Best Budget Paddle

JOOLA Essentials Pickleball Paddles

For pickleball players just starting to find their stroke, the Joola Essentials Pickleball Paddle is the perfect option to grow your game. Combining a response polypropylene core with a fiberglass surface, the Joola Essentials paddle provides excellent pop and the light weight of a pro-worthy paddle, meaning it has everything a beginner needs (and nothing a beginner doesn’t).

The all-around performance makes it as easy on the wallet as it is on the eyes — the graphics look way more pro than the price would suggest. When you’re just starting out, a reliable, technologically-advanced paddle is a huge plus, and we think this paddle from Joola fits the bill.

Best Set

Recess Sunday Set

If you like pickleball but love design, Recess’ Sunday Set is for you (and whoever is lucky enough to play with you). Their paddles are made with a fiberglass surface and a honeycomb polypropylene core, then finished with a sanded texture on the surface for extra spin and control. This combination makes for a paddle with reliable performance, but where they really shine is in their range of designs. You have a choice of over 30 sets, each of which features a combination of patterns, ranging from cowboy-themed prints adorned with saddled horses to stripes and checkerboard designs.

Best Balls

PCKL Elite 40 Pickleballs

You may think all pickleball balls are created equal — it’s basically just a plastic ball with some holes in it, right? Wrong. Being the official ball of the Amateur Pickleball Association and the Southern Pickleball Association, the PCKL Elite 40 is tailor made for the game. They’re fast, durable, and utilize a unique pattern of perfectly spaced holes to ensure true flight both indoors and outdoors. You can choose between a bright neon green and the familiar yellow you probably used in middle school P.E.

Best Paddle Grips

Gamma Sports Supreme Overgrip

This tacky, absorbent paddle grip from Gamma Sports is our pick for the best grip money can buy. It’s made to soak up sweat, meaning you’ll keep a steady grip even when things get competitive. They come in seven colors and are just a few bucks for a three-pack (you can get 15-packs or more, if you’re okay with white grips). Each grip is 41 inches long, meaning it will fit racquet or paddle grips of all lengths, and they’re exceptionally soft without sacrificing durability.

Best Net

Har-tru PickleNet Deluxe Portable Pickleball Net

A pickleball net needs to be easy to move from place to place, be easy to assemble, and be sturdy enough for indoor and outdoor play. The Har-tru PickleNet Deluxe has that and more. It’s made with more than 50 percent aluminum components for ease of use and mobility and, at 42 pounds, is surprisingly lightweight. That might not sound that light for a measly net, but that includes all of the aluminum bits, the powder-coated steel base components, and a rolling bag. 

The steel gives the net some heft to optimize stability while the detachable, lockable wheels ensure that you can always get the net into the right place and keep it there. All that has made the PickleNet Deluxe the official net of USA Pickleball.

Best Paddle Cover

Selkirk Premium Pickleball Paddle Cover

You may think that just having a nice pickleball paddle is enough. But if you’re spending your hard earned cash on a pro-worthy paddle, you need to spend on a pro-worthy paddle case to keep it protected off the court. The Selkirk SLK Paddle Case is big enough to fit the entire paddle, handle included, meaning every bit of your precious paddle is protected from dings, scratches, and the elements. The case is made with soft PU leather, lined with french terry, and opens easily thanks to a smooth-as-butter zipper. It’s well worth the investment to protect the most important piece of pickleball equipment you own.

Best Retriever

Franklin Sports Pickleball Retriever Tube

Let’s face it, pickleball is pretty easy on the body, but bending over all the way to the ground to pick up the ball can be surprisingly tedious after a while, especially when you’re chasing balls all over the court during a practice session or warm up. The Franklin Sports Pickleball Retriever Tube will make the act of picking up a pickleball much more comfortable, plus it’s an ideal vessel for carrying all of your practice balls at once. It holds 13 balls in total, comes with a shoulder strap for easy carrying, and has a fence hook to keep it at arm level.

Best Net for Travel

Selkirk SLK Prime Portable Net

While we love the Har-Tru net mentioned above, there are times where you need a more mobile setup. Whether you’re taking over half of a tennis court for a weekend sesh or want to play some pickleball in the parking lot, the Selkirk SLK Prime Portable Net is the answer. Suited for indoor and outdoor use, the net meets USAP dimension requirements, which means you can play on a regulation court in any location. The frame is made from steel for durability and net straps guarantee perfect net tension every time you set it up. At just a shade under 20 pounds, the net is easy for anyone to carry, too. 

Best Duffel Bag

Babolat Racquet Holder Padel Lite Bag

If you prefer a gym bag-style instead of a backpack, we recommend the Babolat RH Padel Lite. It’s a compact and lightweight bag, ideal for carrying a couple of paddles, some pickleballs, and extra clothes. It has separate internal compartments for paddles and other gear, plus a zipper pocket on the outside to keep your accessories close by. The internal lining is color-free and made with 100 percent recycled polyester, and the color-free white lining makes it easier to spot your stuff within the bag.

Best Quick-dry Towel

Lululemon The (Small) Towel

Pretty much any physical activity is made better when you can easily wipe your sweat away. Whether you’re keeping your brow clear of sweat or trying to keep your hands dry for better paddle grip, Lululemon’s The (Small) Towel is the perfect accessory to keep close at hand throughout your pickleball game. It’s made with absorbent microfiber that soaks up way more than its weight in sweat and is ideal for all activities.

Best Sweatbands

Treadbands All-Terrain Tieback

While any fitness activity is going to make you sweat, pickleball (and other racquet sports) are unique because wiping your brow with your hands will negatively affect other parts of your game, namely keeping a grip on the paddle. Kind of important, right? Using a headband will keep sweat off your brow, leaving your hands free to swing the paddle.

There’s no harm in rocking a sweatband — if Rafael Nadal, one of the best tennis players of all time wears one, you should too. The TreadBands All-terrain Tieback is unique because of its TreadGripStrip synthetic rubber strip that keeps the headband in place, no matter how intense your activities get. Made from a performance ring-spun polyester-spandex blend, the headband is crafted for intense activity but is as soft as your favorite cotton T-shirt.

Best Sunglasses

RIA Eyewear Model One Court HD+

If you primarily play outdoors, a pair of quality eyewear is a must-have. Not only will these frames keep the sun’s harmful rays from scorching your eyeballs, they’ll keep you protected from wayward pickleballs. Getting hit in the face is bad enough, you don’t need your eyes to be damaged, as well. The RIA Eyewear Model One is designed specifically for racquet sports, meaning the lenses are most at home under the sun on outdoor court surfaces. The frames come in seven different colors, so you can take your pick to stand out or blend in.

Best Hat

Nike Dri-fit ADV Club Snapback Cap

You may think hats are a dime a dozen and, in many cases, they are. However, some hats stand out from the pack, making them a must-buy for the pickleball enthusiast. The Nike Dri-fit ADV Club cap is one of those standouts. It comes in three sizes, which is unique for a fitness cap, and in three colors. Made with moisture-wicking fabric and dotted with strategically-placed, breathable perforations, this versatile cap is as high-tech as it is stylish. Don’t be surprised if you start reaching for it on more than matchdays. Just be sure to clean off those pesky sweat marks before you wear it to brunch.

Best Tee for Men

Rhone Reign Short Sleeve

Rhone’s Reign Short Sleeve shirt is a workout staple for gym rats, court lovers, and everyone in between. Being the brand’s most popular tee, it comes in over 20 colors and five sizes, plus it goes on sale every so often, meaning you can pick up a few tees without putting too big of a dent in your wallet. It features UPF 50+ fabric, adding a layer of protection from the sun, and is infused with Rhone’s signature anti-odor technology to keep you fresh, even when things get heated on the court.

Best Shorts for Women

Wilson The Challenger Lined Short

A staple in the world of racquet sports, Wilson not only makes some of the best equipment in the game, it makes some excellent apparel, too. If you’re on the hunt for some shorts to take you from the courts to the gym floor, the Challenger Lined Short is an ideal choice. The stretchy compression shorts provide support while the ultra-light, billowy outer shorts provide just enough coverage. They’re stretchy, quick drying, and breathable, plus they have pockets, which is invaluable when playing racquet sports, but also makes them great for a coffee run after your workout.

Best Shorts for Men

Alo Conquer React Performance Short

Alo Yoga has taken the fitness world by storm in the past few years, giving the bigger players like Lululemon a run for their money. The Conquer React Performance Shorts are a great example of why they’ve won so many fans. They’re ideal shorts for guys wanting something durable, but also stylish enough that they can be worn on and off the court.

The pockets are great for stowing an extra pickleball, while the sleek, streamlined fit won’t get in the way of your movement. The different sizes come with their own specific inseam length, too, which means your shorts will be the right length, no matter what body type you have. They also come in a handful of colors and sizes.

Best Skirt

Outdoor Voices Court Skort

Skorts are a must have in the world of racquet sports and country clubs, adding a pop of style to your otherwise standard fitness wardrobe. The Outdoor Voices Court Skort is made with OV’s durable midweight compression fabric and has a hidden phone pocket. They come in eight sizes and a few different colors, making them easy to style with other OV gear or anything you already have in your closet.

Best Dress

Recess Merrit Dress

If you want to take things one step further than a skort, pick up the Recess Merit Dress. Its espresso colorway is subtle yet unique and the ribbed paneling on the sides add a bit of flair to the dress. It has a deep zipper for comfort, making it easy to put on and to style in your own specific way. The restriction-free stretch fabric was made to move with your body, a must-have feature when on the pickleball court. Just keep in mind that this dress runs small, so be sure to size up if you decide to pick one up.

Best Outdoor Shoes for Men

K-Swiss Hypercourt Express 2

Another top pick from K-Swiss, the Hypercourt Express 2 is a versatile, affordable shoe that comes in a bunch of great colors, giving you the chance to not only stay comfy throughout your game but also express yourself. The midsole technology is tailor-made for all-day comfort, while the sizing is generous to accommodate all types of foot shapes and playing styles. The brand’s best-selling shoe, the Hypercourt Express 2 is already a go to for tons of players, so why not you too?

Best Indoor Shoes for Women

Asics Gel-tactic 12 Womens Indoor Court Shoes

If you primarily play indoors, we recommend the Gel Tactic 12 from Asics. Ideal for beginners looking for a combination of stability and flexibility, the Gel Tactic will provide sure footing, letting you keep your eye on the ball and focus on technique. The upper is made for breathability, while a print reinforcement adds lateral support for uni-directional movement. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or need a shoe for everyday indoor pickleball practice, the Gel-tactic 12 is an excellent choice.

Best Indoor Shoes for Men

Skechers Viper Court Pickleball Shoe

Our top pick for indoor shoes for men, the Skechers Relaxed Fit: Viper Court – Pickleball is another shoe designed specifically for pickleball. While it’s designed for all courts, it excels on indoor hard and clay courts thanks to a hardy outsole made by Goodyear (yes, the tire company). The insole is made with a super comfortable shockproof EVA foam that will provide support on any surface, and the mesh upper keeps your feet cool in any temperature.

Best Budget Shoes for Women

Asics Women’s Upcourt 5 Indoor Sport Shoe

While the Upcourt 5 from Asics is technically a volleyball shoe, the stable platform, flexibility, and durable toe and heel counters make it a great choice for pickleball players, too. The longevity is great for a shoe this affordable and it comes in a number of different colors and sizes, perfect for the player who likes a bit of personality in their shoes. They’re made with multidirectional movement in mind, a must-have on the pickleball court, and the mesh panels on the upper allows for a softer and more adaptable fit. All in all, these are a great deal.