Help me choose a mouse pad - URGENT

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Surly73

[H]ard|Gawd
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Dec 19, 2007
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After Christmas I wanted a new mouse pad to go with my new Deathadder.

I've always used simple cloth top, neoprene backed mousepads for many years and liked their feel. All of the high end stuff is some kind of hard surface, though.

I picked up a Rocketfish dual-sided pad to give it a try from a local store that does easy returns in case I hated it. This manufacturers page is here. It's dual-sided with a "SPEED" side and a "CONTROL" side.

I only like the control side, but don't really like the speed side. I'm not liking the Rocketfish build, however, and the feet have started to peel off etc... I'm still within the return period and I'm thinking of returning it and stepping up to something else, like an Icemat, I-1, I-2, or an anodized aluminum product.

The problem is that B&M stores around me that accept no hassle returns don't stock any of this stuff. A lot of the online places don't like returns and/or shipping is expensive (ie. half the cost of the pad each way).

So, has anyone else used a surface like the Rocketfish? (I know it's sold under a bunch of different names - I've seen it) Can you compare the more pebbly "control" side to any of the other high end hard surface pads from Steelseries, Ratpadz, Razer, or anyone else? Not sure if it's like a Steelseries S&S, Steelseries 4D, Razer Goliathus Omega- Control Mouse Pad or what... Web pictures seem inadequate.

I'm looking for 10"X12"-ish. I have little kids around, I'm not sure the glass-based icemats might be a good idea - sexy or not...

Thanks,
 
Ratpadz XT/GS would be what I would compare it to.
Check them out, there's a thread in the HotDeals section for a discount, and some reviews also.
 
I've used the Steelpad QCK+, Ratpadz, Razer Mantis (Control and Speed), Razer Goliathus (Control and Speed), Everglide Titan Fnatic, Func, and others. My favorite was the Goliathus Speed... until I tried the Razer Destructor this week. The Destructor is an awesome pad. It's perfectly matched to my Diamondback 3G mouse and is the only pad I'll use from now on.
 
The Ratpadz XT has 100% money back guarantee including the shipping to send it back if you don't like it. It's a win/win situation as far as I'm concerned. Sure, I'm a bit biased as I own one of the XTs but I don't see myself getting rid of it until I finally wear it down in another several years.

 
I've seen a lot of glowing recommendations HERE for the Ratpadz, but seen lots of complaints elsewhere about the surface both waearing down (black residue all over) and causing rapid wear on mouse feet.

They also don't do a very good job of explaining the difference between the XT and GS, other than the "original" Ratpadz is now the XT. That's very helpful...

I keep seeing the Razer Destructor around here at B&M but it's $60 here. It's cloth with neoprene backing right? That seems pretty steep. I suppose from B&M and I can always take it back for 100% refund and no shipping.

I had kind of thought I had converted from cloth to solid surface, but all cloth may not be created equal. I'm back to my original Sun Microsystems "The network is the computer" cloth-on-neoprene pads for the time being :)
 
I've paired my deathadder with a surface 1030. This thing is awesome. I haven't tried many other pads out there but I see no need to. Using this guy in cod4 is fantastic. I highly recommend surface products
 
If you have the desk space, I'm using a Steelpad QcK+ Heavy which is a fabric 17x15" pad. I hated hard surface mousepads.. the cloth gives me a much better feel and comfort. You could even get a smaller Steelpad QcK.
 
Been using my surface 1030 for 5 years now.. love it. Gets weird things stuck in it but I don't game as much as I used to so I guess it's expected.
 
Deathadder and Ratpadz XT - working great, no complaints and very minimal wear on the mousepad.
 
Funcpad Archetype is what I updated to about a year and a half ago from the smaller Funcpad 1030.

I prefer the smooth surface--have used it with G7, Boomslang 2000 (old school) and Boomslang resurrected. Great pad. i went with the aluminum but the plastic is just as nice.

You can even customize with your own picture:
http://www.func.net/
 
Func 1030. The older of the two I own is 3 years old and shows no sign of wear.
 
Using Razer Goliathus Control Pad..which i can recommend to anyone.
 
Func 1030 for over 3 years of heavy use, once cleaned off with soap and water it looks just like the day I bought it.

My ratpadz started to falter within 8 months, I won't buy another.
 
+1 for the Func 1030. I've had mines for at least 5 years now and its still in perfect shape. I would assume the rough side would be similar to the Rocketfish's "control" side.
 
I had a Ratpad for about 8yrs or so and it is wonderful but when I changed desks a few years ago, I had to put my PC under the keyboard/mouse draw.
The heat coming up from the PC slowly (over several months) cause the pad to warp upwards.
I could bent it back but after a few months it would warp again. I still have it for when I move house and get a bigger, better desk but last week I bought a Razer Goliathus Control Pad.
It give me excellent control and speed with my MX Revolution and being a cloth mat, I won't get the warping issue. Plus it is nice and cheap.
I have found that with the new mouse pad and my new Razer Lycose Mirror keyboard, my FPS gaming has greatly improved.
 
The Ratpadz GS is lightweight (skeleton underside), so its ideal for lanparties and laptops. The XT is the thick, heavyweight pad... very durable. My mouse's feet are fine, and I've been using Ratpadz for about 6yrs now. My original one (free) wore down after a few yrs (3yrs), and I replaced it with the GS ($10; I don't think the XT was available for a while). My GS wore down (1.5yrs) and I now only use it with my laptop. I replaced the GS with an XT ($10) due to the discount from the GS' (and free shipping) -- I also missed the solidness of the original because my GS would slide around a lot. The XT shows no sign of wearing down at all, and I've had it for about 2yrs now.

You'll see Ratpadz advertised here a lot because the company is owned by Kyle. ;)
 
Thank you to all those contributing!

I was in a B&M store and noticed a Razer Desctructor that was open but with no stated discount. I grabbed the opened one and an unopened one and proceeded to ask a sales guy about a discount - can't hurt right?.

First scan brought up the wrong SKU or something - $18 regular and he said I could have it for $9. While that's great, it's not right. I told him to scan the other SKU.

Anyways, I got a healthy discount off of a returnable Desctructor, making it merely an expensive mousepad instead of a horribly overpriced mousepad :)

I can't get a Ratpadz without incurring a whack of shipping but I'll keep an eye out while I'm trying the Destructor. I find the destructor coarse, but noticeably faster/smoother than the Rocketfish control side. It also seems to result in higher sensitivity - not sure why considering the laser should simply track motion across whatever surface it's on (within reason).
 
I tried using one of my cloth pads (Razer Goliathus) after about 2 weeks with my Destructor. It felt like I was pushing my Diamondback through mud. The Destructor rocks!
 
DarkStryke said:
Func 1030 for over 3 years of heavy use, once cleaned off with soap and water it looks just like the day I bought it.

My ratpadz started to falter within 8 months, I won't buy another.
Click to expand...

This is likely because you went with a $10 GS. The XT is for the heavy duty gamer. Just that simple.

Surly73 said:
I've seen a lot of glowing recommendations HERE for the Ratpadz, but seen lots of complaints elsewhere about the surface both waearing down (black residue all over) and causing rapid wear on mouse feet.

They also don't do a very good job of explaining the difference between the XT and GS, other than the "original" Ratpadz is now the XT. That's very helpful...
Click to expand...

Actually we say, "Ratpadz XT - The original Ratpadz is now the XT! This favorite has been brought back by popular demand that again uses the heavy duty solid construction that will stand up to all kinds of abuse. If you are a hardcore gamer or mouser, logging hours and hours with your mouse; the Ratpadz XT UltraSlick long-lasting surface is for you."

Here are pics of the new XT. Made in the USA with 100% USA manufactured materials. Ask ANY other mousepad company about that.

Ratpadz-FrontBack.jpg


Ratpadz-Front.jpg


Ratpadz-SurfaceMacro.jpg



And pics of the originals with graphics. :)

originalhratpadz.jpg
 
i personally like the really big mouse pads and they work fie when im gaming no problems
 
No mention of the IceMat? Still my favorite pad to date. :) I guess if you're after a more control style mat, the only thing I can do is to not recommend the Razer eXactMat. I'm still using the wristrest/padding from my old one though :p
 
I the only company I buy mouse pads from is XTrac, as I could not be happier with their quality and durability. I recently just had to pick up my second pad after ~4 years.

0mega9401 said:
i personally like the really big mouse pads and they work fie when im gaming no problems
Click to expand...

The Xtrac Ripper I just picked up is ~80% the size of my Logitech G15 Rev.1 :p
 
ivandurago said:
I the only company I buy mouse pads from is XTrac, as I could not be happier with their quality and durability. I recently just had to pick up my second pad after ~4 years.
Click to expand...

I have a XTrac Pro HS at work with a Logitech G5 and an older (more than 4 years old) XTrac Pro with a DeathAdder at home. Very durable and personally I like the hex design.
 
12" x 18" black foam pad from Michaels. 99 cents and better than any mouse pad I have ever owned.
 
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