FAQ — Padel Gear, Balls & Subscription Boxes
Everything you need to know about El Lote, our padel balls and gear, and how our padel subscription boxes work.
About El Lote
What is El Lote?
El Lote is a Swiss padel brand based in Ticino, Switzerland, specialised in padel subscription boxes and on-court gear. We deliver premium padel balls, overgrips, energy products, apparel and accessories to players — at home or at partner padel clubs.
What is a padel subscription box and how does it work?
A padel subscription box is a recurring delivery of the consumables every player runs out of: fresh balls, overgrips and match-day energy. You pick a box (Core, Core+, Advanced or Competitor) or build your own, choose the frequency, and we handle the rest — so you never step on court with dead balls or a slippery grip.
Which El Lote box should I choose?
Core (from CHF 19.90) covers occasional players. Core+ doubles the ball tubes for those playing 2–3 times a week. Advanced adds more overgrips and a premium touch, and Competitor (from CHF 39.90) is built for tournament players. Not sure? Take our Find Your Box quiz for a personalised recommendation and a welcome discount.
Padel Balls & Gear
What padel gear do you need to play?
The essentials are a padel racket, pressurised padel balls, a fresh overgrip, court shoes and breathable clothing. Hydration and fast carbohydrates help on longer sessions. El Lote covers everything except the racket and shoes — from balls and overgrips to full kits and energy products.
What makes El Lote padel balls different?
El Lote padel balls use a 59% wool woven felt and are engineered for an optimised rebound height of 135–145 cm, giving a consistent, controllable bounce. They are designed in Switzerland and available in tubes of 1, 3, 6, 12 or 24.
How often should padel balls be replaced?
Competitive players open a fresh tube every match; casual players typically get 3–4 sessions per tube. Padel balls lose internal pressure from the moment the tube is opened — heat, humidity and hard hitting speed this up. If a ball squishes under your thumb or bounces below hip height when dropped from shoulder height, it is dead.
What is the difference between padel balls and tennis balls?
They look identical, but padel balls have a lower internal pressure (around 11 psi versus roughly 14 psi for tennis balls), which produces a steadier, more controllable bounce suited to the enclosed glass court. Playing padel with tennis balls makes rebounds fast and chaotic.
How often should I change my padel overgrip?
If you play four or more times a week, change your overgrip every one to two weeks. A worn, slippery grip forces you to squeeze harder, sending vibration up your forearm — a common trigger of “padel elbow”. El Lote overgrips come in three versions: Feel (soft touch), PRO (durability) and Comfort (tackiness).
Buying Padel Gear
Where can I buy padel gear online in Europe?
El Lote is a European padel brand based in Switzerland, in the heart of Europe. We sell padel balls, overgrips, apparel, accessories, sports nutrition and subscription boxes online at ellote-padel.com, with delivery across all of Switzerland — to your door or via partner padel clubs. Players in other European countries can order by writing to hello@ellote-padel.com.
Which padel balls should I buy?
Look for pressurised padel balls with a high-quality felt and a consistent, controllable bounce. El Lote padel balls combine 59% wool felt with a 135–145 cm rebound height and come in tubes of 1 to 24 — so you can buy a single tube per match or stock up for the whole season at better value.
How much does padel gear cost?
Consumables are affordable: overgrips and ball tubes cost only a few francs, and bundling them saves more. El Lote one-time Starter Boxes run CHF 19.90–39.90, monthly subscriptions go from CHF 19.90 (Core) to CHF 39.90 (Competitor), and complete setups like the First Lote — full kit, balls, overgrips and accessories — start at CHF 49.90.
Delivery & Subscription
Where does El Lote deliver?
We currently deliver across all of Switzerland — to your door or for pickup at partner padel clubs. For orders from other European countries, contact us at hello@ellote-padel.com.
Can I pause, change or cancel my subscription?
Yes. Subscriptions are flexible: you can update, pause or cancel your subscription at any time from your customer account — no lock-in.
Is a padel box a good gift?
Yes — it is gear every player actually uses. Our one-time Starter Boxes (CHF 19.90–39.90) bundle premium balls, overgrips and energy in a gift-ready pack, with no subscription attached. Ship it to their door or arrange pickup at their padel club.