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Having a bass drum patch is so important when it comes to preserving the lifespan of your bass drum skin.
Bass drum patches provide an extra layer of material that the beater strikes against when you hit the head, thus protecting it from damage and helping to keep it sounding great for longer.
Bass drum heads are the most expensive drumheads on your kit, so protecting them will save you money in the long run. Here are some of the best bass drum beater pads to help you do just that.
What are the Best Drum Patches?
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How I Tested and Selected the Best Bass Drum Patches
I’ve played through dozens of bass drum heads over my two decades of drumming, and I’ve often purchased different bass drum patches to see how they perform.
While I have my favorites, I’ve been able to compare all the options featured in this review.
When testing each patch, I wanted to see what type of sound it produced, how durable it was, and how the overall design compared to others.
Durability and protection were key to my assessment. I ensured each patch was able to absorb the impact of the beater after rigorous playing, so that it could extend the life of the drumhead and prevent damage.
Tonal impact of each patch was also a consideration. Depending on the size and material, patches can slightly alter the beater impact sound by providing a more focused or softer attack.
In-Depth Drum Patch Reviews
Evans PB2 Double Bass Drum Patch
Evans PB2 Double Bass Drum Patch Review
The Evans PB2 double bass drum patch is the perfect option for anyone using a double bass drum pedal. It has a large surface area that can comfortably fit two beaters on it.
It’s made of nylon, increasing the click of the beaters by a significant amount. Drummers who use double pedals typically need more attack from the bass drum, so these are great for adding a bit of extra aggression to the sound.
This patch is ideal for drummers like myself who use a double pedal. It’s extremely durable, very affordable, and adds a slightly warmer tone to the kick beater impact too.
Since the patch is made of nylon, it’s the most affordable patch on this list. You could even use it for a single pedal if you wanted to. You’d always have the extra space to add a second beater if you wanted to.
One last thing to mention about this pad is that it evenly distributes the sound from your two bass drum beaters.
Pros
- Great for drummers who use double pedals
- Evenly distributes beater sounds
- Very affordable and durable
Cons
- Not ideal if you want a very natural kick drum sound
Aquarian Drumheads Super Thin Kick Pad
Aquarian Drumheads Super Thin Kick Pad Review
The Aquarian Super Thin kick pad is one of the best kick patches to get if you’re not looking to alter the sound of your bass drum. It’s made of incredibly thin material, so you don’t get any tonal change after sticking it on.
I have a friend who is a working jazz drummer, and he swears by this patch due to how it keeps his head safe while maintaining the tone of his kick drum.
Even though the material is thin, the patch is durable and will last longer than you may initially think. It also works perfectly well with all the different types of beaters that you can use.
Lastly, it’s also affordable compared to some of the other bass drum beater pads on the market. It’s not expensive to get a few of these to use whenever you need them.
Pros
- Very durable
- No tonal change when applied to the bass drum
- Affordable
Cons
- Not as durable as some of the thicker pads available
Evans Aramid Fiber Bass Drum Patch
Evans Aramid Fiber Bass Drum Patch Review
If you’re looking for something a little more heavy-duty, the Evans AF drum patch is a great fit. The patch is made from a Kevlar and polyester lamination, making it incredibly durable and solid.
It adds a bit of impact to your bass drum, giving you more attack when the beater hits the patch.
This is another patch that I personally used for quite a while. It was thick, but it always felt very natural to strike with the beater.
One great thing about this patch is that it doesn’t damage felt beaters. While Kevlar patches typically do that, the added polyester stops it from happening. Overall, it’s a great bass drum impact pad.
Pros
- Doesn’t damage felt beaters
- Enhances the beater click slightly
- Adds punch to the bass drum
Cons
- Felt beaters sometimes produce a squeaking sound
Remo Falam Slam Impact Patch
Remo Falam Slam Impact Patch Review
The Remo Falam Slam Impact patch has the sole intention of making your bass drum sound a lot more aggressive. It does this by providing a strong clicking sound when it’s struck, making it a great bass drum click pad.
It’s made of Kevlar and is known to stick on your bass drum head for incredibly long periods of time. This patch gives you durability as well as stability.
It’s a great patch to have if you play styles of music where the bass drum needs to come strongly through the mix. This could be in rock settings or it could be in disco or pop settings.
I did a recording session once where the studio engineer had this on the bass drum. He loved how it gave the kick drum more natural attack without him having to tamper too much with the mix.
Since it’s made of pure Kevlar, this patch tends to damage felt beaters. So, be cautious of that. It’s also much more expensive than the other patches.
Pros
- Adds a strong aggressive tone to your bass drum
- Extremely stable and durable
- Good for music styles that need a strong kick sound
Cons
- Not great for felt beaters
- Expensive
Aquarian Drumheads kickPATCH
Aquarian Drumheads kickPATCH Review
The Aquarian kickPATCH is intended to be a backup option for a rainy day rather than a dedicated bass drum patch. It’s a large 12” patch that you can use to cover up a hole in the bass drum head.
While you most probably could use it permanently, I wouldn’t suggest that you do. Instead, it’s best used as a quick solution at the gig that can stay on your bass drum until you replace the head eventually.
I was recommended this patch for a short tour once. While I never had to use it, I had way more surety on stage knowing that I wouldn’t be stuck without a bass drumhead!
It’s a much cheaper option than replacing a drumhead entirely. It’s also quicker to put it on the bass drum than it is to swap the heads out. That’s why it’s such a valuable thing to have with you at every gig. You never know when you might need it.
Pros
- Great accessory for gigging drummers
- Doesn’t take away the tone of the bass drum
- Fits very easily on any bass drum head
Cons
- Not a permanent solution
Bass Drum Patches Buyer’s Guide
If you’ve ever kicked your beater through a bass drum head, you’d know how important a bass drum patch is. If you’ve never done that before, count yourself lucky, and make sure you have a kick patch to prevent it from eventually happening.
These five bass drum patches featured in this guide are all great choices and offer excellent durability and protection for your bass drum heads.
Choosing the right one for you will mainly depend on your budget, the sound you are looking for, as well as whether you play a double bass drum pedal or a single pedal.
Top Bass Drum Patch Brands
Remo, Evans, and Aquarian are the top three drumhead brands in the drumming world. If you get any product from one of them, it will be high-quality.
All the drumhead brands sell patches that are quite similar. Whichever brand a drummer chooses will typically be according to the preferences that they have. There is no top brand out of those three.
What Sound Are You Looking For?
Different bass drum patches produce different sounds. You may not like the sound of certain patches, so make sure to see what effect it has on your bass drum tone.
Patches like the Remo Falam Slam Impact Patch and Evans PB2 Double Bass Drum Patch add an aggressive click while others such as the Aquarian Drumheads Super Thin Kick Pad barely change the tone.
If you love the natural sound of your bass drum, then a lighter patch would be better. If you want the added aggression, a heavier patch with an added click is what you should go for.
Final Thoughts
Every drummer should have a few bass drum patches lying around. While bass drum heads are designed to be durable, it only takes one heavy player to sit on your kit and kick through the skin. That player might just be you at an intense gig.
Having a patch like Aquarian Drumheads kickPATCH and Evans Aramid Fiber Bass Drum Patch on your bass drum is a surefire way of keeping the skin as durable as possible. It’s also the best thing to do if you want a very tight and controlled kick drum sound.
The only drummers that typically don’t use bass drum patches are jazz drummers. They’ll play with thin single-ply heads and felt beaters. However, jazz drummers still have the potential to break through their bass drum heads. You’ll find that many of them have bass drum patches lying around just in case they need them.
Luckily, bass drum patches aren’t expensive. You can easily get a few of them and keep them stored away.
