Mouse Pads: specifications, types

— 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.

— 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.

- 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.

The surface on which the mouse is used determines the speed of its movement and the accuracy of the positioning of the sensor.

— 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.

— 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.

– 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.

— 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).

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.

— 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.

— 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.

— 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.

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.

— 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.

— 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.

— 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.

— 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.

The presence in the design of the rug of a special pillow that supports the user's wrist when working with the mouse.

It is believed that such pillows reduce fatigue and make working with the mouse more comfortable. However, this feature is far from appropriate in all cases: firstly, such mousepads are not suitable for dynamic games, and secondly, with a small height of the mouse, it becomes inconvenient to hold it with the wrist on the pillow. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to models with this function only when the mat is purchased for long-term and relatively uncomplicated work at a computer — for example, for an office. And even in such cases, much depends on the personal characteristics and preferences of the user.

In accordance with the name, these rugs can be placed on the table in any direction; in other words, each of their sides can play the role of both a working surface and a base. Double-sided mats are especially popular in gaming models (see "Type"), where each side has its own specialization: usually one surface is made "high-speed" (slippery), and the second "high-precision" (with a more pronounced texture). This allows you to choose an option depending on the genre of the game, personal style and other preferences.

The presence of lighting in the design of the rug.

This function is found mainly in top-end gaming models (see "Type"). The backlight does not affect the main functionality of the product, its role is primarily decorative. Perhaps the only situation where a luminous mat can be useful from a practical point of view is when working at a computer in the dark, when even the light from the screen does not illuminate the mat.

The backlighting capabilities can be quite advanced: it can have different colours and even react to individual user actions — for example, change colour depending on the mouse sensitivity set (such capabilities are usually available with high-end mice from the same manufacturer). The backlight requires power to operate; it is usually provided via a USB cable.

In this case, rugs are classified as moisture -proof, which not only can tolerate moisture without any special consequences, but also quickly return to working condition. For example, a plastic or aluminium product can be simply wiped off; but the fabric is considered waterproof only if it has a high density and/or a special impregnation that prevents it from getting wet.

It is also worth noting that for many formally “waterproof” models, intense exposure to moisture is still undesirable: for example, an inexpensive plastic mat that is not wiped off in time can delaminate. And at the same time, on the contrary: many fabric models that are not moisture resistant can be washed and even washed without consequences (they will only dry for quite a long time).

The presence of a built-in device for wireless charging in the mat. There are several charging technologies. The most popular multi-brand Qi charger and branded charger from Logitech is Powerplay. Thus, to charge the corresponding mouse, it is enough just to put it on the wireless charging mat.

Wireless charging takes longer than traditional wired charging, but it eliminates the hassle of wires and does not wear out connectors and cables.

The presence of firmware around the perimeter of the rug. Such firmware prevents delamination of the material and makes the product more durable.

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.