STYLE AND CULTURE

TIME FOR PADEL? THESE ARE THE TOPS, SHORTS AND ACCESSORIES YOU'LL NEED

By Sarah Waldron, 20 July 2026

Say farewell to squash and ta-ta to tennis – padel has firmly established itself as the cultural court sport for 2026. The game's popularity has grown year-on-year and shows little sign of stopping – London will even host its first international tournament this August. Maybe you already have a padel racket. Maybe you’ve got padel shoes, with the right grippy soles and shock absorption for all that short, explosive movement. But here’s the crucial question: what do you wear to play padel? Here’s our selection of the best padel outfits.

PADEL TOPS

Graphic tees are proof that you can say it with your chest – and if adidas or ASOS DESIGN have anything to do with it, you can say it with your back, too. Both brands’ tees are printed on the reverse with padel-positive icons that’ll show your opponents you mean business. If you’re a recent convert from the tennis world, you may prefer the smartness of 4505’s performance polo shirt instead. As padel involves a lot of quick bursts and quicker reflexes, you’ll need a top with a flexible, non-restrictive fit – something like this Adizero archive running tee.

GET THE LOOK:

ASOS DESIGN boxy oversized t-shirt with padel graphic in white, £16

4505 quick dry performance quarter zip polo in navy, £24

adidas Training t-shirt with padel back print in black, £30

adidas performance Adizero archive running t-shirt in white/dual indigo, £40

PADEL SHORTS

You’ll need a pair of shorts you can run around in to smash an effective vibora – and regular running or tennis shorts should work just as well on the padel court. Fit-wise, something supportive without being restrictive is ideal, so look for pairs with an internal liner. You should also look for quick-drying performance fabrics with plenty of stretch. 4505's even has an added pocket for tennis or padel balls. If you’re more aesthetically-led, we like adidas Originals’ iconic sprinter shorts, which come in every colour you could want.

GET THE LOOK:

adidas Originals sprinter shorts in green, £40

4505 woven 5'' 2-in-1 tennis short with pleat detail and ball pocket in black, £28
Nike Training Pro Dri-FIT 6 inch shorts in grey, £44.99

Lacoste Tennis Performance drawstring logo shorts in navy, £85

PADEL ACCESSORIES

Pictures: ASOS

It’s the small details that really make a look shine without overpowering it (if anything is overpowering, it should be your game). Accessories are small but crucial, like New Balance’s candy-coloured sport socks, or Polo Ralph Lauren’s noteworthy embroidered baseball cap. Nike's Skylon Ace sunglasses will keep your eyes protected outdoors. And, of course, you’ll need a kit bag to carry everything in – we like the contrasting blue handles on 4505's holdall.

GET THE LOOK:

Polo Ralph Lauren icon logo baseball cap in newport navy, £80

Nike Skylon Ace sunglasses in black, £60

4505 canvas tennis holdall with contrast straps in vintage white, £28

New Balance performance multi logo ankle sock 3 pack in multi, £17