Hunting down the best drum rug is never as easy as it seems.
That’s because (contrary to popular belief) drum mats aren’t just a random scrap of carpet that some clever soul decided to upsell as a ‘drum rug’. These specially designed acoustic mats, do have a purpose apart from keeping your feet warm. Aside from working to keep your kit stable, they also provide much needed insulation for those performing on a hard floor.
Something that, especially when you’re playing such a high volume instrument, does wonders for sharpening your sound. Ask any drummer & there’s nothing worse than having your complex solo melding into one big mass, due to a horde of unwanted reflections and reverb. So much so that a simple drum rug can go a long way to acoustic treating your performance space. Plus, the majority (especially if you opt for a pattern) look pretty rad too.
So really, to think of a drum rug as an accessory is very much missing the point. In most cases, be you performing at home on a hard floor or on stage, a drum rug is a necessity. Not to mention that when compared to other sound enhancement practices, it’s actually quite cheap. So to help you track down the best value drum rug for your situation, we’ve compiled a list of the 11 best drum mats that you can buy today… you can thank us later!
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The best drum rugs @ a glance…
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Our rundown of the best drum rugs you can buy
When it comes to buying a drum rug, there’s a lot of factors to consider! Aside from size and carpet type, there’s also the matter of performance, design and even practicality. Let’s face it, as a drummer you don’t want to be hauling around a drum mat that weights 10 tonnes. Neither do you want to be seen playing with one that doesn’t fit in with your style. That’s unless you’re the alternative type of course.
In which case, to make the process of drum mat selection even more straight forward, we’ve split our drum mat reviews into both plain and patterned. Now all that’s left to do is, read on…
Plain Coloured Drum Rugs
1: On Stage DMA4450 Drumfire Non-Slip Drum Mat
When playing bass drum, the On Stage DMA4450 Drum Fire Nonslip Drum Mat is an excellent way to keep the drum kit from scooting around the surface. It is incredibly lightweight. Installing it is fast and simple, and its compact design makes it ideal for usage in a variety of settings. The mat can be rolled up for easy storage, and it comes with two handles and a nylon carrying case to make traveling more comfortable.
2: Vic Firth VICRUG1 Deluxe Drum Rug
The Deluxe Drum Rug by Vic Firth will give the non-slip support you want in your drum room, stage, or studio. The VICRUG1’s massive form factor (6.5 feet wide by 5.3 feet deep) enables it to accommodate almost all common single-kick acoustical and electrical combinations. With an impressive price point of less than £150, the Vic Firth VICRUG1 is a steal and is among the best drum rug for amateurs to start their musical journey.
3: Meinl MDRS-BK Small Drum Rug
Are you a person with a burning passion for drumming and needs a chance to show it off? You will need a Meinl MDRS-BK Drum rug to keep your drums intact. Meinl Drum Rugs have tightly bonded fabric that supports effortlessly. They are worn resistant and durable. The simple design is ideal for smaller setups, and the colors provide personality.
4: Meinl Percussion E-Drum Rug for Electronic Kits
If you use an electronic drum set, you’re probably familiar with the difficulties of wire handling and keeping things orderly on the surface of the studio. In addition to taking control of those wires, the new Meinl Percussion E-Drum Rug makes it easy to guarantee that the rest of your setup and its pedals are firmly attached and will not budge only that the drum rug is best for musicians who are always on the go, as it is extremely portable and consumes less space. The entire kit includes quick-set markers as well as a traveling bag.
5: Roland Tdm-10 V-Drums Mat
Reduce the possibility of your drum set sliding while also protecting the floor from scratches and minimizing the amount of impact vibration and noise. Roland’s new TDM-10 drum mat is emblazoned with the Roland V-Drums emblem, which is a first for the company. Three-layer construction with nylon fiber felt and soft polyurethane resin provides better sound quality and noise cushioning, making it one of the finest drum mats under £150 on the market. It is an incredible pick for Velcro tape when it comes to holding the kick-trigger pad or kick pedal to the drum mat on the floor drum.
Drum mats with patterns/designs
6: Tama Drum Rug (Southwest Pattern)
Want to show your southern roots on the stage. The Tama Drum rug is the best drum rug for you! This Tama rug has a pattern that is inspired by the American Southwest and includes Tama logos. It includes a non-slip rubber bottom to keep it from moving around while you’re playing. Despite its size, this rug has enough room to support a huge setup.
7: Meinl MDR-JB Drum Rug Jawbreaker
It may be a real pain to deal with drum sets that are nudging and crawling their way about the floor while the drummers are performing. Therefore MEINL has come up with a solution – they’ve designed a line of long-lasting drum rugs! With its non-slip rubber base, the rug and the kit it comes in remains securely in place, while the tightly knit fabric surface offers a visually appealing and eye-catching pattern. After the concert or session, just roll up the rug and put it in a convenient location.
8: Tama Drum Rug (Paisley Pattern)
Express yourself with a funky Paisley pattern with the Tama Black and White Drum Rug. The TAMA drum rug is intended for use with bigger drum kits and setups. While playing, the non-slip rubber bottom helps to keep the ball from moving around, allowing you to practice and play without worries. Your kick drum is no longer going to run away from you! The high-quality fabric makes it the best-patterned drum mat in the market.
9: Non-slip soundproof drum rug (multiple patterns)
The ZXHH Non-Slip Rugs come in a variety of patterns, from funky patterns of the 1960s to intricate Turkish embroidered patterns. The ZXHH E-Drum rug basically serves as a carpet. With shock absorption capabilities, the sound produced with the help of this drum rug is profound and rhythmic. The drum mat is worn-resistant and easy to carry around. The unique patterns further amplify your personality on the stage.
10: Black Widow Drum Web Stabilization Mat
A drum mat is a drummer’s best friend. You need it to build your drums. What good is a rug that can’t be moved?. It’s under 1.9 pounds of weight. The bottom is comprised of a non-slip fabric that keeps your drums fastened. Suitable for studios and other areas. Even drummers on a budget can afford it. I can’t think of a better option for newbies.
Here’s the best cheap drum rug – ideal for beginners!
11: NYDD Rectangular soundproof mat for drums
Are you a hardcore drummer with a blazing passion? It gets difficult to rock on stage and prevent your drums from sliding across the floor. Worry not, we have a solution for you, we will help you find the best drum rug that you can buy for just under £50. Drum mats can cost from over £100 to even thousands. Don’t get Intimidated. We have got you covered. Suppose you are a newbie looking to start your musical journey. The NYDD Drum Rug is the best drum rug option for you. It comprises all the qualities from a non-slip base to tightly woven fabric. Not only that, but it is also fashionable and durable. With a beginner friendly price, it’s very much a steal.
Which is the best drum rug? Our editor’s choice…
Choosing the best drum rug does (to some extent) come down to taste. Intricate patterns aren’t everyone’s cup of tea – neither are small drum rugs, especially for those who have a full-size kit. So when reaching a conclusion on the best drum rug, in many ways we had to search for the best all-rounder.
A rug that for most drummers, be they professional or just starting out, would more than suffice and at the same time doesn’t leave you with the need to upgrade later down the line. Something you’ll likely consider doing if you buy a drum rug on the cheap, or one that’s overly small. So after a lot of deliberation, we’re pleased to say that the best all-round drum rug we think you can buy is the…
Vic Firth Deluxe Non-Slip Drum Rug
And to be honest, reaching this conclusion wasn’t actually that difficult. Yes, we had a lot of factors to take into consideration, but when it came down to it, the Vic Firth more or less ticked all the boxes.
Aside from being plain black (i.e. goes with anything), it also is pretty thick for a drum rug, but not too thick that it’d be a nightmare to clean or carry about. What’s more, when compared to other drum rugs of its size, it’s performs really well in terms of deadening sound. While it’s by no means the best drum rug in this category, for it’s thickness it puts up a really good fight.
As a rug, it’s also stable too. The non slip backing does a great job of keeping this mat in place, as does it’s weighted corners. A real nice touch that helps to ensure your drum rug doesn’t scrunch up or get blown about. Something that, especially when you’re playing life, is good to have. Let’s face it, the last thing you want is for your fancy drum mat to be the reason your guitarist falls over and smashes his prized Fender. Ouch!
Then of course, in terms of size, it’s no slouch either. For the majority of full-size kits it should be perfect. Not too big, but equally not too small And when you consider that it also comes with its own carry bag as well as a strap to keep it secure, it becomes quite hard to find fault with this drum rug. Even the price (for the quality you’re getting) isn’t all that extortionate. So much so that we haven’t even botherd to nitpick, as we’re convinced that Vic Firth has got the recipe right.
Ask us and as far as drum mats go, this is virtually all the you as a drummer will ever need.
Enjoy this review of the best drum rugs & eager for more? Don’t miss out on all our latest Percussion Instrument Accessory Reviews + all our recent Musical Instrument Advice. Recently, we also did a full rundown of the Best Snare Drum Stands + another on the Best Djembe Stands, which may also be a good read.
Or, if you’re here purely to read up on drum mats, keep reading & we’ll answer even more of your burning questions to help you fathom which drum rug is the best for your kit & setup…
