Most guides tell you what to play in. Then they stop.
But a game of padel is rarely just 90 minutes on court. You turn up, you warm up, you play, and then half the group heads for a drink. Each of those stages wants something slightly different, and the answer shifts again between a light July evening and a dark one in January.
So this guide follows the visit in order, in both seasons. What to wear, and when to change it.
The short answer: padel or tennis shoes with a herringbone or mixed-pattern sole (non-marking if you play indoors), stretchy and breathable kit to play in, a layer you can pull off for either side of the game, and a dry top for afterwards.
The whole visit, summer and winter
| Stage | Summer evening | Winter evening |
|---|---|---|
| Arriving | Tee, shorts, cap if outdoors | Hoodie, joggers over shorts, beanie |
| Warm-up | Straight into it | Layer on for the first rallies, then off |
| Playing | Breathable top, shorts or skort, cap outdoors | Breathable top, leggings or shorts, layer by the bench |
| Straight after | Towel, dry tee | Towel, dry tee, then the hoodie back on |
| The bar | Heavyweight tee | Tee or sweatshirt, hoodie over it |
| Going home | Wet kit bagged | Wet kit bagged, joggers back on |
The court column barely moves. Everything either side of it does. That's the part most people get wrong.
House rules at a new venue
There's no UK-wide padel dress code. Private clubs can set their own house rules, so if you're booked somewhere new, read the venue's page before you go. In practice, shoes are what gets noticed.
Arriving: dress for standing still
You'll spend the first ten minutes not moving much. Finding the court, waiting for the group before you to finish, chatting at the door.
In summer that's easy. Turn up in what you'll play in and keep a cap handy for an outdoor court.
In winter, turn up warm. The LTA's kit guide suggests layering with lightweight warm-ups in the colder months to keep your muscles loose. Whatever you pick, it needs to come off over a playing top without a fight.
An oversized hoodie does that well. The Mk1 Box Hoodie has a dropped shoulder and a boxy cut, so there's room underneath, and the fleece lining does the warming. Pull fleece joggers over your shorts and add an organic ribbed beanie. If you'd rather a zip, the Track Jacket from the women's range opens up in one go.
Warming up
Leave the layer on for the first few rallies. Once you're moving, take it off before you sweat into it, because you'll want it dry later.
Joggers come off at the same moment. Shorts or leggings underneath means one quick change at the bench and no trip to the changing room.
Playing: the honest bit
I make off-court clothes, so here's the straight version.
Shoes come first. The LTA describes padel courts as textured and says herringbone or mixed-pattern soles give the right traction, with non-marking soles for indoor courts. It also lists lateral support and cushioning, for the side steps, lunges and quick pivots the game is full of. A shoe made for straight-line running gives you little of that.
Tops should breathe. The same LTA guide lists stretch fabrics, moisture-wicking and breathable layers as the things to look for. A light technical top ticks those boxes. Heavyweight cotton doesn't, and that's fine, because that's not its job. A cotton tee is fine for a slow, cold knockabout. For a hard match in August, go light.
Bottoms need to let you lunge. Shorts, a skort or leggings. A pocket for a spare ball helps. Jeans and chinos are out.
Socks matter. If your foot slides inside the shoe on a hard stop, blisters follow. Grip socks are £14 and help keep your foot put.
Outdoors, wear a cap. Lobs go high, and on a bright evening that means looking straight into the sun. See our caps and hats.
Not clothing, but it lives in the same bag: a fresh overgrip makes a tired racket handle feel new.
Straight after: the order matters
You finish hot, sit down in a soaked top, and ten minutes later you're cold. It happens in July too, once the sun goes.
Towel off. Swap into a dry tee. Then the layer goes back on. A hoodie pulled over a wet top just keeps the wet in.
The bar: where off-court clothes earn their place
For a lot of groups the drink after is half the point. Four of you round a table, going back over every point of the third set.
This is the part of the evening heavyweight clothing is for. A dry cotton tee at 305 g/m2 reads as a proper top, not gym kit. The Padel & Pints tee is the obvious one for the bar, and if the group goes for food instead, there's Padel & Pizza. Tees are £48 each, or two from the 2 for £90 range at checkout.
Want something warmer? A sweatshirt sits between a tee and a hoodie. The Sunday Padel Club Sweatshirt is £60. Every hooded style lives in hoodies.
What women wear, start to finish
The court basics don't change: proper shoes, stretchy and breathable kit, plus shorts, a skort or leggings.
Either side of the game, our women's range covers each stage. Cropped hoodies (£70) in Wellness Club, Cute & Competitive, Game Set Matcha and Sunday Padel Club go over a playing top on the way in and over a fresh tee at the bar. There are 260 g/m2 crewneck and cropped tees for the change after, plus the Track Jacket, Core Shorts and Wellness Club Pants.
Not sure on size? The women's pieces fit more true to size, so start with your usual size there. The heavyweight tees are cut oversized: size down for a regular fit, or keep your usual size for the oversized look. The Mk1 hoodies are cut big too, so check the size guide rather than going by your usual label.
Going home
Wet kit goes in its own bag, away from the dry layers. Joggers back on. Hoodie stays on.
That's the full visit. Light, breathable kit and the right shoes for the court. Warm, dry, heavier clothes for everything either side of it. UK delivery is free on orders of £75 and over if you're building the off-court half.
FAQ
Can I play padel in a cotton t-shirt? You can, especially on a cold, casual night. For a hard match or a warm day, the LTA suggests stretch, moisture-wicking and breathable fabrics, so save the heavy cotton tee for afterwards.
What should I wear to padel in summer? A breathable top, shorts or a skort, court shoes and a cap for outdoor courts. Bring a dry tee for after, because you cool down fast once the sun drops.
Should I change before going to the bar after padel? Yes. Towel off and put on a dry top before anything else. A heavyweight tee or sweatshirt, with a hoodie over it in winter, keeps you warm and doesn't look like gym kit.
What do women wear to play padel? The same basics: court shoes, stretchy and breathable kit, and shorts, a skort or leggings. A cropped hoodie or track jacket covers the before and after.
