You don't need padel-specific clothing to play, but an enclosed glass court traps heat in a way an open pickleball or tennis court doesn't, and that's where real moisture-wicking fabric starts to matter. Here are five real pieces worth buying, from a budget pair of shorts to sun-protective arm sleeves.
MOISTURE-WICKING, STRETCH FIT
HEAT BUILDS UP FAST
Why Padel-Specific Apparel Is Worth It
Specialist padel brands like Bullpadel build shirts and shorts with fast-moisture-transport fabric and stretch panels tuned for the sport's constant lateral cuts and volleys — details generic gym wear doesn't always account for. Padel shorts also commonly include a ball pocket, borrowed straight from tennis, since players carry a spare ball mid-point far more often than pickleball players do. None of this is required to play casually, but it shows up more the longer and harder you play, especially on an enclosed court where heat has nowhere to go.
Five Pieces Worth Buying
Bullpadel Afate Padel Shorts (Men's) — ~$25
The budget entry point: a comfortable, stretchy everyday short from a genuine padel specialist brand, without the premium fabric technology of the pricier options below.
Bullpadel Afate Padel Shorts
~$25Comfortable stretch fit, everyday padel-specific short
Bullpadel Meis 25V Padel Shorts (Men's) — ~$42–59
A step up in fabric technology: Bullpadel's Drycel moisture-wicking system built for more demanding, frequent play.
Bullpadel Meis 25V Padel Shorts
~$42–59Drycel moisture-wicking technology, built for demanding play
Bullpadel Adres Premier Padel T-Shirt (Women's) — ~$45–65
A performance tee with the same Drycel moisture-management fabric as the Meis shorts, in a fit built specifically for women's padel apparel rather than a unisex cut.
Bullpadel Adres Premier Padel T-Shirt
~$45–65Performance tee with Drycel moisture management fabric
You don't need padel-specific apparel to play — but on an enclosed court trapping heat, the difference between a cotton tee and real moisture-wicking fabric shows up by the second set.
Bullpadel Eleva Short-Sleeve Performance T-Shirt (Women's) — ~$50–63
A stretch-fit performance tee with fast moisture transport, similar in spirit to the Adres Premier above with a different cut and colorway lineup.
Bullpadel Eleva Short-Sleeve Performance T-Shirt
~$50–63Stretch performance fit with fast moisture transport
SParms UPF 50+ Arm Sleeves — ~$40–54
Not padel-specific, but genuinely useful for outdoor courts: cooling performance fabric with UPF 50+ sun coverage, the same real product we recommend for outdoor pickleball.
SParms UPF 50+ Arm Sleeves
~$40–54Cooling performance fabric, UPF 50+ coverage, built for outdoor racket sports
Comparison Table
| Piece | Type | Notable | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullpadel Afate Shorts | Men's shorts | Budget, stretch fit | ~$25 |
| Bullpadel Meis 25V Shorts | Men's shorts | Drycel moisture-wicking | ~$42–59 |
| Bullpadel Adres Premier Tee | Women's t-shirt | Drycel moisture-wicking | ~$45–65 |
| Bullpadel Eleva Tee | Women's t-shirt | Stretch performance fit | ~$50–63 |
| SParms UPF 50+ Sleeves | Arm sleeves | UPF 50+ sun coverage | ~$40–54 |
Prices pulled from manufacturer and retailer listings at the time of writing and vary by size, color and retailer — confirm current price before buying.
What to Know Before You Buy
Most padel-specific apparel brands, including Bullpadel, are European — check the brand's specific size chart rather than assuming your usual US size runs the same. Darker colors also tend to show less staining from court dust and turf infill than white, which is worth factoring in for outdoor play. For the rest of a complete padel kit, see our padel shoes guide and padel rackets guide.
