Automotive · Head-to-head
The Rag Company Buttersoft Suede Applicator Cloths vs Meguiar's Supreme Shine Foam Applicator Pads, 4 Pack
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Applicator Pads: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Buttersoft cloths are the right tool for coatings, with published dimensions, a stated microfibre grade and straight-cut edges that will not catch. The Meguiar's pads are tight-cell foam, which is the correct structure for wax and polish, and they wash and reuse.
The Rag Company Buttersoft Suede Applicator Cloths
Buy itSuede cloths for coatings, with dimensions, a stated fibre grade and edges that will not catch.
- 8 by 8 inches, sold in packs of ten, which is roughly what a full coating job actually consumes.
- Premium AA-grade microfibre suede stated explicitly, rather than a generic softness claim.
- Lint-free, tag-free and non-abrasive, with clean straight-cut edges for even coating application.
- Designed for high-end coatings specifically, so the tool matches the product it is meant to lay down.
- A cloth rather than a pad, so it needs folding over a block or a foam applicator to spread evenly.
- Wrong tool for thick wax or a tyre dressing, where a foam pad does the job better.
- Suede is effectively single-use for coatings, since cured product ruins the cloth.
Meguiar's Supreme Shine Foam Applicator Pads, 4 Pack
Buy itUltra-soft tight-cell foam, which keeps wax on the paint instead of inside the pad, and it washes.
- Ultra-soft tight-cell foam stated explicitly, the structure that keeps product on the surface rather than absorbing it.
- Four inches, the standard size for hand application across a panel.
- Machine washable and described as highly durable, so each pad gets multiple uses.
- Cleared for mild compounds, polish and wax, which is an accurate description of what foam suits.
- Foam is the wrong tool for a ceramic coating regardless of cell structure.
- No thickness or density figure published, only tight-cell.
- Four pads is a modest count for a full car if you are using a fresh one per product.
Side by side
| The Rag Company Buttersoft Suede Applicator Cloths | Meguiar's Supreme Shine Foam Applicator Pads, 4 Pack | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Applying ceramic coatings, graphene coatings and glass sealants, where an even layer and no lint is the whole requirement. | Waxes, polishes and mild compounds applied by hand, where tight-cell foam means the bottle lasts and the coverage stays even. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $ · budget |
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the The Rag Company Buttersoft Suede Applicator Cloths - Suede cloths for coatings, with dimensions, a stated fibre grade and edges that will not catch. Choose the Meguiar's Supreme Shine Foam Applicator Pads, 4 Pack instead if waxes, polishes and mild compounds applied by hand, where tight-cell foam means the bottle lasts and the coverage stays even.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Applicator Pads: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).