Best Crash-Ride Cymbals of 2025

Hayden Bryant Avatar
Hayden Bryant
Last Updated: 6 Feb 2025

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Crash-Ride cymbals are a versatile addition to any drum kit, providing both bright, explosive crash sounds and a defined ride sound in one compact package. These cymbals are perfect for drummers who want to maximise their kit's potential without taking up too much space. They are available in a range of sizes and weights to suit different playing styles and genres, and are made from high-quality materials to ensure durability and longevity. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, Crash-Ride cymbals are a great investment for any drummer looking to expand their sound.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

SABIAN 18” B8X Crash Ride Cymbal Review Cover #TOP 1
SABIAN 18” B8X Crash Ride Cymbal Review
ftb score rating icon 9.9
Meinl HCS 18 Inch Crash-Ride Cymbal Cover #TOP 2
Meinl HCS 18 Inch Crash-Ride Cymbal
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Zildjian K Series 20 Inch Crash Ride Cymbal Cover #TOP 3
Zildjian K Series 20 Inch Crash Ride Cymbal
ftb score rating icon 9.6

Top 10 Crash-Ride Cymbals

#TOP 1

SABIAN 18” B8X Crash Ride Cymbal Review

41811X
Bronze
SABIAN 18” B8X Crash Ride Cymbal Review Cover
SABIAN 18” B8X Crash Ride Cymbal 41811X

The B8X Crash Ride Cymbal is a versatile addition to your kit. Its bright tone ensures that you achieve a clear and vibrant sound, making it perfect for various musical styles. The cymbal features a focused style, which helps you achieve precise articulation during play. With its excellent crash power, you’ll find it ideal for explosive accents in your music. Additionally, the thin build allows for easy playability, giving you a comfortable experience whether you’re riding or crashing.

What We Like
Versatile for different styles
Bright and clear tone
Excellent crash power
Easy to play
Articulate ride response

Meinl HCS 18 Inch Crash-Ride Cymbal

HCS18CR
Traditional Finish
18 inch
Meinl HCS 18 Inch Crash-Ride Cymbal Cover
Meinl Cymbals HCS Crash-Ride Cymbal 18 inch (Video) for Drum Set (45,72cm) Traditional Finish Brass, Made in Germany (HCS18CR)

The Meinl HCS Crash-Ride is the ideal choice for beginner and student drummers. It offers a unique blend of crash and ride capabilities, allowing you to achieve a clean ping sound or crash effects with ease. Made from a durable brass alloy, it withstands the impact of drumsticks while maintaining its tone. Additionally, this cymbal is manufactured in Germany using green energy, ensuring an environmentally friendly production process. With a full range of sounds available, you can explore various musical styles effortlessly.

What We Like
Versatile crash and ride functionality
Durable brass alloy construction
Environmentally friendly production
Wide range of sound options
Suitable for beginners and students
#TOP 3

Zildjian K Series 20 Inch Crash Ride Cymbal

K0810
Bronze
Zildjian K Series 20 Inch Crash Ride Cymbal Cover
Zildjian K Zildjian Series - 20 Inch Crash Ride Cymbal

The Zildjian K Crash Ride is designed to offer excellent ride definition alongside dry crash qualities. This means you can enjoy a clear sound while maintaining a rich and resonant crash effect. With its great loud volume, you can be assured that your performance will be heard, making it perfect for both practice and live situations. The cymbal features a dark to mid sound with a low pitch, which enhances the overall tonal character of your music. Its medium thin weight allows for easy playability, ensuring you can express your creativity effortlessly.

What We Like
Good ride definition
Great loud volume
Dark/mid sound
Medium thin weight
Traditional finish
#TOP 4

Zildjian A Zildjian Series 20 Inch Crash Ride Cymbal

ZIL A0024
20 inch
20 inch
Zildjian A Zildjian Series 20 Inch Crash Ride Cymbal Cover
Zildjian A Zildjian Series - 20 Inch Crash Ride Cymbal

The Zildjian A Crash Ride offers a classic 20-inch design that combines excellent ride definition with light crash capabilities. This means you can enjoy a versatile cymbal that responds well in various musical settings. Its traditional finish not only adds to its aesthetic appeal but also contributes to its rich sound quality. With an 80/20 copper tin ratio, this cymbal delivers long sustain and a loud, bright sound, enhancing your overall performance experience.

What We Like
Good ride definition
Light crash qualities
Traditional finish
Long sustain
Loud volume
#TOP 5

Stagg SH-SET Cymbals Pack with Accessories

SH-SET
Copper
-inch
Stagg SH-SET Cymbals Pack with Accessories Cover
Stagg SH-SET SH Series Cymbals Set with 14-Inch Hi-Hats, 16-Inch Crash, 20-Inch Ride, Cymbal Bag and Pair of Stick

The Stagg SH-SET Cymbals offers a complete package for drummers, featuring high-quality B20 alloy construction that delivers excellent sound. With 14-inch hi-hats, a 16-inch crash, and a 20-inch ride, this set is pitch matched for a harmonious experience. This means you can enjoy a consistent tone across all cymbals, making it easier for you to create beautiful music. The included cymbal bag ensures safe transport and storage, providing added convenience for musicians on the go.

What We Like
High-quality B20 alloy material
Pitch matched for harmonious sound
Complete cymbal pack
Includes protective cymbal bag
Convenient for transport
#TOP 6

Meinl 22 Inch Classics Custom Dark Crash-Ride

CC22DACR
Dark Finish
22 inch
Meinl 22 Inch Classics Custom Dark Crash-Ride Cover
Meinl Cymbals Classics Custom Dark Crash-Ride Cymbal 22 inch (Video) for Drum Set (55,88cm) B12 Bronze, Dark Finish, Made in Germany (CC22DACR)

The Meinl Classics Custom Dark offers a wide dynamic range, making it perfect for both crashing and riding. Its heavier hammering allows for excellent stick and bell definition, ensuring you can highlight your playing when necessary. The dark finish, combined with extra deep hammering, delivers shadowy tones and impressive volume, adding complexity to your sound. Crafted from B12 Bronze Alloy, this cymbal provides a consistent sound that cuts through dense mixes, enhancing your performance in any musical style.

What We Like
Wide dynamic range
Powerful for loud dynamics
Unique dark finish
Consistent sound quality
#TOP 7

Ufip Natural Series 20 Inch Crash Ride Cymbal

NS-20CR
20 Inch
Ufip Natural Series 20 Inch Crash Ride Cymbal Cover
Ufip Natural Series, Crash Ride Cymbal, 20 Inch (NS-20CR)

The Ufip Crash Ride Cymbal is a 20-inch instrument that combines excellence in craftsmanship with practical dimensions. With package dimensions of 20 L x 4 H x 20 W inches, it is easy to store and transport. Weighing just 1 pound, it is lightweight, making it a convenient choice for musicians on the go. Originating from Italy, this cymbal boasts a rich heritage of quality. The part number NS-20CR ensures you have the right model for your needs, providing confidence in your purchase.

What We Like
Lightweight and portable design
High-quality Italian craftsmanship
Easy to store and transport
Clear identification with part number

Stagg CXD-SET Brass Cymbal Pack with Hi-Hats

CXD-SET
-inch
Stagg CXD-SET Brass Cymbal Pack with Hi-Hats Cover
Stagg CXD-SET Standard Brass Cymbal Set with 14-Inch Hi-Hats and 18-Inch Crash Ride Cymbal

The Stagg CXD-SET Cymbal Set is a fantastic choice for drummers seeking quality sound and versatility. Made from brass, these cymbals offer a bright tone that enhances your music. The pack includes 14-inch hi-hats, which provide crisp and clear accents, perfect for keeping rhythm. Additionally, the 18-inch crash ride cymbal adds a rich and resonant sound, ideal for filling out your performance. With pitch-matched cymbals, you can easily blend them with other instruments, ensuring a harmonious sound in your ensemble.

What We Like
High-quality brass material
Includes versatile hi-hats
Rich sound from crash ride
Pitch-matched for harmony
#TOP 9

ULUOBO 18 Inch Crash-Ride Cymbal for Beginners

ULUOBO
U-Gold-18
Gold
ULUOBO 18 Inch Crash-Ride Cymbal for Beginners Cover
ULUOBO Crash Ride Cymbal, 18 inches Crash-Ride Cymbal (Gold)

The ULUOBO Crash-Ride Cymbal is an excellent choice for beginners and students. Its durable stainless steel alloy construction ensures that you can practice confidently without worrying about breaking the cymbal. The thickened material adds to its durability, making it a reliable component of your drum set. Additionally, this cymbal is designed specifically for new players, providing an affordable solution for outfitting lesson sets in classrooms. With its unique features, it’s definitely worth trying out as you develop your drumming skills.

What We Like
Ideal for beginners
Durable stainless steel alloy
Thickened for extra durability
Affordable for classroom use
#TOP 10

Stagg CXK-SET Brass Cymbal Pack

CXK-SET
-inch
Stagg CXK-SET Brass Cymbal Pack Cover
Stagg CXK-SET Brass Standard Cymbal Set with 14-Inch Hi-Hats, 16-Inch Crash and 20-Inch Ride Cymbal

The Stagg CXK-SET is a brass cymbal pack that enhances your drumming experience. With 14-inch hi-hats, a 16-inch crash, and a 20-inch ride cymbal, this set offers a versatile range of sounds. The brass material provides a bright and clear tone, perfect for various musical styles. Being pitch matched ensures that each cymbal harmonises well with the others, allowing you to create a cohesive sound. This convenient set is ideal for both beginners and experienced drummers looking to elevate their performance.

What We Like
High-quality brass material
Versatile sound options
Pitch matched for harmony
Ideal for all skill levels
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can you crash a ride cymbal?

Any ride cymbal can be crashed, and depending upon the cymbal and your tastes, you might like the sound of the crash. However, as a rule ride cymbals are bigger than crash cymbals, so crashing them will be “heavy” rather than “light.” A lighter weight ride cymbal though will often crash quite nicely.

2. Are crash ride cymbals good?

The ZBT crash ride cymbal is a perfect example of high-end cymbals. It delivers the best sounds representing both crashes and rides cymbals. ZBT is the largest Zildjian family, and this 20-inch piece is perfect for any drum kit setup. Its bright sound, with a long sustain, is all you need to stand out.

3. Are crash and ride cymbals the same?

Ride cymbals tend to be larger, and are used to keep the beat or to play a specific rhythmic pattern. They usually give off short, sharp sounds. A crash cymbal, on the other hand, is used mainly as an accent, producing a loud “crash” or a sustained swelling to add dynamics and expression to your song.

4. How does a crash ride cymbal work?

You ride the cymbal by playing it with the tip of your stick. To crash it you strike the bow (curved part between the bell and the edge) of the cymbal with both the tip AND the thick shaft part of the stick. You do not usually hit the edge of the cymbal with the shaft of the stick as you would with a "crash" cymbal.

Editor's Notes

During our crash-ride cymbal research, we found 15 crash-ride cymbal products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 4,882 customer reviews through our big data system to write the crash-ride cymbals list. We found that most customers choose crash-ride cymbals with an average price of £325.79.

The crash-ride cymbals are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of crash-ride cymbals, including Sabian, Meinl Cymbals, Zildjian, Stagg, UFIP.

Written by
Hayden Bryant Avatar

Hayden was born in Liverpool, and he never left his hometown until university. In his freshman year at the University of Manchester, Hayden was the group leader of a popular music group. Hayden is responsible for the popularity of his music, and this is because of his natural ability to play with keys and strings. He graduated with BFA in 2016 and returned in 2018 as a lecturing staff in the School of Music.