Women's 2026 padel gear update: performance, style and the choices that really make a difference

Padel is moving fast. Over 35 million people worldwide now play it, making it one of the fastest‑growing racket sports on the planet - and the UK padel community is thriving hard. Roughly 40% of those millions of players are women, which gives padel a strong female focus. It reflects the sport's accessibility, social culture and mixed-sex matches.

This growth is creating momentum behind women‑specific design and bringing to the fore professional role models who inspire us every time we step on court. At pdhsports.com, we're part of the female padel community ourselves, so we want to share our take on the hottest trends and what matters most if you're building or updating your padel gear this year.

Here's what we observe from our customers and from our own experience on court: women padel players are shrewd. Many of us mix general sportswear with padel‑specific pieces rather than buying head‑to‑toe padel outfits. We prioritise comfort, value and versatility across different sports, because that makes sense - why buy a specialist top if your favourite moisture‑wicking layer already does the job?

We believe performance and injury prevention should anchor every kit choice. Padel asks a lot of your body, and the right gear protects you while helping you play better.

But we also know that how we feel on court matters. Style, confidence and the joy of wearing kit that helps us play our best. When you feel good and at ease in what you're wearing, you play more confidently, move more freely and enjoy yourself more. We say there's no reason why performance and personality have to be in competition.

Did you know we have our own pdhsports.com branded range of padel clothing? These unisex basics are great for a casual game or to relax in offcourt!

The padel apparel market has matured dramatically. Brands aren't just tweaking general sportswear anymore, they're designing specifically for padel's demands, and they're doing it thoughtfully. They offer realistic choice for different body types, playing styles and aesthetic preferences.

We like what we're seeing in the details. Waistbands that stay put without cutting in, built‑in shorts under skirts or dresses, hidden pockets, mesh ventilation in heat zones, laser‑cut panels for airflow... these are great responses to what players like us actually need. Padel players are diverse in build, preferences and budgets: brands are listening to that diversity rather than designing for a prescriptive 'woman padel player' template.

Choosing padel kit isn't a fashion obligation or a gendered pressure. It's about what works for you, both in performance and personality. What you wear and play with can help you perform better: the right shoes reduce injury risk, breathable fabric keeps you cool and focused and a racket that feels right in your hand empowers you to advance your game. But also, when people feel confident in their appearance, they can feel more confident on court. These aren't in conflict; they're complementary.

Many brands now offer coordinated apparel and footwear lines that make it easy to achieve both technical performance and a cohesive, coordinated look, if that's what you enjoy. For those who prefer mixing and matching, there's plenty of choice too!

This is where we strongly advise you to focus first.

Padel footwear is a functional necessity, not a luxury. Padel demands explosive side‑to‑side movements, sudden deceleration, pivots and jumps that put enormous stress on your ankles, knees and lower back. Multi‑purpose trainers or running shoes just don't cut it.

Specialist padel shoes are engineered with strong lateral support, grip designed for court surfaces and durable soles built to resist the abrasion and torque padel creates. Proper padel shoes dramatically reduce your risk of common injuries. Good shoes are about stability and injury prevention, and that's worth the investment.

There's been a genuine explosion of innovation in padel shoe design over the last couple of years. The range of brands, styles, weights and aesthetic preferences is impressive. That means you can find a well‑fitting shoe that suits both your playing style and your visual preferences, whether you favour bold colours or understated tones, edgy graphics or sleek designs.

If you want your footwear to coordinate with your outfit, many brands colour‑match their shoe and apparel ranges, so that's straightforward. If you prefer versatility instead, a neutral pair of shoes works beautifully with bold clothing, or you can make your shoes the statement piece and keep the rest simple.

(See our dedicated padel shoe guide on pdhsports.com for detailed advice on choosing the right shoe for your game.)

Performance fabrics and cuts

The evergreen padel trend is function: innovation means lightweight, moisture‑wicking technical fabrics that keep you dry and cool. Look for ergonomic cuts designed around padel movement - swings, serves and lateral lunges. Many brands are incorporating mesh panels or laser‑cut ventilation in the heat zones (underarms, sides, across the back) where you need airflow most.

In practice, many women blend padel‑specific pieces with general sports staples (your go‑to leggings, your favourite base layer) to create combinations that suit your comfort and coverage preferences. That's smart shopping, and brands increasingly recognise it.

Sustainability and mindful purchasing

We're seeing growing momentum around eco‑conscious fabrics in padel apparel. Recycled polyester, low‑impact materials and mindful manufacturing are becoming the norm rather than the exception, and that matters. Building a capsule of pieces you genuinely love and will wear season after season beats buying multiple complete outfits you wear once and discard.

Versatile padel bags

Your rackets need protection, obviously: they're precious and expensive. But a padel bag also needs to be genuinely practical. If you shower and change at the club, spacious multi‑purpose designs with compartments for all your kit are brilliant. If you're carrying everything off the train to the padel club on foot, a lightweight backpack might work better. We also love HEAD's contemporary padel tote bag in three understated colours.

Brands are having fun here too. Many colour‑match their bags to racket collections for that coordinated aesthetic. And we're genuinely loving this season's move toward monochrome and subtler colour schemes alongside the traditional vivid brights. 

For us, a carefully chosen padel bag can be a signature move: there's such a huge choice and it's an accessory that you'll use every single time you head to the court.

Skirts, dresses and mix‑and‑match sets

We're also enjoying the growing popularity of padel‑specific dresses and coordinated sets. These combine genuine freedom of movement with sleek, sport‑specific styling. Options range from minimal to more coverage, from classic whites to bold colours and prints.

Our tip: build a small, hard‑working capsule of pieces you genuinely love and will reach for regularly. Add to it gradually over seasons. You don't need to invest in several complete outfits or coordinate elaborate looks unless that brings you joy. Simplicity and longevity never go out of style in our book.

One thing's for sure: brands know that designing padel rackets that work for women isn't about 'shrink it and pink it'. Our female customers often choose lighter or more manoeuvrable rackets. But they're not marketed as "women's rackets". Many female players but also plenty of male players prefer slightly lighter rackets or models that feel quick and agile at the net. That preference reflects playing style and physical build, not gender.

Conversely, many power‑focused women players choose rackets designed for hard‑hitting potential. The deciding factors are all rational: weight, balance (head‑heavy versus even versus head‑light), shape (round, teardrop or diamond) and core density. These specs determine how a racket feels and performs, full stop.

Here's what we love this year: leading padel brands are investing in distinctive design and character. Their rackets look cool, with bold graphics, elegant minimalism or signature colour schemes. When you're comparing a shortlist of rackets with similar specs, your personal preference for a brand's aesthetic or design language might genuinely be the tie‑breaker. You're going to carry this racket with you, look at it, play with it many times - of course its appearance matters.

One of the best ways to think about padel style is to look at how the professionals approach it. The brilliant thing? There's no single template.

• Elite Spanish padel player Gemma Triay exemplifies coordinated elegance - head‑to‑toe looks in breathable, feminine‑cut clothing that mirrors her polished, composed on‑court style. She shows how a cohesive aesthetic can feel effortless and professional.
• Catherine Rose, GB number two and a sports science specialist, takes a distinctly different approach. Her outfits and equipment choices are performance‑led throughout, favouring proven technical features and straightforward, functional styling. Her priority is what works, and that's her signature.
• Former world number one Alejandra Salazar is famous for branded coordinates that create her instantly recognisable look. Consistency and visual identity matter to her, and it works beautifully.
• Multi-talented Spaniard Martita Ortega is renowned for her elegance and professionalism on court. She's an advocate for female leadership and style in padel, and she tends toward a minimalist aesthetic: understated, refined, powerful.
• Portuguese former tennis player Sofía Araújo brings a lifestyle‑linked aesthetic to her padel, with trend‑focused styling through coordinated dresses, skirts and crop‑top combinations. She shows how padel style can be playful and contemporary, complementing her passion on court.

There's no 'right way' for women to dress or equip themselves for padel. Your approach should reflect your game, your personality and what makes you feel confident and most able to perform.

Make like Gemma Triay, Claudia Fernandez and Catherine Rose with a top level Bullpadel racket just like the ones they use on the professional circuit. Claudia and Catherine use the Wonder 26 and Gemma plays with the Elite W Tour Final Edition 25.

Here's a practical framework:

• First, invest in a versatile racket that suits your play style. (Experienced women players will already have at least one racket!)
• Just as importantly, choose a pair of specialist padel shoes that will keep you stable and injury-free on court. If you've been playing in trainers, this is your cue to upgrade now.
• Add clothing separates that move with you. Mix‑and‑match padel pieces that fit well, allow full freedom of movement and make you feel good could be tops, shorts, skirts or dresses in fabrics that breathe and colours or prints you enjoy wearing.
• Think accessories. A branded padel bag in a style you love can be a signature move and show that you're serious about the game. You may find caps, visors and wristbands useful and aesthetically pleasing.

The goal of women's padel styling is to feel supported, safe and empowered to play your best padel and enjoy every moment on court. Whether that means head‑to‑toe coordination, mix‑and‑match practicality, bold colours or understated minimalism -that's your choice to make.

Explore our curated women's and unisex padel ranges at pdhsports.com. If you'd like personalised recommendations on shoes, rackets or outfits that match your game and personality, get in touch with our team. We're women padel players ourselves, and we love helping other players find kit that makes them feel brilliant on court and perform at their best, whether you're new to the game or a long-time fan.