Bullpadel Hack Knit Men's Padel Shoes

Most padel shoes are stitched together from several panels. Bullpadel built the Hack Knit the other way: a one-piece knitted upper with no overlapping layers, which it said cut weight and gave a glove-like fit. Shops listed it as light, flexible and breathable, with an OrthoLite insole, a Phylon midsole and Bullpadel's Sock Fit and Rotox systems for a snug, stable feel.

Underneath, the pair in our photos has a herringbone tread. That's the pattern you want on a UK court: the zig-zag grooves clear sand and grip on damp turf, where shallow studs tend to skate. One retailer listed the sole as all-court, so it's comfortable indoors too.

The name carried on but the shoe changed. Today's Hack Vibram 26I swaps the knit for a sock-like mesh with a rubber guard on the inside edge, adds a double-density midsole and puts a Vibram rubber outsole underneath. It's built for players who wear soles out and want maximum grip, and at about 431 g for a US 10.5 it feels planted rather than quick.

The Knit goes the other way: lighter and softer on the foot, and less armoured. For a social player or a lighter mover, that's often the more comfortable shoe.

Bullpadel's UK sizes run one up on ASICS and HEAD: on the brands' own charts a foot of about 28 cm is a UK 9 in those brands and a UK 10 in Bullpadel. So check the size in the buy box against your foot length in centimetres, not against the number in your trainers. A knit upper gives a little, but not a whole size.

Players whose size is in stock and who want a light, comfortable shoe for weekly club games at a reduced price. It's a good second pair too, for indoor sessions or warm days. Newer players can pair it with a beginner padel racket and be properly kitted out for less than a premium shoe alone. A Karakal performance insole adds cushioning for long sessions, the rest of the range is on our mens padel shoes and padel shoes pages, and our guide to choosing a padel racket covers the other half of a first kit.