Best Hi-Hat Cymbals of 2025

The Zildjian Planet Z Hi-Hat offers a fantastic introduction to the world of cymbals, especially for beginners and intermediate players. Redesigned in 2020, these cymbals are crafted from brass, providing bright and cutting tones that enhance your playing experience. You'll appreciate the more controlled and focused sound, which is ideal for developing your skills. With a medium weight top and heavy bottom, the hi-hat delivers a great sound and excellent stick definition, making it a valuable upgrade to your kit without breaking the bank.

The Meinl HCS Hi-Hat Cymbals are ideal for beginner and student drummers. The unique design features a lighter top cymbal and a heavier bottom, producing a clear and well-defined chick sound that enhances your playing. Made from a durable brass alloy, these cymbals maintain their tone while withstanding the impact of drum sticks, ensuring longevity. Plus, with a full range of sounds available, you can explore various styles and techniques, giving you all the options usually reserved for professional setups.

The Zildjian K Hi-Hat Cymbals are designed with a lower pitch and thinner profile compared to traditional models. This allows you to explore a broader range of tonal colours, making your music more expressive. The medium thin top and medium bottom create a dark and slightly delicate feel, enriched with a light blend of overtones. These versatile hi-hats are suitable for various genres, including rock, pop, country, and jazz, ensuring you can easily adapt to different musical styles.

The Meinl HCS Hi-Hat Cymbals are essential for any drum set, providing a lighter top cymbal and a heavier bottom for a clear and defined chick sound. Designed specifically for beginners and students, these cymbals are made from durable brass alloy, ensuring they withstand the impact of drumsticks while maintaining their tone. Crafted in Germany using green energy, they reflect a commitment to sustainability. With a full range of sound options available, these cymbals allow you to explore various styles and express your musical creativity.

The Meinl Dark Hihat Cymbals are designed to deliver exceptional sound quality for drummers. When closed, they provide a clear definition for fast singles and doubles, while opening up creates a powerful crashing effect. The dark finish, enhanced by extra hammering, offers unique shadowy tones and impressive volume. Made from B12 bronze, these cymbals ensure a uniform sound that cuts through dense mixes, making them ideal for high-energy genres like rock and metal.

The Zildjian L80 Hi-hat Cymbals are designed to be 80% quieter than traditional cymbals, allowing you to play at low volumes without disturbing others. This feature is particularly beneficial for practice rooms or during drum lessons. They are also highly responsive, making them suitable for various playing styles, including chopsticks, brushes, and mallets. This versatility ensures you can experiment with different sounds while avoiding ear fatigue during long practice sessions.

The SABIAN SBr Hi-Hat Cymbal is designed to deliver a focused sound that enhances your drumming experience. When closed, it produces tight and clean tones, allowing for precise rhythms. When opened, you’ll enjoy a loud, full sound that adds depth to your music. The bright tone ensures your beats cut through other instruments, making it perfect for various styles. Crafted from brass with a medium thickness, it offers durability while ensuring an excellent sound quality.

The TIGER 14” Hi-Hats are an excellent choice for beginners looking to enhance their drum kits. They are perfect for school orchestras, allowing you to contribute to a range of musical genres, from Rock to Jazz. The thin design produces a controlled short sustain, ensuring that you achieve a defined "chick" sound when closed by foot, which is essential for rhythmic precision. This makes them ideal for both school settings and home practice, helping you to develop your drumming skills effectively.

The Zildjian Hi-Hat Cymbals are renowned for their versatility and are considered the standard in the industry today. Originally designed by the legendary drummer Louie Bellson, they deliver the perfect stick and "chick" sound, making them ideal for various musical styles. Their symmetrical machine hammering and traditional wide groove enhance their performance, allowing you to achieve a classic and expressive voice. With a bright and pure sound, these cymbals will elevate your drumming experience and bring your beats to life.

The Meinl Extreme Metal Hi-Hat is designed for drummers who play aggressive music. Its loud and powerful sound cuts through dense mixes, making it perfect for heavier styles. You will appreciate the brilliant finish that not only enhances the sound but also adds a stunning visual appeal to your drum kit. With extra deep hammering, these cymbals produce a darker tonality that balances the brightness, giving you versatility in your playing. Made from B12 bronze alloy, they deliver a uniform sound that excels in performance.