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mouse pads aka gaming surfaces

Z

Zargon

Lifer
I'm running without any at all and am looking to get one

I have boxes of generic rubber ones, should I snag a fancy one to treat my G9X better?

any recommendations? almost ordered a XFX Warpad today but thought I would ask for advice first, since the nicer razer ones are in the same price range

or is one these types going to be just dandy?
 
I was researching this to go along with the G9x you convinced me to buy 🙂)), but ended up sticking with my Func gaming surface (they are now out of business).

Anyway, here are the ones I had narrowed it down to:

(1) Steelseries Qck+ traditional high-end cloth mat: http://www.amazon.com/SteelSeries-Q...1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1322782425&sr=1-1

(2) Steelseries 4HD hard plastic gaming surface: http://www.amazon.com/SteelSeries-Pr...2782180&sr=1-1

(3) Razer Scarab hard plastic gaming surface: http://www.amazon.com/Razer-Scarab-E.../ref=pd_cp_e_4

I'd say that XFX seems a bit overpriced, honestly, so perhaps look at the three options above, as they are all cheaper. I don't know why you'd want it hanging off your desk with that clamp system.

The concerns that stopped me from buying anything were as follows:
(1) according to reviews, cloth mats tend to fray on the edges due to your arm/wrist rubbing against them. They also tend to have an odor and the fabric may also pill up.
(2) hard plastic mats tend to wear down the teflon feet of high-end gaming mice, which isn't something I wanted to do on my brand new mouse. The surfaces themselves also wear down, and potentially don't provide enough resistance, which in turn limits control.

I generally like my old hard plastic gaming surface, so I think that if I do eventually upgrade, I'd go in that direction - I haven't seen tremendous wear on my old mice from it. I'd like to see the opinion of others who've tried various options.
 
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Does this stuff really make a difference? I have a RAT7.

I'm using a Belkin WavePad(Name?) with a wrist rest(Thanks CTS), which is like an office one.
 
I have a big Steelseries mat and it makes a big difference in accuracy/smoothness over a standard mousepad.
 
I have a steelseries pad. It's basically the cloth one posted above, though I think mine is smaller. I find it perfect. I think after a while you get used to whatever surface you're using so it really doesn't matter.

I wasn't using a pad before buying this one, I just used the desk. If anything happened to this one I would buy another right away.

I use a Razer Diamondback btw.
 
I was using an old old gaming mouse pad, so old the brand name is faded and the actual surface has worn smooth. It got to the point my mice were having a hard time tracking the surface because it was too smooth to the point it was shiny. So I was using my desk for awhile but even then I was having problems in games of losing tracking still. So I decided to buy a gaming mouse pad. I picked up a Steelseries big gaming mouse pad with a Starcraft 2 imprint on it. The pad looks real nice, but surprising didn't perform any better than the top of the desk I've been using. So I took the mouse pad to work for use there as it was better than the mousepad I had at work. Plus it gives my office more flair. With the failure of the steelseries pad I picked up a Razer Sphex mouse pad. Now THAT thing has been awesome since I received it. Mice on it track great, it's ridiculously thin, nice size, and works perfectly. Not to mention it wasn't that expensive. I highly recommend it to anyone else looking for a gaming pad.
 
I have that qck+. I like it because it's huge and it was relatively cheap. I think the regular QCK is already pretty big though. A lot of the surface area for the mouse pad is going unused. Some people use it as their coaster area though.

I'm using a g400. Took a day or 2 to get used to using a mouse pad again. There's less wear on my mouse. The surface is pretty consistent so I get good tracking. I think the best thing is it's a soft area for my wrist and hand to move over. I haven't played CS in a while but I felt like my flick shots were better because of the better tracking vs my desk.

I'm a low sensitivity player and I'm using the smallest dpi setting on my mouse.
 
dpodblood said:
I have a big Steelseries mat and it makes a big difference in accuracy/smoothness over a standard mousepad.
Click to expand...

Interesting...

Worthington said:
I'm still using my BansheePad (also out of business).. it's anodized aluminum and I love it.
Click to expand...

Actually, that's the third option besides plastic/cloth - aluminum. Don't know much about those, but seems interesting as well.

And what do you know, Func Industries is still around - here's the pad I bought from them back in Jan. 2006! - http://www.amazon.com/INDUSTRIES-Mou...ref=pd_cp_pc_0.

It has two sides, and they are totally different. A smooth plastic side, which ironically is draggier, and a "rough" plastic side, which ironically has better glide. I think it's because it presents less surface area to the mouse feet since it isn't a completely flat surface.

coldmeat said:
I have a steelseries pad. It's basically the cloth one posted above, though I think mine is smaller. I find it perfect. I think after a while you get used to whatever surface you're using so it really doesn't matter.

I wasn't using a pad before buying this one, I just used the desk. If anything happened to this one I would buy another right away.

I use a Razer Diamondback btw.
Click to expand...

Yeah, you get used to anything, but I definitely wouldn't game without a mat. It offers not only a smoother surface, but a more consistent glide and better precision control as well (basically it "drags" a bit even though it's smooth).

Since there are two votes for the Steel Series cloth mats, why not try one of those? They have several sizes, and they aren't too expensive.
 
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HumblePie said:
With the failure of the steelseries pad I picked up a Razer Sphex mouse pad. Now THAT thing has been awesome since I received it. Mice on it track great, it's ridiculously thin, nice size, and works perfectly. Not to mention it wasn't that expensive. I highly recommend it to anyone else looking for a gaming pad.
Click to expand...

does it seem to be sticking well? how easily does it reposition?


Termie said:
Interesting...



Actually, that's the third option besides plastic/cloth - aluminum. Don't know much about those, but seems interesting as well.
Click to expand...

I have a friend with a machine shop, could just make one I suppose...... 😛

Termie said:
Since there are two votes for the Steel Series cloth mats, why not try one of those? They have several sizes, and they aren't too expensive.
Click to expand...

well maybe I will

http://www.amazon.com/SteelSeries-Q...ref=sr_1_6?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1322771526&sr=1-6

might order that today might even get it tomorrow if order soon, I <3 prime
 
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Zargon said:
does it seem to be sticking well? how easily does it reposition?




I have a friend with a machine shop, could just make one I suppose...... 😛



well maybe I will

http://www.amazon.com/SteelSeries-Qc...2771526&amp;sr=1-6

might order that today might even get it tomorrow if order soon, I <3 prime
Click to expand...

I should have mentioned that the Sphex was the fourth option I looked at. Here it is: http://www.amazon.com/Razer-Sphex-Ga...2771620&amp;sr=1-1

The low cost was appealing, but too many reviews said that once you tried to reposition it, it lost its ability to stick to a desk surface. Perhaps HumblePie can comment on that.
 
So, last words for a RAT7? I got another 1hr to get next day air on amazon.

Sphex seems good, specially for the price.
 
Most gaming mousepads are only useful for a few months.

I got the Razer Vespula 3 months ago, its now worn down in the middle on both sides, turn to the side to use edges but that is almost worn down to.

I've yet to find a good mousepad that does not wear. I always end up using my desk.
 
Zargon - let us know how the SteelSeries works.

RavenSEAL said:
So, last words for a RAT7? I got another 1hr to get next day air on amazon.

Sphex seems good, specially for the price.
Click to expand...

Well, if you try the Sphex, maybe don't plan on moving it around. Set it and forget it!

imaheadcase said:
Most gaming mousepads are only useful for a few months.

I got the Razer Vespula 3 months ago, its now worn down in the middle on both sides, turn to the side to use edges but that is almost worn down to.

I've yet to find a good mousepad that does not wear. I always end up using my desk.
Click to expand...

I think that's one of the issues with the hard plastic surfaces. The cloth mats, on the other hand, can get grime and dust embedded in them. So yeah, nothing lasts forever...
 
RavenSEAL said:
About to drop $30 on this:

http://www.amazon.com/Razer-Vespula-...FY/ref=lh_ni_t

thoughts?
Click to expand...

Maybe don't...see below. At least one review on Amazon basically says the same thing. But others like it.

imaheadcase said:
Most gaming mousepads are only useful for a few months.

I got the Razer Vespula 3 months ago, its now worn down in the middle on both sides, turn to the side to use edges but that is almost worn down to.

I've yet to find a good mousepad that does not wear. I always end up using my desk.
Click to expand...
 
I have a Razer goliathus and it's pretty nice and seems well made. They make different ones for speed or control, I got the control one so the surface is intentionally a littl rougher. It seems really well made though, had it for a couple months now and it's holding up well. The edges are woven so they don't start to fray which is usually where my cloth mats start to fall apart. I've seen it for 15$ at a few places:
http://www.amazon.com/Razer-Goliathu...2776567&amp;sr=1-1
 
RavenSEAL said:
I give up lol, I don't know what to get 😵

Edit: This one is double sided, so maybe that's a good thing?
Click to expand...

Yup, that's where I ended up!

I actually have a double-sided surface now, and found that only one was really to my liking. Read the reviews first - I bet most people say they like one side much more than the other, and then it comes down to whether that surface is better than other, cheaper pads.
 
I have a ratpadz from a LONG time ago ... it's actually pretty much worn smooth and the mouse sometimes freaks out .... perhaps I should get a new one ...
 
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