A conveyor belt module (20; 90; 120; 130) comprising: a module body (20; 68; 76) extending in length from a first end to a second end, in width from a first side to a second side, and in thickness from a top side to a bottom side; a plurality of first hinge elements spaced apart laterally along the first end of the module body (20; 68; 76); a plurality of second hinge elements spaced apart laterally along the second end of the module body (20; 68; 76); drive faces (40, 41) extending laterally along the bottom side of the module body (20; 68; 76); and wherein the module (20; 68; 76) comprises a) one or more wear pads (30, 32; 64; 80; 92, 93; 106; 122; 132) on the bottom side of the module body (20; 68; 76) laterally offset from the drive faces (40, 41) and from the first and second hinge elements (28, 29); and wherein the wear pads (30, 32; 64; 80; 92, 93; 106; 122; 132) each have a wear surface (34; 66; 70; 84; 94; 110; 112; 126; 136) at the bottom side; wherein the area of the wear surface (34; 66; 70; 84; 94; 110; 112; 126; 136) of each of the wear pads (30, 32; 64; 80; 92, 93; 106; 122; 132) is greater than the area of any of the first and second hinge elements (28, 29) at the bottom side; and wherein at least one of the wear pads includes a pad hinge element aligned with the first hinge elements at the first end of the module body (20; 68; 76) that forms a continuation of the wear surface (33; 66; 70; 84; 94; 110; 112; 126; 136) of the wear pad (30, 32; 64; 80; 92, 93; 106; 122; 132) and whose lateral extent is at least as wide as the lateral extent of the wear pad (30, 32; 64; 80; 92, 93; 106; 122; 132); or b) wherein the module comprises a plurality of wear pads on the bottom side of the module body laterally offset from the drive faces and from the first and second hinge elements; wherein the wear pads each have a wear surface at the bottom side made of a different material from the rest of the module body; and wherein at least one of the wear pads includes a pad hinge element aligned with the first hinge elements at the first end of the module body that forms a continuation of the wear surface of the wear pad and whose lateral extent is at least as wide as the lateral extent of the wear pad. a module body (20; 68; 76) extending in length from a first end to a second end, in width from a first side to a second side, and in thickness from a top side to a bottom side; a plurality of first hinge elements spaced apart laterally along the first end of the module body (20; 68; 76); a plurality of second hinge elements spaced apart laterally along the second end of the module body (20; 68; 76); drive faces (40, 41) extending laterally along the bottom side of the module body (20; 68; 76); and wherein the module (20; 68; 76) comprises a) one or more wear pads (30, 32; 64; 80; 92, 93; 106; 122; 132) on the bottom side of the module body (20; 68; 76) laterally offset from the drive faces (40, 41) and from the first and second hinge elements (28, 29); and wherein the wear pads (30, 32; 64; 80; 92, 93; 106; 122; 132) each have a wear surface (34; 66; 70; 84; 94; 110; 112; 126; 136) at the bottom side; wherein the area of the wear surface (34; 66; 70; 84; 94; 110; 112; 126; 136) of each of the wear pads (30, 32; 64; 80; 92, 93; 106; 122; 132) is greater than the area of any of the first and second hinge elements (28, 29) at the bottom side; and wherein at least one of the wear pads includes a pad hinge element aligned with the first hinge elements at the first end of the module body (20; 68; 76) that forms a continuation of the wear surface (33; 66; 70; 84; 94; 110; 112; 126; 136) of the wear pad (30, 32; 64; 80; 92, 93; 106; 122; 132) and whose lateral extent is at least as wide as the lateral extent of the wear pad (30, 32; 64; 80; 92, 93; 106; 122; 132); or wherein the wear pads (30, 32; 64; 80; 92, 93; 106; 122; 132) each have a wear surface (34; 66; 70; 84; 94; 110; 112; 126; 136) at the bottom side; wherein the area of the wear surface (34; 66; 70; 84; 94; 110; 112; 126; 136) of each of the wear pads (30, 32; 64; 80; 92, 93; 106; 122; 132) is greater than the area of any of the first and second hinge elements (28, 29) at the bottom side; and wherein at least one of the wear pads includes a pad hinge element aligned with the first hinge elements at the first end of the module body (20; 68; 76) that forms a continuation of the wear surface (33; 66; 70; 84; 94; 110; 112; 126; 136) of the wear pad (30, 32; 64; 80; 92, 93; 106; 122; 132) and whose lateral extent is at least as wide as the lateral extent of the wear pad (30, 32; 64; 80; 92, 93; 106; 122; 132); or b) wherein the module comprises a plurality of wear pads on the bottom side of the module body laterally offset from the drive faces and from the first and second hinge elements; wherein the wear pads each have a wear surface at the bottom side made of a different material from the rest of the module body; and wherein at least one of the wear pads includes a pad hinge element aligned with the first hinge elements at the first end of the module body that forms a continuation of the wear surface of the wear pad and whose lateral extent is at least as wide as the lateral extent of the wear pad. wherein the wear pads each have a wear surface at the bottom side made of a different material from the rest of the module body; and wherein at least one of the wear pads includes a pad hinge element aligned with the first hinge elements at the first end of the module body that forms a continuation of the wear surface of the wear pad and whose lateral extent is at least as wide as the lateral extent of the wear pad.