Choosing a mousepad for gaming

A mouse pad in a typical office or school may be a simple square or something more rounded with a wrist rest but, like everything else PC enthusiasts touch, there has been significant experimentation in size, materials, and RGB lights through the years. Today we are going to go over the current state of mousepads as of late 2023. We hope you'll find something that suits your needs whether you're a serious esport athlete or aesthetics are your main priority.

Starting at the beginning, there are an endless supply of mouse pads starting as low as $10 USD that will certainly get the job done. These pads are designed to have enough texture for any modern mouse with an optical or laser sensor to work with little to no issues. But since we are just starting out and have already solved the issue of performance, everything from here on out is mostly personal preference. So, let go over some of the different features and that mouse pads have that you might want to consider.

The first thing that you might think about is size and shape. Even at this early price point there are a variety of options from large mouse mats for both your keyboard and mouse to smaller mouse pads that are designed to be as thin as possible. While these are mostly aesthetic choices, they will have some impact on the feel during use. A thicker pad like the CORSAIR MM200 Pro Heavy XL is often seen as more comfortable and can provide extra control by pressing downward into the mousepad for extra friction.

Another common option is a stitching around the edge. These are generally recommended since this help keep the different materials of the mouse pad together and greatly extend its durability and longevity. The trade-off here is that it can potentially be disruptive to your mouse movement or uncomfortable to rest your wrist on. These complaints are rare and are usually alleviated by higher quality materials and production such as the esports enthusiast grade mouse pads produced by the Japanese company, Artisan.

Moving up in price, you'll find that these mouse pads are typically defined by their unique features such as a hard material, wireless mouse charging, or RGB lights. These features aren't for everyone but will satisfy those of you that know what you want. Here is a quick overview of some of specialized options out there.

Hard Pads
Hard mouse pads are typically made of rigid plastic or glass that will have a lot less friction than your traditional cloth pad. One major benefit is that they are considered to be more consistent due to the lack of flex and ease of cleaning. They are much less common and take some time to get used to but for serious competitors that are looking have their mice move as effortlessly as possible, this might be for you. Hard pads are an entirely different experience so it may be worthwhile to do your own research if this sound interesting to you.

Wireless Charging
Wireless gaming mice have become great options for a more untethered casual experience or a precise gaming extraordinaire with only one annoyance, charging. Some companies have tried to solve this issue by incorporating charging into their mouse pads. While these have proven to be super convenient, it comes at a cost. These mouse pads are usually designed with a select few mice, giving a lot less flexibility in the rest of your PC set up. They are also typically hard mouse pads to protect the wiring which may not be for everyone, as we previously discussed.

RGB Lights
RGB mouse pads have an illumination that runs along the edges that can add a bit of flair to your set up. RGB mouse pads like our MM700 Extended 3XL can typically be controlled in software like iCUE and feature several different zones, allowing you to customize colors for different parts. With features like iCUE Murals you can synchronize the lighting with your PC, peripherals, and room lighting to complete the ultimate set up.

While gaming is fun, it isn't everything. Mouse pads are a small part of our experience and many people have become very purposeful in the aesthetic design and feel of their entire PC space. Like a PC wallpaper for your desk, the right mouse mat can be the cherry on top to your personal set up. They can be used to tie your battlestation together, show your love for something, or just be a cool piece of art. And because manufacturing mouse mats has become so accessible, many independent artists have started selling mouse mats of their own design. There are countless options for mouse mats so check your for favorite indie artist or visit our friends at Drop.com for a curated selection of awesome designs.