The bass version pairs a 10-mil clear film with a 10-mil perimeter inlay at the edge, not a second full film across the surface.
Best Bass Drum Heads: Batter Choice by Film and Damping
If your kick sounds thin, flappy, or hard to control, the first side to check is the batter: the head your pedal actually hits on an ordinary two-headed bass drum. You’re really choosing between one film or two films, and between damping that’s fixed, adjustable, or already attached.
Four clear batters cover that spread cleanly. The Remo Powerstroke P3 Clear gives you a single film with a fixed bass-specific edge ring. The EVANS EMAD Clear adds adjustable outside foam to a single film. The EVANS EMAD2 Clear pairs that same adjustable idea with two films. The Aquarian Super Kick II Clear uses two films with a felt ring attached. Mesh practice heads and front resonant heads are different jobs, so they stay out of this list.
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All four photos link to a single 22-inch clear bass batter reference. Confirm your drum diameter, hoop fit and the selected listing contents before ordering.
Choose the film.
Match the damping.
Compare a fixed edge ring, adjustable outside foam and attached felt before choosing your bass batter.
The EMAD system uses externally mounted foam rings, and Evans also uses its Level 360 collar design.
More film does not automatically mean a louder or longer-lasting head.
The 22-inch bass version uses a bass hoop.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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| Product | Film construction | Damping design | Choose when | 22-inch reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Remo Powerstroke P3 Clear | One 10-mil film plus a 10-mil perimeter inlay | Fixed perimeter inlay ring | You want one film with edge damping already set | P3-1322-C2 |
| EVANS EMAD Clear | One 10-mil clear film | Externally mounted adjustable foam rings | You want a single film with outside damping adjustment | BD22EMAD |
| EVANS EMAD2 Clear | Two films: 7-mil outer plus 10-mil inner | Externally mounted adjustable foam rings | You want a two-film build with outside damping adjustment | BD22EMAD2 |
| Aquarian Super Kick II Clear | Two 7-mil New Brite films | Attached narrow felt ring | You want two films with felt control already attached | SKII22 |
Remo Powerstroke P3 Clear
The Remo Powerstroke P3 Clear is the single-film choice when you want a fixed edge ring already working for you. The bass version pairs a 10-mil clear film with a 10-mil perimeter inlay at the edge, not a second full film across the surface. That makes the P3 bass construction different from the 3-mil ring used on tom and snare versions, so check which variant you’re buying. The 22-inch listing we checked mentions a 2.5-inch impact patch.
EVANS EMAD Clear
The EVANS EMAD Clear is the pick when you prefer one clear 10-mil film but want damping you can adjust from the outside. The EMAD system uses externally mounted foam rings, and Evans also uses its Level 360 collar design. This is the batter, not the EMAD front head, and it is not the coated or heavyweight EMAD version.
EVANS EMAD2 Clear
The EVANS EMAD2 Clear gives you two clear films instead of one: an outer 7-mil layer over an inner 10-mil layer, for 17 mil of film in total. That is not two 7-mil layers and not a 2×10 heavyweight construction. It carries the same externally mounted adjustable EMAD foam-ring system and Level 360 collar. The 22-inch listing we checked labels two foam rings in the box. More film does not automatically mean a louder or longer-lasting head.
Aquarian Super Kick II Clear
The Aquarian Super Kick II Clear uses two 7-mil New Brite films, 14 mil of film total, with a narrow felt damping ring attached around the edge as part of the Floating Muffling System. Because that felt is attached to the head rather than interchangeable like the EMAD foam rings, you’re choosing built-in control instead of outside adjustment. The 22-inch bass version uses a bass hoop. Aquarian sells separate metal-tom-hoop Super Kick II variants for floor-tom conversions.
Batter side or front side first?
The batter is the rear head beside your pedal and beater. The front resonant head faces the audience or the room. A port or hole in the front head does not identify the batter side, and you don’t need to cut a port to use any of these batters. Same brand name or same diameter also doesn’t establish role.
One head replaces one side. If your goal is quiet practice on mesh heads, that’s a separate decision covered in our low-volume drum heads guide. If the front head is the one you actually need, treat it as its own size and role rather than forcing it into this batter shortlist.
Film count, mil, and what the damping does
A “ply” here means one film. A mil is one thousandth of an inch, not a millimeter. The three damping approaches are different purchases:
- Fixed perimeter inlay on the P3 Clear, which changes edge response without adding a full second film.
- External adjustable foam on the EMAD and EMAD2, which lets you remove or change damping without pulling the head.
- Attached felt on the Super Kick II, which gives you built-in control.
The EMAD2’s 17-mil film total and the Super Kick II’s 14-mil film total do not automatically tell you which head sounds louder or lasts longer. If your current head still tunes up acceptably and your existing damping already gets close, you may not need a new head yet. No replacement calendar applies. For removable damping options beyond what’s built into a head, our best drum dampeners guide is the more direct fit.
Measure before you order
Start with the size printed on your current head or listed in your drum’s manual. That nominal label is a reliable starting point. If you aren’t sure, follow the official Remo measurement guide: remove the counterhoop and head, then measure the outside diameter of the bare wooden shell across the center in a few directions. Do not measure the outside of the metal hoop or the drum’s depth.
A bass head and a same-diameter floor tom head can have different flesh-hoop or collar fit. Remo’s guide explicitly notes that an 18-inch bass collar does not fit a standard 18-inch floor tom metal hoop, so verify the collar on your drum. If you have a compact bass drum or a converted floor tom, use the maker’s stated bass-hoop or tom-hoop variant for that drum rather than forcing a fit. Our compact drum kits guide can help if you’re unsure what size bass drum you’re working with.
Pre-order check before you buy
Use this worksheet to pin down the actual item you need. Leave the second column blank until you can check your drum and the current listing.
| Check before ordering | Your setup’s answer |
|---|---|
| Actual nominal diameter | |
| Role: batter or front resonant | |
| Bass hoop or floor-tom conversion collar | |
| Selected model, size, and single-head versus package | |
| Damping preference: fixed, adjustable, or attached | |
| Supplied foam rings and impact patch on your exact listing | |
| Beater contact and patch coverage |
Beater style and impact-patch fit are separate from the damping ring. Check the patch and beater instructions you actually own, rather than assuming every plastic, felt, or wood beater behaves the same way. Our bass drum beaters guide covers that contact decision in more detail.
This guide was checked against current manufacturer product pages and verified 22-inch Amazon listing identities on October 22, 2026. It is research-led, not a hands-on sound or durability test. Prices and stock change, and included patches or foam rings can vary by listing, so confirm the exact size and box contents before you order.