Gaming Mousepad?

M

mda

2[H]4U
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Mar 23, 2011
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Hey all.

Looking at scratching small itches in order to put off big time expenditures (holding off upgrading the main rig for another generation) - trying not to be [H]ard I guess ;)

But anyway, I'm using an old 3 year old cloth mousepad I got for about 7$. It's *apparently* wearing out the feet on my G5 (we can't buy the feet in where I'm from, and that the middle mouse button of which is sadly starting to conk out), and I figured I might need to replace the pad soon anyway should I get a new mouse.

Looking at the following mousepads:

1. Razer Sphex - 18$
2. Razer Scarab - 43$
3. Razer Ironclad - 63$
4. Roccat Taito - 25$
5. Roccat Sota Granular - 34$
6. SteelSeries 3HD = 32$
7. SteelSeries QcK = 13$
8. SteelSeries QcK Mini = 11$
9. SteelSeries QcK Mass = 21$
10. SteelSeries QcK Heavy = 32$
11. **Screw the mousepad?** Using a hard plastic surface-d desk.

Obviously, the cheaper the better. I'm not sure if I'm favoring the Sphex at the moment though, having a paper thin mousepad doesn't make the investment feel worthwhile. Neither does shelling out for an Ironclad.

So I'm more inclined towards the other 3 listed.

I play SC2 competitively so I'd like something that is worth getting in terms of tracking/precision.

I'd also prefer a durable surface that won't degrade like this old cloth pad (but at 7$ amortized over 3 years, I guess I can't complain).

I'm not sure if I'd prefer a hard surface to a soft surface. Comments/Experiences would be welcome.

Would appreciate your inputs on this.

Thanks!

EDIT: Willing to consider other mousepads based on availability here.
*Please do note the discrepancies between prices you'd find from the Egg and the prices I listed here. I know, arbitrage sucks.
 
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I picked up a Razer Goliathus a couple months ago and really like it. Big enough without taking up the whole desk, nice texture and tracks very well and looks pretty cool. They usually run under $20 here in the states.
 
It's going for 23$ here.

Thanks, will also give it a look. I notice there's a 'speed' and 'control' edition though.

Means more choices I guess... @_@
 
Looked around for Steelseries gear available locally:

SteelSeries 3HD = 32$
SteelSeries QcK = 13$
SteelSeries QcK Mini = 11$
SteelSeries QcK Mass = 21$
SteelSeries QcK Heavy = 32$

Not familiar with these. Feedback please :)
 
Can't go wrong with any SteelSeries cloth pad. I have the Mass, Mini and standard QcK pads.
 
mda said:
It's going for 23$ here.

Thanks, will also give it a look. I notice there's a 'speed' and 'control' edition though.

Means more choices I guess... @_@
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Hmmm, I didnt notice that. I just picked up the cheapest one Best Buy had. Kinda figure theres not gonna be much difference no matter what the marketing department wants you to believe. :D
 
MacLeod said:
Hmmm, I didnt notice that. I just picked up the cheapest one Best Buy had. Kinda figure theres not gonna be much difference no matter what the marketing department wants you to believe. :D
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Yeah, both going for the same price though. Makes it a wee bit harder to pick.

Reading up on the steelseries ones as well.

Looks like the list got a lot longer, gonna have to edit the original post...
 
what about the SteelSeries QcK+? I have the QcK+ and I love how smooth the cloth surface is as well as the huge surface area so I'll never run out of space while playing FPS games.
 
Unfortunately, not available here.

Steelseries doesn't have an official distributor in our country, so the prices on any SS products you can find are pretty inflated (if you can find them at all).

Saw a 9HD going for ~55$ retail while on their website is only 35$.

So unless the SteelSeries are vastly superior to the Razer equivalents, I may have to go with the latter :(
 
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Worth the 20$ premium on some of the larger pads?

May need something in the range of ~300mm by ~250mm
 
I hear really great things about an XFX pad, forget what it's called but it has an 'edgeless design', AKA it clips onto your desk and makes it so your wrist doesn't have to be uncomfortably bent over the edge of your desk, it's just a curved soft wrist rest instead. It's expensive as hell, though.

Personally, I just bring my mouse pad about 2" hanging over my desk and it works just the same, but it may be something to consider. Maybe not for the price, though ($40 or so).
 
Meh, wrist rests suck, and so do raised pads...especially if glass or steel.

I prefer my whole desk to be a mousepad, and use the Xtrac Ripper XXL, which is the largest thin cloth pad I could find. 18" x 36" :)

It's like option 11 of the OP's choices, but far more comfortable and rarely needs to be cleaned. If you are going to go large on a pad, make sure it's large enough to provide a level base for your keyboard to also rest on.
 
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^^^ i agree the XX is an awesomeness HUGE pad and sooo smooth! i love it, i also find it better because i can rest most of my arm on it and no more sticky arm on the desk and crap.
 
What mouse do you use?

Razer Goliathus and SteelSeries QcK are both excellent "mainstays" of mousepads, but some mice such as the Abyssus have tracking problems on the QcK.
 
I'm currently using a G5. Will probably upgrade to the G500 or wait for its replacement when the time comes or the feet run out.

Re: the Goliathus - Control or Speed? Has anyone had experience with both?
 
would prob just go with a steel series heavy, like the thickness over the qck
 
check out artisan mouse pads. they are extremely high quality cloth pads made in japan. they are offered in a variety of sizes, colors, and surfaces. the surfaces are all cloth based, but they are treated in a variety of ways that make them all perform and feel different. i personally have the HIEN hard, which feels rough to the touch, but does not bother my hands and my deathadder glides across it effortlessly. im really intrigued by their SHIDEN mouse mat also, which is a cloth pad treated with a special glass substance that is supposed to make it incredibly slick.

you can buy artisan pads on amazon.com
 
i'm using a free plasticy mousepad, and it has a tendency to accumulate dirt which then gets stuck on the feet of the mouse and makes it less smooth. Do these gamer mousepads have that problem too? Or is it just because of the cheap plastic.
 
Snowpea said:
i'm using a free plasticy mousepad, and it has a tendency to accumulate dirt which then gets stuck on the feet of the mouse and makes it less smooth. Do these gamer mousepads have that problem too? Or is it just because of the cheap plastic.
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all mouse pads are going to have this problem to some extent. your hands are going to touch the pad and dirt is going to be transferred to it. cloth pads probably are better simply because dirt is more likely to stick to them and stay there instead of transfer to the mouse.
 
it's pretty annoying, having to clean the feet every few days. My room tends to accumulate a lot of dust from the street. Maybe i'll have to try one of these... or cover my mousepad when i'm away..
 
I have a Steelseries SX aluminum mouse mat and it's awesome. My Cyborg RAT 5 glides like none other - a cloth mouse pad can't compare. The only downside is that aluminum mouse mats (including the SX) are pricey and a bit large.
 
I have a Razer Mantis Speed cloth mat which I like because it's huge. I bought it because it was on sale. My preference is extra large cloth mats.

Here's a picture that shows a mouse and keyboard for a size reference:

2494409543_0b0938bba0_b.jpg


Note: The picture is not mine, I just found it on Google image search.
 
I got the WOWPAD. Not ShamWow mind you. I thin and works great with all of my mice.
 
I've seen no mention of Ratpadz? Are these wonderfully slick mouse pads no longer relevant? I have the XT version and Ill be damned if it isn't the slickest pad I've ever used, at least with my Microsoft X8...plus they are cheap, $10-25 with free priority shipping!
 
QCK heavy is probably my favorite pad of all time... mines does get dirty, but you can seriously throw it in the washing machine, hang dry and its golden. so +1 to a QcK heavy or QcK+
 
JoeUser said:
I've seen no mention of Ratpadz? Are these wonderfully slick mouse pads no longer relevant? I have the XT version and Ill be damned if it isn't the slickest pad I've ever used, at least with my Microsoft X8...plus they are cheap, $10-25 with free priority shipping!
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i have a ratpadz gs that i received for attending the HardOCP Gamexperience in Dallas recently. personally i hate it. its too small and its feels cheap, which it is. im all for supporting the forums, but i really dont think that the ratpadz are that great of a product. i put it down to this mousepad as the reason i lost in the TF2 tourney at that event. my mouse kept slipping off the edges.
 
i made my own from shiny black leather, and i'm using it for years now, feels great.
 
Steelseries QcK!

I play loads of SC2 on it and it is perfect IMHO. I went from ten years on plastic pads (3M, func, etc etc) to the QcK and I wish that such an excellent cloth pad was made available sooner. :)

Very smooth and very accurate, I think you'll like it.
 
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Serpico said:
Steelseries QcK!

I play loads of SC2 on it and it is perfect IMHO. I went from ten years on plastic pads (3M, func, etc etc) to the QcK and I wish that such an excellent cloth pad was made available sooner. :)

Very smooth and very accurate, I think you'll like it.
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Looking at some of the QcKs right now (whether the heavy/mass/standard/+)

But my middle mouse button broke. Will still scroll (albeit randomly). Middle mouse clicks no longer working (sad, this is great for opening multiple forum threads/closing popup tabs).

Looking at a G500, but the miser in me doesn't want to replace the mouse until one of the essential buttons are broke :(
 
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