ASICS Gel-Dedicate 8 Padel Shoes Review: Specs, UK Price and Gel-Dedicate 9

Padel Mad is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost to you. We select kit from published specs, retailer data and owner feedback rather than first-hand on-court testing. Prices checked 13 October 2026; always confirm the live price and your size before you buy.

The ASICS Gel-Dedicate 8 Padel is ASICS’s entry-level padel shoe: a stability-family court shoe with a padel-specific herringbone outsole, GEL cushioning in an EVA midsole, a TRUSSTIC midfoot support unit and synthetic leather overlays on a mesh upper. It sits below the Gel-Resolution and Gel-Challenger in the ASICS range and is usually one of the cheapest dedicated padel shoes from a major brand in the UK. This guide covers the published specs, fit notes, how it compares with the newer Gel-Dedicate 9 Padel, and which Amazon UK listings were in stock on 13 October 2026.

Affiliate links. Stock checked 13 October 2026 (Europe/London). The men’s White/Misty Pine listing (ASIN B0FYQCLBJS, model 1041A414) showed a Buy Box at about £64.67 from Amazon, scarce stock. The women’s Purple Oxide/White listing (ASIN B0D79JK61V, model 1042A241) was in stock at about £59.47 from Amazon EU. Footwear listings are often size-specific, so use the size dropdown and confirm the word “Padel” in the title before you order.

At a glance

What the Gel-Dedicate 8 Padel is designed to do

The Gel-Dedicate line started as a value tennis shoe. The Padel edition keeps the same stability-focused chassis and swaps in a padel court outsole. ASICS and retailer copy (ASICS Outlet, Tennis Warehouse Europe, e-padel, Passa Sports) focus on four things:

• Grip on padel turf. A herringbone pattern in high-abrasion rubber is built for the sanded artificial grass found at most UK clubs. That is the main reason to choose it over a road trainer or a hard-court tennis shoe.
• Side-to-side stability. The TRUSSTIC unit under the midfoot resists twisting, and the wrap-up outsole rises slightly around the edges to support lateral steps and quick changes of direction.
• Everyday cushioning. GEL inserts in an EVA midsole take the edge off landings for weekly club sessions. It is not marketed as a plush premium cushion.
• Durability at a low price. Synthetic leather overlays and toe protection help the upper cope with toe drags and sand.

If you are still comparing brands, start with our best padel shoes UK 2026 buying guide.

Technology explained

Padel court outsole (AHAR rubber)

AHAR is ASICS’s high-abrasion rubber compound. On the Padel edition it is moulded into a herringbone tread that grips sanded turf while letting you slide a little when you need to. Retailer sheets describe the outsole as wrap-up, meaning the rubber curves up at the sides for extra support when you push off laterally.

GEL technology and EVA midsole

ASICS places GEL units in the midsole for shock absorption, with EVA foam making up the rest. Independent write-ups place the cushioning in the medium range: comfortable for one or two club sessions a week, but firmer and simpler than ASICS’s higher padel models.

TRUSSTIC support

TRUSSTIC is a rigid plastic bridge under the arch. It is a feature borrowed from ASICS’s more expensive stability shoes and is the main reason the Gel-Dedicate 8 is described as a stable rather than speed-first shoe.

Upper and toe protection

The mesh upper breathes, while synthetic leather overlays add structure around the toe and sides. Retailers list PGUARD toe guards for players who drag the back foot on volleys and lobs.

Fit and sizing notes

Tennis Warehouse Europe lists the men’s Padel edition as true to length with a medium width, a slightly low arch and no real break-in period. Owner feedback on Amazon UK and retailer Q&A (not first-hand Padel Mad testing) often mentions:

• Snug at first for some feet. A few owners report tightness across the forefoot early on; if you sit between sizes or have wide feet, consider half a size up or a wider last.
• Comfortable straight out of the box for most regular-width feet.
• Good grip on club turf once the outsole is brushed free of sand.
• Value for money, with durability seen as fair for the price rather than outstanding for heavy weekly use.

Try them with the socks you play in, and check the ASICS size chart for the men’s or women’s version you are buying, as the two use different size runs.

Women’s and junior versions

The women’s Gel-Dedicate 8 Padel (model 1042A241) uses the same outsole, GEL and TRUSSTIC brief on a women’s last. Amazon UK had several colourways on 13 October 2026, including Purple Oxide/White and Amethyst/White. There is also a junior Gel-Dedicate 8 Padel GS for growing players.

Stock checked 13 October 2026. Stock rechecked 14 October 2026: the women’s Amethyst White listing we used before had gone unavailable, so the women’s button now opens a Gel-Dedicate 8 Padel listing (ASIN B0G2MCCB4V) that showed about £64.67 with a Buy Box. The junior GS listing (ASIN B0G2MKHB82) showed about £41.92 from Amazon, scarce stock with more on the way. Other sizes may sit on separate listings; use the search button below if yours is missing.

Gel-Dedicate 8 Padel vs Gel-Dedicate 9 Padel

ASICS has now released the Gel-Dedicate 9 Padel (men’s model 1041A546) as the successor. Retailer sheets (Padelmesh, Justpadel, The Racquet Shop) describe the same basic recipe with a few updates:

• More streamlined upper with a modern look and improved step-in comfort.
• Full-length outsole with a larger contact area for traction and stability.
• TPU TRUSSTIC and GEL kept, with the GEL concentrated in the forefoot on retailer descriptions.
• Lighter on some listings, with Justpadel quoting about 322 g against about 356 g for the 8 (sizes differ, so treat this as a guide).

Prices overlap in October 2026. If the Gel-Dedicate 8 is not available in your size, the 9 is the natural like-for-like swap; if the 8 is cheaper in your size, it remains a sensible starter shoe.

Stock checked 13 October 2026. Men’s Gel-Dedicate 9 Padel Jewel Green/White (ASIN B0G44Z94XR) showed about £56.87 from Amazon against a listed RRP of £75, scarce stock. Other Gel-Dedicate 9 Padel listings ranged from about £52 to £67.

Do not confuse it with other Gel-Dedicate shoes

Amazon search results mix several versions. Quick checks before you buy:

• Gel-Dedicate 8 Padel: the padel edition. Look for “Padel” in the title and model 1041A414 (men) or 1042A241 (women).
• Gel-Dedicate 8 (tennis, hard court): different outsole aimed at hard courts. Not ideal on sanded turf.
• Gel-Dedicate 8 Clay: clay tennis version with a full herringbone. Closer to padel, but not the padel edition.
• Gel-Dedicate 9 Padel: the newer padel model described above. Gel-Dedicate 9 tennis and clay listings appear in the same searches, so check the title.

Who the Gel-Dedicate 8 Padel suits

• Good fit: beginners replacing road trainers, and club players on one or two sessions a week who want a proper padel outsole and decent stability for under £70.
• Think twice: players with very wide feet, players who want a soft premium cushion, and frequent competitive players who may outgrow it. Look at the HEAD Motion Pro for a premium padel-specific shoe, or the ASICS Sonicsmash FF if you want a lighter, speed-first ASICS.

Alternatives worth comparing

• adidas Courtquick: budget adidas padel shoe in a similar price band.
• Kuikma PS Pro: Decathlon’s value padel shoe if you prefer to try on in store.
• Joma Slam: another popular value option with cushioning focus.
• Best padel shoes for slippery courts: if grip on worn or damp turf is your main worry.
• Best padel shoes UK 2026: side-by-side shortlists for men and women.

Looking after padel shoes

Brush sand out of the herringbone between sessions so the tread can grip again, and let the shoes dry naturally rather than on a radiator. A bag with a separate shoe compartment helps (see best padel bags 2026), and fresh grips and balls matter for the rest of your kit (best overgrips, best padel balls UK).

Frequently asked questions

Is the ASICS Gel-Dedicate 8 a padel shoe or a tennis shoe?
Both exist. The Gel-Dedicate 8 Padel has a padel court herringbone outsole for artificial grass. The standard Gel-Dedicate 8 is a hard-court tennis shoe, and there is also a Clay version. For UK padel, choose a listing with “Padel” in the title.

Is the Gel-Dedicate 8 Padel good for beginners?
That is who ASICS designed it for. It offers a proper padel outsole, TRUSSTIC stability and GEL cushioning at a starter price, which covers what most new players need.

Does the Gel-Dedicate 8 Padel run small?
Retailers list it as true to length with a medium width. Some owners find it snug across the forefoot at first, so consider half a size up if you have wide feet or sit between sizes.

How much does the Gel-Dedicate 8 Padel cost in the UK?
On 13 October 2026, adult sizes on Amazon UK ranged from about £51 to £65, with the junior GS around £42. Prices and sizes change quickly.

Should I buy the Gel-Dedicate 8 or 9 Padel?
The 9 adds a more streamlined upper and a full-length outsole and may be slightly lighter. In October 2026 the two cost about the same on Amazon UK, so pick whichever is in stock in your size at the better price.

What is the weight of the Gel-Dedicate 8 Padel?
Tennis Warehouse Europe lists about 356 g per shoe in a men’s US 10.5.

Padel Mad earns a commission when you buy through the affiliate links above, at no extra cost to you. Prices correct as of 13 October 2026. Thank you for the support.