The bass drum head shapes the attack and sustain of the kick. Plies, coatings, internal damping rings and a port in the front head all change how the drum sounds, and a 22 inch size fits many standard kicks.
The six picks below are all 22 inch heads or head packs, from a two-ply batter and ported front head set to an oil-filled head and a single-ply resonant head. Specs come from each listing page. We have not used these products ourselves, and every tone claim is the maker’s own.
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What to Look For
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Plies | One ply is more open; two plies are listed as more durable and focused |
| Coating | A coated head gives a different look and feel under a beater |
| Damping | Rings or an oil layer are listed to control overtones |
| Batter or resonant | Batter heads face the beater; resonant heads face the audience |
| Port | A mic port in the front head lets you place a microphone inside |
Specs at a Glance
| Head | Construction | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evans EMAD2 System Pack | Two-ply EMAD2 batter plus EMAD reso | Batter and resonant set | Interchangeable damping rings; offset port with foam ring |
| Evans G2 Coated BD22G2CW | Two plies of 7 mil film, coated | Batter | Made in the USA per the maker |
| Remo Powerstroke 3 P31122-C2 | 1 ply 10 mil coated film; 10 mil inlay ring | Batter | White Falam patch |
| Aquarian Super-Kick II SKPII22BK | 10 mil head pack | Batter and resonant style set | Includes a kick pad; listing text mixed |
| Evans Black Hydraulic BD22HBG | Oil layer between two plies of black film | Batter | Level 360 collar |
| Evans EQ3 Resonant BD22RB | Single ply 7 mil film | Resonant | Fixed internal ring; 5 in offset mic port with sleeve |
The 6 Best Bass Drum Heads
1. Evans EMAD2 System Pack
A 22 inch pack that pairs a two-ply EMAD2 batter head with a ported EMAD resonant head. The EMAD2 head uses interchangeable damping rings to adjust sustain, and the resonant head has an offset port with a foam damping ring. The listing says it is made in the USA.
Suits: a full kick head refresh. Strengths: two heads and adjustable damping. Weaknesses: more parts to set up. Skip it if you need only one head.
View Evans EMAD2 Bass Drum System Pack 22 Inch Batter and Reso Heads 2-Ply on Amazon
2. Evans G2 Coated BD22G2CW
A 22 inch coated head made from two plies of 7 mil film. The maker says the two plies give consistency and durability and that the head suits all music genres.
Suits: a coated all-round batter. Strengths: two plies and a coated surface. Weaknesses: no port or damping ring. Skip it if you want built-in damping.
View Evans Heads BD22G2CW 22-Inch G2 Coated Bass Drum Heads on Amazon
3. Remo Powerstroke 3 P31122-C2
A 22 inch coated batter head built from 1 ply of 10 mil coated film with a 10 mil inlay ring and a white Falam patch. The listing describes focused mid and low tones with a subtle attack.
Suits: a single-ply coated batter. Strengths: an inlay ring and a patch. Weaknesses: the listing material field is unclear. Skip it if you want two plies.
View Remo P31122-C2 Coated Powerstroke 3 Bass Drum Head 22 Inch White Falam Patch on Amazon
4. Aquarian Super-Kick II Prepack
A 22 inch Super-Kick II prepack in gloss black with a 10 mil head and a kick pad. The bullets mention one clear Super-Kick I and one RSM Regulator gloss black, which does not match the title, so check what ships before you buy.
Suits: a head with a pad in the box. Strengths: a kick pad included. Weaknesses: mixed listing text. Skip it if you need exact head details.
View Aquarian Drumheads SKPII22BK Super-Kick II Prepack 22 Inch Bass Drum Head on Amazon
5. Evans Black Hydraulic BD22HBG
A 22 inch black head with a thin layer of oil between two plies of black film, which the maker says suppresses unwanted overtones. The listing calls the sound fat, deep and short, and mentions a Level 360 collar for contact with the shell.
Suits: a short, controlled kick. Strengths: oil damping and two plies. Weaknesses: no port. Skip it if you want a long sustain.
View Evans Black Hydraulic Bass Drum Head 22 Inch on Amazon
6. Evans EQ3 Resonant Black
A 22 inch resonant head made from a single ply of 7 mil film with a fixed internal overtone control ring and a 5 inch offset mic port with a plastic sleeve. The listing says frosted, onyx, white and coated white versions exist.
Suits: a ported front head. Strengths: a mic port and a fixed ring. Weaknesses: it is a front head only. Skip it if you need a batter head.
View Evans EQ3 Resonant Black Bass Drum Head 22 Inch on Amazon
Fitting Notes
- Confirm the shell size before ordering.
- Tune the new head evenly around the rim.
- Keep the old head until the new one is seated.
- Place a microphone through the port if the head has one.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Buying a resonant head when you need a batter head.
- Ignoring the shell diameter.
- Expecting a head with an oil layer to ring long.
- Overlooking mixed wording in a listing.
Bass Drum Heads FAQ
Which ones have a mic port?
The Evans EQ3 lists a 5 inch offset mic port, and the EMAD2 pack lists a ported EMAD resonant head.
Which ones are two-ply?
The Evans EMAD2, G2 and Black Hydraulic list two plies. The Remo Powerstroke 3 and EQ3 list a single ply.
The Short Version
For a full set, the Evans EMAD2 System Pack. For a coated two-ply head, the Evans G2. For a single-ply coated head, the Remo Powerstroke 3. For a pack with a kick pad, the Aquarian Super-Kick II. For oil damping, the Evans Black Hydraulic. For a ported front head, the Evans EQ3 Resonant.
