Lacoste is officially entering the padel equipment market, launching its first complete collection for the sport as the French brand looks to extend its longstanding racquet-sports business into one of the category’s fastest-growing disciplines.
The new line goes beyond apparel, encompassing two padel rackets, footwear, technical clothing and a premium bag. The rackets were developed with Tecnifibre, the French racquet-sports specialist owned by Lacoste since 2017, giving the fashion and sportswear brand an established technical platform for its move into padel.
The lineup is built around two models targeting different segments of the market. The L.MAX is aimed at regular players and incorporates Tecnifibre technologies designed to improve aerodynamics, durability and spin. The lighter L.SOFT targets beginners and developing players, emphasizing maneuverability and comfort.
The broader collection reflects Lacoste’s strategy of approaching padel as both a performance sport and a lifestyle category. Alongside the rackets, the company has developed padel-specific footwear, apparel and accessories designed to move between competition and the social environment surrounding the game. That positioning aligns closely with padel’s club culture, where food, hospitality and social interaction have increasingly become part of the consumer experience.
For Lacoste, the launch also represents a logical extension of a brand built around tennis. The company traces its sporting heritage to founder and tennis champion René Lacoste and continues to maintain a significant presence in professional tennis. Padel gives the company another avenue to leverage that racquet-sports identity while reaching a growing recreational audience.
The collection is available through Lacoste’s retail network in Europe, South America and North America, as well as through the brand’s e-commerce business—giving the company a multi-continent launch rather than testing the category in a single padel-heavy market.
