shoes last longer than other types of soles.

Omni sole: An omni sole is recognizable by small dots on the tread pattern of the sole. These small studs provide extra grip on the court. However, the amount of grip makes it more difficult to slide on the court.

Mixed sole: A mixed sole is a combination of the aforementioned soles. On this sole, you will find both dots and a herringbone pattern. This way, you have a good balance between grip and freedom to slide.

Damping and stability

Cushioning: While playing padel, you make many intense and quick movements, which put a lot of strain on your knees. To prevent injuries, it is important to choose shoes with good cushioning. Cushioning is the shoe’s ability to absorb impact and reduce strain on your joints.

Stability: The shoe must fit well around the foot to provide sufficient stability and support. To prevent your feet from rolling inward or outward, we recommend choosing padel shoes with systems or materials designed to stabilize and support the feet.

Sustainability

Depending on the quality of the shoes and your playing intensity, the shoes will wear out after a certain period. Make sure to replace your padel shoes on time. With frequent use, the sole becomes thinner, which also reduces the cushioning. If you keep playing too long on worn-out shoes, this can cause painful joints and injuries. Additionally, the tread pattern on the sole wears down, causing you to lose grip.

How often you play or plan to play says a lot about the durability the shoes need to have. The more expensive variants will generally have a longer lifespan. Shoes in the higher price range often feature the latest technologies and the best cushioning. If you play a lot, it is wise to invest in a slightly more expensive model.

If you play recreationally from time to time, shoes in the lower price range will meet your needs. However, if you are prone to injuries, we recommend choosing shoes that provide sufficient cushioning and stability.

Size and fit

We recommend choosing padel shoes half a size larger. Because you make many short and quick movements, your feet will slide slightly inside the shoes. Additionally, your feet tend to swell a bit during sports. By taking a little more space in your shoes, you prevent sore feet.

The fit of padel shoes can vary by brand and model. It is important that the shoes feel comfortable. The shoes should fit snugly around the foot but should not be too tight. Therefore, always try on the shoes before you actually start using them (note: shoes can only be returned in the original packaging and if they have not been used).

Padel shoes for men, women and kids

There is a difference between men's padel shoes and women's padel shoes. When a brand offers the same model in both men’s and women’s versions, there is often a difference in the shoe’s fit. The men’s models usually have a slightly wider fit than the women’s models.

There is also a difference between children's padel shoes and adult padel shoes. Junior padel shoes provide less cushioning because they are made for a lower body weight, so these shoes are not recommended for adults. Additionally, the shoes will have a narrower fit than the senior padel shoes.