There’s a good chance you’ve been badgered by one or more of your mates to hit the nearest padel court as soon as you’re physically able. Those are usually the friends who threaten to drag you along to Parkrun, eat breakfast at a place that isn’t Spur, and then do it all again in a week. If that doesn’t sound particularly agreeable, we’d suggest biting the bullet and getting in on the padel hype instead – with a decent pair of tekkies to boot.
Up a creek with a padel (shoe)
While any decent pair knocking about at the back of your cupboard would do (seriously), Hi-Tec South Africa has hopes of selling you a R1,400 pair called the Padel-AC once you’re comfortable enough to take your game to the next level. Whether it can pull off such a feat… we’re not so sure. But it’s a hell of a lot easier than putting in more hours at the court. Have you seen the price of those things lately?
“When we set out to design our Padel-AC shoe, the goal was simple: create a performance-driven shoe that doesn’t compromise on comfort or style, all while staying affordable”, said Gordon Stokes, product director at Hi-Tec. “The upper is crafted to be ultra-light and breathable, offering the perfect balance of flexibility and support for those quick moves that make Padel so exciting. The shoe’s anti-slip outsole is highly abrasion-resistant which is necessary for Padel court surfaces.”
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If you weren’t aware, padel courts aren’t just a rehash of the traditional tennis court. Sand makes up the flooring here for a more interesting scrape on the knee when you take a tumble. It also helps players get a grip on the fast-moving pace of the game. Like Hi-Tec’s tennis shoes, the new AC pair comes with a herringbone tread pattern to give you that extra grip, or a quick slide when needed.
The OrthoLite insole used here is what puts the AC in Padel-AC, keeping your little piggies a whole lot drier than they would have been with “super sweat management.” It also helps that you won’t get any funny looks if you happen to take a stroll in these anywhere other than the padel court.