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Best Drum Practice Pads For Quiet Practice: Keep The Peace At Home

June 14, 2024 
BY DAN SPENCER
best drum pads.
Last Updated on June 14, 2024

Whether you live with thin walls, play late at night, or warm up backstage, practice pads are essential! You never have to worry about what time you play, where you rock out at, or annoying neighbor complaints! Ready to improve your drum skills in silence? Check out the best drum practice pads for all ages.

Evans Realfeel drum pads.
1Best Overall
Evans RealFeel Drum Pad

RTOM Black Hole Drum Pads
2Runner-up
RTOM Black Hole Mesh Practice Set

Vic Firth 12" Double-Sided Practice Pad.
3Top Pick
Vic Firth Double-Sided Practice Pad

4Top Pick
Meinl Marshmallow Practice Pad

GrowDaily 12" Drum Pad.
5Lowest Price
GrowDaily Drum Practice Pad

1. Evans RealFeel 2-Sided Practice Drum Pad - 12 inch

Evans RealFeel 2-Sided Practice Drum Pad - 12 inch.

Highlights

⚫ Two-sided pad with rubber playing surfaces
⚫ Sized to fit in a standard snare basket
⚫ Wear and tear-resistant dark gray finish

If you’re looking for a low-noise but accurate alternative for an acoustic drum, the Evans RealFeel Practice Pad comes incredibly close!

This pad has a large playing surface with a convenient 12” size that fits in most snare stands. One side is made of natural gum and produces a realistic rebound. The other side is made of recycled rubber for added bounce and articulation.

The Evans RealFeel is perfect for beginner and seasoned drummers alike and is a great fit for both sitting and standing sessions.

Pros

  • Available in three sizes: 6, 7, and 12-inch.
  • Subtle color and simplistic design.
  • Lightweight and portable.

Cons

  • Build quality is lacking, prone to dents when dropped.

Evans RealFeel Drum Pad

If you want the best of both worlds, try out this double-sided pad.

2. RTOM Black Hole Mesh Practice Set

RTOM Black Hole Mesh Practice Set.

Highlights

⚫ Durable mesh drumhead covers.
⚫ Includes five sizes of practice pads.
⚫ Single-point tuning and sliding application.

Practice with the feel of your favorite drums without the risk of noise complaints with RTOM’s Black Hole Practice Set!

It includes 10, 12, 14, 16, and 22-inch mesh practice pads that seamlessly slide into place over your regular drumhead, reducing the volume by 80%. Say goodbye to the hassle of removing heads!

The single-point tuning adds extra convenience to your practice sessions, so you can focus on grooving and getting in the right rhythm.

Pros

  • Instant application in seconds, without additional accessories.
  • High-resilience mesh withstands hours of serious practice.
  • Elegant all-black look.

Cons

  • Foam around the edges is fragile and prone to damage.

RTOM Black Hole Mesh Practice Set

If mesh is your game, then RTOM is the name!

3. Vic Firth 12" Double-Sided Practice Pad

Vic Firth 12" Double-Sided Practice Pad.

Highlights

⚫ Double-sided pad with soft and hard rubber surfaces.
⚫ Heavy wooden platform base for stability.
⚫ Universal 12” pad size fits most snare stands.

Having trouble deciding between a soft and a hard pad for your practice sessions?

The Vic Firth Practice Pad gives you the best of both worlds, with a soft rubber side for a quiet but intense wrist workout, and a hard rubber side that’s more audible and responsive. Just flip it to whichever you're feeling and you’re good to go!

Its heavy wooden base provides a solid and reliable playing platform that can handle your toughest beats without slipping away.

Pros

  • Dual sides add versatility to your practice sessions.
  • Sleek and minimalistic gray and black design.
  • Heavy-duty and high-quality build.

Cons

  • Pricier than similar models from competing brands.

Vic Firth 12" Double-Sided Practice Pad

You can never go wrong with products from Vic Firth.

Need some great sticks to go with your new pads? Check out the best drum sticks of 2024.

4. Meinl Cymbals 12-Inch Marshmallow Practice Pad - Orange

Meinl Cymbals 12-Inch Marshmallow Practice Pad - Orange

Highlights

⚫ 12-inch practice pad with medium rebound.
⚫ Non-slip padded composite base for all surfaces.
⚫ 8mm threaded insert for mounting on a cymbal stand.

Meet the Marshmallow—Meinl’s quietest practice pad.

It’s designed with a thick foam playing surface that delivers a medium rebound and an ultra-silent response so you can practice your percussion in peace. The Marshmallow’s reduced spring-back lets you build muscle strength faster than traditional gum rubber pads.

Get great results on any surface with its padded composite base. You can also mount the pad on any cymbal stand for serious sessions.

Pros

  • The padded base has a special non-slip lining that reduces noise and vibration.
  • Recessed connector to avoid scratching your desk or table.
  • Conveniently available in 12-inch and 6-inch sizes.

Cons

  • Some users received units with small holes in the foam.

Meinl Cymbals 12-Inch Marshmallow Practice Pad

This is by far the most stylish drum pad on our list.

5. GrowDaily Drum Practice Pad - 12 Inch

GrowDaily Drum Practice Pad - 12 Inch

Highlights

⚫ A three-layer high-resilience practice pad.
⚫ Two pairs of non-slip maple drumsticks.
⚫ Carrying bag with special storage pockets.

GrowDaily’s 12-inch practice board combines quality and quietness into one portable pad.

It features a three-layer surface: elastic rubber for playing accurately close to a snare drum, high-density compressed wood for stability, and a bottom layer of anti-slip EVA polymer pad for sound insulation.

You’ll also get two pairs of maple drumsticks and an Oxford cloth case to hold the pad and sticks, so you can enjoy a realistic drumming experience wherever you go!

Pros

  • Lightweight and easy to carry.
  • Works on any surface, like carpets, tables, and snare drums.
  • Two classic colors to choose from: Gray and Blue.

Cons

  • Drumsticks are prone to breaking.

GrowDaily Drum Practice Pad

If you want a digital piano that is super light, then this is the one for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Drum practice pads offer several benefits, including noise reduction, portability, and the ability to practice anywhere. They help drummers improve their technique, control, and precision without the loud volume of an actual drum set. Practice pads are also an excellent tool for warming up before performances.

When selecting a drum practice pad, choose one that has a playing feel similar to your actual drum kit, to make your practice sessions as accurate and effective as possible. Pick a durable playing surface and a pad size that’s convenient for you to use on the go. Some pads are quieter than others, so finding one with a volume level you’re comfortable with is also important.

The most common sizes for drum practice pads are 6 inches and 12 inches. A 12-inch pad is closer to the size of an actual drum, providing a more realistic practice experience, while a 6-inch pad is more portable and convenient for travel.

Double-sided drum practice pads offer more versatility as they typically have two different playing surfaces. One side might have a rubber surface for a realistic rebound, while the other side might be softer or quieter, allowing for different practice experiences.

Generally, you can practice any drumming technique that you can do on a snare drum on your practice pad. This includes paradiddles, diddles, triplets, rolls, flams, and other exercises to improve your speed, stick control, stamina, and rhythm around the drum kit.

Check out our picks for the best drum kits under $1000.

Product Recap

With the right drum practice pad, you can sharpen your skills without hurting your ears or getting noise complaints from your neighbors. Our collection covers a wide variety of playing surfaces, pad sizes, and prices, so feel free to take your pick!

At the top of our list is the Evans RealFeel 2-Sided Practice Drum Pad, with its large, low-noise, and responsive playing surfaces, made of recycled rubber and natural gum. The RTOM Black Hole Mesh Practice Set is another worthy candidate, featuring five durable mesh heads and single-point tuning. When it comes to your wallet, the GrowDaily Drum Practice Pad offers a high-resilience drum pad set, quality maple sticks, and special storage pockets at a great price.

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"Some of the links within this article are affiliate links. These links are from various companies such as Amazon. This means if you click on any of these links and purchase the item or service, I will receive an affiliate commission. This is at no cost to you and the money gets invested back into Audio Sorcerer LLC."

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