A strategic turning point for Kuikma
Until a few seasons ago, Kuikma was seen by the general public as the gateway to padel: easy-to-find rackets, reasonable prices, mass distribution via Decathlon. In 2026, the approach changed. The brand was not leaving this accessible territory, but was trying to add a much more ambitious dimension: that of performance validated by players visible on the international circuits.
- A strategic turning point for Kuikma
- A team built around complementary profiles
- The Kuikma 2026 collection at a glance
- Snowshoes: a clearer, more ambitious range
- Shoes: Kuikma also wants to exist under footwork
- A product strategy focused on performance
- Kuikma faces its new course
- Key takeaway
- Useful points of reference for watching the dossier
The strongest signal was the arrival of Jorge “Coki” Nieto. The Spaniard, one of the world’s leading players, has signed a three-year contract with Decathlon, becoming the face of a project that aims to convince beyond the simple price argument. Actu Padel had already analyzed this partnership in our article on Coki Nieto’s arrival at Kuikma. Now, a few months later, the logic is clearer: Kuikma wants to use the very highest level as a laboratory, but also as a showcase.
This is an important choice in a market where the historic brands are multiplying their signing models, premium series and collaborations with the best players. Kuikma, for its part, is trying to occupy a different position: offering a clear range, technologies that are consistent from one model to the next, and a price that is often lower than some competing references in the expert segment.
A team built around complementary profiles
The recruitment of Coki Nieto gives the project a new scope, but Kuikma doesn’t just rely on a headline act. The brand also relies on players with a variety of styles, enabling it to give a precise role to each racket in its collection.
On the French side, Dylan Guichard is an important part of this strategy. The Rennes native is continuing his adventure with Kuikma and is one of the brand’s most visible ambassadors to the French public. His choice of the Power Pro is also a clear indication of his hardware positioning: a racquet designed for engagement, ball speed and a more offensive presence.
Around him, the brand features several international profiles: Lucía Sainz and Clément Geens on the Hybrid Pro, Boris Castro on the Power Carbon, Álvaro Meléndez on the Control Pro, Sofi Saiz on the Control Carbon. The message behind this breakdown is simple: Kuikma does not want its entire team to wear just one model, but to associate each racket with a particular way of playing.
This is probably where the 2026 collection gains in consistency. The models are not just differentiated by design or price. They are divided between versatility, control, power, comfort and accessibility, with a clear gradation between Pro, Carbon and Comfort versions.
The Kuikma 2026 collection at a glance
| Product | Product type | Positioning | Advertised price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid Pro Coki Nieto | Racquets | Versatile signing model, 365 g, hybrid shape, Dual Foam, TeXtreme 18K carbon. | 179,99 € |
| PR Hybrid Carbon | Racket | More affordable version of the Hybrid family, 370 g, 12K carbon, Black EVA foam medium. | 129,99 € |
| Power Pro | Racquets | Power-oriented racket, associated with Dylan Guichard, diamond shape, TeXtreme 18K carbon. | 179,99 € |
| Power Carbon | Racquets | Diamond model, 372 g, head balance, 12K carbon, Black EVA foam medium. | 129,99 € |
| Control Pro | Racquets | Round racket by Álvaro Meléndez, 370 g, Dual Foam, TeXtreme 18K. | 179,99 € |
| Control Carbon | Racquets | Control version in 12K carbon, 370 g, balance in the set. | 129,99 € |
| PR Comfort Soft | Racket | Intermediate racket, 350 g, round shape, fiberglass, soft EVA foam. | 44,99 € |
| PS Stab / PS Pro | Shoes | High-performance shoes with M-Foam, Padel Dual Grip and Pebax plate. | 79,99 € / 99,99 € |
| PS Comfort / PS 500 Junior | Shoes | Women’s and junior comfort shoes, sole adapted to padel. | 44,99 € / 19,99 € |
Snowshoes: a clearer, more ambitious range
Kuikma Hybrid Pro Coki Nieto: the showcase model
The Hybrid Pro Coki Nieto is the collection’s center of gravity. Kuikma has positioned it as a versatile padel racket, capable of offering a balance between control, stability and acceleration. The choice is consistent with the profile of Coki Nieto, a player renowned for his consistency, his ability to read the game and maintain a high level of intensity without going overboard.
Technically, Kuikma has opted for a more premium construction: Dual Foam, TeXtreme 18K carbon, reinforced double-tube frame, rough surface and anti-vibration system in the set. The package is aimed at expert or committed players looking for a complete racquet rather than an extreme model.
- Weight: 365 g.
- Shape: hybrid / teardrop shape.
- Balance: neutral.
- Foam: Dual Foam double density.
- Surface: TeXtreme 18K carbon with rough surface finish.
- Technologies: Shock Block System, Air Foam Frame, Custom Strap System.
Advertised price: €179.99.
Kuikma PR Hybrid Carbon: a more accessible hybrid, but already demanding
The PR Hybrid Carbon occupies an interesting place in the Kuikma collection. It takes up the versatile spirit of the Hybrid Pro, but in a more accessible version, designed for regular players who want to take a step forward without immediately switching to a signing model. Its hybrid shape, 370 g weight and medium balance give it a fairly complete performance, between stability in the exchange and ability to accelerate when the point opens up.
The choice of 12K carbon and Black EVA foam medium confirms this positioning. The racket is not designed as a very soft or forgiving pala: it already requires a certain hit quality to be fully exploited. On the other hand, it offers a firmer response, more stability at impact and good continuity between control and power.
In the Kuikma 2026 range, this PR Hybrid Carbon may therefore appeal to advanced or confirmed intermediate players looking for a more dynamic racquet than a comfort model, but less exclusive than a Pro in TeXtreme 18K. It also serves as a natural gateway to the Coki Nieto universe, with its balanced game philosophy and more accessible technical specifications.
- Weight: 370 g, with plus or minus 5 g forgiveness.
- Shape: hybrid / teardrop shape.
- Balance: medium.
- Foam: Black EVA medium.
- Surface: 12K carbon.
- Profile: regular player looking for a compromise between control, power and stiffness.
- Technologies: Shock Block System, Air Foam Frame, Twin Carbon Tube, Rough Surface.
Advertised price: €129.99.
Kuikma Power Pro: Dylan Guichard’s offensive option
The Power Pro is the most attack-oriented racket in the Pro range. Associated with Dylan Guichard, it features a diamond shape and TeXtreme 18K carbon construction. Kuikma presents it not as an “easy” racquet, but as a tool for players capable of generating intensity and exploiting a more demanding structure.
Its balance in the set is an interesting detail: despite its diamond shape, it doesn’t seek only to load the racquet head. The goal is to maintain maneuverability, while adding weight to committed shots.
- Weight: 375 g, with range indicated from 361 to 375 g.
- Shape: diamond.
- Balance: in sets.
- Foam: Dual Foam.
- Surface: 18K TeXtreme carbon.
- Technologies: Shock Block System, Air Foam Frame, Rough Surface, Custom Strap System.
Advertised price: €179.99.
Kuikma Power Carbon: a low-priced power racket
The Power Carbon represents the offensive side of the Carbon range. Where the PR Hybrid Carbon seeks balance, this model assumes a more direct orientation: diamond shape, 372 g weight and head balance. Kuikma has designed this model for players capable of engaging with the ball and taking advantage of a stiffer structure to generate more weight in their shots.
Its 12K carbon construction and Black EVA foam medium reinforce this impression of firmness. The racquet’s response is drier and more powerful than a progression model, with a behavior designed for players who want to take the initiative at every opportunity. It logically requires more technical input than a round or comfort racquet, particularly in phases where timing is not perfectly established.
Priced at €129.99, the Power Carbon becomes one of the most readable models in the collection for amateur competitors or confirmed players who want a power-oriented pala without reaching the price of the Pro versions. It’s also a way for Kuikma to offer a real offensive alternative, with codes close to top-of-the-range, but in a more restrained price envelope.
- Weight: 372 g, with plus or minus 5 g forgiveness.
- Shape: diamond.
- Balance: in the lead.
- Foam: Black EVA medium.
- Surface: 12K carbon.
- Profile: Confirmed player looking for power, stiffness and impact.
- Technologies: Shock Block System, Twin Carbon Tube, Air Foam Frame, Evolutive Hole Size.
Advertised price: €129.99.
Kuikma Control Pro: precision and stability for expert players
The Control Pro, associated with Álvaro Meléndez, stands out for its round shape and more controlled orientation. It’s not designed to restrict the game, but to provide a more stable base for those who prefer placement, consistency and building the point.
Like the other Pro models, it features TeXtreme 18K carbon, Dual Foam and the Shock Block System. The aim is clear: to maintain a good reserve of ball speed, while providing more cues in the hand.
- Weight: 370 g, with forgiveness from 361 to 375 g.
- Shape: round.
- Balance: neutral.
- Foam: Dual Foam.
- Surface: 18K TeXtreme carbon.
- Technologies: Air Foam Frame, Shock Block System, Rough Surface, Custom Strap System.
Advertised price: €179.99.
Kuikma Control Carbon: control, handling and 12K carbon
The Control Carbon is the more accessible version of this control logic. With its round shape, balance in the set and 12K carbon coating, it is aimed at players who want a stable, maneuverable racquet that is consistent enough for regular use in matches.
The presence of Black EVA medium gives it a firmer feel than a very soft racket, but its low balance should reassure those looking for a quick feel in hand.
- Weight: 370 g, with plus or minus 5 g forgiveness.
- Shape: round.
- Balance: in sets.
- Foam: Black EVA medium.
- Surface: 12K carbon.
- Technologies: Shock Block System, Air Foam Frame, Twin Carbon Tube, Rough Surface.
Advertised price: €129.99.
Kuikma PR Comfort Soft: the accessible entry to progress
The PR Comfort Soft is a reminder that Kuikma has no intention of retiring its historic base. This racquet is not intended to compete with expert models, but to offer a comfortable, easy-to-handle, forgiveness option for intermediate players.
Its 350g weight, round shape, soft EVA foam and fiberglass make it a much more permissive racket. It’s a model designed to accompany progress, with an easy ball output at moderate intensity and good comfort in repeated exchanges.
- Weight: 350 g.
- Shape: round.
- Balance: low.
- Foam: Soft EVA.
- Surface: fiberglass.
- Profile: intermediate player seeking comfort and forgiveness.
Advertised price: €44.99.
Shoes: Kuikma also wants to exist under footwork
Kuikma PS Stab: stability and recovery for intensive players
The PS Stab illustrates the other aspect of Kuikma’s promotion: footwear. Kuikma is no longer confining itself to rackets, and is seeking to respond to the specific constraints of padel, notably lateral movement, short braking and return strokes.
The model features M-Foam Cushioning, a Padel Dual Grip 2 sole, a Pebax plate and heel reinforcements. The positioning is clear: a shoe for demanding players, with priority given to stability and responsiveness.
- Sole: Padel Dual Grip 2 hybrid.
- Plate: Pebax for stability and energy return.
- Foam: M-Foam for drop shot and relaunch.
- Reinforcement: TPU heel.
- Drop: 9 mm.
Advertised price: €79.99.
Kuikma PS Pro: the most accomplished model in the shoe line
The PS Pro is promoted even further with a construction co-created with Maxi Sánchez and Lucía Sainz. The main technical features of the PS Stab are still present: M-Foam, Padel Dual Grip, Pebax and improved stability. The difference lies in the level of finish and the more premium positioning.
With a claimed weight of 365g and a hybrid outsole, this shoe targets players who string together sessions and want a more complete model, especially for repeated changes direction.
- M-Foam Cushion: drop shot and responsiveness.
- Padel Dual Grip 2: hang in there.
- Pebax Shank: stability and dynamism.
- Forefoot Support: lateral support.
- Weight: 365 g.
Advertised price: €99.99.
PS Comfort for women and PS 500 Junior: completing the pyramid
The women’s PS Comfort is more straightforward: comfort, breathability, EVA drop shot and herringbone sole for synthetic surfaces. It’s more suited to regular players looking for a padel-specific shoe without the need for advanced technology.
The PS 500 Junior responds to a very specific need: to equip young players with a shoe suited to sandy courts. Its main features are grip, drop shot, breathability and resistance to friction.
- PS Comfort for women: breathable mesh, herringbone sole, EVA foam, advertised price: €44.99.
- PS 500 Junior: hangs in there on sandblasted artificial turf, injected EVA, mesh zones, advertised price: €19.99.
A product strategy focused on performance
The most interesting thing about this range is not just the technical specifications of each model. It’s the way Kuikma organizes its discourse. The brand is no longer content to say that it offers affordable equipment. It’s trying to prove that it can cater for all levels of player: from intermediate to competitive, from control to power, from junior to expert.
The presence of Coki Nieto obviously changes the perception. A player of this caliber lends credibility to a signing racket, especially in a world where players are increasingly observing the equipment used on tour. But Kuikma also plays a more patient card: that of range consistency. Each player in the team embodies a product family, rather than just a logo on an outfit.
It now remains to be seen whether this strategy will have a lasting effect on the slopes. The padel market is dense, purchasing habits are strong and established brands have a high degree of technical legitimacy. But Kuikma is moving forward with a real advantage: a massive distribution capacity, an aggressive pricing policy in certain segments and a clear determination to test its products in contact with top-level players.
Kuikma faces its new course
Kuikma is approaching 2026 with a clearer ambition than ever: no longer just to be the accessible alternative, but to become a brand capable of interacting with the very highest level. It’s a demanding challenge, since credibility in padel equipment is built over time, through results, returning to the court and product consistency. But with Coki Nieto, Dylan Guichard, Lucía Sainz, Clément Geens and a more structured range, Kuikma now has a more solid story to tell. And above all, a collection broad enough to speak to several audiences without losing its common thread.
Key takeaway
- Kuikma strengthens its performance image with Coki Nieto as major ambassador for three years.
- The 2026 collection covers several profiles: versatility, power, control, comfort and progression.
- Dylan Guichard remains an important face of the French Power Pro project.
- Pro models go up to €179.99, while Carbon versions are priced at €129.99.
- The shoe range confirms Kuikma’s ambition to offer a complete range of padel shoes.
