Hi hats are arguably your most important cymbals. They’re the cymbals that you’re going to use the most and every drum kit needs a pair. So, it’s important to have a solid hi hat stand. The hi hats are going to need a secure base to work from.
Top Picks For Best Hi Hat Stands:
17th April 2024
DW’s 9000 series hardware is one of the best hardware lines on the market, meaning the 9500D hi hat stand is one of the best stands that money can buy.
It has a double eccentric cam design that provides maximum sensitivity and response. This cam design is exclusive to DW hi hat stands, making it really unique.
You can adjust the bottom cymbal angle, allowing you to really customize the hi hats to your preference. A lot of hi hat stands don’t have this feature.
This stand is one of the sturdiest out there. It doesn’t wobble even when you stomp hard on the pedal. The pedal can also swivel around, allowing you to place it in any position at your foot.
The 9500D comes with 2 different length rods. This allows you to adjust the height without having a rod stick out at the top.
Fans of Tama will know that the Iron Cobra pedals re some high quality products. The Lever Glide keeps this trend going and offers a super decent hi hat stand.
It has 2 legs as opposed to the standard 3. This allows more space for a double kick drum slave pedal. It also provides more space in the pedal area, giving you plenty of room to move around and place things in.
It has a six-position tensioner, giving you some serious customization. This is a great feature if more than one person will be using this stand, since everyone has different preferences.
This stand is rock solid, very smooth and doesn’t make any unwanted noise. The silent movement is good for recording, since the microphones won’t pick up any sound from the stand. The pedal locks in place and doesn’t move side to side.
One of the best features of this stand is that it comes with Tama’s quick set clutch. This clutch allows you to set your hi hats up seriously fast. It’s great for gigging and doing things quickly.
The Pearl H1050 is a mid-level hi hat stand that has 3 legs and is double braced. Some of my favorite cymbal stands have been Pearl products and this hi hat stand just reinforces that statement.
It’s a direct drive stand, meaning the pedal directly controls the hi hat rod and is super responsive. The pedal has a spring tension dial which allows you to adjust the feel. You can also raise and lower the pedal to match the height of your other pedals.
The best feature of this hi hat stand are the reversible spikes next to the feet that completely stop the stand from creeping sideways. They ensure that the stand has a seriously solid foundation.
If you need a solid hi hat stand, but don’t want to spend too much, the Pearl H1050 is a great option.
Gibraltar are a dedicated drum hardware company. They specialize in drum hardware. You just know that they’re hi hat stands are going to be good. The 9707-LD is an affordable double braced stand with 3 legs.
It is seriously heavy and very sturdy, meaning it won’t be moving around and will hold your hi hats securely in place. The drive shaft is smooth like butter, meaning opening and closing hi hats feels very easy and natural.
The legs are adjustable and cater to a double pedal. The pedal has a footboard, something that most hi hat pedals don’t have. The footboard adds extra stability to the stand. If you are looking for a stand without legs you can check this option.
This stand would work great in your home practice space. It’s heaviness will make it a bit of a chore to take with to gigs, especially if you gig frequently.
The Gibraltar 9707ML-LD is definitely the best budget option when it comes to hi hat stands. It provides sturdiness and customization without breaking the bank. You can also check Gibraltar’s 9797ML-DP and 5707 for a great cheap option.
Tama’s Stage Master Iron Cobra hi hat stand offers all the standard things you need from a hi hat stand at an inexpensive price.
It’s lightweight, making it easy to transport around. It has single braced legs, adding to the lightness. However, single braced legs aren’t as secure as double braced legs, so it lacks a bit in sturdiness.
The pedal can swivel, allowing for a customized pedal set up. The stand also has memory locks, so you can take it apart to travel and easily set it up again in the comfortable position that you’re used to.
This stand doesn’t offer anything fancy, but it does everything a hi hat stand needs to do. This makes it the best option for a beginner drummer or someone buying their first drum kit.
A great hi hat stand is one that feels solid and caters to your drumming style. The design of the hi hat stand should be high quality and the stand should never feel flimsy or like it’s going to break.
The physical design of the stand should depend on your drumming style and what you need. If you play with a double pedal, then it will be better to have a hi hat stand that has two legs, giving space for the pedal. A single pedal player would be better with a stand that has three legs, since it is more sturdy.
There are a few drum companies that make hardware. Each company has top-of-the-range hi hat models. They all have different strengths and weaknesses, but the best hi hat stands will come from these brands. The companies are DW, Tama, Pearl and Gibraltar. There are many other different companies, but these 4 brands tend to be the most accessible around the world.
There are also hi hat stands that are made for different situations. The best stand for a double pedal would be one that only has 2 legs, leaving enough space for the slave pedal.
The best stand for frequent gigging would be one that is lightweight and quick to set up, yet sturdy enough to survive nights of constant playing.
The best stand for a home studio would be one that is heavy-duty, secure and fairly heavy. This stand will stay in the same place for a long time, so a heavy stand would be perfect for that situation.
There are 3 adjustable points on a hi hat stand.
The base of the stand has a pedal. Most top quality hi hat stands will allow you to swivel the pedal around, making it easy to position comfortably in your setup.
The middle of the stand will have an arm that can be lowered or raised. This will determine the height of your hi hats.
The last adjustable part will be the hi hat clutch. The clutch is what holds your hi hats together and connects them to the stand. You can use the clutch to determine the distance between your top and bottom hi hats when they’re open.
The biggest reason will be the hi hats themselves. They could be a low quality make or they could be cracked.
It could sometimes be due to the hi hat stand. If it’s not holding the hi hats securely, or if the clutch isn’t locked in properly, then it will affect the sound.
The last possible reason would be your technique. Have you ever seen pro drummers like Benny Greb play on crappy kits? He makes it sound amazing. It’s all in the technique. Your hi hat playing technique could be holding you back.
It’s important to have a good quality hi hat stand. It will feel good to play on, improve your sound and add stability to your setup. So, go out and invest in a high quality one!
Drum Teacher
Brett Clur has a Drum Performance Diploma from Trinity College London has been playing drums for over 20 years. He is passionate about advanced concepts and uses his years of experience to teach his students about them. While he is a full-time drum teacher, he is also working on growing a YouTube channel where shares his insights. You can see him playing there, or on Instagram where he posts daily videos.
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