Mousepad roundup: Razer, SteelSeries, Saitek and Kensington battle for two-dimensional supremacy

Mousepads, who needs them? That's the question that's been keeping Tom's Guide up at night lately, so they've done the only responsible thing a tech site can do and rolled up a mega roundup review of some of the more popular ones. Unsurprisingly, you'll find plenty from Razer's gaming collection, including the dual-sided Vespula and the Engadget-approved Megasoma, which are faced off against entries from Saitek, SteelSeries and lock specialist Kensington. The one that will have inevitably caught your eye, though, is that steel saw impersonator known as the Greensforged Remember Ravensholm pad. Built especially for a Half-Life 2 fan, it's made entirely from steel, but we're told its usefulness is apparently not quite on par with its good looks. Anyhow, dive into the source link for the complete roundup.

[Thanks, Ben]

[OCEAN CLAK Posted Apr 21st 2010 9:41AM]

I normally throw mouse pads in the bin they work terribly with optical mouses wast of resources even though i got my 13 sony branded ones free

[Alex R Posted Apr 21st 2010 10:04AM]

@OCEAN CLAK
"Mouses"

Mice.

[Bobinator2000 Posted Apr 21st 2010 10:19AM]

@Alex R Actually it is mouses: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_plural_of_'mouse'_on_a_computer

[Crank Posted Apr 21st 2010 11:37AM]

@OCEAN CLAK
in my opinion they perfectly work with optical mouses. But you are right, optical mouses don't require a mouse pad and that's why I used no mouse pad at all for a long time.
However, no mouse pad does also mean that you will wear down and scratch your desk, using a mouse pad is much quieter, using a large mouse pad is much more comfortable for your wrist and if you use one with a speed grip then it's also much smoother than a plain desk. So yes, I use one, but a very large Razer Goliathus alpha.

[frysee Posted Apr 21st 2010 9:42AM]

Steelseries I-2.... best pad ever.

[xValentine Posted Apr 21st 2010 10:23AM]

@frysee
dude you should try the SX, it's f'ing sweet.

My MX Revolution and Ikari Laser have never been more happier gliding that pad.

Pretty expensive though.

[protolink Posted Apr 21st 2010 9:14PM]

@frysee There has never been a truer comment.

[jimbonics Posted Apr 21st 2010 9:44AM]

Have had a Razer dual-sided mousepad for years now and cannot imagine life without it.

[Bobinator2000 Posted Apr 21st 2010 10:35AM]

@jimbonics Same. I have the eXactMat. Bought myself a new black glass desk and my razer copperhead mouse wouldn't work on it, so I have to use the mat anyway.

[llOriginll Posted Apr 21st 2010 2:48PM]

@jimbonics

Always wondered whether the "non-smooth" side of the Razer Mouse Pad collections are actually any good? They supposebly offer tactile control for precision, but I've always felt a smooth surface like the Destructor offered the best feel. And I tested alot of pads at a LAN event earlier this year...

[DoctarPeppar Posted Apr 21st 2010 9:50AM]

Razer > *
I have both the Mamba (my home mouse) and the Death Adder (work mouse) -- they PWN.

[BlackedOut Posted Apr 21st 2010 10:09AM]

@DoctarPeppar
Even though this article is about mousepads.
Ild like to share my mice too:
Razer Naga for gaming, shopping
Roccat Kova for everything else, portability and compatibility.

[DoctarPeppar Posted Apr 21st 2010 10:11AM]

@BlackedOut
You should check out Razer's mouse pad \ surfaces...they rule, also the Orrochi...Razer is a really good company that's all im tryin to say :P

[grumbles Posted Apr 21st 2010 9:53AM]

no func 1030 archetype? zzz

[Hallinskide Posted Apr 21st 2010 9:59AM]

I recently got an alugraphics gamerPRO and even thought it's one of the most expensive mousemats out there, I still believe it's worth every single penny.

[One Love Posted Apr 21st 2010 10:09AM]

A4 Tech XL-750F FTW!

[Uncontrol Posted Apr 21st 2010 10:23AM]

can i have a mousepad that doesn't make me look like a huge nerd, asshole, or serial killer please

[trinh Posted Apr 21st 2010 11:26AM]

Wheres the func surface1030? i love that mousepad

[Sax25 Posted Apr 21st 2010 12:01PM]

I'm happy with my Razer Goliathus. Best pad I ever bought. The contact points on the underneath of my mouse never gather dust and it is very smooth scrolling across. Makes using brushes etc much easier in things like Photoshop than my older cheaper mousepads. Getting a decent mousepad is essential - you will see the difference once you do. Keep the bargain basement cute animal photo plasticky ones in the bin!

[JGeek Posted Apr 21st 2010 12:32PM]

I have not used a conventional mouse since the early 90's when I switched to a Knesington Expert Mouse (trackball) and never looked back. I've since tried others, but keep going back to my old standby. Now thay've changed it, and I'm not really happy with the new design. How about a Trackball Roundup?

[inimicus Posted Apr 21st 2010 12:36PM]

Hey, where's the Mouse Rugs?
http://www.mouserug.com
I want to know the difference between Persian and Chinese rug performance.

[cephalexin Posted Apr 21st 2010 2:04PM]

I still my printer pad from the mid 90's. It’s basically a simple mouse pad super-sized. It's still in great shape from everyday use.

[llOriginll Posted Apr 21st 2010 2:45PM]

I'm a lefty-mouse man, which puts me in a ridiculously niche market :(

Razer just released their first left-handed only Deathadder, but frankly why bother when you can get the ambidextrous (I use a mouse left or right handed, left for precision, right for comfort) Razer Lachesis?

Combined with my Destructor Mouse Pad... Heaven.

[Aaronneyer Posted Apr 21st 2010 2:48PM]

Got one for christmas like 4 years ago from my brothers and i still have it. It's got a nice cushion at the top which is all gel or something. Wouldn't be using a mouse pad normally but my mouse is laser and my laptop desk has a gloss finish.

[sethmo Posted Apr 21st 2010 3:00PM]

Ratpadz XT ftw. I love mine.

http://www.ratpadz.com/

[AlwaysThere Posted Apr 21st 2010 4:06PM]

The problem with the Vespula mousepad is that within days the Razer logo on the wrist pad started to wear off.

[kojo87 Posted Apr 22nd 2010 3:27AM]

@AlwaysThere really? i've had mine for a month and it's still there. i upgraded from an exactmat and i couldn't be happier.

[kompulsive Posted Apr 21st 2010 4:14PM]

leave it to tom's hardware to leave out the best brand of all, xtrac. silly fools.

[SpeedyJDK Posted Apr 21st 2010 4:43PM]

They can keep ALL THOSE for themself. I got a BatteryFree Cordless Mouse. Best invention ever :)

[One Love Posted Apr 21st 2010 6:15PM]

@SpeedyJDK : does it run on palm sweat?

[SpeedyJDK Posted Apr 21st 2010 7:34PM]

@One Love
Nah, that would be much to expensive :)
Anyway, this is a danish invention. So i'm not sure if it's even available in US. But google on "AGK Nordic Batteryfree Mouse" should get you some results :)

[Colin S Posted Apr 21st 2010 7:10PM]

VICTORY Corepad FTW.