The best padel gifts are the ones a player will use every week: fresh overgrips, a tube of balls, grip spray, and a proper bag or racket cover. Rackets and shoes are the riskiest things to buy blind. If you are spending more, choose something that lasts and does not depend on size or on which racket they like.
This guide goes by budget, says what not to buy without checking, and shows where a handcrafted leather gift fits. For UK delivery before Christmas, order by Wednesday 16 December.
Under £25: the gifts every padel player uses
Start with what wears out. Overgrips are the most practical gift for almost any regular player, because a fresh grip improves control and stops the racket slipping. Retailers such as Decathlon UK list overgrip packs from roughly £5 to £13. Add a tube of padel balls, which regular players get through quickly, and a grip spray if they play in the heat or sweat a lot.
Do not buy tennis balls. Padel balls are made for the game and are not the same thing.
The gifts a player uses every week are the ones that wear out
£25 to £100: kit they will notice
This is where a padel bag or backpack lives. A racket carried loose picks up scuffs, so a padel-specific bag is a gift that protects what they already own. Decathlon lists a six-racket bag at £39.99, for example. Frame protectors, towels, wristbands and caps also sit in this range.
If you are unsure what to buy, ask how many rackets they carry. Our guide to padel bags and backpacks explains which kind suits which player.
£100 to £250: a gift that lasts
This is where we make our own case. The Padelsmith Bag and The Padelsmith Cover are the two pieces of our first leather collection, handcrafted from Italian leather in a workshop just outside Madrid.
The Padelsmith Bag (£220) is an everyday backpack with a front racket pouch, a main compartment and a laptop sleeve for up to 13 inches, so it goes to work and to the court. The Padelsmith Cover (£185) is a leather racket cover with a soft-touch interior, a zipped pocket and a removable strap. Both are made to be kept, and neither depends on a size or a taste in rackets.
The Padelsmith Bag and The Padelsmith Cover
They also suit gifting. Each arrives in its own cotton dust bag with a handwritten note, and there are no prices on the packing slip. Delivery in the UK is free. Leather needs a little care, so we have written a short guide on how to care for a leather padel bag, and one on real leather versus faux leather if you want to compare.
The Padelsmith Bag, with a racket in the front pouch
The Padelsmith Cover
£250 and over: a racket
A racket is the biggest gift and the easiest one to get wrong. Find out what they play now, and the shape and weight they like. Round rackets favour control, diamond rackets favour attack, and weight changes how fast the racket moves. Our guides to diamond versus round rackets and the padel racket weight guide will help you decide.
If you know they play an attacking game, The Padelsmith #1 (£320) is a 350g diamond racket with a high balance and a 12K carbon face, designed in Britain and hand finished in Andalucía. If you are not sure, the Bag or the Cover is the safer gift.
The embossed 3D face of The Padelsmith #1
What not to buy blind
- A racket you have not checked. Shape, weight and balance are personal.
- Padel shoes. Fit and court type matter, and sizes vary between brands.
- Tennis balls or tennis grips. They are not interchangeable with padel equipment.
- Anything too big. A 60 litre tournament bag is wasted on someone who carries one racket.
Christmas delivery: the last order date
For UK delivery before Christmas, order by Wednesday 16 December. UK orders ship with Royal Mail Tracked 48, whose last Christmas posting date is Saturday 19 December, so ordering by the 16th leaves time to dispatch and a day to spare. For orders outside the UK, allow extra time and see our shipping policy.
A quick checklist before you buy
- Find out what racket they play now, and how many they carry.
- Think about wear: overgrips and balls are always used, bags and covers last for years.
- Check delivery and returns before you order. Our shipping policy and returns policy have the details.
- Order early, and by Wednesday 16 December for UK delivery before Christmas. Popular gifts can sell out before then.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good gift for a padel player?
Practical consumables are the safest: overgrips, balls and grip spray. For a bigger gift, a padel bag or racket cover protects their racket and lasts for years.
What do you buy a beginner padel player?
A tube of balls, a pack of overgrips and a simple bag or cover. Leave the racket to them until they know what they like.
Is a padel racket a good gift?
Only if you know what they play. Check their current racket, shape and weight first, or give them a gift that does not depend on it.
What is a luxury gift for a padel player?
A handcrafted leather piece such as The Padelsmith Bag (£220) or The Padelsmith Cover (£185), each in its own dust bag with a handwritten note.
Can I send a gift without the price showing?
Yes. Padelsmith orders ship with no prices on the packing slip.
What is the last order date for Christmas delivery?
For UK delivery before Christmas, order from Padelsmith by Wednesday 16 December. Orders outside the UK need extra time, so check our shipping policy.
Written by Souhaib Benmaou
Founder & Director, Padelsmith Ltd. London-based, Padelsmith designs premium padel rackets and accessories in Britain, handcrafted in Andalucía. Souhaib writes about racket construction, materials, and the craft behind serious play.