adidas 3 Bar Towel Large

Seventy centimetres wide and 140 long, which is a bath-sheet width cut shorter than a beach towel. That is enough to wrap round your shoulders after a hard game and still fold small enough to sit on top of your kit. The hanger loop on the short edge lets you hang it from a bag zip or a fence, which matters on a court where the only dry surface is the one you bring.

The material is 100 per cent cotton, and one retailer calls it terry. Cotton soaks up sweat well and dries more slowly than microfibre, so hang it up when you get home rather than leaving it in the bag.

Padel is a sweaty, indoor-or-outdoor game with a lot of changeovers, and a dry grip makes a real difference. A towel over the bag handle or fence lets you wipe your hands between points. Pair it with a fresh overgrip from the padel grips range, and keep it in a padel bag pocket away from your padel shoes and clean padel balls.

More small kit that helps lives on the padel accessories page.

Wash it before first use so it absorbs properly, and wash it after every few sessions, because a damp towel left in a bag smells fast. Keep it away from fabric softener, which coats cotton fibres and cuts absorbency. If you are new to the game and still choosing kit, our guide to choosing a padel racket and the padel racket range cover what to buy first.