Back in the day, we played games with keyboards or joysticks and classics like Prince of Persia and Doom dominated our lives. The graphics weren’t great by today’s standards, but we loved them all the same. Nowadays, things have changed a lot when it comes to video games. The consoles have developed advanced game pads to put our old joysticks to shame and PC Gamers employ souped-up, technically advanced mice for ultimate aiming and selection speeds. Professional brands all over the world have developed high-tech gadgets such as gaming keyboards, gaming chairs, gaming headsets and even gaming mouse pads to take your experience to the next level.
E-Sport gaming events are increasingly popular all over the world these days and top gaming teams can earn hundreds of thousands of dollars in winnings!
Therefore, whether you want to participate in such competitions or you just want to beat the hell out of your friends next time you play Starcraft 2 or CS:GO, a gaming pad will improve your experience and make your life easier. Such a gaming pad can also be used whether you have a regular mouse, a vertical mouse or a gaming one.
In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about gaming mouse pads, how to buy one, what they’re made for (and whether or not your cat can sleep on it). But before we get started, we would be remiss if we didn’t let you know that there are so many great gaming mouse pads out there that we couldn’t quite fit them all on this review!
To make up for it, we’re going to tell you about them here. Firstly,
Combaterwing has multiple highly-rated gaming mice, mouse pads and headsets and are definitely worth a look. Perhaps one of the highest rated gaming mouse pads though, is the
iXCC Gaming Mouse Pad which has a smooth silk surface and stitched edges to reduce fraying.
Finally, you should definitely take a peek at the
PECHAM Extended Gaming Mouse Pad which has excellent reviews, is non-slip and water resistant!
Price
You might be happy to find out that gaming mouse pads are not that expensive and thanks to the durability of the materials from which they are built, you can use them for years. During our research, we found the most common price range for a good-quality gaming mouse pad is between $10 and $40.
Obviously, you can also find a plethora of cheap gaming mouse pads, but we strongly advise you to think twice before buying. In most cases, such products are made from poor quality materials. Their layers will peel off easily or have a poor-quality rubber base which means they will skid on your desk. If you want a gaming mouse pad worthy of your money, keep reading and you’ll find 5 excellent products which offer good quality within a reasonable budget.
Features
Enough with the price details, let's get down to business. What should you look for when buying a gaming mouse pad? There are a few things which you should keep in mind:
- Material – the pad should have a good quality rubber base
- Surface Texture – smooth or more adherent? Each of them is suitable for different types of games
- Size – regular size or extended? For example, an extended pad can also support your keyboard
- Design – we stumbled upon a couple of models which are definitely things of beauty
We suggest coming up with a list of priorities before buying. Set a budget right from the start, decide upon the size and see a couple of designs to get yourself going.
Construction and Design
Gaming mouse pads are more thoroughly engineered than regular ones. Granted, they may all look pretty much the same – a flat surface where your mouse skids easier. However, did you know that some technologically-advanced gaming mouse pads are made from 3 layers of materials stacked one on top of the other? This improves durability and makes your pad more resistant to wear and tear.
Additionally, some mouse pads are treated with a special type of coating which makes them waterproof. If you accidentally spill something on them, your pad will remain undamaged. You can also throw the pad in the washing machine from time to time and because it is waterproof, it won't deteriorate.
Back to the idea of an extended gaming mouse pad, this is ideal for a couple of reasons. For example, it will prevent your keyboard from skidding on your desk (and possibly scratching it). It also keeps these 2 gadgets at the same level for a better gaming experience.
Lastly, keep in mind that some high-end mouse pads come with a special wrist rest which will provide comfort to your hand during long gaming sessions. We also included one of these models in our review, but we won't tell you which one it is, we'll let you discover it on your own! Just remember, don’t rest your wrist while moving your mouse hand, as this means you’re moving only at the wrist, and that’s what causes carpal tunnel syndrome. Make all movements from the shoulders, hands hovering above your keyboard and mouse, and you’ll enjoy pain-free gaming for decades to come!
Performance and Ease of Use
Before wrapping it up and getting to the actual products in our list, we want to discuss the performance and ease of use aspects as well. For example, you need to know that some if not most gaming mouse pads come rolled up in a long box, so for some it might take a while until they will become completely flat. As said earlier, some pads are waterproof, so if they get dusty after a while, throw them in the washing machine and they will look as good as new.
Even if the pad is not waterproofed, you can still clean it should it get dirty. For example, most people clean the pad with a damp cloth and then let it dry in the sun. Additionally, we stumbled upon a couple of mouse pads which have stitched edges, so if you get closer to the edge during your games, you will feel this immediately and adjust the position of your mouse.
Now you have a better understanding about gaming mouse pads, let's take a look at our 5 contenders. Chances are, each and every one would look gorgeous on your desk - and of course improve your gaming experience!
Features
Corsair was founded in 1994, giving them over 20 years’ experience in producing high-performance PC components and peripherals. The advanced technology and innovation that Corsair puts into all their products can be seen in their CPU cooling solutions, power supplies, PC cases and solid-state storage devices. In 2014, they launched the Corsair Gaming brand which manufacturers keyboards, headsets, mice and mouse mats which are supplied to eSports professionals as well as other gaming enthusiasts.
The MM300 Gaming Mouse Pad from Corsair provides a durable and smooth surface for your mouse to effortlessly glide over. With reinforced stitched edges, there’s no worry about surface peeling or fraying and the textile-weave used means precision and mouse control are guaranteed. If you need low friction and consistent accuracy, then this could be the mat for you. Whether you have a laser or optical high-DPI gaming mouse, this mouse pad is optimized for both and the anti-slip rubber base will keep this mat securely in place.
If you didn’t want the anti-fray cloth material for your mat then you can go for the regular cloth, hard surface or dual-sided hard surface options. There’s also three sizes to choose from; small, medium or extended. The small measures 265 x 210 x 3mm. The medium is 360 x 300 x 3mm and the extended measures 930 x 300 x 3mm. Choose whichever size is best for your gaming needs.
Features
Ok, chances are you haven’t heard about the Glorious PC Gaming Race before, but we are happy to introduce you. This brand produces high quality gaming items such as mechanical keyboards and computer mouse pads. We stumbled upon this company during our research and were surprised to find out how many people all over the world appreciate the products. This is the reason why we included it in our review – if you go with its products, you won't regret it.
Let's talk a bit about the Glorious Wide Long Extended Gaming Mouse Pad which, at first sight, looks as glorious as it can get. It’s available in multiple sizes from Large to XXXL and the one we’re focusing on right now is a whopping 36 inches long. That means this pad can easily support your keyboard and mouse at the same time. As a result, both these devices are at the same level and won't skid away on the desk while you use them.
The surface of this pad is smooth and soft, so your hand will exert less energy aiming for the head of your opponents in CS:GO or other FPS games. For an aesthetic plus and longevity, the edges of this pad are stitched. If you spill your drink on it, you can even throw it in the washing machine!
Features
The last product in our list comes from a great brand – Redragon. This company specializes in gaming equipment and produces gadgets such as mechanical gaming keyboards, gaming mice and of course, gaming mouse pads. Its products have a futuristic design and best of all, they come at reasonable prices.
The Redragon Archelon gaming mouse pad is available in 3 different sizes - 34.64 x 16.53 x 0.157 Inches (XXL), 30.3 x 13.77 x 0.11 inches (XL) and 12.99 x 10.24 x 0.2 inches (Large). In this review, we are talking about the Large version which is a pad optimized for a wide variety of sensitivity settings and sensors. In other words, it will work great regardless of the type of computer mouse you might have.
Another benefit of this pad is the foam rubber which keeps the pad in place while you play games or browse the internet. This pad is also waterproof, so you can spill drinks on it and it won't be damaged (don't try it, though!). Lastly, the surface of the pad is very smooth, so you can make quick and accurate movements with little to no effort.
At the end of the day, a gaming mouse pad is not only an investment in your gaming skills and your reputation as a gamer, but also an aesthetic investment. Just imagine the face of your best friend next time he visits you and sees your brand new gaming mouse pad standing proudly next to your gaming machine!
