What's new and hot in mousepads

[Raw]

What's new in mouse pads nowadays?
Since I just ordered a new mouse today (Razer Death Adder 2013) I thought I'd look into a good mouse pad for it but I haven't used one in 10 years.
I have all my computers on desks which have a hard formica? speckled grey surface and all my mice have worked ok on these desks.
But I am wondering if a really good mouse pad will make a big difference in my fps gaming.
Now I don't know if I would want a hard mat, cloth mat or gel mat...
Wrist rest or not...
Steel Series, Razer, Gigabyte...?

Any suggestions?

 

[Peter1986C]

Hard mat, definitely. Soft mats often give too much friction and stop being flat for some reason after a while of use. Make sure it has some decent amounts of rubber on he underside so that the mouse slides over the pad instead of the pad over the table.

 

[erixx]

i am using an absurdly expensive steelseries soft mousemat only to avoid dirt being attached to my mouse lowers. nothing else. on tables surface most modern mouses rock, no need for extra gadgets. but maybe its just me being a dirty boy that needs a mat.

OT: mat is pad in old germanic and dutch, so you will have no problems, sure right?

 

[MxPhenom 216]

I like soft mats. They feel smoother and quieter to me.

 

[qubit]

My wooden desk works wonderfully with my optical Microsoft mouse, much better than any pads I've tried with it recently. Same story at work, but that's a Logitech optical mouse.

 

[Raw]

I was looking at the steelseries myself

i am using an absurdly expensive steelseries soft mousemat only to avoid dirt being attached to my mouse lowers. nothing else. on tables surface most modern mouses rock, no need for extra gadgets. but maybe its just me being a dirty boy that needs a mat.

OT: mat is pad in old germanic and dutch, so you will have no problems, sure right?

absurdly expensive steelseries soft mousemat...

Can I ask you what model it is that you use?
I was looking at the steelseries myself.
There are so many different mats out there.

 

[-1nf1n1ty-]

Surprised no one has mentioned them yet. Look for Artisan mousepads. They are soft/hard mousepads. Like many people that have them its hard to explain, they are soft mouse pads (you can roll it up, feels nice to the touch) but the surface feels as good as a hard mat.

I grabbed this one: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005KMOYWS/?tag=tec06d-20

It was difficult for me to choose as well, I also didn't want something that was just typical wanted to try new stuff. I am probably going to get another one the medium is more than enough but I can't help but wonder about their largest available.


Here's a review from another forum:http://www.overclock.net/t/1206572/artisan-shiden-xsoft-mousepad-mini-review

One thing I hate though was that I bought a white one, oh man is it hard to clean and I am a guy that constantly washes and sanitizes my hands.
I tried maybe using a different mouse pad so I bought one from corsair. Granted the corsair is bigger and cheaper, but....Just felt so bland honestly and I regret my corsair mm200 wide edition purchase

 

[de.das.dude]

newspaper / any cloth type. i buy generic stuff. doesnt really matter.

but paper/silk cloth seems to give me the best feel.

 

[cdawall]

I use one of these for a hard pad, but have used this soft pad as well. I like the hard pad better with any of my mice.

 

[erixx]

absurdly expensive steelseries soft mousemat...

Can I ask you what model it is that you use?
I was looking at the steelseries myself.
There are so many different mats out there.

ops, didn't come back. I don't know the model, its like 25x20cm and was 15 € !!!
it is a rubber mat with a piece of cloth on top, already peeling off, btw.

 

[RCoon]

Go for a solid mouse mat. Steelseries glass or Roccat Alumic. Having a stone cold smooth rock-like surface is great for gaming.

 

[BarbaricSoul]

I haven't used a mouse pad since I started using a optical mouse

 

[Raw]

Mouse pad on hold

I haven't used a mouse pad since I started using a optical mouse

I've changed my mind and think I am going to wait until I get my hands on the new mouse and try it before I buy a pad now. It will be here 9/25.
After giving it more thought and seeing feedback like yours here I think I will probably not need one at all.
These desks I use have been great for optical and laser mice so far for me.
And being hard formice everything stays clean.
I can always grab a pad later if I have issues so I think I'll wait.
Thanks to everybody for their input.

 

[Frederik S]

Not really much going on. A good hard mat from 2-5 years ago is still good today, even the SteelSeries S&S is really close to the performance of the newest super expensive offerings from the bigger brands.

The sensors are getting less and less sensitive to surface variations so you are pretty free to buy a pad you like the feel of. Personally I prefer hard plastic mats (or hybrids) with a medium coarse surface that do not like a 13 year old designed them.

Aluminum is cold and depending on the temperature and humidity levels you will grow a smaller or bigger pool of condensation on with which is not great for performance. Also they tend to be noisy just like the old IceMats.

Hybrid mats are still interesting for me since they fit my style of gaming better. For low to medium sensitivity the dampening factor when you reset the mouse to the center of the pad is great and it allows you to be precise from the millisecond ones mouse hits the mat. They do still suffer a bit from in terms of glide coherency but that is a minor issue.

Cheers,
Fred

 

[MilkyWay]

newspaper / any cloth type. i buy generic stuff. doesnt really matter.

but paper/silk cloth seems to give me the best feel.

I tried a broadsheet newspaper a couple years back; the glide and sensitivity felt awesome but the ink will mark your hands and the paper eventually gets yellow (from sweat) after months of constant nerd use.

I like a thick/tight cloth pad for comfort, must be my type of mouse grip. I use a CM Storm CS-X Battle Pad, there is a newer version of this mat. Well it was cheap at the time and recommended to me by the forums, its big but not too big.

Slate and glass are supposed to be excellent but i can't stand that feeling.

 

[BarbaricSoul]

I've changed my mind and think I am going to wait until I get my hands on the new mouse and try it before I buy a pad now. It will be here 9/25.
After giving it more thought and seeing feedback like yours here I think I will probably not need one at all.
These desks I use have been great for optical and laser mice so far for me.
And being hard formice everything stays clean.
I can always grab a pad later if I have issues so I think I'll wait.
Thanks to everybody for their input.

The only games I play are FPS games. I've never had a issue with my mouse not tracking properly without a mouse pad. Granted, I've only used quality mice like the Logitech G5 and G500. Here is my G500 sitting where it is used-

Yes, that is a unpainted, untreated smooth piece of wood it's sitting on. The G500 works perfectly on it. My desk is old and I have yet to find an appropriate replacement desk(my room is very small and I am very limited on space). I had to replace the KB slide out tray with that piece of wood.

 

[Raw]

How is the G500 compared to

The only games I play are FPS games. I've never had a issue with my mouse not tracking properly without a mouse pad. Granted, I've only used quality mice like the Logitech G5 and G500. Here is my G500 sitting where it is used-

http://img.techpowerup.org/130920/mouse.jpg

Yes, that is a unpainted, untreated smooth piece of wood it's sitting on. The G500 works perfectly on it. My desk is old and I have yet to find an appropriate replacement desk(my room is very small and I am very limited on space). I had to replace the KB slide out tray with that piece of wood.

How is the G500 compared to the G5 in your opinion?
I love my G5.
I may be looking at a G500 for another machine, maybe based on your input.

 

[Vario]

Running the $12 Allsop XL brand mousepad from microcenter and it is a beast. Highly recommend before you waste any money!

 

[qubit]

Running the $12 Allsop XL brand mousepad from microcenter and it is a beast. Highly recommend before you waste any money!

I believe that. It sounds similar to the HDMI expensive cables BS, doesn't it?

 

[Peter1986C]

I feels very similar, only the scroll wheel of the G500 is better then the G5's when middle clicking. The lack of tecture on the G500 makes it less grippy when sweating but is slightly more comfortable because it feels less "itchy". I think there is a bit more room for the ring finger on the G500 but maybe I am mistaken (I own both models BTW). The sensor on the G500 has a higher max DPI but I do not know whether that matters to you. The DPI switch is in a better position for on-the-fly adjustment, too, on the G500. If you like the G5 you will love the G500. If you love yor G5 you will worship your G500.

 

[BarbaricSoul]

I feels very similar, only the scroll wheel of the G500 is better then the G5's when middle clicking. The lack of tecture on the G500 makes it less grippy when sweating but is slightly more comfortable because it feels less "itchy". I think there is a bit more room for the ring finger on the G500 but maybe I am mistaken (I own both models BTW). The sensor on the G500 has a higher max DPI but I do not know whether that matters to you. The DPI switch is in a better position for on-the-fly adjustment, too, on the G500. If you like the G5 you will love the G500. If you love yor G5 you will worship your G500.

what he said

 

[micropage7]

newspaper / any cloth type. i buy generic stuff. doesnt really matter.

but paper/silk cloth seems to give me the best feel.

yeah sometimes i like to use paper as mouse pad. but some people like thin or thick or solid mouse pad.
i guess it returns to what material that more comfortable for you

 

[Easy Rhino]

nothing is "hot" in mousepads. i will beat you to a pulp in any game you choose regardless of mousepad. boom. deal with it.

 

[Peter1986C]

We all know you kick ass and chew bubblegum, Easy Rhino.

 

[Raw]

nothing is "hot" in mousepads. i will beat you to a pulp in any game you choose regardless of mousepad. boom. deal with it.

Lol...

Now move along.

 

[Mussels]

How is the G500 compared to the G5 in your opinion?
I love my G5.
I may be looking at a G500 for another machine, maybe based on your input.

G5->G500->G700

own all three (g700 has more buttons, and cordless)


i find most mousepads have way too much friction, and want a seriously low friction, low noise mousepad and find them almost impossible. last time i asked on TPU i was recommended a razer pad that i found to have sandpaper levels of noise and scratchiness.

mousepads are really subjective, so its hard to get consistent opinions.