Here is a review of four gaming mousepads compliments of Erasmus.
I use the steelpad QcK+ on my desktop because of its flexibility. The floppy pad flops over the mouse cord to hold it in place and the pad is thin enough to sit the keyboard on top of with no wobble.
My favorite mouse pad is the icemat because of its awesome smooth feel. The tracking is excellent and railing in q3 is much easier on the icemat. I don't use the icemat because I am not competitive enough to sacrifice comfort for performance....Moving-Target.
[break=Gaming Mouse Pads]
Gaming Mouse Pads
I am sure that there are a few of you out there that wouldn't think that spending anywhere from $15 all the way to $40 on a mouse pad is a plausible idea. For those of you who are looking for an advantage against the people you play, enjoy this quick read about several different gaming mouse pads.
The price of a gaming mouse pad is probably the most important factor when it comes to picking out which product to purchase. Aside from price, the second most important choice you'll have to make is about what type of surface you want to play on. This article will feature mouse pads made out of plastic, metal, cloth and even glass.
Also try and keep in mind that many people use gaming mouse pads while working with programs like AutoCAD and Photoshop. Please keep in mind that some of these mouse pads may take getting used to. You may have to spend a few days playing video games, browsing the Internet and/or doing whatever else you do while on the computer.
Some companies will send low friction dots or some sort of teflon tape for you to put on the feet of your mouse. Although this does help reduce friction between the mouse pad and the bottom of your mouse, Logitech claims that this may actually hurt game performance. I guess it is now a personal preference about whether or not you want to use the low friction dots and teflon tape.
[break=Banshee Pad]
Banshee Pad
If money is no object, I would highly recommend looking at the Banshee Pad (
http://www.bansheepad.com) by Atomic Bolt. According to Atomic, the Banshee "is a solid piece of aircraft grade aluminum, laser cut to a precision tolerance of .0025 inch."
Use and Performance
I played FPS games, and noticed that my accuracy and precision increased dramatically. The pad also has 10 x 14 inch dimensions, so you will most likely not have to worry about roaming off of the pad. I found that it was quite accurate, and very comfortable over long periods of time.
The only downside of this mouse pad is that it will not work with certain mice. At the time I tested this pad, any mouse that cost more than $20 worked very well with the Banshee Pad.
Durability
The Banshee Pad is made of solid anodized aluminum, so it will withstand harsh punishment. This pad, compared to the others in this mini-review, will withstand the most punishment.
Warm soapy water will clean and remove any type of dirt or skin oil that has accumulated on the pad. Atomic Bolt warns against the use of an abrasive cleaner, "As it can leave surface scratches."
Overall
The Banshee Pad is a stellar mouse pad that was clearly designed with gamers in mind. Besides having a downside that several mice don't work with the pad, I would easily recommend the Banshee Pad to anyone asking for a quality gaming pad. (That is also assuming that people are willing to drop ~$40 on a mouse pad.)
Pros:
* Large surface area
* Comfortable feel
* Custom laser etching
Cons:
* Only compatible with certain mice.
[break=Steelpad QcK+]
Steelpad QcK+
The Steelpad QcK+ is the only cloth pad that will be included in this mini-review of gaming mouse pads. Cloth mouse pads have several obvious advantages over the pads that are made of metal, plastic and glass. Quite possibly the most important advantage is that it is a very durable gaming surface. You will be able to fold, crumple and stretch the living hell out of this mouse pad, and not have to worry about longterm damage.
Not only is the QcK+ durable, it is also very comfortable to use for extended periods of time.
Overall
The price and durability alone make this mouse pad worth looking into. Oh, yeah, it is also a fairly kick ass gaming surface.
Pros:
* Cost efficient
* Portable
* Big surface
Cons:
* Hard to clean
[break=Ratpadz GS]
Ratpadz GS
I am sure that some of you have visited HardOCP (only one of the biggest computer enthusiast sites on the Internet). Kyle Bennett spent time designing and tweaking this mouse pad to ensure that it is what gamers truly want.
The only legitimate complaint I have about this mouse pad is the curve at the bottom. In fact, this really is Moving Target's complaint about the mouse pad!
Durability
Durability of the RatpadzGS is not a serious issue. This pad is a dream come true for anyone that attends LAN parties. Flexibility testing consisted of taking the pad and placing half of it over the edge of a table while pushing downward. I was surprised that the pad bent fairly well with no noticeable damage to the surface. For the ultimate torture test, I assaulted the mouse pad with a hammer. Despite what you may be currently thinking, I could not find any major surface damage or other problems. (Don't think that this means you can be in a drunken stupor and randomly smash the hell out of it.
Overall
The bottom line is that the Ratpadz GS is a true mouse pad for hardcore gamers that is both cheap and reliable - a strange, but welcomed combination of features. The Ratpadz, from multiple online vendors, with pricing starting ~$10 plus shipping. You can check the Ratpadz website (
http://www.ratpadz.com) for a list of currently available retailers.
Pros:
* Low retail price
* Great size
* Durable surface
* Works with most mice
Cons:
* Annoying curve at bottom
* Only available in black (you would be surprised how this irritated a lot of gamers)
[break=Black Icemat 2nd Edition]
Black Icemat 2nd Edition
This was one of the first gaming mouse pads that I ever remember using. I remember walking around during E3 2004, and this mouse pad immediately caught my attention. It is fairly hard to miss someone using a 10 x 12 inch mouse pad that is made out of glass.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817114203
Durability
This mouse pad certainly isn't going to be the most durable mouse pad on the market. I didn't intentionally perform any rigorous durability testing, but I can say that the pad will survive a short drop onto a carpeted floor. If you're one of those gamers who likes to slam on the desk because you're angry, perhaps this wouldn't be the best mouse pad to purchase. (Extreme caution is recommended when transporting the Icemat from location to location.)
Overall
Overall, I would recommend this mouse pad to gamers that desire a quality mouse pad where price isn't a major concern. I really wouldn't recommend that people take this mouse pad to LAN parties.
Pros:
* Large surface area
* Comfortable
* Amazing accuracy
Cons:
* High-suggested retail price
* Possibility of the pad breaking or cracking
What I think:
Best Overall Pad: Steelpad QcK+
Best Bargain Buy: Ratpadz or Steelpad QcK+
Worst of the bunch:
Most Unique: Black Icemat 2nd Edition
Final Word
I am curious if any of you have used any gaming mouse pads? Feel free to ask me any questions about the products that I have included in this review. I will also be willing to forward any questions or comments you have to any of the companies.
Please contact Erasmus for any thoughts or comments on this article, or post away.
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