Mizuno Break Shot 5 Padel Shoes (Unisex)

Mizuno calls it a starter shoe, light and flexible, with a flat sole and a stack height of 12 mm. Stack height is how far the foot sits off the ground, and a low number generally means a closer feel for the floor. The relaxed last gives more room across a wide range of feet, and the Velcro makes the shoes easy to get on and off.

It is a beginner shoe, so it asks for less than an advanced padel shoe does. The page says it is light compared to entry-level models from other companies, which is the maker's comparison, not a test.

The weight is given as 315 g in the specification list. Elsewhere the page says a size 22.0 cm shoe weighs about 190 g, which is a junior size, so the two numbers are probably about different sizes. Drop, outsole material, midsole and upper are not stated. The surface is not named either: the shoe sits in padel and the copy talks about tennis courts.

Padel courts are mostly sand-filled artificial turf, and a flat, flexible sole is a general description, not a tread pattern. If you play on a deep sand fill, ask us about grip before buying. Retailers also sell Break Shot 5 shoes in clay and carpet versions under a different code, so check the code on the listing.

Step up to the lighter Mizuno Wave Exceed Court, the cushioned Mizuno Wave Enforce Court or compare it with the adidas CourtQuick men's shoes, the Drop Shot Sol W and the rest of the padel shoes range, and the men's padel shoes and women's padel shoes pages. A beginner also needs a first racket from our beginner padel rackets page, plus padel balls and a padel bag with a ventilated shoe pocket, such as the Black Crown Hurricane Pro 4.0 bag.

Players who want a sprung, locked-down shoe for hard sliding, and anyone who wants a stated tread pattern. As a beginner shoe it will be outgrown once you play often.