Are you looking for a pad for Dance Dance Revolution or StepMania? We are here to help with a Pad Buying Guide. This guide is arranged by cost to help you when buying a pad at any price point.
These entry level dance pads sometimes referred to as dance mat, are for beginner to intermediate level players. They are a soft foldable pad made of foam and plastic. They are a good option for those who want to play the game, but don't want to invest a lot of money into a pad. Click here to purchase a USB Soft Pad for StepMania
Pros
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Cons
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- Low cost
- Easy to transport and store
- Compatible with StepMania
- Readily available
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- Intended for beginners
- Relatively low quality when compared to hard pads
- Soft pads can wrinkle or move during play
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These are a better version of the standard soft pad. Like all soft pads they are intended for beginner to intermediate level players. They have a 3/4" foam insert which gives the pad more stability and prevents it from wrinkling and moving around during play. These are a good option for people who don't want to spend a lot of money on a pad but want an improvement over the standard soft pad. Click here to purchase Soft Pad with Foam Insert for StepMania.
Pros
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Cons
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- Includes foam insert for additional stability
- Relatively low cost
- Easy to transport and store
- Compatible with StepMania
- Readily available
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- Intended for beginner to intermediate players
- Relatively low quality when compared to hard pads
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These are a better version of the Soft Pad with Foam Insert. They feature an improved high density 1" foam insert. The thicker insert is made with hard durable EVA foam which helps give the pad more stability and prevent it from wrinkling and moving around during play. This is a good option for more experienced players looking for a better version of the standard soft pad. Click here to purchase the Deluxe Hard Foam Pad.
Pros
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Cons
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- Includes 1" EVA hard foam insert for additional stability
- Easy to transport and store
- Compatible with StepMania
- Relatively low cost
- Readily available
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- Not as durable as a hard pad made of wood and metal
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L-TEK pads are the most popular option for hard pads. They are made of a wood base with metal sensors and polycarbonate panels. If you want an ultra sensitive pad we offer a mod that will increase the sensitivity of L-TEK pads. Click Here to purchase the L-TEK EX PRO 2
Pros
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Cons
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- Suitable for players at all levels
- High quality
- Very durable
- Easy to transport and store
- Compatible with StepMania
- PlayStation Adapter available for connection to PS1/PS2
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- May need modded for improved sensitivity
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L-TEK pads are the most popular option for Pump It Up hard pads. They are made of a wood base with metal sensors and polycarbonate panels. If you want an ultra sensitive pad we offer a mod that will increase the sensitivity of L-TEK pads. Click Here to purchase the L-TEK PIU EX PRO Metal
Pros
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Cons
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- Suitable for players at all levels
- High quality
- Very durable
- Easy to transport and store
- Compatible with StepMania
- PlayStation Adapter available for connection to PS1/PS2
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- May need modded for improved sensitivity
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Arcade pads are not available new and used pads are hard to come by. Prices vary a lot depending on demand, version, quality, and location. A rough estimate for full arcade cabinets is $3,500-$10,000+. We sell a wide variety of replacement parts and modifications for Dance Dance Revolution (DDR), In The Groove (ITG), and Pump It Up (PIU) arcade pads. Many of these parts can also be used to build a DIY arcade style pad. If you are looking for a used arcade pad the best place to find one is on Facebook in the Buy/Sell Pads (DDR, ITG, StepMania, PIU) group.
Pros
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Cons
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- Suitable for players at all levels
- Very high quality
- Extremely durable
- Authentic arcade feel
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- High cost
- Very limited availability
- Large size not easy to transport or store
- May require maintenance and parts
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