The 7 Best Drum Hardware Packs (2024)

Good hardware is essential for both acoustic and electronic drums. They make sure everything stays in position and they ensure optimal performance of your bass-drum and hi-hat playing.

The quality of the drum set’s hardware can also make a significant difference in the overall sound quality of the kit, foot pedals included. Because there are several different drum hardware manufacturers, I’ve chosen to evaluate them all and select the top 7 drum hardware kits.

These all have a similar number of stands and stools, but they are distinct in terms of how they’re set up. If you have bought a ‘shell pack’ of drums (i.e. just the drums), then you will need a hardware pack and a cymbal set to complete your drum set.

My top recommended hardware pack is the Gretsch Drums G5 Hardware Pack. This is a durable hardware pack that is also of great quality overall.

My second recommended hardware pack is the Tama The Classic Series 4-piece Hardware Pack w/ Bag. This is a budget option for those who want a good hardware pack at a reasonable price.

The 7 Best Drum Hardware Packs (2024)

1. Gretsch Drums G5 Hardware Pack (GRG5PACK)
Top Pick - Boom cymbal stand, straight cymbal stand, hi-hat stand, snare drum stand, bass pedal.
2. Tama The Classic Series 4-piece Hardware Pack w/ Bag
Budget Pick - Two cymbal stands, hi-hat stand, snare drum stand.
3. Mapex Armory 5-piece Hardware Pack (with Double Pedal)
Double bass pedal, two boom cymbal stands, a hi-hat stand, snare stand.
4. Gibraltar 5700 Hardware Package
Snare stand, kick pedal, hi-hat, straight and boom cymbal stands.
5. Yamaha HW-3 Crosstown Advanced Lightweight 4-piece Hardware Pack
Two cymbal stands, a hi-hat stand, and a snare stand.
6. DW 6000 Ultralight Series Hardware Pack
Two cymbal stands, hi-hat stand, snare drum stand.
7. Ludwig Atlas Standard Hardware Pack
Snare stand, hi-hat stand, bass drum pedal, straight cymbal stand, boom cymbal stand.

Let’s compare these in more detail.

1. Gretsch Drums G5 Hardware Pack (GRG5PACK)

Top Pick
Boom cymbal stand, straight cymbal stand, hi-hat stand, snare drum stand, bass pedal.
View Price at SweetwaterView Price at Amazon

Gretsch Drums G5 Hardware Pack contains classic, sturdy, high-quality hardware. This is your run-of-the-mill well-rounded hardware pack.

In it, you’ll find two cymbal stands (one boom and one straight), a hi-hat stand, a snare drum stand, and a bass pedal. All of these are top of the line in quality and durability. Every piece of equipment is very robust and non-wobbly.

Even though the price of these is generally on the high-end, this hardware pack is well worth its money as it will last you for years without a hitch.

2. Tama The Classic Series 4-piece Hardware Pack w/ Bag

Budget Pick
Two cymbal stands, hi-hat stand, snare drum stand.
View Price at SweetwaterView Price at Amazon

The budget option is a classic of sorts. The Tama The Classic Series 4-piece Hardware Pack w/ Bag is just what it says in the name. In this set, you’ll find two cymbal stands, a hi-hat, and a snare drum stands.

All these pieces of hardware are made out of high-quality steel, which is durable and will last you for decades to come. On the cons side, this means they are quite heavy. To be fair, all of the entries on this list are fairly heavy.

This is not only a budget option but also something reliable and durable for your studio. This pack has value-for-money written all over it.

3. Mapex Armory 5-piece Hardware Pack (with Double Pedal)

Great for Metal Drummers
Double bass pedal, two boom cymbal stands, a hi-hat stand, snare stand.
View Price at SweetwaterView Price at Amazon

Moving on to some high-end stuff, Mapex Armory is a great pack if you’re looking for something more advanced.

First of all, the design of it is beautiful, as it’s all black. This will certainly catch the eye of your audience. In the pack, you’ll find a double bass pedal, two boom cymbal stands, a hi-hat stand, and a snare stand.

All of them are of very high quality, reliable and sturdy, ready to take whatever you have to throw at them. If you’re looking for a high-end product to invest in that will last you for a long time, this is certainly it.

4. Gibraltar 5700 Hardware Package

Great value for money
Snare stand, kick pedal, hi-hat, straight and boom cymbal stands.
View Price at SweetwaterView Price at Amazon

One of the best money-for-value ratios on this list, The Gibraltar 5700 Hardware Package is a perfect lightweight pack to consider.

In it, you’ll find a drum snare stand, kick pedal, hi-hat, straight and boom cymbal stands. It’s quality made and sturdy, so if you’re looking for a cheap and quality item for your studio, you found it.

It can also take the road pretty well, so you can rely on it if need be to tour. With all the equipment being tripod-based, with double-braced legs and rubber feet, this is a great pack for a great price.

5. Yamaha HW-3 Crosstown Advanced Lightweight 4-piece Hardware Pack

Lightweight
Two cymbal stands, a hi-hat stand, and a snare stand.
View Price at SweetwaterView Price at Amazon

Yamaha is one of the best-known manufacturers in the music world, so it’s no wonder that they’re on this list as well.

The HW-3 Crosstown is a great lightweight pack made for intensive traveling and gigging. It consists of 4 pieces – two cymbal stands, a hi-hat stand, and a snare stand, but also comes with a bag in which you can take them around.

The great thing about this pack is that it’s all made out of aluminum, making it more than a third lighter than the standard packs, but keeping the sturdiness of the standard set. This is a high-end set with a matching price, but you know that you’re paying for quality when you’re buying this set.

6. DW 6000 Ultralight Series Hardware Pack

Great-looking pack
Two cymbal stands, hi-hat stand, snare drum stand.
View Price at SweetwaterView Price at Amazon

When you’re looking for drums hardware, it’s hard to find something that’s old-looking, even though the old times had their charms. But, DW 6000 comes into that story with their hardware pack.

This sleek-looking, elegant pack consists of two cymbal stands, a hi-hat, and a snare drum stand, with an accompanying bag.

All of these are made to look vintage, so they will sit great with retro-looking drum sets and acts. The snare drum is also cradle-like, which is rare to see in today’s sets. Also, because of the sleek look, all of the hardware is extremely lightweight, so you’ll have no problem taking them on the road with you.

7. Ludwig Atlas Standard Hardware Pack

Durable
Snare stand, hi-hat stand, bass drum pedal, straight cymbal stand, boom cymbal stand.
View Price at AmazonView Price at Guitar Center

The Ludwig Atlas Standard Hardware Pack is a very sturdy pack that comes from the well-known and respectable brand we’re all familiar with.

In this hardware pack, you have a snare stand, hi-hat stand, bass drum pedal, straight cymbal stand, and a boom cymbal stand. You have all the necessary and quality components for a reasonable price, yet exceptional quality.

All the stands are tripod-based with good metal construction and the kick pedal is of particular quality due to the adjustable beater with great spring tension. It also has a memory lock. The double-braced legs of this hardware pack add to the stability of the pack, making it a very good and all-around choice.

Shell packs vs hardware packs vs cymbal packs vs full drum sets

Drum sets are often advertised as ‘shell packs’. This means that you are only getting the actual drums themselves, without cymbals and hardware.

If you’re a starting out, we recommend trying to buy a full drum set, which includes everything you need to get started. The cymbals are generally not the best quality when they come with drum sets, but they are your best bet if you are on a budget.

What drum hardware do you need?

Everything about the drum hardware is essentially connected to the drum set you already own. Some of the essentials in any drum set are the snare drum stand, hi-hat stand, cymbal stands, and kick pedal. The rest depends on you and the size of your drum set.

Should you use boom stands or straight cymbal stands?

As for the sound, you’ll get the same output from both types of stands. People often put crash cymbals on a straight cymbal stand and ride cymbals on a boom stand. Boom stands give you more room to maneuver when setting up your drum set.

As you start to accumulate lots of cymbals, boom stands start to become more important, as you can only comfortably fit a fairly limited amount of straight stands around a drum kit.

Should you use a single or double pedal?

Drummers usually start with a single pedal, but if you’re into some of the harder genres of music like metal or hardcore rock and roll, then getting a double pedal wouldn’t be such a bad idea.

Though, this is not a definitive rule. Drummers from many other styles play with double bass drum pedals, though they are often not with the same signature playing patterns found in metal music (loud 16th or 32nd notes!). You can use double bass drum pedals to produce some very interesting and complex drum patterns.

As always, it depends on you and your playing style.

Single or Double braced stands?

Double-braced stands are usually heavier and more durable. Single-braced stands are often cheaper and lighter. Whichever ones you choose are very much a matter of preference.

Conclusion

That’s my pick of some of the best drum hardware packs that you can buy online. It’s often more affordable to buy hardware in one set, rather than buying individual parts. Therefore, it’s certainly worth considering these if you need a new set of hardware.

My top pick is the Gretsch Drums G5 Hardware Pack. If you want a durable hardware pack that offers exceptional quality all-around, then this is the one.

My budget pick is the Tama The Classic Series 4-piece Hardware Pack w/ Bag. With a more reasonable price tag, this pack still offers great quality and durable hardware.

Mike O'Connor
Mike O'Connor

I've been playing drums for over 18 years. I work as both a session drummer and a drum teacher, and I love to share my knowledge and tips on this site. You can also find me on the Electronic Drum Advisor YouTube channel.

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