New Balance 796 v3 Womens Padel Shoes (Black, WCH796B3)

The description that comes up most is lightness and agility. The midsole is REVlite, which the Padel Point listing calls lightweight and reactive, the upper is a technical mesh with synthetic reinforcements for support and ventilation, and there is a padded collar and a soft tongue. The outsole is rubber with multi-directional traction.

That is a fair description of a shoe built for quick lateral movement, and it is not a heavily cushioned one. A low profile sits closer to the floor, which many players like for stability and some find firm over a long session.

The surface wording is the one to watch. The Padel Point listing says the traction is optimised for hard surfaces, which is how a hard-court tennis shoe is described, while padel retailers list the same model name as a padel shoe. Padel courts are mostly sand-filled artificial turf, so ask us about grip if that matters to you before you buy.

Weight, drop, level and the size run are missing from the listings we found, and so is the closure type. The black code WCH796B3 appeared on a Padel Nuestro listing with no description at all, so the details above come from the grey and violet colourway and are not guaranteed to match the black pair.

The name also covers several codes. The women's white is WCH796P3, the women's white and black is WCH796D3, and the men's black is MCH796B3. Newer v4 and v5 versions of the 796 exist as well, so check you are looking at the v3 before comparing reviews.

Compare it with the adidas CourtQuick women's shoes, the Drop Shot Sol W and the Mizuno Wave Exceed Court, which Mizuno sells as a unisex lightweight shoe. The full padel shoes range and the women's padel shoes page cover the rest.

A new player also needs a racket and balls, so see the beginner padel rackets, the padel racket range and padel balls.

Anyone who wants a stated weight, drop or tread pattern before buying, and players who need a thickly cushioned shoe.