Awesome Huge World Map Mouse Pad - $10.99 shipped

Lateralus

More [H]uman than Human
Joined
Aug 7, 2004
Messages
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Sold through Groupon

Update: Better price and quicker shipping via Amazon Prime here

Size: 15" x 35"

I think that a couple of people here have this pad, and I noticed that it was on sale over at Groupon. Seems like a good value at ~$15 after shipping...full desk coverage, stitched edges, etc. This looks way better than the large "XL" mouse pad that I bought from Monoprice several years ago. That one works just fine and tracks very well, but it's boring plain black and the edges are a little scratchy due to not being woven/stitched. It's very large for a mouse pad, but much smaller than this:

upload_2019-4-7_1-1-45.png


This seems to be available for even less on AliExpress from Chinese sellers if you want to wait up to a month for shipping. Personally, I'm willing to pay a few bucks more to get it more quickly from a reputable source but it still seems like an excellent value compared to other large "gaming" mats that can sell for $30-$40 for something much smaller that promises the "ultimate in accuracy and precision." With modern mouse sensors, I can't recall the last time I've had tracking issues on any surface so I have to think that much of that is marketing fluff.
 
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How does it feel? I'm kinda allergic to a surface that's like cardboard for example. For me the pad needs to be smooth. Some pads out there feel like cardboard.
 
I didn't buy this one, but one similar on AliExpress. It's a semi silky / rubbery feel, it's pretty nice
 
How does it feel? I'm kinda allergic to a surface that's like cardboard for example. For me the pad needs to be smooth. Some pads out there feel like cardboard.

I just ordered mine last night and haven't received it yet, but maybe Zarathustra[H] can chime in. I think I've seen this mat in a few of his pics lately.
 
I got the same one off of Amazon for $11 for secondary use. Feels fine, and the woven edges haven't annoyed me.
 
I just ordered mine last night and haven't received it yet, but maybe Zarathustra[H]can chime in. I think I've seen this mat in a few of his pics lately.


Certainly.

These seem to be available everywhere. I have no idea if it is one company that is making them, or if it is just a bunch of Chinese manufacturers copying each other.

With that said, I got mine here on Amazon.

I'm kinda allergic to a surface that's like cardboard for example. For me the pad needs to be smooth. Some pads out there feel like cardboard.

Well, the good news is that it feels nothing like cardboard.

The best comparison I can come up with is that it feels like the material that goes into those neoprene drink cozy's with a rather course stitched top.

upload_2019-4-7_13-44-1.png


I bought it because I liked the world map pattern in black. When I got it I was kind of disappointed in the print quality. It's almost as if they used a much too low resolution input file and stretched it to fit the large pad. The quality is kind of blurry and crappy. In some places I feel like I can even see compression artefacting, as if the source was a very crappy low resolution jpeg.

upload_2019-4-7_13-36-36.png



The quality is kind of blurry and crappy. In some places I feel like I can even see compression artefacting, as if the source was a very crappy low resolution jpeg. Just look at the Azores...


upload_2019-4-7_14-0-51.png



...and Bermuda:

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This pad is available in many sizes ranging from small to huge (the one I got). Maybe they used the same source image file for all of them and it resulted in a blurry print on the large one? Or maybe the printing process is just not very impressive. I don't know.

I also found it to be a pretty mediocre mouse pad. The neoprene material is somewhat thin, and thus is prone to bunching up as you roll your mouse over it:

upload_2019-4-7_13-42-32.png


It also seems to attract dirt and is challenging to keep clean.

I used to use a large full sized black leather writing top on my desk I got from IKEA. I replaced it with this mat, but because it wasn't a very good mousing surface I just used it together with my old RatPad and just kind of left it on my desk as a desk protector and for aesthetics. It's not ideal in this role either. As opposed to my leather writing surface, it - not surprisingly - doesn't serve very well as a writing surface. It just causes my pens to poke through the paper when I try to write on it.

I still really like the aesthetic of the pattern, but between the quality and other issues, I have been tempted to just go down to the basement and get my writing surface back. I'm actually surprised I haven't done it yet.

I feel fairly confident that knowing what I know now, I likely wouldn't have bought it. Luckily I didn't waste THAT much money on it.

From a distance and in the dark, it really can look sharp though:

191957_chosen_one.jpg


205056_IMG_20190402_2250492.jpg


YMMV.
 
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Sold through Groupon

Size: 15" x 35"

I think that a couple of people here have this pad, and I noticed that it was on sale over at Groupon. Seems like a good value at ~$15 after shipping...full desk coverage, stitched edges, etc. This looks way better than the large "XL" mouse pad that I bought from Monoprice several years ago. That one works just fine and tracks very well, but it's boring plain black and the edges are a little scratchy due to not being woven/stitched. It's very large for a mouse pad, but much smaller than this:

View attachment 153144

This seems to be available for even less on AliExpress from Chinese sellers if you want to wait up to a month for shipping. Personally, I'm willing to pay a few bucks more to get it more quickly from a reputable source but it still seems like an excellent value compared to other large "gaming" mats that can sell for $30-$40 for something much smaller that promises the "ultimate in accuracy and precision." With modern mouse sensors, I can't recall the last time I've had tracking issues on any surface so I have to think that much of that is marketing fluff.

Also. the $15 price on Groupon is higher than on Amazon.
 
Also. the $15 price on Groupon is higher than on Amazon.
Well you know it's quality when one of the 2 reviews says;
work very nice for average keyboard and mouse
work great and actually using them in office conference rooms added conversion piece​
:D
 
Well, this thread motivated me to go to the basement and get my leather desk pad, and get rid of the world map print mouse pad.

Still love the aesthetic, but the execution was just abysmal.
 
Also. the $15 price on Groupon is higher than on Amazon.

Thanks for the honest and thorough feedback. Here it is on Amazon for those who want a slightly better price. Like Z said, there are different sizes available if you need/want a smaller version.

I think it'll be perfect for me because the surface of my Galant corner desk is unfortunately very prone to scratches and scuffs. I absolutely love this desk, but it has picked up several scars over the years and it will be nice to have a large protected area that I can sit my keyboard (and other things) on without worrying about causing more blemishes on the desk surface.
 
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Thanks for the honest and thorough feedback. Here it is on Amazon for those who want a slightly better price. Like Z said, there are different sizes available if you need/want a smaller version.

I think it'll be perfect for me because the surface of my Galant corner desk is unfortunately very prone to scratches and scuffs. I absolutely love this desk, but it has picked up several scars over the years and it will be nice to have a large protected area that I can sit my keyboard (and other things) on without worrying about causing more blemishes on the desk surface.


If you happen to live anywhere near an IKEA, I highly recommend one of these. This is what I am going back to.

It is heavy padded sheet metal wrapped in stitched leather, and has a bend in the front for desk edge protection. Much better for writing on, looks sharp, and will take a beating. It does cost a little more at $24.99 though.

Here is an older picture when I had it on my desk. It will be back on by the end of the day. I'm no longer going to use the map pad.

107275_upload_2018-3-4_22-18-40.png


If you don't like the white stitching it is fairly simple to dye it black with either a black sharpie. I did that on my old one I had before this one with good results.
 
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That looks nice. I'm guessing that they don't make a curved version, which is what I'd need (though I could still use that on one of the straight sections of my Galant if I ever decided to move my monitor from the corner section).

Price is pretty good for what it is, but the closest Ikea to me is in Charlotte (2.5 hrs away).
 
That looks nice. I'm guessing that they don't make a curved version, which is what I'd need (though I could still use that on one of the straight sections of my Galant if I ever decided to move my monitor from the corner section).

Price is pretty good for what it is, but the closest Ikea to me is in Charlotte (2.5 hrs away).

The last IKEA one I had, which I bought in probably 2008 or so was curved, but when I went to replace it the only one I could find was this large rectangular one.

You can sortof see the old curved one in these old pictures of my setup from ~2010

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These things last a long time, but cat claws did my old one in. (My desk was the perfect launch pad to jump up on the warm set top box on my office TV back then)

I'm guessing they discontinued the rounded one at some point, which is a shame. I liked it better as well.
 
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Do you think with some school paper glue on bottom, the pad won't bunch up?

That sounds a bit like a sticky mess.

I may not be fully understanding what you mean.

I think the issue is that the material is thin and floppy and not super sticky so "waves" form on it when I move my mouse. Others may not be as bothered by it as I am.

My desk may also be a contributing factor as it does have a slick surface.
 
I saw in the picture that it's wavey. I was wondering if it's because it's sliding? and some glue underneath would prevent it.?
 
I saw in the picture that it's wavey. I was wondering if it's because it's sliding? and some glue underneath would prevent it.?

It might, but personally I wouldn't glue a pad to my desk. Maybe some double sided tape, but probably not.
 
I saw in the picture that it's wavey. I was wondering if it's because it's sliding? and some glue underneath would prevent it.?


So,

My stepson saw me removing it from my desk and asked if he could have it, so I gave it to him.

He doesn't seem to have the same waviness problem I did, so maybe it is desk/mouse/user dependent.
 
If you happen to live anywhere near an IKEA, I highly recommend one of these. This is what I am going back to.

It is heavy padded sheet metal wrapped in stitched leather, and has a bend in the front for desk edge protection. Much better for writing on, looks sharp, and will take a beating. It does cost a little more at $24.99 though.

What's that flap or whatever on the left side of the mat? Can it be removed or folded out? Thanks!
 
What's that flap or whatever on the left side of the mat? Can it be removed or folded out? Thanks!

You know. I'm not sure what it is for. I remember being confused by it as well. It folds open and closed again. You can put... Papers(?) under there?

I don't get it either. I guess you could rip or cut it off, but there is no apparent built in way to do so.
 
If you happen to live anywhere near an IKEA, I highly recommend one of these. This is what I am going back to.

It is heavy padded sheet metal wrapped in stitched leather, and has a bend in the front for desk edge protection. Much better for writing on, looks sharp, and will take a beating. It does cost a little more at $24.99 though.

Here is an older picture when I had it on my desk. It will be back on by the end of the day. I'm no longer going to use the map pad.

View attachment 153287

If you don't like the white stitching it is fairly simple to dye it black with either a black sharpie. I did that on my old one I had before this one with good results.

I have this rectangle one as well as the older half circle one. What I can't figure out is what in the hell is that flap for?!?!?! It would have been perfect without the damn flap!

The half circle one looked like this. Still have mine, probably 15 years old at this point. It just had a bunch of imperfections from me soldering stuff and dripping solder on it.

knos-desk-pad__37279_PE129259_S4.jpg
 
I have this rectangle one as well as the older half circle one. What I can't figure out is what in the hell is that flap for?!?!?! It would have been perfect without the damn flap!

The half circle one looked like this. Still have mine, probably 15 years old at this point. It just had a bunch of imperfections from me soldering stuff and dripping solder on it.

View attachment 153465

I wish they still sold that old one. I liked it way more than the rectangular one with the flap.

Do you happen to remember what name IKEA gave it? The new rectangular one is named Rissla, but Ican't remember the name of the old one.

Edit: Never mind, I found it. It was called Knös. I just checked Amazon and eBay for old stock. No such luck.
 
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I use 3 of the Steelseries "large".. just because I keep adding them. I wish I could find one huge one that is that type of material.

Since I work from home frequently I will often have 2 keyboards and mice going so I need a lot of surface area. For comparison to the OP one, that's about the size of 2 of mine.
 
I just found this alternative to the IKEA desk pad on Amazon. From the pictures it looks to be similar in quality, yet doesn't have that annoying flap.

upload_2019-4-15_10-27-38.png


Still rectangular though :(

Three sizes and five colors to chose from though!
 
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Still using my Ratzpad for all these years, but may take a look at the world map one though.
 
I bought this right before even seeing this thread, haha. It is somewhat thinner than a standard mouse pad, but it seems to do its job for the price. This is on my work machine. I also bought another for home but haven't got around to putting it on yet. The pad can have some ripples in it at first, but mine seem to have gone away wherever it has contact with my arms or hands. The bottom and mouse area are free of any warps for me. The top you can still see some, but I dont make daily contact with that area. If it was thicker, I think it would handle the warping better.


upload_2019-4-19_12-42-48.png
 
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