A press felt (1) has a front side (1a), a rear side (1b) and fibers (2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g) which, on their fiber surface, have channels (20) which extend between a first end (11) and a second end (12) of the respective fiber (2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g), the first end (11) pointing in the direction of the front side (1a) and the second end (12) pointing in the direction of the rear side (1b). Furthermore, the press felt (1) can be used for mechanically dewatering a paper web (100) in a papermaking machine.