Padel is the fastest-growing racquet sport in the world. Easy to start, endlessly rewarding to develop — and the quality of your equipment directly shapes how quickly you improve and how much you enjoy the game. The right racket builds technique. The right shoes protect your joints. The wrong ball pressure disrupts every rally.

At Altimus Outdoor on Kensington High Street, London, we stock a curated range of padel equipment from the sport's most trusted brands — including Bullpadel, Babolat, Bas3line and Asics. This guide gives you everything you need to make informed decisions at every stage of your padel journey.

Your padel racket is your most important investment. Unlike tennis, padel rackets are solid and perforated with no strings — and they come in three distinct shapes, each engineered for a different player type. Getting this choice right from the start prevents bad habits and accelerates your development on court.

Round Shape — Maximum Control for Beginners
Round rackets position the sweet spot centrally and low on the face, delivering maximum control and forgiveness on off-centre hits. If you are new to padel, a round racket is the recommended starting point. Bullpadel and Babolat both produce outstanding round-frame rackets that offer exceptional consistency without sacrificing build quality. Available at Altimus Outdoor.

Teardrop Shape — Balanced Performance for Improving Players
The teardrop shape raises the sweet spot slightly, delivering a blend of control and power ideal for developing club players. This is the most versatile shape on the market. Bas3line has built a particularly strong reputation in the UK for their teardrop rackets — well-crafted, well-priced, and trusted by intermediate players looking to level up their game.

Diamond Shape — Maximum Power for Advanced Players
Diamond rackets are top-heavy and generate significant power on smashes and attacking shots, but demand precise technique. They are designed for advanced players who consistently find the sweet spot. Bullpadel's professional range includes diamond-frame rackets used by World Padel Tour competitors — available at Altimus Outdoor for experienced players seeking elite-level performance.

We stock the brands that serious padel players actually trust — used on professional tours and endorsed by club players across the UK. Here is what makes each brand distinctive and which player type they suit best.

The most common — and most costly — mistake new padel players make is arriving at the court in running trainers or tennis shoes. Padel courts use artificial turf surfaces that require a completely different outsole pattern from any other sport. Using the wrong footwear reduces performance and significantly increases your risk of ankle sprains and knee injuries from the sport's sharp lateral movements.

Purpose-built padel shoes offer three critical features: a herringbone or sand-pattern outsole for multi-directional grip on turf, reinforced lateral walls to stabilise the ankle during quick side-to-side movement, and a cushioned midsole to absorb the repeated impact of court surfaces. At Altimus Outdoor, we stock Asics padel shoes for men and women — one of the most trusted names in sports footwear globally, applied directly to the demands of padel.

Shop padel footwear at Altimus Outdoor: Men's padel shoes · Women's padel shoes · Padel socks — all in stock and available for same-day collection at our Kensington store.

Padel Balls
Padel balls look similar to tennis balls but operate at a lower internal pressure, producing a slower and more controlled bounce suited to the enclosed court. Using tennis balls on a padel court is a common beginner mistake — the excess pressure creates an unpredictable, high bounce that distorts the game. Babolat padel balls available at Altimus Outdoor are approved for both recreational and competitive play.

Padel Bags
Heat, cold, and physical impact all degrade a padel racket's foam core over time. A proper padel bag with a padded racket compartment is a sound investment in protecting your equipment. Altimus Outdoor stocks padel bags suitable for single-racket recreational players and multi-racket competitive players alike.

Overgrip & Wrist Straps
Fresh overgrip tape gives you confident control of your racket handle during intense rallies and match conditions. Replacing it regularly is one of the highest-impact, lowest-cost improvements any padel player can make. Wrist straps additionally protect the joint during powerful overhead smashes. Both are available at Altimus Outdoor.

Padel Apparel
Padel demands rapid lateral movement and sustained intensity. Your clothing needs moisture-wicking fabric, unrestricted shoulder mobility for overhead play, and flexible fits for low defensive shots. Altimus Outdoor stocks a complete range of padel tops, shorts, jackets and sweatpants for men and women.

Happy Playing!