2017 Top Snare Drum Practice Pads

Note: this is an update to one of our most popular drum practice pads posts you can find here.

This post lists the top 5 snare drum practice pads available with a few notes about each.

We rated the best snare practice pads a few years back. Readers love this post, and it is still relevant. Now it is time to update it to reflect the current snare drum practice pad rankings from actual users like you.

Names you’d expect dominate the list: Evans, Remo, Vic Firth. The top brand from last time, Offworld Percussion makes the list but has slid south not due to worse ratings but due to other snare practice pads getting MORE positive reviews and doing it at a lower cost. The Invader V3 is a great practice pad that will last until your granddaughter or her work-averse boyfriend is done with it, but the V3 is the most expensive snare pad on the list.

Full Disclosure: We’re an Amazon affiliate. What that means is that we get a small return on purchase made through us. We’re not fudging the ratings to sell products; the ratings on Amazon are genuine and the prices are extremely competitive. Like the rest of us, you likely shop Amazon to see what’s available, compare ratings, read consumer reviews and find low prices. We’re comfortable in suggesting that Amazon usually has an excellent selection and helpful buyer guidance from ratings and reviews.

How We Selected the Best Drum Practice Pads

It’s not rocket science. We set a price limit of $65, though most are much more affordable than that, and then selected five pads for snare drums with a combination of high ratings and a high number of ratings. Our staff gave the five a try, and we voted on our “Staff Pick.”

Top Rated Snare Drum Practice Pads

Here’s our list of the top pads for snare drums with links to the product description, ratings from drummers, reviews and questions answered by users about each practice pad.

RealFeel by Evans 6” Practice Pad **Our Pick** [Check Prices – Read Reviews]

The 7-inch and 12-inch Evans RealFeel pads are just as good. All three are gum rubber, single-sided pads with composite backs with a threaded insert for placing on a stand.

Remo 10” Tunable Practice Pad [Check Prices – Read Reviews]

This gray practice pad is fitted with an Ambassador coated drum head for authentic bounce and feel. The rubber non-slip bottom keeps it in place. There is a ton of user feedback available and 25+ answered questions about this Remo 10” RT-0010-00 10” gray practice pad, so you won’t be buying it with eyes shut. Quality 6-inch and 8-inch Remo practice pads are available too.

Vic Firth Heavy Hitter Slim Pad 12” [Check Prices – Read Reviews]

Too large for many snares, this pad is worth considering for its quality and durability with a 3/16” gum rubber pad on a wood base.

Offworld Percussion Invader V3 Practice Pad [Check Prices – Read Reviews]

This snare practice pad feels truly authentic, and the quality is unsurpassed. The 4.6/5 stars from 81 reviewers speaks for itself.

Tromme 12” Two-sided Drum Practice Pad [Check Prices – Read Reviews]

This newcomer to the list sports a wooden base beneath handsome silicone pads. The silicone wears well and doesn’t have the rubber smell that turns off some users. A carrying case is also included.

What’s Your Preferred Snare Drum Practice Pad?

Whether you use one of these or a different practice pad, other readers want to hear your take on it. What is it and what are the size, materials and construction? How’s the feel? Cost? Recommendation? Join the conversation below, and if you found this Top 5 snare drum practice pad list helpful, we’d appreciate it if you’d share it on social media.