How to prepare your padel bag properly
Padel rackets, padel balls, shoes, overgrips, accessories: the complete checklist and best practices so you never arrive on court missing something.
You arrive at the club, you open your bag, and then disaster strikes: you’ve forgotten a new overgrip, your padel balls have been dead for three weeks, and you haven’t got a bottle for the match that’s going to last 1h30 in 28°C heat. Everyone’s been through that at least once. It’s frustrating, it ruins the session, and it could be avoided with 5 minutes of preparation.
This guide isn’t just “a list of things to put in your bag”. It’s a method to never forget anything again, a breakdown of the differences between paletero, backpack and travel bag, and our recommendations tested on the best 2026 models — with discounted prices.
No point investing £112 in a 45 L paletero if you play twice a week at the club. Conversely, a 25 L backpack isn’t enough for a competitor who carries 2 padel rackets + shoes + spare kit. First ask yourself: how many hours a week, and where am I going (club / tournament / travel) ?
The 3 padel bag formats
Backpack (20-30 L)
The compact format, perfect for regular club players. It carries 1 padel racket, your shoes, a spare outfit and something to drink. Advantage: comfortable for everyday use, fits on a bike and public transport, tucks under your desk. Limitations: not suitable for 2 padel rackets or long trips.
Paletero (25-35 L)
The padel-specific format, halfway between a backpack and a sports bag. Designed to carry 2 padel rackets in a dedicated compartment, with storage for padel balls, overgrips and accessories. It’s the standard for committed players and the preferred format for competitors. Most pro brands (Bullpadel, Head, Wilson) offer their signature paletero with an insulated compartment for padel balls.
Tour bag / pro bag (40-50 L)
The large format for competitors and coaches. Able to carry 3 padel rackets or more, several pairs of shoes, two complete outfits. With insulated compartments, ventilation for shoes and a large main compartment. Ideal for multi-day tournaments, air travel, or coaches who transport their teaching kit.
Head Pro X 45L — large capacity, insulated padel ball compartment, tournament finish.
The perfect bag checklist
Here’s what you need to find in your bag before each session. Print it out, tape it inside the bag, and your future self will thank you.
Essential — every time
- 1 padel racket (2 if you’re a competitor, in case of breakage)
- 3 padel balls in a recently opened tube (or a pressuriser for extended storage)
- Padel shoes with clay/herringbone sole (not running trainers)
- Playing kit : shorts, breathable technical t-shirt, socks
- 1 bottle of water 75 cl minimum (1.5 L in summer)
- Terry towel small size to dry off between games
- Spare overgrip in its packaging
Recommended — depending on context
- New frame protector if your old one breaks
- Headband / cap in hot weather
- Sports sunglasses for outdoor courts
- SPF 30+ sunscreen for long outdoor matches
- Energy bar or banana for sessions longer than 90 mins
- Spare outfit if you’re playing 2 matches back-to-back
- Waterproof pouch for phone and keys
Competition / tournament
- 2 padel rackets (one spare in case of breakage)
- Box of 24 tubes or 1 box x6 depending on tournament duration
- Pressuriser to keep your padel balls fresh between matches
- Sports tape (kinésio tape, strapping)
- Compeed or blister plasters
- Isotonic drinks or electrolytes
- FFT licence and ID
Our bag selection
A varied selection to cover all profiles, from occasional leisure players to serious competitors. All our bags are at least 50% off.
| Model | Type | Capacity | Ideal for | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adidas Tour 3.5 2026 | Paletero | 25 L | Regular leisure | £29 £69 | See → |
| Wilson Defy V1 (backpack) | Backpack | 25 L | Daily commute | £29 £69 | See → |
| Bullpadel Vertex BPP26001 | Paletero | 30 L | Regular player | £39 £79 | See → |
| Tecnifibre Reform Paletero | Paletero | 30 L | Competitor | £39 £99 | See → |
| Wilson Bela V3 (signature) | Paletero | 35 L | Committed player | £39 £99 | See → |
| Head Coello Pro X 30L | Backpack | 30 L | Versatile | £49 £119 | See → |
| Head Pro X 45L | Pro Bag | 45 L | Tournaments / coach | £39 £99 | See → |
| Wilson Defy V1 (paletero) | Paletero | 35 L | Very versatile | £49 £119 | See → |
The details that make all the difference
The insulated padel ball compartment
Padel balls hate extreme heat and cold. An insulated compartment built into the bag (found on the Head Pro X, Bullpadel signature, Wilson Bela) protects padel balls between 5°C and 30°C even if the bag is in the boot in the sun. Essential for keeping padel balls fresh between 2 matches in summer.
Shoe ventilation
A separate, ventilated compartment for shoes prevents odours and limits bacterial growth. Look for padel bags with a dedicated breathable pocket, ideally with ventilation eyelets. Otherwise, place your shoes in a perforated plastic bag.
The shoulder straps
On a full padel bag (often 7–8 kg when well packed), the quality of the straps makes all the difference. Look for padded straps with memory foam and ergonomic S-shaped straps (which follow the shoulder contour). Top-of-the-range models even offer “breathable” mesh straps.
The valuables compartment
Small zipped interior pocket for phone, debit card, keys. Ideally with soft lining to avoid scratching the screen. Present on virtually all high-end models.
Common mistakes to avoid
Leaving your padel racket in the car in winter
Cold temperatures (below 5°C) damage carbon fibre and weaken the adhesive between the face layers. Always bring your padel racket indoors between sessions in winter. Same in summer: no padel racket in a car at 50°C, it warps the EVA core.
Mixing wet padel balls and dry equipment
If you play in the rain or on a damp court, the padel balls will absorb water. Placed in the bag with your padel racket and clothes, they’ll dampen everything. Separate wet items in a plastic bag before packing.
Storing a dirty, closed bag
After an intense session, remove your damp kit and wash it, take out your shoes to dry, and leave the bag slightly open to air. Otherwise you’ll find it riddled with bacteria the following week.
Frequently asked questions
What size padel bag should a beginner choose?
For beginners, a 25–30 L padel bag or a 25 L backpack is plenty. You only need one padel racket, your shoes, your kit and something to drink. No need to invest in a 45 L pro bag until you’re entering tournaments or have more than one padel racket. Budget 30 to £52 on sale for a good entry-level model.
Can I take my padel bag as carry-on luggage on a plane?
Standard padel bags (up to 35 L and 55 cm long) usually pass as cabin luggage on most airlines. Beyond that (45 L+ tour bags), it goes in the hold. Beware: some low-cost carriers (Ryanair, Wizz Air) apply very strict dimensions — check before you go. Padel rackets are carbon fibre, so they’re permitted in the cabin without issue.
How do I maintain my padel bag?
Air it out after each session (remove damp kit, leave open), clean the interior with a damp cloth once a month, and wash it thoroughly (by hand, warm water + gentle soap) 1–2 times per season. Avoid the washing machine, which damages seams and zips. For stubborn odours, bicarbonate of soda in a cotton sock placed in the bag works wonders.
What’s the difference between a padel bag and a tennis bag?
The padel bag is shorter (padel rackets are 45 cm long versus 68 cm for a tennis racket), with a narrower padel racket compartment and internal organisation designed for padel balls. You can carry a padel racket in a tennis bag, but it’s poorly sized and the racket moves around inside. Conversely, a tennis racket won’t fit in a padel bag.
Do I really need 2 padel rackets in my bag?
For casual play, no — one padel racket is plenty. For competition, yes, it’s strongly recommended: a violent impact against the glass wall can crack the face mid-match, and without a spare padel racket you forfeit the game. Many competitors keep their current racket plus the old one (still in good condition) as a spare. Cost: nothing, and complete peace of mind.
What bag can I use to carry office items too?
Backpack-style bags like Head Coello Pro X or Wilson Defy often feature a separate 15″ laptop compartment and pockets for pens, notebooks, etc. Perfect if you’re playing after the office. Look for “laptop compartment” or “tech pocket” in the bag description. Also prioritise a bag with adjustable straps for backpack-style carrying rather than crossbody, more comfortable for everyday use.
How do I keep padel balls fresh in my bag all week?
Three solutions: 1) A pressuriser (from £19 with us, in 3 or 4 ball format) that maintains the original pressure for months. 2) A bag with an isothermal compartment that slows temperature fluctuations. 3) Store the ball tube away from heat (not in the boot in summer). The most effective solution is to combine a pressuriser + cool storage when you’re not playing for several weeks.
My padel bag smells bad — how do I remove the odour?
The smell mainly comes from shoes and the damp compartment. Solutions in order of effectiveness: 1) Wash the bag by hand with gentle soap + 30 min sun-drying. 2) Put bicarbonate of soda in a cotton sock, leave for 48 hours in the closed bag. 3) For stubborn odours, a textile disinfectant spray (Febreze, Sanytol) does the job. Going forward: systematically remove shoes and kit after each session.
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