Foam Dance Pad Question

Hey all! I really enjoy DDR and I just downloaded Stepmania, but I'm having a lot of trouble using a keyboard and decided to invest in a USB dance pad (a foam one, since I've heard very mixed opinions about the plastic ones, and a metal pad is waaaaaay out of my price range). I live in the UK and I'm having a lot of trouble finding any foam dance pads on Ebay and Amazon that I don't have to get shipped from the US, though; the only pads I seem to find are the cheap plastic pads, and the occasional £100+ metal one.

Could anyone give me a link to a good foam dance pad I can buy, in the UK? From Ebay or Amazon would definitely be preferable.

If I can't find one, I'm considering buying a plastic one and simply gluing the bottom to a piece of solid, non-stick material so it doesn't slide around and crease up while I'm using it. How well would this work?

Thanks in advance to anyone who answers!

You are confusing, cheap plastic and foam?

The cheapest pads use foam in order to function. They are extremely similar to pads that have a 1" dense foam insert they function the same exact way with foam in the sensors so both are cheap plastic and should be considered identical honestly, one just feels more firm when stepped on because there's a foam base under the pad.

Good luck, and don't expect too much from soft pads. I would recommend getting the cheapest one and modding it on plywood with staples to keep it as flat as possible. You can't do that with the pads that have the 1" dense foam inside the benefit with those is the dense foam will help keep the pad flatter than without, but stapling a super cheap pad on plywood is even better as far as soft pads go.

You are confusing, cheap plastic and foam?

The cheapest pads use foam in order to function. They are extremely similar to pads that have a 1" dense foam insert they function the same exact way with foam in the sensors so both are cheap plastic and should be considered identical honestly, one just feels more firm when stepped on because there's a foam base under the pad.

Good luck, and don't expect too much from soft pads. I would recommend getting the cheapest one and modding it on plywood with staples to keep it as flat as possible. You can't do that with the pads that have the 1" dense foam inside the benefit with those is the dense foam will help keep the pad flatter than without, but stapling a super cheap pad on plywood is even better as far as soft pads go.

I'd beg to differ on stating cheap pads and foam ones are identical. If you get a higher quality foam pad, it's actually WAY better to play on. I've experienced every type of pad (Except your precision dance pads, which I hope to get some day) and I can say those flexible cheap plastic ones make it physically impossible to play intense songs, where you can do them easily on a pad with a 1" foam insert. I've had a foam pad for a few years, and it's by far the best in the >=$100 price point. I've done the "staple it to a board" thing with other cheaper pads, and they still don't work as nice. Also the foam is easier on your feet. If you can find a well known pad like a RedOctane foam pad then you are pretty much set if you only plan on playing in your house without shoes. I can say, however, that dance pads aren't made like they used to be. I can't say anything about your pads because I have yet to experience them, but anything new in pretty much every category of dance pad really isn't as good as previous companies. Even my metal dance pad, which I got new at a good discount, is sub par to even the discounted price I payed for it.

Thanks for the advice!

Sorry if I was confusing. When I say "cheap plastic" I mean the really horrible flexible pads that slide all over the place and crinkle up. I bought a dancing game for the Wii which came with one of these pads and the sensors were constantly shifting as I was playing. It completely ruined the experience and made it near impossible to play. I heard that the pads with foam inserts work a lot better, but I still haven't found any that I can buy from my own country. I'd import, but the shipping costs practically double the price. I looked up RedOctane, and even naming a specific brand didn't bring up any results that aren't from the US.

I'll probably try the "staple it to a board" solution for now and see how it goes, and just keep an eye out for a better one to appear that I can buy.

Well I've not actually played on a soft pad in over 14 years, back in the day I had 6 super cheaps and 6 foam pads all of them tore up quickly, they are internally extremely similar to each other.

I've also not done the cheap pad stapled to plywood but I heard from others that was the best way to play on a super cheap pad. In the end it's honestly up to each person to form their own opinions, just trying to advise based on my personal understanding.

Does it really have to come from the UK? You can order a "deluxe" dance pad from http://dancepadmania.com/ without the foam in it. It comes in a box that is the same size as the super cheapy plastic pads, but you can put in the foam yourself for a nice foam pad.