K-Swiss Court Express 2 Clay Mens Padel Shoes

Dunlop Sports, which handles K-Swiss in the UK, files it in the Clay series as an entry shoe, and Padel Nuestro lists it as a padel shoe for men. Both are true: a clay-court sole with a zigzag or herringbone tread is the same family of grip that padel players want on sand-dressed turf. The listing calls it non-marking, which matters for indoor courts.

The mesh upper is 100 per cent polyester and is there for ventilation, and the K-EVA midsole is the cushioning. Padel Nuestro says it is for players who are still improving their technique, with extra stability and comfort, which fits an entry price band better than a tour model.

A herringbone tread is a row of zigzag channels, so the two descriptions are close to the same thing. What matters on a padel court is that the channels are cut deep enough to bite through the sand and let it escape. We cannot tell you the depth, and Dunlop's own copy names a slightly different rubber, Aosta II, on one version, so the outsole naming is not consistent across listings.

On a lightly sanded club court a clay sole will cope. On a very sandy outdoor court a padel-specific sole is easier to control. Our padel shoes page explains the difference between herringbone, omni and hybrid patterns.

K-Swiss sells more than one shoe for padel. The Express Light 3 is the padel-labelled one, with a herringbone sole in Aosta 7.0 rubber, a DuraWrap Flex upper and a CMEVA midsole, according to retailers. It is the closer fit to what a padel player wants. The Ultrashot Light and the Tura Team are the others in the line, and neither publishes its specification.

The Ultrashot 4 Clay is the better-equipped clay shoe, with a full herringbone. For a performance shoe with a forefoot frame, the K-Frame is the step up. The women's Express Light 3 is the same idea in a women's fit. There is also a women's version of this shoe, the Court Express 2 Clay for women. If you want the entry shoe from another brand, the Babolat Jet Viva is the comparison, and our padel shoes for men page lists the rest.

Anyone who plays several times a week on a sandy court, who needs a published weight, or who wants a padel-only shoe. This is a clay tennis shoe that also suits padel, and the listings give no drop or sizes.

If you are new to padel, a forgiving racket matters as much as the shoe. Our best padel racket for beginners page lists them, and the wider padel racket range covers the rest. Balls are on the padel balls page and overgrips on the padel grips page.

A bag with a shoe pocket keeps sand away from your kit, such as the Babolat RH Pro, and the padel bag page lists more. Our guide to choosing a padel racket is the place to begin.