Make sure you understand what a padded bridle is and read the blurb description very carefully cause "padded" can be different things to different manufacturers.
Depending upon the horses head a padded bridle can overwhelm a head on some animals and not be appealing to look at...
All a "padded" bridle is a extra lined browband, noseband and headstall making the actual browband, noseband and headstall wider...sometimes the "padding" wrinkles and then is not so comfy for the animal too. Remember it still must be stitched together so padding is not the full width of any piece...look closely at pictures shown.
If you think that is more comfortable on a horse to wear and carry....go for it.
A well fitting bridle will be comfortable for a horse to wear also...
Beware those wider parts not interfere with ears and the fine, thin skin of the surrounding areas of nose, ear and top of the skull.
Your budget allows for a decent quality leather bridle, suitable for everyday use.
Bridles can become very expensive quickly, but unless you are showing at fine venues and higher rated shows you don't need to spend that kind of money for everyday tack safe to use.
I have had good choices, very reasonable prices and decent entry level quality tack bought at this place...
https://www.chicksaddlery.com/search-results?Search=english+bridles#/perpage:500 a real store they also do internet and what they describe something as is very accurate a description so read carefully but your money will go far here even with you paying for shipping.
If you buy a leather bridle, you clean it like you do any other piece of leather tack...hot water to cut grime, a suitable cleaning product {I prefer saddle soap or glycerine bar soap}, hot water to rinse clean and only when the leather feels dry do I nourish it sparingly applied coats left to soak in with Pure Neatsfoot Oil...
I don't use any of the newer style of cleansers as what I use has been used by horseman for centuries now with fantastic results and that is good enough for me.
If you do Biothane, synthetic or nylon tack then wiping down with a damp cloth or soap and water will clean those products suitably.
If you do "padded" pay special close attention to the bends that occur fitting the contours of the face, all that "padding" not hold filth in the wrinkles of the leather/material that would cause sores potentially over time with dirt/sweat build-up accumulated.
Old toothbrushes are great for small spaces and gentle, thorough cleaning done. <img style="max-width:100%;" src="http://www.horseforum.com/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Smile" class="inlineimg" />
<img style="max-width:100%;" src="http://www.horseforum.com/images/smilies/runninghorse2.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Runninghorse2" class="inlineimg" />...