How to Tell the Difference Between Moving Pads
When you first visit our Moving Pads page you might be overwhelmed with the different types of pad available. Although we’ve made it clear which are our highest quality furniture moving pads, you might be wondering what defines a great moving pad and whether it is worth spending an extra hundred dollars for a Dreadnaught Professional over a Heavy Duty Premium for example.
Before we dive into the detail, it is worth pointing out that moving pads and moving blankets are the same thing so if you are looking to purchase furniture moving blankets, this article is for you too.
FORGET WEIGHT, IT’S FABRIC THAT COUNTS
A lot of moving equipment vendors will tell you that the heavier the moving pad, the better it is. While this is often a good rule of thumb, a pad which is too heavy can be unwieldy and add unnecessary costs to your move.
In reality, heavier moving pads tend to be those made from the higher quality fabrics. When choosing a moving pad it’s therefore better to focus on the fabric because an 80 pound poly-cotton pad is going to be pretty much as good at protecting your furniture as a 95 pound pad of the same fabric.
In terms of quality, densely woven poly-cotton is considered by most professional movers to be the best fabric. The density of the weave (often referred to as the thread count) is the number of vertical and horizontal threads per square inch of fabric.
Cotton has multiple qualities going for it. It’s soft so it won’t damage your furniture. It’s insulating in both hot and cold climates and won’t shrink or stain. It’s durable and resists tearing. It is even an eco-friendly and socially responsible choice since cotton is renewable and its farming supports poor communities.
The main disadvantage of cotton is its higher price. However, if you are buying a moving pad you want to reuse over and over, one made from poly-cotton will be more economical in the long run. You will likely benefit from exploring our Dreadnaught range.
If you only intend to use a moving pad once or twice, a densely woven polyester moving pad is a good alternative to poly-cotton. This is a reliable fabric but not as durable as cotton so don’t expect it to last forever. Polyester also has a harder surface than cotton so you might want to avoid using a polyester furniture moving pad for your most valuable pieces. Our Premium range of moving pads are made from woven polyester.
If you are after an inexpensive moving pad for a single move or to cover items in storage, a synthetic (also referred to as non-woven) fabric offers considerable cost savings. For example, you can buy a dozen of our non-woven pads for less than $75!
WHY BATTING AND STITCHING MATTERS
If you are choosing between two moving pads made from a similar fabric, look at the stitching and batting (filling) next.
Moving PadA linear stitching pattern does not offer much protection from tears and when a tear does occur, it can quickly spread along the seam. We have found that a sharp zig-zag chevron stitching pattern is more resilient to tearing. We have also discovered that the sharper the chevrons, the less likely a tear is to spread.
In terms of filling, some moving pad manufacturers save costs by inserting multiple pieces of batting into each pad. This can be difficult to spot until the inevitable lumps and bumps start appearing and causing damage to your furniture. New Haven moving pads use a single piece of appropriately weighted batten.
Now that you have a grasp of the basics behind choosing a furniture moving pad, you will find more detailed information on our individual product pages. Simply visit our Moving Pads page to view our complete range and prices.