7 Best Hi Hat Stands in 2024 Reviewed

One of the most important pieces of hardware in a drum set is the hi hat stand. But at the same time, it’s also one of the most overlooked parts of it!

Hi hat stands provide feel, stability, and easy placement which are essential needs of a drummer out of many other things. They also ensure that you have a reliable, comfortable, and solid performance allowing you to play confidently on stage or in the studio. So, drum fans, before you begin banging away on your drum set — you’ve gotta ensure that you have some durable hi hat stands to support your playing style!

All hi hat stands typically come with two or three-legged models. But the question is — “How does the number of legs vary?” Actually, they vary depending on the type of drum kit setup you own.

Two-Legged Stands are ideal when you have other pedals next to the hi-hat pedal such as double bass drum pedals connecting to the bass drum or an additional pedal connecting to another percussion instrument. They’re perfect for drummers that use a double bass drum pedal.

Naturally, the weight of a hi hat stand is one of, if not the most critical elements to consider. When deciding whether you’d like a lighter or heavier stand — the first thing you should think about is the weight of your cymbals, how often you transport your drum kit, and the musical genre you play.

For example: if you play heavy rock or metal, you’ll want to choose the heavier and more robust models of hi hat stands. But if you play jazz music, lightweight hi hat stands are more than enough.

Next up, is the clutch. Every hi hat stand comes with a clutch which firmly affixes the top hi-hat cymbal on the rod of the stand. Despite its crucial purpose yet subtle appearance, a hi hat stand’s clutch is one of the most often overlooked components of a drum set.

Clutches usually feature a quick-release functionality in order to save time when setting up or breaking down the drum set. These quick-release clutches are ideal for live performance gigs where quick and reliable setups are needed.

Another option comes in the form of drop clutches. These allow you to press a lever which then sets the hi-hat cymbal into a closed position. Pressing the lever again reverts the top hat back to its original position. They also enable you to have a closed hi-hat when playing double-pedal patterns or switch your leg to a slave pedal. Technically, hi hat stands with drop clutches are a great option if you play with double bass drum pedals!

Another critical factor would be the height of your hi hat stand. This is a vital aspect contributing to your playing experience, therefore adjustable height is paramount for sound quality and comfort!

Now, most hi hat stands feature durable tubing with memory locks — designed so that you won’t have to re-adjust your hi hat stand every time you need to play. My tip would be to always look for a hi hat stand with a wide adjustable range since it determines how low or high you can adjust it. A good stand must be able to accommodate drummers with different heights and playing styles.

In addition to that, another critical factor you’d want to look at is the tilting range. This determines how far the top hat can tilt in either direction. This “tilt” is crucial when finding a comfortable playing position so make sure not to pass by it!

Finally, you should also consider taking a look at the base plate of the hi hat stand. This piece of metal is positioned under the hi-hat pedal to add sturdiness, stability and feel while playing the hi-hat cymbals. It ensures that the pedal doesn’t feel like it’s moving around when playing.

While the base plate helps improve the overall playing experience of hi-hat cymbals, the downside is that it’ll add a lot of weight to your hi hat stand. Drastically affect its portability and of course, affordability. Also, the base plate may feel a bit awkward if the hi hat stand rests on an uneven surface. Whereas stands without them can adapt much more easily.

Alright! Now that we’ve already figured out what to look for in a good hi hat stand, it’s time to finally give you the 7 Best Hi Hat Stands all available here at DCP. Remember — the best hi hat stands should have the optimal number of legs, ideal weight, stable bracing, high-quality clutch, flexible adjustment options, and an excellent base plate.

To help you choose the best hi hat stand that perfectly fits your needs and style, we’ve decided to introduce the 7 Best Hi Hat Stands in 7 different categories. These are: Best for Live Performers, Best for Lightweight Drummers, Best for Studio Use, Best for Metal Drummers, Best for Beginners (or Experts), Best for Drummers on a Budget, and Best for All-Around Performance. 

So, what are you waiting for? It’s time for you to meet the 7 Best Hi Hat Stands in 2024 reviewed by the Drum Center of Portsmouth!

We’re kicking off this list with the hi hat stand that’s absolutely the best for live performers. Drummers that go on tours or always perform on stage require a hi hat stand that’s durable, portable, and can easily adapt to any playing style. Guess what? Covering all those needs is no other than the Tama Speed Cobra Lever Glide Hi Hat Stand!

This awesome hi hat stand features six-way tension adjustments that offer setup flexibility even in tight spaces. That’s right, so it’s perfect for small recording rooms or stages! The Tama Speed Cobra’s dual-leg construction allows you to easily configure the hi hat stand to any desired position. Oh, and thanks to its quick-set clutch — all you need to do is to pull a lever, then you can already attach and remove the cymbals easily. See? Allowing gig performers for a fast setup and helping them get in and out of stages quickly!

Lastly, for even more exceptional performance, — the hinge guard block on the footboard firmly holds the bearing, providing the ultimate stability and smoothness you need when playing. It also helps to shift the balance of the stance toward the drummer, giving you a more comfortable playing experience. Awesome, right?

Ah, there it is! At number 2, we have the Yamaha Crosstown Advanced Lightweight Hi Hat Stand turning it up for drummers looking for a lightweight solution. Touring hardware cross-country or even across town is not a joke. It can definitely be a massive hassle for gigging drummers out there!

Imagine lugging around heavy stands before and after your gig. And it doesn’t end there, because you also have to take care of them until you get home or reach the studio. See? That right there is 100% a physically-demanding task. The worst part? It’s often difficult to find hi hat stands made for professionals with high-quality durability while still offering lightweight construction.

Luckily, we have the Yamaha Crosstown Advanced Lightweight Hi Hat Stand which is the perfect choice for traveling drummers. It has a unique tripod construction for ultra stability and get this — weighs only just a few pounds! So don’t let this lightweight hi hat stand fool you. It’s actually made of aluminum, making it stable and durable with channel tracked legs. Which means that it’s strong enough to hold even the heaviest cymbals! Oh, and this also means that it’s easily portable which is perfect for touring drummers and those looking for lightweight options.

Now, we have the DW-DWCP9500TB 9000 Series Hi Hat Stand at number 3 which is the ultimate choice for professionals on the market. This hi hat stand offers a uniquely responsive feel and fast adjustment unmatched by most models available!

It’s incredibly heavy and sturdy, meaning that it will surely last many, many years of service. While it carries a premium price tag — let me tell you that this bad boy is built like a tank. It’s boasting an incredible design, and feels effortless to play. The DW 9000 Series features its signature Double Eccentric Cam, which makes it highly responsive and easy to play. It boasts a heightened sensitivity on the footboard in relation to its cymbal movement, providing a distinctive playing experience.

Oh, and there’s also the infinitely adjustable locking spring tension, allowing for precise adjustment so you can freely adjust and calibrate the stand exactly how you see fit. This hi hat stand’s unibody folding footboard, lateral cymbal seat, and heavy-gauge tubing make it a popular choice for drummers in the recording studio for all genres of music.

Alright, alright, alright! Now, it’s finally time to rock n’ roll. We all know that Yamaha is one of the biggest drum manufacturers in the world, right? It’s right up there with huge names in the drum industry such as Tama, DW, and Pearl. Well, with the Yamaha 1200 Series Direct Drive Two-Leg Hi Hat Stand — they’ve stepped it up a notch, creating solid hardware made to last for decades!

This two-leg hi hat stand from the 1200 Series comes with a double-braced direct drive with a locking clutch. Since it’s double-braced, this fantastic hi hat stand allows for greater stability and lock-in to prevent the setup from moving. On the other hand, the direct drive pedal means that the pedal connects directly to the cam and footboard. Pretty good accessibility, huh?

These features make it much more responsive and great for fast playing. That’s right. The direct drive function in itself makes the Yamaha 1200 Series Direct Drive Two-Leg Hi Hat Stand perfect for all metal drummers out there, especially those who need to play at high tempos! However, you do need to sacrifice some power by using direct drive pedals compared to chain drive pedals.

So we’ve been talking about hi hat stands that are meant for touring drummers and professional giggers, right? Well, at number 5 — we’re now having a hi hat stand that’s best for beginners (and even pros!)

The Yamaha 700 Series Single-Braced Hi Hat Stand is a medium stand featuring rotating legs and an 11-step adjustable tension. Thanks to its tension-adjustable chain-drive pedal, you can easily dial-in the optimal tension that fits your playing style. Plus, with its rotating legs, you can effortlessly find a comfortable position to play.

Unlike the direct-drive pedal, which is connected directly to the football, the chain-drive has a single chain that connects to the footboard. While this can deliver greater power and is more durable under high usage, the added chain means there is some lag time. Meaning that it’s not best suited for fast-playing genres.

Of course, one of the most crucial factors we consider is the budget. So at number 6, we'll be having the best hi hat stand for drummers on budget! The DW 3000 Series CP3500A 3-Leg Hi Hat Stand offers terrific value for your money. With plenty of high-end specs and features at a low price point — this is definitely a hi hat stand that’s a bang for the buck.

This is a promising three-legged hi hat stand that’s poised to deliver enhanced stability to hold even the heaviest of cymbals! That’s right. The DW 3000 features a fixed steel baseplate, allowing for maximum sturdiness. Moreover, its footboard boasts durable construction for improved stability.

With built-in tube joints and integrated memory locks, you won’t have to fiddle with adjustments anymore every time you play. It has a 379 locking clutch that holds your position and makes for an easy setup. Oh, and the seat is highly adjustable, so you can get into the perfect playing position before swinging away! The best part? All these awesomeness will belong to you for as little as $200!

Finally, we have the DW 5000 Series Delta II 2-Leg Hi Hat Stand which holds the title “Best for All-Around Performance”! This banger of a hi hat stand provides optimal balance between durability, weight, performance, and portability. For one, it’s made by DW — so you can be absolutely sure that it features top-quality design. Ensuring that the hi hat stand will last for decades!

The DW 5000 highlights a unibody folding footboard, which can save you a lot of space and time whenever you need tearing down. Additionally, it has a unique bearing link connector that delivers a precise playing response from its pedal mechanism. Impressive, huh?

The footboard and baseplate are crucial components of the stand that ensure that the stand doesn’t wobble, even with heavy cymbals. Its mechanisms allow for extreme responsiveness to even the slightest nuances when playing. Its two-legged design is conducive to playing with double bass pedals. The legs fold outward, giving you more space for an additional pedal.

These two-legged DW 5000 hi hat stand lets you adjust the angle of the cymbals, which is essential for playing comfortably. It also allows professional drummers to effectively use advanced   hi-hat techniques for efficient playing. See? Now that’s worthy of the title “Best for All-Around Performance”!

Still looking for more? Ah, don’t worry because we’ve got a whole lot more options at the Drum Center of Portsmouth waiting just for you! Check out more best-selling hi hat stand products from different brands such as Tamburo, Mapex, PDP, DW, Sonor, Yamaha, and more!