Gaming Mouse Pads

Narfwak

I've been looking into getting a gaming mouse pad - y'know, the giant, flat, uber-slick ones that pros use. The only brand I've tried is Steelpad; a friend of mine brought his to the LAN center to play some CS with it and let me try it out. It's easily the best pad I've ever used - super-precise, no friction, and perfectly jumbo-sized. Despite the good experience, I felt it was necessary to look for reviews and ask around.

So far, finding decent reviews for <b>any</b> mouse pad has been a nightmare. Other than a somewhat decent Tom's Hardware Guide comparison guide (most of the models in the guide are outdated), I haven't been able to find any comparisons between different manufacturers or models by the same manufacturer. Most reviews consist of a few pictures with "OH EM GEE ITS SO BEEG" captions, say it's the best pad ever, and slap on a perfect ten rating and some kind of editors choice award.

To give you an idea of what I'm looking at now, I'm currently stuck between the Steelpad <a href='https://www.steelpad.com/images/products/Steelpad_4S_web.jpg' target='_blank'>4S</a> (Length 290 mm - Width 257 mm - Thickness 3.5 mm, $49.95) and the Steelpad <a href='https://www.steelpad.com/images/products/Steelpad_S&S_SK_web.jpg' target='_blank'>S&S SK</a> (Length 320 mm – Width 270 mm - Thickness 2 mm, $39.50 - it also comes without the SK logo for the same price). Both models come with Teflon feet for the bottom of your mouse and a convenient carrying case. I'm fully open to suggestions, however, so fire away.

EEK

What kind of moron would pay $50 for a mousepad?

L3G

Me...

Jimmeh

<a href='http://www.ratpadz.com/' target='_blank'>RatpadzGS</a>

I've had one of these for a while and it's helped my gaming (although FPS moreso than other genres) alot

Zaggy

Good optical mouse + desktop = no mouse pad needed.

GundamCL

<a href='http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-114-301&depa=0' target='_blank'>Black FunC pad for $20</a>

The func pad in my experience is pretty good and most of my friends use it also.

SaltzBad

For limited deskspace, the fUncpad. Its easier to maintain than the Ratz. If you have plenty of deskspace, the Ratz - it needs some work on it though to make it a good investment in the long run.

Steelpads are nice, but overly expensive and don't provide that much extra benefit if any, nor do they come in the right sizes.

Luukas

<a href='http://www.qpad.se/english/intproducts/intproducts.html' target='_blank'>QPad!</a>

Definately prefer it over my old Icemat, mostly because it's more or less silent. You could even get one with a custom print...

Cold_NiTe

I usually stick with Belkin because I love Mousepads with the gel cushion. Keeps me from having to hold my wrist up.

Venmoch

Pfft, get a trackball.

No need for a mousepad then <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Narfwak

Note - I just checked NewEgg, and they have the S&S and the 4S at the same price. <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/confused-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->

NumbersNotFound

<!--QuoteBegin-GundamCL+Aug 28 2004, 01:05 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (GundamCL @ Aug 28 2004, 01:05 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <a href='http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-114-301&depa=0' target='_blank'>Black FunC pad for $20</a>

The func pad in my experience is pretty good and most of my friends use it also. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
The man speaks the truth.

Kouji_San

<!--QuoteBegin-Zaggy+Aug 28 2004, 08:04 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Zaggy @ Aug 28 2004, 08:04 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Good optical mouse + desktop = no mouse pad needed. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--emo&::marine::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/marine.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='marine.gif' /><!--endemo-->

Thaldarin

I got steelpad S & S great for gaming. I got it free and 10 days early too.

kuperaye

func pad

Spetsnaz

got this turd one with my Razor Boomslang 2100 (what a waste of money)

Get a Icemat or FUnC

camO_o

func1030 seems to be the most popular one. ratpad, steelpad aren't bad either. personally, i have a fatpad, 17"x13" of mousepadding goodness. great if you're a low sensitivity player.

Rellix

I switch between a sheet of white A4 paper and a gel wrist supperted mouse matt.

Chrono

ikea mouse pad 5 of them for $2

eediot

All the mousepads i've used so far [note, i havent tried the expensive 'progamer' ones], always always slide, even when just in windows mode, let alone trying to game with them. I don't want to go out and spend $50 on a 'gaming' mouse pad that i'm just going to get frustrated with and ditch.

I think i might just clean my desk a little and stickytape white paper over it, like i used to.

Narfwak

After comparing my personal experience with the dozens of reviews I dug up for all the pads you guys mentioned, I shelled out the cash for a Steelpad S&S and some other random pieces of paraphernalia. It won't be here until the end the upcoming week, but I'll be sure to write up a short review when I do finally get it.

Unsong

<a href='http://www.ausns.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=8356&hl=endless+pad' target='_blank'>endlesspad!</a>

Soylent_green

I like qpad gamer with some teflon tape. It's large, it's cloth on rubber, it seems durable( I've had it for over a year and it's in allmost new condition even though I've washed it a couple of times and spilt piping hot tea on it), it's really flat(well the flat version is) and there is just enough friction( with no friction you skate around like bambi on ice. Possibly just my experience but I don't like the superslick ones )

edit: Hey, endless pad sounds pretty cool. I'd try it just for the fun factor but I've never even seen such a bag.

EEK

I'm using the free Mechwarrior 3 mousepad I got with my Sidewinder Joystick and it works perfectly fine. I'd like to see "benchmarks" on these ripoff pads because I bet you they give no performance gain (unless you're still using an archaic mouse with a ball in it)

camO_o

how could you know when you've never tried them? believe me, they make a difference.

SaltzBad

The point of a better mousepad is not to improve the mechanical side of things, which obviously works fine unless you put a mirror under your mouse - but to reduce friction, and thus improve the function of the mouse and letting you perform larger movements with less power from the wrist/arm.

Really, the difference especially for FPS games is pretty nice honestly, where you aren't just pointing at a static location on your screen, but trying to track it throughout its entire motion. Its worth 20 bucks for any decent pad as much as a new graphics card is - or honestly, I don't see the reasoning when people have spent hundreds on GFX cards, but play with an awkward controlsset.

Transmission

$3 fabric mousepad I've had for 6 months and is starting to fall apart along with my trackball mouse are both serving me fine.