7 Best Hi-Hat Stands 2024
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With your hi-hats being one of the most important aspects of your drum set, it’s important to have a solid stand for them to rest on. Hi-hat stands come in a few variations, and getting one that caters to your playing style will give you the most playability.
In this guide, we’ll look at the best hi-hat stands available. I’ll also explain what to look for in a good stand.
Contents
DW Delta II Series Hi-Hat Stand – Best Overall
The DW Delta II Series Hi-Hat Stand (compare price on Sweetwater and Amazon) is an incredible option to consider that will give you unparalleled playability compared to many other stands.
This stand has several features that place it firmly at the top of this list. Firstly, it has a bottom cymbal seat that allows you to adjust the height and angle of the bottom hi-hat. This lets you choose how much attack and resonance you get when closing the hi-hats with your foot.
The stand is made of lightweight steel, but it’s a heavyweight design that plants the stand firmly on the ground. With three double-braced legs, the stand feels very solid to play on in any setting.
Something amazing about the stand is that it comes with two hi-hat rods to use. One is 15”, while the other is 21”. This allows you to have different heights according to which rod you use. An extra-long rod often gets in the way, so it’s fantastic that you get a shorter option.
The pedal has a strong base plate that adds even more security to the stand. When you fold the pedal, the base plate folds with it, making it easier to store this stand than many other ones with base plates.
If you’re looking for an amazing overall hi-hat stand, the DW Delta II is one of your best options. Be prepared for its high price tag, though.
Number of legs: 3
Weight: Heavy
Leg type: Double-braced
Leg rotation option: Yes
DW MDD Machined Drive Direct Hi-Hat Stand – Premium Option
The DW MDD Machined Drive Direct Hi-Hat Stand (compare price on Sweetwater and Amazon) is another top-tier DW hi-hat stand. It’s the most premium hi-hat stand available, having several adjustment options that you won’t find on most other stands.
All the adjustment options allow you to set up the most comfortable stand for your playing needs. The stand is also made from extremely strong aluminum, making it the strongest hi-hat stand that you can get. If you’re looking for durability, the MDD hi-hat stand will undoubtedly last decades.
This version of the stand has two legs, yet it’s still very heavy and solid. You don’t feel a difference in stability with the lack of a third leg, making this an excellent stand for drummers with double pedals.
The pedal is connected via a direct-drive mechanism, making it a lot more responsive compared to the majority of hi-hat stands, as most stands have chain-drive pedals with a slight delay.
This is one of the most expensive hi-hat stands that money can buy. It’s only a viable option for drummers with pro drum sets and a budget that can easily cover the cost. It’s highly worth it if you can afford it, but I wouldn’t suggest getting it if you don’t feel comfortable paying so much money for a stand.
Number of legs: 2
Weight: Heavy
Leg type: Double-braced
Leg rotation option: Yes
PDP 700 Series Hi-Hat Stand – Best Budget Option
The PDP 700 Series Hi-Hat Stand (compare price on Sweetwater and Amazon) is an option that sits on the other side of the cost spectrum. This hi-hat stand is wonderfully affordable. It’s a perfect option for drummers needing an inexpensive stand that still has the great design quality offered by a major drum brand.
The stand has double-braced legs, but they’re a lot thinner than the ones on the stands we’ve looked at so far. This makes the stand a lot lighter, but it still feels fairly sturdy when used in most settings.
Unfortunately, the legs can’t swivel around the stand, so it’s not a great option for double pedal players.
The footboard is smooth across its surface, making it feel great to play. Something unique to note is that the smooth surface also feels excellent when you’re playing barefoot.
The feet of the legs have an anti-slip material that stops the stand from shifting forward when you play.
Overall, it’s a solid hi-hat stand that won’t break the bank. It’s a bit better than a stand that you’d get with a cheap drum set, and it’s a great affordable option for drummers who need to set up multiple drum sets.
Number of legs: 3
Weight: Light
Leg type: Double-braced
Leg rotation option: No
Gibraltar 5707 Medium Weight Hi-Hat Stand
The Gibraltar 5707 Medium Weight Hi-Hat Stand (compare price on Sweetwater and Amazon) is another excellent affordable option to consider getting. It costs slightly more than the PDP stand, but the legs on this stand can be swiveled to accommodate a second pedal.
It has a medium weight, and it’s strong enough to hold large hi-hats without moving around. The stand has thin double-braced legs that add to its sturdiness. Those legs have strong rubber feet that hold up very well over time.
The swivel mechanism works incredibly well, as you can easily move the legs into any position. Some affordable stands can swivel, but the legs feel very tight when moving. You don’t get that effect with the 5707 hi-hat stand.
The stand is surprisingly heavy-duty, considering its low price tag. So, I highly suggest it for anyone on a tight budget that is looking for a solid stand.
The downside of this stand is that the pedal isn’t as responsive as the pedals on higher-end stands. However, you’ll only feel that if you’re accustomed to playing high-end stands. If you’ve only ever played on entry-level hi-hat stands, you’ll have no pedals with the responsiveness of the pedal.
Number of legs: 3
Weight: Medium
Leg type: Double-braced
Leg rotation option: Yes
Yamaha HHS-3 Crosstown Advanced Lightweight Hi-Hat Stand
The Yamaha HHS-3 Crosstown Advanced Lightweight Hi-Hat Stand (compare price on Sweetwater and Amazon) is a unique hi-hat stand with very few competitors on the market. The whole idea behind this hi-hat stand is portability and ease of use.
It’s the most lightweight stand on this list, and it’s designed to help you lower your load when you take your gear with you to gigs.
The stand can easily be lifted up with your pinkie finger, demonstrating how light it really is. You may be worried about sturdiness with it being so light, but the stand somehow remains quite sturdy when you’re playing.
You can put large hi-hats on it, and it won’t sway or wobble. However, it’s nowhere near as sturdy as regular hi-hat stands, so not every drummer will like how this one feels.
The stand has a unique appearance as well. It has a modern satin exterior, and thankfully the hardware doesn’t pick up any fingerprints or scuff marks. When you place the legs flat on the floor, the stand also looks very similar to the vintage hi-hat stands of the past.
I purely suggest getting this stand if you want something to use for gigs. It will save you some effort, as carrying a light hardware case will be a breeze. If you only need a stand to use at home or in a studio, you should get something a bit more solid.
Number of legs: 3
Weight: Very light
Leg type: Single-braced
Leg rotation option: No
Tama HH915D Speed Cobra Lever Glide Hi-Hat Stand
The Tama HH915D Speed Cobra Lever Glide Hi-Hat Stand (compare price on Sweetwater and Amazon) is an excellent hi-hat stand for drummers who are looking for enhanced speed with the pedal. The stand uses the same footboard as the famous Speed Cobra, and it’s very responsive and articulate.
The hi-hat stand has two double-braced legs, making it very easy to move the pedal into whatever position that is comfortable for you.
The footboard has a longboard design, meaning it has a bit of extra length at the back to allow you to plant your whole foot very comfortably on it. That longboard pedal also helps a lot with specific techniques.
Another great thing about this hi-hat stand is that it comes with a Quick-Set clutch. This clutch allows you to attach the top hi-hat to it within seconds instead of having to screw a wingnut on it. It’s a huge timesaver.
It’s very easy to adjust the height of the footboard, and there’s a tension control with six positions to set different tensions. This design is very intuitive, and it allows you to pick the exact tension that you’re comfortable with to enhance your foot speed.
It’s an amazing hi-hat stand in every aspect. The downside is that not every drummer will like the feeling of a longboard pedal. Longboard pedals can often feel quite weird as bass drum pedals when you’re not used to them, but it feels even weirder to have one on a hi-hat stand.
Number of legs: 2
Weight: Heavy
Leg type: Double-braced
Leg rotation option: Yes
Pearl H-930 Hi-Hat Stand
The Pearl H-930 Hi-Hat Stand (compare price on Sweetwater and Amazon) is one of the most affordable heavy-duty hi-hat stands available. It has immaculate construction, offering you a hi-hat stand that will happily take on any storm.
The memory locks are made from die-cast piping, meaning they’re much more solid than the memory locks on the other stands from this list.
The legs are double-braced and very thick, providing a very solid base to play from. When using this hi-hat stand, your hi-hats will feel almost indestructible. The legs have oversized rubber feet, which further enhance the sturdiness that the stand offers.
The stand has Pearl’s Demon footboard, which is a longboard pedal with very smooth action. That smooth action comes from the direct-pull drive mechanism, allowing the top hi-hat to respond very quickly to what your foot is doing with the pedal.
The big downside of this stand is that the rod that comes with it is thicker than usual. You’ll find this with many of Pearl’s hi-hat stands. While Pearl clutches will fit them perfectly, a lot of other clutches will have threads that are too thin. Keep that in mind if you want to use a clutch that is different from the standard one that comes with the stand.
Other than that, this is an amazing heavy-duty stand with a highly attractive price point. It’s not as expensive as the high-end DW stands, but those ones do offer a bit more in terms of customization and playability.
Number of legs: 3
Weight: Heavy
Leg type: Double-braced
Leg rotation option: Yes
What To Look For In a Hi Hat Stand
Single and Double-Braced Legs
The first thing you should look for in a height hat stand is whether it has single or double-braced legs. In most cases, double-braced hi-hat stands are a lot sturdier. The sturdier your stand is, the more comfortable it will feel when playing the hi-hats.
However, sturdiness is what every drummer will need, and single-braced legs are sometimes a better option. If you need a light stand, single-braced legs will suit you better.
Also, single-braced legs are typically found on more affordable stands, making them a better budget option.
These are just general guidelines, though. Some single-braced hi-hat stands have very heavy-duty construction. So, you should read the descriptions very carefully to understand all the design aspects. If in doubt, it’s typically better to get a double-braced stand.
Number of Legs
All hi-hat stands either have two or three legs. The number of legs you need on your stand will depend on what kind of drum kit setup you have.
If you have a standard setup with a single bass drum pedal, a three-legged hi-hat stand is the standard choice.
Stands with two legs are good for drummers who use a double bass drum pedal. The slave pedal rests next to the hi-hat pedal, and having two legs opens a lot of space for that pedal to be easily positioned.
Two-legged stands are also good if you have other pedals to place next to the hi-hat pedal, such as a bass drum pedal connected to a percussion instrument.
The drawback of stands with two legs is that they’re not as sturdy as stands with three legs in most cases.
If you want a three-legged stand and you play a double pedal, you should look for one that has the option of rotating its legs. Swivel legs aren’t as ideal as only having two legs, but they’ll make it more comfortable to fit another pedal in your setup.
Not all three-legged hi-hat stands have a swivel option, so that’s something to carefully consider when choosing one to buy.
Base Plate
A base plate is the long piece of metal that sits underneath the hi-hat pedal. Base plates add a lot of sturdiness to the pedal, making them ideal to have if you don’t want the hi-hat to feel like it’s moving around when you play.
Base plates are a lot more common on bass drum pedals than they are on hi-hat pedals, but they’re still an attractive feature to have.
If you see a hi-hat pedal with a base plate, you can happily assume that it’s a high-quality stand that is very sturdy.
However, the lack of a base plate doesn’t mean the stand won’t be sturdy. Some of the most heavy-duty stands available don’t have base plates. I’d just say that it’s better to have a base plate compared to not having one.
Take note that a base plate will add plenty of weight to a stand, which is why many stands don’t have them. If you don’t mind the extra weight, then having a base plate is the best option for sturdiness.
The one downside of a base plate is that the stand may feel a bit weird to play with if it’s resting on an uneven surface, whereas pedals without base plates adapt a bit easier.
Weight
The weight of a hi-hat stand is something else to take into consideration, especially if you’re going to take your kit out to play gigs. Different weights suit varying purposes better.
If you have a kit that sits in your practice room most of the time, a heavy-duty stand would be your best option. Heavy-duty stands are also essential for studio kits, as many different drummers come in and play the kit, so a heavy-duty stand would be most durable.
If you’re a beginner drummer looking for an affordable stand, medium stands are typically the most inexpensive options. They have standard weights, and they’re also the most common across every hardware brand.
If you’re someone who frequently plays gigs with your own kit, I suggest getting a lightweight stand. Light stands are a lot easier to carry around, and every gigging drummer will appreciate a stand that doesn’t add too much to the weight of a hardware bag.
The trade-off with lightweight stands is that they’re not as sturdy as the other options. So, I suggest getting a lightweight hi-hat stand to use for gigs and then having a medium or heavy-duty stand for your practice setup at home.
Clutch
The clutch is the part of the hi-hat that connects the top hi-hat cymbal to the rod. Every hi-hat stand comes with a clutch, and it’s one of the most important small components of any drum set.
When buying a hi-hat stand, you should check to see what kind of clutch it comes with. Standard clutches only perform the task of connecting the hi-hats together. They have two pieces of felt and wingnuts to lock everything in place.
Quick-release clutches have clever designs that allow you to set the hi-hats up very quickly. These designs vary between different brands. Quick-release clutches are ideal to have if you find yourself playing drums in settings where quick setups are needed. Setting up a standard clutch usually takes a few minutes.
The final type of clutch is a drop clutch. These clutches allow you to press a lever that sets the hi-hats into a closed position. When you press it again, the top hat will go to its original position. Drop clutches are incredibly useful to have if you play with a double bass drum pedal. They allow you to switch your leg to the slave pedal and then have a closed hi-hat while you’re playing double pedal patterns.
Price
Hi-hat stands vary quite dramatically in price. While some of them are very inexpensive, others cost more than entire beginner drum sets. When choosing a hi-hat stand, you need to decide how much you’re willing to spend, and that will tell you what qualities to look out for.
Any hi-hat stand with a clutch that is different from a standard one will be more expensive than a stand with a standard clutch.
Heavy-duty stands are always the most expensive options, as well as ones that have base plates beneath the pedal.
Some single-braced hi-hat stands are expensive, but most are more affordable than double-braced hi-hat stands.
All high-priced stands can swivel their legs if they have three of them. Unfortunately, inexpensive hi-hat stands don’t have a swivel option, so they’re not great stands to use if you play with a double bass drum pedal.
The more money you spend on a hi-hat stand, the more features it will have. It will also be a lot more durable than an inexpensive stand. While inexpensive stands will work well for a few years, their quality doesn’t hold up over the long run, and their components start getting very rigid.
If you’re a performing drummer, you should spend a bit more on a hi-hat stand to get better playability. If you’re a new drummer, the most affordable hi-hat stands will be perfectly usable. Just make sure to get a hi-hat stand from a reputable brand.
Best Hi Hat Stand Brands
Every drum brand has their own range of hardware. However, there are a few brands that tend to have much better hardware than others. If you’re looking to buy hardware separately from the brand of your drum set, here are the noteworthy brands that have excellent hi-hat stands.
DW
DW is a luxury drum brand, and they also produce some of the best drum hardware out there. When it comes to hi-hat stands, kick drum pedals, and other hardware, you’ll find some seriously heavy-duty options available in DW’s catalog.
All the options from this brand tend to be very expensive, though. So, you should only consider a DW hi-hat stand if you have a big budget.
PDP
PDP is a sister company to DW. They’re essentially the same brand, but PDP products are a lot more affordable and accessible to a wider range of drummers.
The great thing about PDP hi-hat stands is that they take inspiration from the top-tier DW ones, but they’re made in ways to cut costs. If you love DW’s hi-hat stands, but you want something a bit cheaper, PDP hi-hat stands are good options.
Pearl
Pearl is an incredibly popular drum kit brand. A well-known fact about them is that they have incredible hardware as well. You can find some great heavy-duty hi-hat stands in Pearl’s product range, and they have a good reputation for lasting many years.
Yamaha
Yamaha is another popular drum set brand that also has a fantastic hardware range. A lot of Yamaha’s entry-level hi-hat stands only have single-braced legs, but they’re somehow very sturdy and durable.
The brand’s high-end hi-hat stands are amazing too, but their Crosstown hi-hat stand is a personal favorite.
Tama
Tama is the final popular drum brand to mention that has a popular hardware range. The Iron Cobra pedals are legendary in the drumming industry, and you can find a few Iron Cobra hi-hat stands as well.
If you want a hi-hat stand with a longboard pedal, I highly suggest checking out all of Tama’s options. They won’t disappoint you.
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is one of the only drum brands that purely focus on making hardware. Because of this, Gibraltar arguably has more hi-hat stand options than any other brand.
So, Gibraltar is the brand to look at if you want variety with your selection process. Gibraltar has several inexpensive hi-hat stands available, but the brand also has plenty of high-end ones that easily compete with the options from other brands.
Top Hi Hat Stands, Final Thoughts
When picking a good hi-hat stand, your main deciding factors should be weight, the number of legs, and price. Once you’ve decided on those factors, your search will become a lot easier with a narrowed-down list of options.
I highly recommend getting a high-end stand that will last decades. If you love it, you won’t need to worry about buying another hi-hat stand for a long time.
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