We test and review fitness products based on an independent, multi-point methodology. If you use our links to purchase something, we may earn a commission. Read our disclosures.

Pound Pad makes a simple product that does one thing extremely well, reducing the noise of dropping weights. Combining high-quality foam with a durable shell, Pound Pad’s are the best option currently available for reducing the noise associated with dropping barbells.

4.75
Pound Pad
Pound Pads
Pound Pads

The original "Pound Pad" is the product that let us sleep at night without fear of email, phone and neighborhood harassment due to dropped barbells in our gym. Our noise & vibration killing pads are each sized at 24" x 30" x 5" (sold as a pair) and will give you a whole new level of peace and quiet. Sized perfectly to allow for a safe amount of space to drop barbells onto but still easy enough to store, carry and move around the gym. Fire retardant, high impact approved, non-skid bottom, indestructible handles, military approved casing, sourced locally and completely made in the USA (Chicago). The Pound Pad is sold as a pair and includes a 1-year warranty which makes this the one-stop shop to remedy your noise and vibration complaints immediately.

Unboxing

The Pound Pads showed up on my door-step in a beautifully branded, khaki-colored, corrugated box.

Pound Pad boxing

The box was surprisingly heavy, which meant the Pound Pads themselves were much heavier than expected. This is obviously a good thing as I plan to drop 300+ pounds from overhead on them, and some light foam probably wouldn’t cut it.

I proceeded to cut open the box because I’m a rebel and the box said not to. Thankfully, unlike mistakes on my part in the past, the pads came out unscathed.

Pound Pads Review

Pound Pad under barbell in a garage gym

Pound Pads are a very simple product. They combine a high-density foam with a tough shell to reduce the vibration and noise associated with dropping weights.

Without a doubt, one of the most popular questions I receive is, “how do I make it so my neighbors stop complaining about my weights dropping?” Although my natural inclination is to tell people to set the weight down gently instead of dropping it, there is now an even better option.

Although I haven’t done any testing on the amount of force that is applied to the ground when a heavy barbell is dropped from overhead, I’m sure it’s quite a bit based on the noise and vibration that is produced. Not only is dropping weights on your garage gym floor bad for your relationship with your neighbors and spouse, but it’s also not the best thing for your foundation

Sure, there are ways to mitigate the damage done to your foundation. Things like matting (I use horse stall mats), deadlift platforms, bumper plates, setting the weights down gently and other precautionary measures can help. This said, I use a deadlift platform on top of stall mats and there’s no stopping the house from shaking when I drop a heavy deadlift or max clean and jerk.

If you want to guarantee that your foundation is protected and that hardly any noise will be produced, then you’re going to have to turn to alternative methods of reducing noise then the standard fare previously mentioned.

The best option we have found for reducing noise and vibration associated with dropping weights are Pound Pads. In fact, we’ve tested many different options including Thug Mats designed for dropping Atlas Stones, and there was no comparison to Pound Pads.

The secret behind Pound Pads is the density of the foam they use to suppress the noise.

Pound Pads with a barbell

This foam that’s used is what I would assume to be the same as what’s used on high-end foam ply0-boxes that have begun to become more popular. This foam is able to take immense amounts of pressure, yet remain rigid. It’s actually pretty cool to see because when you pick it up, it feels like a hard block of rubber.

Gyms all over the world have begun replacing their hard-edged wooden ply0-boxes with the same high-density foam that’s used in the Pound Pads but in a different shape. This foam is designed to take repeated abuse and keep on suppressing sound.

Pound Pad vinyl cover

Encapsulating the foam is a fire retardant, non-slip vinyl cover. The cover features a non-skid bottom to keep it from shifting when weights are dropped, and it does a pretty good job of meeting its claims. The cover is available in two different colors, black and blue, and although I’d like to see more color offerings in the future to go along with gyms branding, these are a good start.

Pound Pad nylon handles

On the side of the boxes are nylon handles that are said to be “indestructible.” Although I didn’t completely test this claim, I don’t ever foresee them coming undone.

Pound Pad has done well with the details. Everything from the stitching to the handles to the perfectly sized and placed logo screams premium. The size of the Pound Pads is just right as well. They’re not so big that they take up a ton of space, but you don’t need to be crazy accurate to make sure the weights land on the pads.

Pound Pads in a garage gym

For those that follow us on YouTube, you likely saw the video test I did with seeing if Pound Pads could wake a sleeping baby. It turns out dropping over 400 lbs from the front rack on the Pound Pads makes so little noise that they do not wake a sleeping baby. If I were in charge of marketing, that would be a tagline I’d be pushing.

The Pound Pads are the best option for reducing noise from dropping weights that we’ve found and although they’re a bit pricey, we still highly recommend them.

Suggested Improvements

Although we’re big fans of Pound Pads, there are a couple things we’d like to see done to improve them.

The biggest improvement that could be done is making the high-density foam that’s used able to keep from deforming over time. Pound Pads will continue suppressing noise and retain their general shape for many training sessions, but what we’ve heard from users is that over time they start to develop a dent in the middle of the pads. Obviously, this is hard to avoid when dropping hundreds of pounds from a pretty far distance, but it would be something that could make the product even better than it already is.

The last improvement we’d like to see is implementation of Pound Pads into other applications. Things like specific sizes for the tops of jerk boxes or to cover wooden plyo-boxes. Due to this foams versatility, I’d like to see it used in further applications.

Full Rating

Pound Pad

Pound Pad makes a simple product that does one thing extremely well, reducing the noise of dropping weights. Combining high-quality foam with a durable shell, Pound Pad's are the best option currently available for reducing the noise associated with dropping barbells.

Product Brand: Pound Pad

Product Currency: USD

Product Price: 395

Product In-Stock: InStock

Editor's Rating:
4.5

Pound Pads

Overall Construction – 4.5
Durability – 4.25
Vinyl Covering – 4.75
Appearance – 4.75
Versatility – 4.5
Value – 4.25
GET Pound Pads ($395)

Pound Pad FAQs

What are pound pads made of?

Pound Pads are a straightforward product. To lessen the vibration and noise associated with falling weights, they blend a high-density foam with a durable casing.

What are pound pads?

Pound Pad is a straightforward device that accomplishes one thing really well: it reduces the noise generated by dropping weights. Pound Pads are the finest choice currently available for decreasing the noise associated with dropping barbells, since they combine high-quality foam with a robust shell.

How to reduce noise when dropping weights?

Pound Pads are a very simple product. They combine a high-density foam with a tough shell to reduce the vibration and noise associated with dropping weights.

Where to Purchase

4.75
Pound Pad
Pound Pads
Pound Pads

The original "Pound Pad" is the product that let us sleep at night without fear of email, phone and neighborhood harassment due to dropped barbells in our gym. Our noise & vibration killing pads are each sized at 24" x 30" x 5" (sold as a pair) and will give you a whole new level of peace and quiet. Sized perfectly to allow for a safe amount of space to drop barbells onto but still easy enough to store, carry and move around the gym. Fire retardant, high impact approved, non-skid bottom, indestructible handles, military approved casing, sourced locally and completely made in the USA (Chicago). The Pound Pad is sold as a pair and includes a 1-year warranty which makes this the one-stop shop to remedy your noise and vibration complaints immediately.

Further reading

Titan Fitness Lat Tower Review: Best Value Selectorized Lat Pulldown Cover Image
Titan Fitness Lat Tower Review: Best Value Selectorized Lat Pulldown

The Titan Fitness Lat Tower is the best value lat pulldown for most home gym owners that we’ve ever reviewed. Everything from the packaging to the performance of the machine makes us feel like it’s worth much more than the asking price.  Read more

XWERKS Grow Whey Protein Review (2024): Is This Delicious Protein Worth the Cost? Cover Image
XWERKS Grow Whey Protein Review (2024): Is This Delicious Protein Worth the Cost?

Is XWERKS Grow Whey Protein worth the money? A nutrition coach explains everything you need to know about this protein powder. Read more

Our Favorite Protein Shakes for Bulking: Recipes We’ve Tried and Liked   Cover Image
Our Favorite Protein Shakes for Bulking: Recipes We’ve Tried and Liked  

Pound Pad makes a simple product that does one thing extremely well, reducing the noise of dropping weights. Combining high-quality foam with a durable shell, Pound Pad’s are the best option currently available for reducing the noise associated with dropping barbells.UnboxingThe Pound Pads showed up on my door-step in a beautifully branded, khaki-colored, corrugated box.The box was surprisingly heavy, which meant the Pound Pads themselves were much heavier than expected.  » Read more about: Pound Pad Review: Weightlifting Noise Reduction  » Read more

SKLZ Core Wheels Review (2024): Rolling Wheels That Are Worth the Ride Cover Image
SKLZ Core Wheels Review (2024): Rolling Wheels That Are Worth the Ride

In this SKLZ Core Wheels Review, we’re going to determine if two is really better than one if you want help achieving better core strength. Read more