It's tempting to buy everything on your first trip, but a padel kit only needs a handful of things to actually work. Here's the order we'd prioritize.
1. Racket
The one thing you can't skip. See our racket buying guide if you haven't picked one yet.
2. Shoes
Padel courts use artificial turf or hard synthetic surfaces, and regular running or tennis shoes wear out fast and slip on lateral movements. Padel-specific soles are worth it from day one — this is the second-most injury-relevant purchase after the racket itself.
3. Grip / overgrip
Every racket ships with a base grip, but overgrips are cheap, wear out fast, and directly affect how secure your hold is on fast exchanges. Keep a spare in your bag — they take two minutes to replace.
4. Balls
Padel balls lose pressure faster than tennis balls and courts usually expect you to bring your own. A tube or two is standard kit, not an accessory.
5. A bag
Optional at first, essential once you own more than one racket. A dedicated racket bag keeps grips, balls and spares in one place instead of loose in a backpack.
Everything past this — wristbands, protectors, dampeners — is refinement, not requirement. Start with the five above and add as you figure out your own game.