A 1 minute read, written in September 2026 and read over again on 10 October 2026

Padel shoes: how to choose them, and why running shoes will hurt you

The court is artificial turf with sand in it. The wrong sole slides on it; the right one grips and lets you turn. This is what to look for, what the pros wear, and which pair suits your feet and your court.

The sole is the decision

Padel courts are artificial grass dressed with silica sand. Three sole patterns work on it. Omni (hundreds of small studs) grips well on sandy outdoor courts and is the all-rounder. Herringbone (the zigzag, from clay-court tennis) lets you slide a little and pivot, which the pros prefer on faster indoor carpets. Hybrid soles mix both and are the safest single pair if you play indoors and out. Running shoes have none of this; they slide on sand and their soft foam rolls under a sideways step, which is how ankles go.

Cushioning, and your age

Padel is stop, start, and lunge. Under thirty-five with no history, a low, firm court shoe gives the best feel and the quickest first step. Over forty, or with knees or Achilles that talk to you, take the more cushioned models even at a little speed cost; the calf and Achilles injuries that end padel seasons come from repeated pushes off a hard sole on a hard base.

Fit

Half a size up from your street shoe: your toes hit the front on every lunge to the net. Wide feet want the tennis brands' wide fits (Asics and New Balance especially); narrow feet suit Bullpadel and Babolat. Lace them tight over the arch and loose at the toes.

The pairs worth looking at

Club standard, every court: Asics Gel-Padel Pro and Asics Gel-Challenger, durable omni soles and the widest fits. The pros' choice: Babolat Jet Premura, light with a herringbone sole. Padel-first brands: Bullpadel Vertex and Nox, good value and made for the sand. Cushioned, for knees: Asics Gel-Resolution or Head Sprint. Expect 70 to 140 euros and a season of two games a week from a pair.

Care

Knock the sand out after every game and never machine wash them; the glue goes. When the studs on the ball of the foot are flat, the shoe is done, whatever the upper looks like.