Can you use tennis shoes for padel?

Yes, far better than running shoes. Clay-court tennis shoes with herringbone tread work well on padel courts. Dedicated padel shoes are usually a little more stable laterally.

How long do padel shoes last?

That depends on use, surface and model. Check for worn patches in the tread, damage to the upper and a fit that no longer holds securely. The condition of the shoe matters, not a fixed number of months.

What do good padel shoes cost?

Decent models start at around 60 euros, the main range sits between 90 and 140 euros. Beyond that you're mostly paying for lighter materials.

Do you need different shoes for indoor and outdoor?

Usually not. Most venues use the same surface whether covered or not. A mixed tread covers both.

Padel Shoes: Tread, Support and Surface

Why running shoes do not belong on a padel court

Padel is short sprints, sideways steps and abrupt stops. Running shoes are built for forward motion. For padel, choose shoes with lateral support and a tread suited to the court.

The second reason is the sole. Running soles leave marks on sand-filled artificial grass and compact the sand. Many venues therefore require shoes with a suitable tread.

The tread decides the surface

Recognise the treadHerringbone has continuous zigzag grooves; studded soles have separate raised points; mixed tread combines sections. Check your venue’s requirements.

Tread	Surface	Property
Herringbone	Artificial grass with sand	Grips in sand, allows controlled sliding
Omni / studded	Clay, older artificial grass	Many small studs, very good grip
Smooth / mixed	Modern surfaces, indoor	Grippy on dense surfaces

Most padel venues use sand-filled artificial grass. If you do not know what you will be playing on, a herringbone or mixed tread is the safest choice and works almost everywhere.

Three constructions

Type	Strength	Suits
Stable	Lateral support, firm heel counter	Strong players, net play, previous ankle trouble
Fast	Light, direct ground contact	Mobile style, lots of court coverage
Balanced	A mix of both	The safe standard

Cushioning and lateral support

When trying shoes on, consider cushioning feel alongside fit and lateral support. More cushioning may not feel better to you.

High cushioning — can feel softer underfoot
Low cushioning — can give a more direct feel for the ground

What our database covers

The shoe finder holds 24 models:

Attribute	Split
Construction	10 balanced, 7 stable, 7 fast
Surface	13 mixed, 6 modern surfaces, 5 sand
Width	19 standard, 5 wide
Cushioning	13 high, 11 medium

The point that matters most: width

Padel shoes often run narrow, especially the Spanish brands. Wide feet need models with a wide last — otherwise the toes press against the front of the shoe on every stop. After two hours that is the difference between enjoyment and going home.

Try shoes on in the afternoon or evening: feet are slightly larger than in the morning. A thumb's width in front of the longest toe is the usual guide.

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Frequently asked

Can you use tennis shoes for padel?: Yes, far better than running shoes. Clay-court tennis shoes with herringbone tread work well on padel courts. Dedicated padel shoes are usually a little more stable laterally.
How long do padel shoes last?: That depends on use, surface and model. Check for worn patches in the tread, damage to the upper and a fit that no longer holds securely. The condition of the shoe matters, not a fixed number of months.
What do good padel shoes cost?: Decent models start at around 60 euros, the main range sits between 90 and 140 euros. Beyond that you're mostly paying for lighter materials.
Do you need different shoes for indoor and outdoor?: Usually not. Most venues use the same surface whether covered or not. A mixed tread covers both.