5 Best Marching Snare Sticks

Vic Firth Corpsmaster Ralph Hardimon Marching Snare Sticks Review

The widely popular Ralph Hardimon Signature model sticks feature a nylon barrel tip and a long taper for a responsive and controlled playing feel.

Even though they are made from hickory, these marching sticks do offer a serious level of durability. Even after a huge number of rimshots, these are some of the best marching snare sticks that remain in good condition.

I particularly like the shape of the tip on these drumsticks – they articulate single strokes, doubles, and paradiddles with ease. Even when playing at low dynamics, these drumsticks seem to deliver a very clean sound. That’s a fantastic feature to have that will elevate how your drumming sounds in a drumline. 

The Ralph Hardimon signature marching sticks have proven themselves to be a hit amongst drumlines and high school marching bands around the country, for their superior feel and great sound.

If you’re looking for the best marching drumsticks that offer good value for money then these might just be the ticket! They’re a bit more affordable than other options too, making them even more compelling for many players. 

Features:

• Length – 17” | 43.18cm
• Diameter – 0.700” | 1.78cm
• Hickory stick with Nylon tip

Vic Firth Corpsmaster Mike Jackson Marching Snare Sticks Review

The Vic Firth Corpsmaster Signature Mike Jackson Snare Sticks are a great feeling pair of sticks that also offer fantastic value for money.

The Mike Jackson signature marching drumsticks have a thick shoulder that helps to produce lots of power, whilst the long taper supplies an excellent rebound for a well-balanced feel.

The long reverse taper pushes more mass to the front of the drumstick and helps to generate a superior rebound after impact from the drumhead.

Mike Jackson serves as percussion captain for the Bluecoasts Drum & Bugle Corps, and is a WGI Hall of Fame member as one of the nation’s most recognized marching percussionists. Mike Jackson decided to collaborate with Vic Firth to create the best marching drum sticks available.

Jackson wanted to develop a marching snare stick that delivers an incredible sound without compromising on durability. The focus of the drumstick design is to enable it to produce particularly powerful rim shots that cut through with clarity.

I’d say that these sticks are a lot more innovative than many others due to the thoughts behind the design. This is what makes them such a good option for professional players that can recognize small qualities that make big differences. 

The thick shoulder of the drumstick, combined with the long reverse taper and oval tip all contribute to its great sound, balance and performance. These marching snare drumsticks deliver killer rimshots and ping shots and feel great to play.

Features:

• Length – 17” | 43.18cm
• Diameter – 0.710” | 1.8cm
• Hickory stick with Oval tip

Vic Firth Corpsmaster MS5 Marching Snare Sticks Review

The Vic Firth Corpsmaster MS5 Snare Sticks are the best marching drumsticks on the market that deliver serious strength and incredible durability. These are heavy marching drumsticks that produce a very powerful sound indeed.

Vic Firth manufactures these Corpsmaster MS5 sticks that are made of select hickory for maximum power and longevity. They’re designed by top drum and bugle corps.

You’ll see them in the hands of top high school and university bands, percussion ensembles, and drum and bugle corps across the country.

These marching snare drum sticks feel powerful and substantial, and they are perfectly suited for playing on modern Kevlar snare drum heads.

The MS5 drumsticks are incredibly durable and they are able to survive serious poundings on rimshots. Their weight means they are also amazing tools to build up your chops, hand speed, and stick control.

Overall these are definitely the best marching snare sticks to buy if you are looking for unparalleled durability and immense power for snare drum playing. 

They’re just such a reliable option, which is what many drummers want when they’re not too excited to try out multiple pairs of different drumsticks. 

Features:

• Length – 17” | 43.18cm
• Diameter – 0.705” | 1.79cm
• Hickory stick with round tip

Promark Scott Johnson Marching Snare Sticks Review Review

The Promark Scott Johnson Marching Snare Sticks are another fantastic choice as some of the best marching snare sticks thanks to their responsiveness and optimal feel.

These Promark marching sticks were designed in collaboration with drum corps legend Scott Johnson to deliver a smooth and balanced playing response. The stick features a medium taper and rounded head for a wide range of dynamics and a solid rebound.

If you are looking for a well-balanced and well-weighted marching stick that allows you to play down-strokes with finesse, the Promark Scott Johnson sticks are some of the best marching drum sticks to go for.

Not only does the weight and size of these drumsticks make them feel great to play, but they also provide an excellent level of control whilst still being substantial and durable.

I’ve found that these marching snare drumsticks feel good to play with. They are on the heavy and bulky side, but with that, you do receive additional power.

With that additional power, you don’t need to hit as hard to produce more volume. You can use that to your advantage when it comes to dynamic playing. 

Features:

• Length – 17” | 43.18cm
• Diameter – .710” | 1.80cm
• Hickory stick with Barrel tip

Vater MV13 Marching Snare Sticks Review Review

Lastly up for review, we have the Vater Marching Snare Sticks which are some of the best marching snare sticks for heavy hitters. The MV13 is a full stick that tapers down to a fine fast Nylon tip.

These drumsticks feel substantial and heavy but are also well-balanced at the same time. The weight and density of these drumsticks produce a very full sound from the snare drum and incredibly loud rimshots.

These marching snare sticks deliver a heavy impact and a solid tone, and the perfect rebound from marching snare kevlar heads. These Vater marching snare sticks are excellent quality and deliver a killer sound as well as a great playing feel.

One of the best things about them is their durability. They just seem to be a bit more durable than most other marching drumsticks, and many drummers have mentioned this when using them. 

This makes them a really good option for people that want long-lasting sticks. Sticks get expensive when they break constantly, so these are good for avoiding that. 

Features:

• Length – 17” | 43.18cm
• Diameter – .655” | 1.73cm
• Hickory stick with nylon tip