Padel is played in short, hard bursts, usually indoors or under cover, and clothing choices follow from that rather than from fashion. This guide covers fabric, the cuts that exist, and the sizing problem that catches most people once.
Why courtwear is synthetic
Cotton holds sweat rather than moving it. In a sport played in repeated sprints, that means a shirt that gets heavy, stays wet, and cools you down between games rather than during them. Polyester and elastane blends move moisture to the surface where it can evaporate, which is what lets a shirt dry between points instead of after the session.
Where a product page states a composition, it is usually a polyester or polyamide blend with a percentage of elastane for stretch. The elastane is what lets a shirt move with a shoulder that is reaching above the head.
The ball pocket is not a detail
A second ball has to live somewhere during a serve. Shorts and skirts cut for padel put a pocket where the hand already goes, and a court skirt normally has an inner short with that pocket built in. It is the one functional difference between padel shorts and gym shorts, and it is the thing you notice within one game of playing without it.
The cuts, and what each is for
- T-shirts — the default for court in warm weather, and the largest part of the section.
- Polos — the same fabric weight with a collar and placket. Some clubs prefer them; on court they behave identically.
- Tops — sleeveless or strap cuts for the warmest sessions.
- Skirts and dresses — normally over an inner short with a ball pocket.
- Shorts and trousers — trousers are for warming up and for cold indoor courts rather than for playing in.
- Sweatshirts and jackets — mid and outer layers for arriving and warming up, not for the middle of a match.
Indoor and outdoor are different problems
Most clubs play indoors or under cover, where a layer to warm up in matters more than weatherproofing. Outdoors in winter the priority inverts. It is worth knowing which you play before buying an outer layer, because the two jobs pull in opposite directions: one wants to come off easily, the other wants to stay on.
Sizing runs by maker
Padel brands cut to their own blocks, and the same nominal size differs between them. The safest comparison is a garment of the same brand already owned rather than a nominal size. Where a size table is published, it is the manufacturer's own measurements and those are what to measure against — not the letter on the label.
Many items are also cut on a men's, women's or junior block, which the catalogue records where the maker states it. That is a statement about shape, not only about size.
Socks are equipment
Court socks are cushioned at the heel and the forefoot, which is exactly where padel wears a foot. They are also thicker than everyday socks, enough to change how a shoe fits — so if you are buying shoes at the same time, fit them together.
Where to start in the catalogue
- Shirts and tops
- Shorts and skirts and dresses
- Outerwear for warming up
- Trousers and socks
Layering for a session
A padel session has three temperatures: arriving cold, playing hot, and standing still between games. That is the argument for a layer that comes off in one movement rather than a single heavy garment — a jacket or sweatshirt over a court shirt covers all three, where a thick top only covers the first.
Indoors this matters less at the start and more at the end, when a wet shirt and a cold corridor meet. Outdoors in winter it decides whether the first two games are any good.
Colour, glass and sun
Padel is played inside a glass box, and outdoors that glass reflects. A cap or visor is a practical item rather than a cosmetic one — the ball comes off the back wall high, and looking up into sun is the most common way to lose it.
What wears out first
Court clothing usually fails at the seams under the arm and at the hem of a pocket that carries a ball, because both take repeated stretch in the same direction. Neither is a fault; it is where the sport puts the load. It is worth knowing when judging whether a garment has aged badly or simply been used.