Pad type
— Normal. Universal mats designed for general use: working with documents and office applications, web surfing, simple games, etc. They come in a wide variety of designs and materials and come in
small to
medium sizes.
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Gaming. This category includes mainly high-end mousepads designed for gaming comfort and maximum cursor positioning accuracy. Note that their design and specialization can also be different: for example, models for shooters and action games usually have a smooth, slippery surface that allows the mouse to move as quickly as possible, while this is not so critical for other genres of games. Also note that mats of this type can be useful not only for gamers, but also for everyone who needs high accuracy — for example, designers or constructors. Gaming
mats can also include keyboard and mouse mats, such mats are long (in some cases even gigantic —
mats with a length of more than 90 cm), which allows you to place not only a mouse but also a keyboard on it. This category also includes
large rugs.
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Wrist rest for mouse. Foam pads to support your wrist while using the mouse. Memory foam is able to take the anatomical shape of the hand under the influence of body weight in order to properly distribute pressure
...on the pressure zones. Wrist rests for the mouse relieve tension from the hands during prolonged work at the computer.
- Wrist rest for keyboard. Accessories for those who sit at the computer for hours on end. The keyboard wrist rests keep the user's hands in a natural position, preventing motion fatigue, radiation tunnel syndrome, and other joint problems. Such coasters are made in an oblong form factor, often they are filled with a gel with a memory effect. The filling takes the form of brushes, relieves hand fatigue and increases comfort during keyboard handling.Coating
The surface on which the mouse is used determines the speed of its movement and the accuracy of the positioning of the sensor.
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Control. Rough texture coating for precise control of the position of the cursor or crosshair on the screen. Allows the mouse sensor to recognize the slightest movement of the manipulator relative to textures.
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Speed. Smooth surface, adapted to the rapid movement of the pointer. Does not interfere with the sliding of the manipulator, allows you to move the cursor or rotate the camera relative to the character in the blink of an eye. The Speed coating is designed for high-sensitivity play.
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Speed / Control. A variant that combines the advantages of the smooth Speed surface for better glide and the rough Control surface for precise cursor positioning. Typically, this type includes double-sided mats.
Pad shape
— Rectangular. The classic shape used in the vast majority of rugs — thanks to its versatility and suitability for almost any task.
— Round. The round shape is chosen mainly for design reasons, to create an original looking rug. From a practical point of view, this form is considered suitable mainly for “office” use: the mobility of a mouse on round products is limited compared to classic rectangular rugs, and they are not very convenient for games.
— Oval. Rugs of rounded shape, elongated in width compared to classic round ones. They have a slightly larger working surface, but they are also designed mainly for working with documents and other tasks that do not require special mouse mobility.
— Figured. This category includes rugs of the original form that do not belong to any of the varieties described above. Among them, two main types can be distinguished. The first is models designed with practicality and convenience in mind. These are, in particular, rugs with a pillow under the wrist (see below), which have a shape close to round (and similar in application), as well as products that vaguely resemble an apple in outline. The second type is models created primarily for the original design (at the same time, they may not be very practical).
Surface material
The material from which the upper part of the pad is made, in direct contact with the mouse. Ease of sliding, accuracy and convenience depend on its properties.
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Plastic. Plastic mats are on the market in many varieties — from the simplest inexpensive models to advanced gaming solutions. In fact, the quality of work and the durability of the plastic coating directly depends on the price category of the product. Of the common features of this material, ease of cleaning can be noted — it is enough to wipe the contaminated rug.
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Fabric. Fabric surfaces have a texture, which is easily "cling" to the optical or laser sensor of the mouse, which has a positive effect on the accuracy of work. In addition, such mats are soft, do not rub your hand even during prolonged use, and the “legs” of mice do not wear off on them as quickly as on plastic or aluminium (the latter is especially appreciated by enthusiast gamers who actively use expensive gaming mice). Of their disadvantages, it is worth mentioning the higher cost than plastic, as well as the difficulty in cleaning — washing may be required to remove dirt. In addition, inexpensive types of fabric wear out and fray quite quickly.
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Cork. Cork provides good accuracy, and is also appreciated among lovers of natural materials. At the same time, these mousepads can be quite rough, which slows down th
...e movement of the mouse and can even lead to blisters during prolonged use. Yes, and the cork is much more difficult to clean than plastic (although easier than fabric).
— Rubber. This category includes both classic rubber and leather-like materials and finishes — the practical features of these varieties are the same. In general, rubber mats are similar to fabric mats — they are soft and contribute to precision. The advantages of this material also include ease of cleaning. On the other hand, rubber is not so pleasant to the touch. For this and some other reasons, this option is not particularly popular.
— Aluminium. Aluminium is predominantly used in high-end gaming mats (see "Type"), although it can also be found in general-purpose models. This material is characterized by high strength with low weight, provides good accuracy (for this, a special texture is applied to the surface), in addition, it creates the impression of solidity and solidity both in appearance and to the touch. The main disadvantage of aluminium is its high cost.
— Silicone. Soft and elastic material, on which mice slide well at the same time; in a simplistic way, it can be described as a cross between rubber and plastic. Suitable for both universal and play mats, including quite advanced, but for a number of reasons it is used relatively rarely.Base material
The base material of the rug is the surface in contact with the table. First of all, the reliability of holding the rug in place depends on the properties of the base.
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Rubber. A fairly practical and easy-to-clean material that adheres well to various surfaces — wood, plastic, glass. At the same time, rubber is inexpensive, due to which it is the most popular modern material for bases.
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Silicone. This material “sticks” well to the surface, however, as it gets dirty and worn, it can noticeably lose its properties. As a result, this material is relatively rare.
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Plastic. Plastic is cheaper than rubber, but does not hold up as well on the table. This, however, does not apply to all varieties of this material, however, “tenacious” quality varieties (for example, “foamed” polyurethane), usually, are much more expensive than usual and are still inferior to rubber and silicone in terms of retention.
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Aluminium. There are two options for aluminium bases. The first is reversible mats (see below) made entirely of aluminium. For more information about this material, see "Surface Material"; here we note that aluminium is slippery and in its pure form is poorly suited for bases. Therefore, these rugs most often have "legs" made of rubber, often removable. The second option is ultra-thin products, on the
...basis of which a thin aluminium foil is applied. This foil is usually covered with an adhesive material, which allows the pad to be held securely on the table.Stitched edges
The presence
of firmware around the perimeter of the rug. Such firmware prevents delamination of the material and makes the product more durable.
Patterned
The presence
of a pattern on the rug. The drawing does not affect the practical properties of the product, but it can give it an attractive and original appearance.
Models without a pattern can be attributed to business office options, where it is not so important to stand out with colorful colours and unusual pictures.