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Drum practice pads are fantastic pieces of equipment for any developing drummer. They are far more portable than full-sized drum sets and can quickly and easily fit in a backpack for transportation.
The freedom and flexibility they offer mean you can practice anytime and anywhere. There are no limits to being able to work on your chops and grooves!
In this guide, we’ll take a look at the best drum practice pads to enhance your playing. I’ve compared size, build quality, performance, and cost to give you my top recommendations.
What is The Best Drum Practice Pad?
How I Tested and Selected the Best Practice Pads
Throughout all my years of playing the drums, I’ve played on dozens of practice pads. Some of them only lasted a few years, while others have stuck with me for over a decade.
I think it’s a great idea to own more than one pad, so I’ve selected a wide range of pads that cover a few requirements that I and other drummers typically have.
Firstly, I took size into consideration, as this affected how portable the pad is. My next comparison factor was build quality, and I played each pad quite hard to see how stable it felt.
Most crucially, I compared performance, assessing how each pad felt to play with my sticks. I listened to how the pad sounded and made sure each pad felt responsive and satisfying to play, without being too loud.
Drum Practice Pad Reviews
Meinl 12-inch Marshmallow Practice Pad
Meinl 12-inch Marshmallow Practice Pad Review
The Meinl Marshmallow Practice Pad is one of Meinl’s latest additions, and I’m a huge fan of this pad. I purchased it several months ago, and I use it almost every day!
When striking the surface, I love how realistic it feels. It has such a great texture that accurately reflects what it feels like to play a tom on a drum kit.
Another major aspect of the pad is that it is super quiet. It doesn’t produce much volume at all. When you play it, you can hear faint sounds from the surface that are quite low-pitched, but no one in the room next to you will know that you’re practicing on it.
So, it’s an excellent option for drummers who are severely limited by how much noise they’re allowed to make. If you live in quite a tight apartment setting, this pad will be perfect for you.
Otherwise, it’s a really good resistance practice option. With the surface being quite thick, you don’t get as much rebound as you do with something like an Evans RealFeel. This makes it work well for boosting your speed by limiting you. It forces you to use good technique to get your notes out.
Lastly, the pad offers great value. I feel that it has a similar high-quality design to the Zildjian Reflexx pad. Something about the design and aesthetic factor makes it feel like a seriously high-quality piece of gear.
Key Features:
- Thick foam surface
- 8mm threaded insert
- Padded composite base
Pros
- Very thick and realistic, making it feel great to practice on
- Stick strokes are quiet compared to most other pads, making it a better option for volume constraints
- Excellent value for money considering how well-built it is
- Can be mounted to a cymbal stand if needed due to the 8mm insert
Cons
- May not be a good option if you’re looking for something with a bit more rebound
Zildjian Reflexx Conditioning Pad
Zildjian Reflexx Conditioning Pad Review
Reflexx is a brand that specializes in creating resistance practice pads for drummers. While the brand became very successful on their own, they were acquired by Zildjian, and have since significantly boosted the production of their pads.
Reflexx pads have a very sleek aesthetic. A lot of pro drummers use these simply due to how good they look when set up on a snare drum stand.
You get a 6-inch and a 10-inch version, but I ultimately found the 10-inch version to be the better option. It gave me plenty of space to play on the surface, but it was still small enough to pack into my backpack when traveling.
The key feature of the Reflexx Conditioning Pad is that you get two playable surfaces. The one side is referred to as the Flexx side. It felt similar to what most drummers expect from a practice pad. The surface was fairly hard, and it had a lot of rebound.
The other side is referred to as the Workk side. The material here was a lot softer, and it had almost no rebound. It’s intended for resistance workouts when you want to work on your hand speed without relying on rebound.
The resistance side of the pad is what made these Reflexx pads so popular in the first place, and they feel great to play on. Another benefit is that it’s incredibly soft, so you can practice on this side when you don’t want anyone to hear your pad work. That’s what sold it for me as a great night time practice option.
These Reflexx pads used to get released with product drops, and then they’d stop production for a while. This made them in high demand. However, they are now more widely distributed now due to the Zildjian acquisition, and I recommend this as a great option to buy.
Pros
- One of the most effective practice pads available due to its versatility
- Two excellent playing surfaces to choose from, with one for technique and the other for speed
- Portable size, yet it’s comfortable to play
Cons
- Quite expensive for a practice pad
Tama True Touch Training AAD Snare Pad
Tama True Touch Training AAD Snare Pad Review
Tama’s True Touch Practice kit is one of the newest practice drum kits introduced to the market. It fixes a lot of issues present on other practice kits, and it’s an amazing option to get for practicing on when you can’t make a big noise on your main kit.
If you’re looking for a single practice pad, Tama offers the option of buying the snare drum from that kit on its own. This AAD Snare Pad is an incredible practice pad option, as it offers many features that other pads don’t.
The strike zone is made from a combination of materials to make it feel as realistic and responsive as possible. The Tama True Touch Training AAD Snare Pad also allows you to tighten or loosen the tension of the surface with the use of a drum key.
You can dial in whatever your preferred tension is for your acoustic snare drum, and you’ll get the same response with this pad.
While this isn’t the only pad that can do that, it gave me the most authentic response possible. It’s the only pad I’ve played that’s allowed me to dial in the exact same tension as my main snare drum, which is typically loose to get a low and fat tone.
The pad offers snare buzz with metal pieces rattling inside. So, you can use it as a snare drum in a practice pad setup, and you’ll get that authentic snare buzz when playing.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t turn the snare buzz off. So, this isn’t a great option to get if you’re just looking for a quiet rubber sound.
However, this is definitely one of the best-feeling practice pads available, as Tama has nailed the feature of getting it to feel like you’re playing a normal snare drum.
Pros
- Realistic snare drum response, along with a tunable surface
- Amazing build quality, making it feel very premium
- Fits comfortably on a stand or tabletop
Cons
- Very expensive
Evans RealFeel 2 Sided Drum Practice Pad
Evans RealFeel 2 Sided Drum Practice Pad Review
This Evans RealFeel practice pad is one of the best drum practice pads on the market, and for good reason!
I’ve owned this practice pad for years, and it’s always been my go-to pad when I want to practice a few rudiments at home. I also have quite a few drummer friends who swear by it as well.
This pad is made from high-quality materials in the USA and it’s brilliantly versatile. It is mountable either on a snare stand or can be played on a tabletop.
The pad consists of two different playing surfaces. One side is made of natural gum, which gives me a more realistic rebound.
The other side consists of a natural harder recycled rubber, which offers less rebound.
This means you will need to work harder, and it’s the side I use for resistance workouts to improve my hand strength and speed.
Both sides of the pad are a joy to play with, and it’s nice and quiet. Meaning you’ll be able to practice without disturbing anyone else.
This is the best drum practice pad on the market and it will allow you to develop greater control and speed anywhere you like!
This pad is a bit more affordable than every other option on this list. That doesn’t mean it’s a cheap pad with worse qualities. It just doesn’t offer as many unique features.
With that said, I think it’s one of the most reliable options.
Pros
- Excellent build quality with a really affordable price tag
- Great value for money considering what you get
- 2 versatile playing surfaces
Cons
- Very few negatives, other than it doesn’t offer as many features as some other pads
Vic Firth Double Sided Practice Pad
Vic Firth Double Sided Practice Pad Review
Up next we have Vic Firth’s offering to the drum practice pad market. My first impressions were that it is a durable and high-quality practice pad and it has been designed well.
It features two different playing surfaces, offering you the choice of a workout pad, or a light and bouncy cushioned pad – which I think is perfect for developing rudiments and control.
Playing this practice pad on both sides offers a fantastic response and articulation. The softer rubber side replicates a concert snare drum, whilst the harder plastic side mimics a marching snare drum playing experience.
I found the construction of the Vic Firth double-sided practice pad to be excellent. It was really quiet, stopping me from bothering anyone else when I played on it for a while.
It’s a good size pad meaning it offers a realistic snare drum playing experience yet it is also portable enough to be transported in a bag anywhere!
I thoroughly recommend this product to anyone looking at a high quality, quiet, and portable practice pad that offers good value for money. It also just tends to be a lot more durable than other pads.
I’ve known many drummers to own this pad for over a decade, and it’s still in the same pristine condition that they got it in at the beginning.
Pros
- Fantastic playing response
- Excellent weight and construction
- Quiet and portable
- One of the most durable options
Cons
- More expensive than the similar Evans practice pad
Ahead S-Hoop Marching Practice Pad
Ahead S-Hoop Marching Practice Pad Review
The Ahead S-Hoop Marching Snare Practice Pad is distinctively made from durable materials and is designed to offer the playing response of a marching snare drum.
This drum pad features a unique steel S-Hoop that can take serious rimshots without any damage whatsoever. Out of every pad I tried out, this one definitely had the best rimshot feel due to having this hoop.
Playing this pad felt fantastic, and the rim offers satisfying rimshots with a pronounced and articulate tone. The replaceable carbon-fiber playing surface feels like a Kevlar head, which is another feature that I instantly felt that made this a good pad for marching drummers.
This snare is hefty and substantial. I think that the quality of the manufacturing is definitely noticeable in this product and it is truly a satisfying practice pad to play. It’s a great practice substitute for an acoustic drum set.
This is the best drum practice pad for you if you want to play a pad that is the closest thing available to playing a real marching snare drum!
However, I don’t think it’s a great option for drum kit players, as the responsiveness of a marching snare is very different from a drum kit snare. I’d recommend rather getting one of the other pads on this list if you only play the drum set.
Pros
- Exceptional build quality
- Excellent rimshots
- 14” size for a realistic snare drum playing experience
Cons
- Premium price tag
- Only one playing surface
- Not the best option for drum kit players
Remo Tunable Practice Pad
Remo Tunable Practice Pad Review
Remo is arguably the best drumhead manufacturer in the world, and their efforts have been successful in producing a great quality practice pad.
This practice pad is very different from the others I have reviewed. This drum practice pad features a genuine Remo drumhead that is able to be tuned just like a real drum head! You can adjust the tightness of the skin and thus change the level of bounce received from playing it as a result.
What’s so great about this drum pad is that it provides a playing experience as close as possible to the real thing! It is the perfect tool for the maturing drummer looking to develop his hand control and speed at home or on the go.
The Remo tunable practice pad is built from solid materials and has a protective rubber bottom for non-slip use. It is also possible to mount it on a stand.
The main drawback of this drumming practice pad is that I found it to be much louder than any of the other pads.
The rimshots were especially loud. However, it’s the cheapest pad on this list, so I wasn’t too bothered by the noise when relating it to the price tag.
It is, however, the best drum practice pad for portability, given its compact diameter! And despite the low price it is manufactured very well and has the quality you would expect from Remo USA.
Pros
- Realistic playing response
- Incredibly lightweight and portable
- Mountable on a cymbal stand
- Versatile playing surface, as you can adjust the tension
Cons
- Small diameter
- Cheaper feeling pad compared to the others
Prologix Percussion Russ Miller Signature Practice Pad
Prologix Percussion Russ Miller Signature Practice Pad Review
Lastly for review is the unique Prologix Russ Miller Practice Pad that makes use of three different playing surfaces!
I definitely think that this is the most versatile practice pad available on the market, and it’s made from very durable, high-quality materials.
The base layer is a red gum rubber that offers a natural stick response. I found this layer to be ideal for all-round warming up and practicing.
The blue lightning insert killed the drumstick rebound which made it a fantastic workout pad. I could feel how this surface would improve my speed and power.
Lastly, the textured white insert provides the feel of a coated drum head which makes it perfect for practicing with brushes.
This is the only practice pad I’ve ever played on that allows you to practice with brushes, which makes it really valuable!
The build quality of this drum practice pad is excellent, and it’s constructed atop of a Baltic birch base that feels very high quality. I also think it offers a high level of durability and strength compared to other pads.
You can mount the Prologix Russ Miller practice pad in a number of ways. It has a non-slip bottom which allows it to stay firmly put on a tabletop. Alternatively, the notched tripod stand receivers in the base allowed me to easily place it on snare arms!
I could also easily place it on top of a snare drumhead, which is always a feature that I enjoy with practice pads.
Pros
- 3 playing surfaces with different responses
- Mountable in a number of ways
- Premium construction and feel
Cons
- Expensive drum practice pad
- Can’t play the different surfaces together
The Best Drum Practice Pad Buying Guide
Practicing is essential for any drummer. If you are looking to enhance your playing ability then a practice pad will be your first port of call!
These practice pads are designed to build hand speed and chops. If you want to develop your foot speed, then you’ll have to take a look at the best bass drum practice pads.
Whilst all drum practice pads provide the same function, there are different features you can expect from practice pads, and knowing what you want will enable you to make the correct decision for your purchase!
Size of The Best Drum Practice Pad
All the drum practice pads I have listed in this product guide vary in size. The smallest drum pad I have recommended is the Remo Tunable Practice Pad which is 10 inches, whilst the largest offering is the Ahead Practice Pad and which is 14 inches in diameter.
The benefit of a smaller pad is that it is lighter and extra portable to be able to fit inside a backpack. The tradeoff however is that there is a smaller surface to practice on, and it does not accurately replicate playing on a full-size snare drum.
The larger 12 and 14-inch drum practice pads feel more hefty and stable, providing a more solid foundation beneath your sticks. They also offer a wider surface area of playing which gives a more satisfying playing experience overall.
Materials
Drum practice pads are manufactured with different materials and this is an important aspect to consider when buying a new drum pad.
The materials used in the construction of the unit will reflect the responsiveness and playing experience received from playing. The best drum practice pads are all constructed from high-quality materials.
Soft gum rubber will provide a cushioned and bouncier playing experience that you can expect to receive from a typical snare drum.
The soft rubber surface is fun and satisfying to play on, but it does not develop your wrist strength and speed as much as the tougher neoprene rubber. This surface does not provide much bounce, meaning you will need to put more effort into practice.
Noise
None of the drum practice pads I have listed are completely silent, but they are much more quiet alternatives to practicing on both electronic drum sets and acoustic drum sets. A quiet drumming practice pad will not disturb anyone in a different room in a house. The sound will be contained only within a very small radius of the player.
The softer drum practice pads I have reviewed are the ones that are composed of a soft cushioned material such as the Evans RealFeel Practice Pad and the Vic Firth Double-Sided practice pad. These two pads feature both a soft gum rubber surface as well as a tougher more durable playing side.
How To Choose The Best Drum Practice Pad
The best drum practice pad is one that is versatile, quiet, responsive, and satisfying to play. All of the pads in this guide are excellent options, but for me, the Evans RealFeel and Zildjian Reflexx Conditioning Pad offer the best performance and value.
They each feature two sides meaning you have the option of two fantastic playing surfaces and their 10 and 12-inch sizes mean it is substantial enough yet also portable for easy transportation.
Playing on a drumming practice pad is a highly profitable method of developing greater control and technique on the drums. Effectively managing your time and practicing on a drum pad whilst you are unable to play on a full drum set means you can develop your techniques to then transition onto the full kit when you are finally able to play.
The best drum practice pad is truly a fantastic investment when you consider the price and the number of years of valuable use you can expect from the product in return.
Finally, you are able to work on your technique and achieve a satisfying playing experience without the need for having to set up and take a full-size drum set with you everywhere you go!