Build your padel starter kit
Six questions, then a racket shortlist and the rest of the kit to go with it. Every item is matched against a specification the manufacturer published, and each one shows you which.
Question 1 of 6
How much padel have you played?
This sets the level a manufacturer says a racket is built for.
What a padel starter kit contains
Four things decide whether your first months of padel are comfortable: the racket you swing, the shoes you stand in, the balls you play with and the grip between your hand and the handle. Everything after that is convenience rather than necessity. The builder works through them in that order, and these are the categories it draws on.
Start here
- Rackets — Shapes, weights and cores explained, with ten rackets compared across every price band.
- Shoes — Why padel shoes differ from running shoes, and ten models compared on sole, surface and cushioning.
- Balls — What separates a match ball from a trainer, and ten balls compared on type, felt and federation approval.
- Overgrips — The cheapest upgrade in padel. Ten overgrips compared on feel, texture and pack size.
Worth adding early
- Bags — Racket bags, backpacks and holdalls compared on capacity, thermal lining and how they carry.
- Racket protectors — A few euros of tape against a cracked frame. Ten protectors compared on material, fit and pack size.
- Clothing — Shirts, shorts and skirts built for padel, compared on fabric, fit and ball pockets.
- Socks — Blisters are the most common padel injury there is. Ten socks compared on cushioning and height.
- Wristbands — Sweat management for glass-court humidity, compared on absorbency, width and pack size.
Only if you want it
- Gloves — Almost no padel brand makes one. What actually exists, who it suits, and ten compared on palm and closure.
- Elbow supports — Padel elbow is common and stubborn. Ten straps and sleeves compared on support and fit.
How the six questions work
Each question maps onto a specification the manufacturer publishes, so the answer can be checked rather than taken on trust. Nothing here is based on our own testing — we do not test rackets, and the builder says which published specification picked each item.
- 1
How much padel have you played?
This sets the level a manufacturer says a racket is built for.
- 2
What do you most want from the racket?
Shape decides where the sweet spot sits, which is the biggest single difference between rackets.
- 3
Any history of elbow, arm or shoulder trouble?
Softer cores and fibreglass faces transmit less shock than stiff carbon.
- 4
What are you looking to spend?
Recommended retail prices. Rackets are discounted often, so treat these as a guide.
- 5
How often do you expect to play?
This drives shoe cushioning and whether multi-packs are worth it.
- 6
How do you get to and from the court?
This is what decides the bag format, more than price does.
What a first padel kit costs
Taking the cheapest item in each of the 4 essential categories we list, a complete first kit comes to about €166 at the manufacturers' recommended prices. Choosing the dearest in each instead takes it to about €674. Padel gear is discounted often, so whichever end you aim for, you will usually pay less than the figure here.
Recommended prices only. We do not show live retailer prices, because a price we copied last month is worse than no price at all.
Padel starter kit: common questions
What do I need to start playing padel?
A racket, court shoes, balls and an overgrip. That is the whole list — courts supply the rest, and most clubs will rent you a racket for a first session. The other 7 categories we cover are things you add once you know you will keep playing.
How much does a padel starter kit cost?
Between about €166 and €674 for the 4 essentials at recommended prices, depending on which end of each category you pick. The builder gives you a total for the specific kit it puts together.
Do I need padel shoes, or will running shoes do?
Padel is played on sand-dressed artificial turf, and padel shoes are built with a sole pattern for it — herringbone or a hybrid — where a running sole is built for forward motion on tarmac. Every pair we list states the surface the manufacturer built it for, so you can check before buying.
Should a beginner buy an expensive racket?
There is no reason to. Manufacturers state the level each racket is built for, and the ones aimed at beginners are round with a large sweet spot — which is what forgives an off-centre hit. A stiff competition racket punishes exactly the mistakes a new player makes most. The builder filters on the level the manufacturer states, not on price.
Prefer to compare everything side by side? Browse all eleven gear categories