Padel has a way of pulling people in quickly. One game on a friendly court, and suddenly you are looking at a booking app and wondering what on earth you are supposed to wear.
The good news: padel kit is simple. A 10×20 court asks for movement, stretch, technical fabric and layers you can add or remove as British weather changes its mind.
The short answer
You need five things: a technical play tee, court shorts or performance shorts, a mid-layer for warm-ups and cooler courts, a cap, and a bag to carry it all. Add a waterproof shell if you play through autumn and winter.
1. Start with a technical play tee
Cotton holds sweat. Padel is stop-start, but you are changing direction constantly — off the glass, back to the net and sideways along the service line. A technical jersey moves better through that pattern.
The AP Club Play Tee uses 135gsm polyester with moisture-wicking, quick-dry and four-way-stretch construction. The fit runs close to the body, so size up if you are between sizes or prefer a more relaxed fit.
2. Court shorts that move properly
Padel asks you to lunge, twist and recover, often in the same point. The AP Club Court Shorts use four-way stretch fabric with an adjustable drawstring waist, zip pocket and unlined construction for a cleaner, lighter feel.
For a closer fit, the AP Club Cycling Shorts use soft-stretch fabric with a deep waistband and four-way stretch.
3. Build your layers around the weather
British padel means wind, drizzle and temperatures that can change between warm-up and the final set. Build your kit in layers rather than relying on one heavy piece.
- AP Club Quarter Zip — a 280gsm mid-layer for warm-ups and cooler courts.
- AP Shell Jacket — a lightweight waterproof outer with a 4000mm shell, heat-sealed seams and a breathable membrane.
4. A cap for the light
Indoor courts have ceiling lights and skylights. Outdoor courts have low evening sun. The AP Club Cap is a structured five-panel cap with an adjustable snapback closure and embroidered AP monogram.
5. The off-court half of the kit
Most padel sessions do not end at the final point. They end with a coffee, a debrief or the drive home. The Vamos Hoodie is the heavyweight layer for that part of the day, while the Club Duffle Bag carries racket, clothing and court kit without looking like oversized teamwear.
What you do not need on day one
- A full matched kit.
- Layers you cannot easily take off between games.
- Anything you have to keep adjusting between points.
The rest of the bag
Bring a racket, balls, a water bottle and a towel. Many clubs can lend a racket for a first session, so check before buying everything at once.
How to build it in one go
Start with a play tee and court shorts. Add the Quarter Zip for cooler sessions, then the Shell when the weather demands it. Finish with the cap and a bag that can carry the whole setup.
AP Club is built from the game out — clothing designed around the 10×20 court, then made clean enough to work before and after the match.
The match ends. The kit keeps working.