A fixing device, comprising: a tubular belt holder; a rotatable, flexible fuser belt looped for rotation around the belt holder; a heater disposed adjacent to the belt holder to heat the belt holder to in turn heat the fuser belt; a fuser pad accommodated in the belt holder inside the loop of the fuser belt, and extending in an axial direction of the belt holder; a rotatably driven pressure member disposed opposite the belt holder, with the fuser belt interposed between the fuser pad and the pressure member, the pressure member pressing in a load direction against the fuser pad through the fuser belt to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which a recording medium travels under heat and pressure as the pressure member rotates to rotate the fuser belt; and a reinforcing member disposed inside the loop of the fuser belt to reinforce the fuser pad against pressure from the pressure member, the fuser pad comprising: an elongated base defining a smooth surface on a front side thereof facing the pressure member; multiple longitudinally spaced protrusions on a rear side of the elongated base opposite the front side thereof contacting the reinforcing member; a perforated, anti-friction cover wrapped around the elongated base to reduce friction between the fuser pad and the fuser belt, the cover defining one or more openings for inserting therethrough the protrusions on the rear side of the elongated base; and a fastener disposed between the protrusions on the rear side of the elongated base to fasten the cover in position around the elongated base, characterized in that heights of the protrusions in the load direction decrease with increasing distance from a longitudinal center (Cx) of the elongated base in axial direction towards the longitudinal end (Ex) and in that the distance of the protrusions decreases from a longitudinal end (Ex) of the elongated base in axial direction towards the longitudinal center (Cx), and wherein a difference (ΔH) between the heights of central and peripheral protrusions at the longitudinal center (Cx) and the longitudinal end (Ex), respectively, of the elongated base substantially equals an amount of deformation by which the reinforcing member is deformed by the pressure member. a tubular belt holder; a rotatable, flexible fuser belt looped for rotation around the belt holder; a heater disposed adjacent to the belt holder to heat the belt holder to in turn heat the fuser belt; a fuser pad accommodated in the belt holder inside the loop of the fuser belt, and extending in an axial direction of the belt holder; a rotatably driven pressure member disposed opposite the belt holder, with the fuser belt interposed between the fuser pad and the pressure member, the pressure member pressing in a load direction against the fuser pad through the fuser belt to form a fixing nip therebetween, through which a recording medium travels under heat and pressure as the pressure member rotates to rotate the fuser belt; and a reinforcing member disposed inside the loop of the fuser belt to reinforce the fuser pad against pressure from the pressure member, the fuser pad comprising: an elongated base defining a smooth surface on a front side thereof facing the pressure member; multiple longitudinally spaced protrusions on a rear side of the elongated base opposite the front side thereof contacting the reinforcing member; a perforated, anti-friction cover wrapped around the elongated base to reduce friction between the fuser pad and the fuser belt, the cover defining one or more openings for inserting therethrough the protrusions on the rear side of the elongated base; and a fastener disposed between the protrusions on the rear side of the elongated base to fasten the cover in position around the elongated base, characterized in that an elongated base defining a smooth surface on a front side thereof facing the pressure member; multiple longitudinally spaced protrusions on a rear side of the elongated base opposite the front side thereof contacting the reinforcing member; a perforated, anti-friction cover wrapped around the elongated base to reduce friction between the fuser pad and the fuser belt, the cover defining one or more openings for inserting therethrough the protrusions on the rear side of the elongated base; and a fastener disposed between the protrusions on the rear side of the elongated base to fasten the cover in position around the elongated base, characterized in that heights of the protrusions in the load direction decrease with increasing distance from a longitudinal center (Cx) of the elongated base in axial direction towards the longitudinal end (Ex) and in that the distance of the protrusions decreases from a longitudinal end (Ex) of the elongated base in axial direction towards the longitudinal center (Cx), and wherein a difference (ΔH) between the heights of central and peripheral protrusions at the longitudinal center (Cx) and the longitudinal end (Ex), respectively, of the elongated base substantially equals an amount of deformation by which the reinforcing member is deformed by the pressure member.