The Best Padel Shoes to Take Your Game to the Next Level, According to Pros

Published on Sep 25, 2024 at 11:30 AM

Adidas

While each product featured is independently selected by our editors, we may include paid promotion. If you buy something through our links, we may earn commission. Read more about our Product Review Guidelines here.

Padel, described as a sportier alternative to pickleball, is the fastest-growing racket sport in the world. Long popular in European and Latin America, it's finally growing in popularity in the United States. If you and your friends want to bring even more sweat to your pickleball game, you're going to want to give padel a try.

But like any sport, proper equipment is key. Padel requires quick movements and a lot of agility, so you'll want to wear proper footwear in order to protect yourself against injuries. While the sports are different, padel has a similar movement pattern to tennis, says Julian Wortelboer, executive VP and chief padel officer of Ultra Club Miami, the largest padel club in the world, and co-host of the Padel Smash Academy podcast with Cesar Caceres. So if you're just starting out with padel, you can also use your favorite pair of tennis shoes. But if you're more familiar with padel or are looking to get serious about the sport, investing in a pair of padel shoes will help take you game to the next level.

We sourced shoe recommendations from Wortelboer and other padel experts including Victor Perez, one of the top ten padel coaches worldwide; Chanelle Van Nguyen, a pro tennis player and content creator who also enjoys playing padel; and the United States Padel Association. Here are the 6 best padel shoes, according to the pros.

Best Tennis and Padel Crossover Shoe

Asics Court FF 3 Novak ($180)

Wortelboer has been playing with Asics shoes for years. He recommends the COURT FF 3 NOVAK because they fit like a glove right out of the box, and are extremely comfortable, both on and off the padel court.

Perez recommended these shoes as well, noting that they're great for players who value speed, agility, and comfort, but also like advanced cushioning and stability. Modeled after Novak Djokovic's playing style, and designed collaboratively with the tennis star, they'll double as excellent tennis shoes, too.

Asics Court FF 3 Novak

From

$180

Best Environmentally-Friendly Padel Shoe

Adidas Adizero Ubersonic 4.1 Shoe ($140)

These shoes are feather-light, with unmatched comfortability and zero time needed to break them in, says Van Nguyen. The shoes are one of her favorites to wear on the court. The yarn on the upper part of the shoe is made from 50 percent reimagined ocean plastic, and 50 percent recycled polyester, so you can feel good about stepping into them.

Adidas Adizero Ubersonic 4.1 Shoe

From

$140

Best Padel Shoe For Style

On The Roger Clubhouse Pro ($160)

The bottom of the shoes have a tread pattern for grip and glide, which helps support side to side movements, and the padded heel provides comfortable support for any player, says Van Nguyen. Co-created with tennis pro Roger Federer, Wortelboer also loves these shoes because they're stylish and comfortable, making them the perfect choice for padel followed by brunch.

On The Roger Clubhouse Pro

From

$160

Best Padel Shoe For Narrow Feet

NikeCourt Vapor 2 Premium ($140)

Lightweight and breathable, these shoes are specifically designed to help you move faster on the court, says Van Nguyen. Those with narrow feet will appreciate that the shoe has a stretchy inner sleeve that hugs your foot just like a sock. Plus, they've got style to boot.

NikeCourt Vapor 2 Premium

From

$140

Overall Favorite Padel Shoe

Nox At10 Padel Shoe ($130)

According to Wortelboer, these are the top padel shoe. "They're super comfortable, and ideal for advanced players that like to play with high intensity," he tells PS. The United States Padel Association is also a fan of NOX's shoes, as one representative shared: "They're extremely comfortable and great for all court play."

[Editor's note: The Nox At10 shoes are listed in euros, so the price shown is an approximate conversion in US dollars. Shipping costs are not included]

Nox At10 Padel Shoe

From

$130

Best Padel Shoe for All Court Types

Bullpadel Hack Vibram 24I ($196)

These shoes offer great traction on both artificial grass and sand-based courts, says Perez, making them a great choice for the multi-surface padel player. Wortelboer likes these shoes because they have a larger support surface on the heel than other shoes, which favors the side-to-side movements required by padel.

The mesh material offers lots of breathability and makes the shoe lighter, too. [Editor's note: The Bullpadel Hack Vibram 24I shoes are listed in euros, so the price shown is an approximate conversion in US dollars. Shipping costs are not included.]

Kaley Rohlinger is a freelance writer for PS who focuses on health, fitness, food, and lifestyle content. She has a background in the marketing and communications industry and has written for PS for over four years.

Bullpadel Hack Vibram 24I

From

$196