Artisan Mousepad - recommend me one!

[Novus]

Hey mousegeekers,

I know many of you have or have used artisan mousepads. That's great ... because there are so many Artisan mousepads that it's really quite confusing.
I've never been more genuinely confused picking out a product.

I don't normally like cloth pads so I'm also seeking advice on the hardness of the pad I should grab.

For perspective, I find the way the mouse glides on the steelseries QCK a bit too slow to my liking.

What I'm currently using:
SteelSeries Rival (3310 sensor)
Zowie EC EVO CL 1 (3090 sensor)

Mousepad:
Roccat Alumic - I do like how the mouse glides on the "control" surface (it's literally a textured hard pad that you can smack somebody with).

I think I prefer having a smooth glide (with little resistance) but not necessarily a fast glide.
I'm also hoping the mousepad is easy to clean - my two QCK's have issues with dust caking into them every month or so.

I've done my own research, read https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/32172733/review/Artisan_2012_review-by-tubby.pdf, looked at the official "operability chart" and I've also confused the **** out of myself.

I've heard the hayate is the most popular mousepad but I think that I'm a bit more set either on a Hien hard or a Shidenkai mid/xsoft.


It seems like quite a few of their mousepads seem to have issues with the ec evo.

Please share your particular experiences and recommend me a mousepad with a proper hardness that you think will suit me.

[All The Fire]

The only input I can provide is your optical sensor may have trouble with some of the non standard colours they provide and the "glassy" surfaces of some of their models.

My Shiden xsoft was perfect with my G9x but terrible with my Roccat Savu.

[IvanIvanovich]

I have the Shiden Kai mid. I think it has the best of everything. It's smooth (and relatively fast depending on what skates you use) glass coat and hard enough for a good glide. But then it's also soft enough that it gives good stopping and control unlike a true hard pad since it can give enough and let you 'dig in'. I've had mine for 3 years and it still looks like new. Super easy to clean, just need a wipe off with a damp sponge now and then as the glass coat essentially seals the cloth.

[Novus]

Thanks for the feedback.

I was looking into the Raiden and I saw this:
Compatibility:
OK: G300 / Kinzu V2 / KANA / SENSEI / MX518 / EC1 / EC2
NG: WMO / IMO / IE 3.0 / G500 / AM / EC eVo / DRCTM03 / DRTCM15 / XAI
For the DeathAdder user: depends on a sensitivity. Most of high sensitivity may OK, but middle to low sensitivity may not work well.
========
... yeaaaa doesn't look that one will work.

As mentioned by All The Fire above, Shinden kai surfaces are too bright for optical devices.
I heard the Hien is actually similar to the QCK which I dislike (can anybody confirm or deny this)
Looks like I might be stuck between a Hien or Hayate.

[dmbr]

I really wouldn't recommend Artisan pads. They don't track well with optical (if at all) and I haven't found the glides of any of the three I tried satisfying.

I've tried ~30 pads, and my favorites are Logitech's hard and soft pads (they have only made two). Wonderfully balanced glides, grippy, and exceptionally durable. The hard is for laser mice while the soft is for optical.

As for your question, the Hein's glide is unique, unlike the Qck...and I hate it. Doesn't track with optical, so don't bother.

[dmbr]

Thanks for the feedback.

I was looking into the Raiden and I saw this:
Compatibility:
OK: G300 / Kinzu V2 / KANA / SENSEI / MX518 / EC1 / EC2
NG: WMO / IMO / IE 3.0 / G500 / AM / EC eVo / DRCTM03 / DRTCM15 / XAI
For the DeathAdder user: depends on a sensitivity. Most of high sensitivity may OK, but middle to low sensitivity may not work well.
========
... yeaaaa doesn't look that one will work.

As mentioned by All The Fire above, Shinden kai surfaces are too bright for optical devices.
I heard the Hien is actually similar to the QCK which I dislike (can anybody confirm or deny this)
Looks like I might be stuck between a Hien or Hayate.

Also doesn't work with optical :/

[Novus]

I really wouldn't recommend Artisan pads. They don't track well with optical (if at all) and I haven't found the glides of any of the three I tried satisfying.

I've tried ~30 pads, and my favorites are Logitech's hard and soft pads (they have only made two). Wonderfully balanced glides, grippy, and exceptionally durable. The hard is for laser mice while the soft is for optical.

As for your question, the Hein's glide is unique, unlike the Qck...and I hate it. Doesn't track with optical, so don't bother.

Thanks for that!
Very strange how artisan pads have all sorts of tracking issues. I guess most of them are made for laser products.

I took a quick peak at these logitech pads and I'll look more in depth at them tonight.  So you said that the hard mouse pad is for lasers? That's a shame since I like hard pads. I'm presuming it doesn't track well with optical sensors (even though its marketed for both on the website).

Can you also comment on how the glide and resistance are on the soft pad. Would I be basically expecting something similar to the QCK albeit perhaps better quality?

Thanks.

[Emospence]

Thanks for the feedback.

I was looking into the Raiden and I saw this:
Compatibility:
OK: G300 / Kinzu V2 / KANA / SENSEI / MX518 / EC1 / EC2
NG: WMO / IMO / IE 3.0 / G500 / AM / EC eVo / DRCTM03 / DRTCM15 / XAI
For the DeathAdder user: depends on a sensitivity. Most of high sensitivity may OK, but middle to low sensitivity may not work well.
========
... yeaaaa doesn't look that one will work.

As mentioned by All The Fire above, Shinden kai surfaces are too bright for optical devices.
I heard the Hien is actually similar to the QCK which I dislike (can anybody confirm or deny this)
Looks like I might be stuck between a Hien or Hayate.

Never owned a QcK but Hiens have a textured surface, takes a few days to get used to.

Super easy to clean; water, perhaps detergent and a soft sponge and you're good to go.

If you do decide to go for the Hien, perhaps look at the VEs, much better deal IMO

[dmbr]

I really wouldn't recommend Artisan pads. They don't track well with optical (if at all) and I haven't found the glides of any of the three I tried satisfying.

I've tried ~30 pads, and my favorites are Logitech's hard and soft pads (they have only made two). Wonderfully balanced glides, grippy, and exceptionally durable. The hard is for laser mice while the soft is for optical.

As for your question, the Hein's glide is unique, unlike the Qck...and I hate it. Doesn't track with optical, so don't bother.

Thanks for that!
Very strange how artisan pads have all sorts of tracking issues. I guess most of them are made for laser products.

I took a quick peak at these logitech pads and I'll look more in depth at them tonight.  So you said that the hard mouse pad is for lasers? That's a shame since I like hard pads. I'm presuming it doesn't track well with optical sensors (even though its marketed for both on the website).

Can you also comment on how the glide and resistance are on the soft pad. Would I be basically expecting something similar to the QCK albeit perhaps better quality?

Thanks.

Sadly the Logitech hard pad is a little jittery with optical Perfect for lasers though.

Like I said, the glide on the soft pad is very balanced. The mouse glides across it effortlessly, but the glide is not at all slippery. It's hard to describe it's so uniquely wonderful. The Qck has more resistance and texture, and wears out.

If you really want a hard pad, I'd solely recommend the Func 1030 XL (if you can find one). Tracks perfectly with optical, does not wear, balanced glide. Dual-sided, too--textured (control) and smooth (speed). By far my favorite hard pad.

[Elrick]

If you really want a hard pad, I'd solely recommend the Func 1030 XL (if you can find one). Tracks perfectly with optical, does not wear, balanced glide. Dual-sided, too--textured (control) and smooth (speed). By far my favorite hard pad.

This man is right.  I have my Func XL for six years now and it's been perfect.  Works with every input device thrown onto it.  Pity most matts/pads don't operate the same way as these polycarbonate beauties.

You want something that will last  for years get seriously Func'd  .

[Novus]

Thanks! Time to search for these guys. Apparently they're not made anymore and some company is producing unauthorized replicas on Amazon. Geez :/

[noisyturtle]

Thanks! Time to search for these guys. Apparently they're not made anymore and some company is producing unauthorized replicas on Amazon. Geez :/

You have a source for that, because I've ordered them from Amazon before and found them to be high quality fabric pads.

[Novus]

There are a couple reviews on amazon which talk about how some pads come with this silver AX logo and a few reviews which indicate that what they got isn't what was pictured

[munch]

The QcK series are nowhere near as good as the Artisan pads IMO, they just don't offer the same level of precision and glide.
tracking-wise I don't really know if there are any problems, despite them stating it doesn't work too well on some. I personally have not had any problems with either G400s, Steelseries Kana V2/Kinzu V2, Zowie AM/FK/EC2 eVo. LOD is extremely low though, if that bothers anyone.

[Novus]

Didn't have a chance to pick up a new mousepad yet.

So far, we've got the:
Logitech G240, G440 (might have jitter issues)
Func 1030 (I'd get to get the revision the 1030-2)

Any other suggestions or comments about these pads. Feel free to weigh in!

I did see this ... Holy crap that's dirty

The QcK series are nowhere near as good as the Artisan pads IMO, they just don't offer the same level of precision and glide.
tracking-wise I don't really know if there are any problems, despite them stating it doesn't work too well on some. I personally have not had any problems with either G400s, Steelseries Kana V2/Kinzu V2, Zowie AM/FK/EC2 eVo. LOD is extremely low though, if that bothers anyone.

That's nice to hear!
Can you tell me which pads you've used and what colors?
You seem to also have used quite a few mousepads, would you mind recommending a mousepad for me (artisan or otherwise)?

[munch]

sure - all but the Raiden, actually.
Hien, Shiden, Shiden.Kai in red.
The rest in Black. Well, I did have a Black Hien as well. And a blue one. Different softness. All were nice, but I prefer the mid ones.

I will definitely not recommend the Hien if you want something smooth+fast. While it is fast, it's not super fast, or super smooth - actually very noticeably textured.

But the Hayabusa is *very* smooth and has a soft feel to it, if you want that, it's also a bit faster than the Hien. Initial motion isn't quite up to par with my favourite hard pads which is why I didn't quite like it, but it's one of the best for cloth pads.
My favourite is of course the Shiden.Kai, which is their fastest one, also the smoothest one. not as soft though, and definitely not rollable like most of their other ones.
and it's actually quite easy to clean if you just get a microfiber cloth that you spray some water on.

if it's control you're looking for, and not too fast glide, perhaps the regular Shiden. it's super smooth, relatively fast, not too bad on the wrist, and kind of easy to clean.
I won't recommend any other cloth pads because I have yet to try one that offers the same level of performance - and I'm not even sponsored by Artisan

I would stay as far away from the fUnc 1030^2 as possible as that one has waaaaay too fast glide compared to the Artisan. offers very little control unfortunately. it's a great pad, but probably too fast for your liking.

My votes would go to Artisan Shiden or Shiden.Kai. They are super smooth and come in good sizes, quite good control too (not as precise as aluminium or glass though, but very close. always some stupid compromise eh? ).
The Red one worked flawlessly with my AM and EC2 eVo.

and I would also look into Razer Manticor as I hear it's extremely smooth as well, but I haven't gotten my hands on one yet. However, if area size is not an issue, I do love my Slamepad in anodized aluminium, and I am hoping it will last me a lifetime. It's 4cm less wide than the Manticor which to me is quite a lot.

happy to answer more questions! hope I could be of any help!

[Novus]

sure - all but the Raiden, actually.
Hien, Shiden, Shiden.Kai in red.
The rest in Black. Well, I did have a Black Hien as well. And a blue one. Different softness. All were nice, but I prefer the mid ones.

I will definitely not recommend the Hien if you want something smooth+fast. While it is fast, it's not super fast, or super smooth - actually very noticeably textured.

But the Hayabusa is *very* smooth and has a soft feel to it, if you want that, it's also a bit faster than the Hien. Initial motion isn't quite up to par with my favourite hard pads which is why I didn't quite like it, but it's one of the best for cloth pads.
My favourite is of course the Shiden.Kai, which is their fastest one, also the smoothest one. not as soft though, and definitely not rollable like most of their other ones.
and it's actually quite easy to clean if you just get a microfiber cloth that you spray some water on.

if it's control you're looking for, and not too fast glide, perhaps the regular Shiden. it's super smooth, relatively fast, not too bad on the wrist, and kind of easy to clean.
I won't recommend any other cloth pads because I have yet to try one that offers the same level of performance - and I'm not even sponsored by Artisan

I would stay as far away from the fUnc 1030^2 as possible as that one has waaaaay too fast glide compared to the Artisan. offers very little control unfortunately. it's a great pad, but probably too fast for your liking.

My votes would go to Artisan Shiden or Shiden.Kai. They are super smooth and come in good sizes, quite good control too (not as precise as aluminium or glass though, but very close. always some stupid compromise eh? ).
The Red one worked flawlessly with my AM and EC2 eVo.

and I would also look into Razer Manticor as I hear it's extremely smooth as well, but I haven't gotten my hands on one yet. However, if area size is not an issue, I do love my Slamepad in anodized aluminium, and I am hoping it will last me a lifetime. It's 4cm less wide than the Manticor which to me is quite a lot.

happy to answer more questions! hope I could be of any help!

Thank you for that!
That was a wonderful explanation.

I think I'll reconsider Shidenkai in my short list. It does sound like what I'm looking for. Although I think that's supposed to be the most problematic pad for optical tracking. am still a bit worried about the bright colors negatively affecting tracking.

I'm really surprised that the red color of your pads colors didn't mess up your tracking experience.

Do you have any experience with the Logitech mousepads? How would you stack them against Artisans and various other soft/hard pads?

[munch]

I haven't used the Logitech ones yet, unfortunately, so can't say. I wonder if it's something with Zowie QC on the sensors though, my friend had major problems with the Zowie EC1 eVo and his Hayate... so he got a replacement from the store he bought it from, and it worked perfectly. maybe some bad batch or something? I can't say. max speed was like 1/3rd of what it was supposed to be. and really was noticeable.

[chickenNwaffles]

I use a g400s on an Artisan Zero Mid, and I have yet to have any tracking problems. The mid is glides very smoothly and is much better quality than my qck+ I love it 

[Novus]

Grabbed a G240 on the way back home. Time to open it up and play with it over the weekend.

[munch]

weekend's coming to a stop soon, would love to hear what you think of it

[Novus]

It's great!
Hands down way very better than a QCK+
Very thin and it stays on the desk.
Somebody should compare this to an Artisan haha. I want to see what they think.

For a cloth mousepad, I can barely feel it.
It's a very smooth glide with excellent stopping power.
I still need to break this pad in with a game.

Compared to this mousepad, the QCK seems very rough and feels like a generic office mousepad.
It also seems very easy to clean - not like the QCK+ where dust gets caked inside of the fabric ... Although this is only my second day of use, so I might scream about dust a month later.
Thanks DMBR! 

I'm very impressed by this quality and due to that I really want to pick up the G440 hardpad (course I'm worried about the jitter DMBR mentioned).
I think this mousepad has definitely been overshadowed and been under the radar too long.

[Novus]

One of the things about mousepad hunting is having to worry about surface compatibility and then if your device can achieve optimal tracking on that surface.
Unless you've got a lab or a high speed camera, you can only test this subjectively.

So I'm curious, has anybody with a large mousepad collection ever run through his/her various surfaces through with the Surface Quality Analyzer Tool.
I'm pretty sure the laser sensor mionix devices will just rate any hard pad highly on the surface tool.
And let's face it ... **** laser sensors.

So what about cloth and hardpads with an optical sensor?
Hopefully somebody with a Mionix optical 3310 sensor (I think that's naos 7000/avior 7000) can run through various surfaces and mouse pads through the Surface Quality Analyzer Tool.
I've actually found the 3310 sensor to be quite surface dependent and even though I've never used the surface quality tool (don't have a mionix)/I don't know how reliable it is; I'm still very curious about the results.

And ahem if anybody has both a mionix w/ a 3310 sensor + logitech g440 hard pad - the surface quality analysis be much appreciated 

[zig_ziglar]

I find it strange that there is Artisan hate as the Hayate I'm using is easily the best mouse pad I've ever used and I've used around 4 different optical sensors on it, all of which tracked excellently. Can't comment on any of their other pads, as I based my purchase on the product information in circulation and it ended up being right for me.

Have you seen their little triangle graphs that split speed, smoothness and stopability?

[Novus]

I find it strange that there is Artisan hate as the Hayate I'm using is easily the best mouse pad I've ever used and I've used around 4 different optical sensors on it, all of which tracked excellently. Can't comment on any of their other pads, as I based my purchase on the product information in circulation and it ended up being right for me.

Have you seen their little triangle graphs that split speed, smoothness and stopability?

I'm under the impression that Hayate is the only pad that tracks optimally with optical sensors - (still waiting for more feedback on this)
I've heard Hein is ok but it has different horizontal and vertical glides.

I saw the triangle graph. When I was first looking into the pads I didn't find it very useful at introducing/presenting the products to me.

How easy is it to clean the Hayate?
Please say it's easier to clean than the QCK

[zig_ziglar]

I've never had to do more than whipe it down with a damp cloth every month or so. Takes under a minute from thought to clean.

[demik]

Whats the hype around these?

[hcry4]

Whats the hype around these?

Fancy mouse pads with many choices.

[demik]

Oh. Japanese.

[zig_ziglar]

Honestly, I didn't realise there was such hype about them. I got mine about a year ago directly from Japan and it cost me $15 delivered. At that time there weren't any local suppliers. Now I see them locally for $45 plus shipping 0.0

[munch]

well-deserved hype IMO, most cloth pads aren't really as durable or have materials nearly as good as these. lots of pads on the market I haven't tried but I've kinda given up on cloth for my picky tastes durability and precision (micro movements and initial movement mostly) always seem to disappoint. if it's good at first, it usually gets bad after a month or two

[Novus]

The bottom of my logitech G240 started wearing out in a bunch of places.
I haven't even gamed online on it once.
That's really disappointing.
Anyways, Logitech is sending me another one free of charge.

[zig_ziglar]

well-deserved hype IMO, most cloth pads aren't really as durable or have materials nearly as good as these. lots of pads on the market I haven't tried but I've kinda given up on cloth for my picky tastes durability and precision (micro movements and initial movement mostly) always seem to disappoint. if it's good at first, it usually gets bad after a month or two

I don't mind spending money on my obsessions, so I wouldn't mind buying another cloth pad every so often. That being said, the Artisan pad I have is a year old and still tracking as good as day one. Nothing more than a periodic wipe down to maintain it. I have two kids under 3 who have given it a run for its money too.

I don't have any problem with acceleration or precision on it, but I don't know whether or not my skill/accuracy with a mouse is good enough to notice such subtleties. If it helps, I have around 180apm in SC2 (and don't spam much) and usually maintain 1.5:1 K:D in most FPS, but I don't play competitively or anything. Once I've used a mouse for a couple of weeks with the same settings under the same conditions, I tend to adapt well enough to perform equally as I did before.

[pr1me]

I have a hien mid wine red, and its great.

[munch]

well there's one thing having to pay 30 every 3-5 months for a new mousepad to have performance as good as when new, and not having to do so for 2 years (my experience. I so sound like a sketchy marketing guy)
but I might be overly picky with performance so YMMV, of course. and I use my gaming gear a whole lot too.

[Novus]

well there's one thing having to pay 30 every 3-5 months for a new mousepad to have performance as good as when new, and not having to do so for 2 years (my experience. I so sound like a sketchy marketing guy)
but I might be overly picky with performance so YMMV, of course. and I use my gaming gear a whole lot too.

Yea that's one of the reasons I started using hard pads for a while. That and cleaning the gunk out from some cloth pads is really frustrating sometimes.

What are some of your favorite hard pads aside from the slamepad you mentioned earlier?

[munch]

fUnc F30R has lasted me a great while as well, and is super fast. but the control is really not that good. took me a while to get used to it. but it's only sold as the double-sided one that has a pretty bad rubber backing and is $$$ for what you get.
I also really like the Razer Manticor, another aluminium pad. it's super thin and really smooth. performance not quite as good as on the Slamepad but close. not sure why, the slamepad just feels a bit smoother.
Steelseries 9HD, if it lasted a bit longer (5 months for me) it would have been awesome. same with the SP. though the latter didn't work too well with all my mice. S&S was also great but didn't last more than a few months. and the Qpad HeatoN same story. really nice feel for the first month or two though.
and I really like the Icemat of course, but it just is too tall... had mine forever, 2nd edition that is a bit larger than the original. only need nail polish to fix the paint chipping on the backside so the sensors read properly.
I wish I could recommend the fUnc F10S pads but they just scratch too easily and control is even worse than on the F30R. but the feel is nice and somewhat smooth. though pales in comparison to the Manticor and Slamepad IMO. it's weird how Razer could mess up the Ironclad (previous metal pad by Razer) so bad when the Manticor is so nice.

been meaning to try the Mionix aluminium pad as well, just need to find some place that has a demo for it.

though they're definitely not for everyone, as they require wiping down a few times a day I got a dedicated microcloth for mine. and the sound can be a bit annoying if you're sensitive to noise. need to keep the mouse feet really really smooth and even to get the optimal performance. they're not quite as fast as plastic, and not as slow as cloth. easier to control than plastic, though not as good as some cloth - however not a problem with my style of playing. perfect inbetween for me.
and they do get quite cold. and not the most comfortable for your wrist if you're sensitive.

sorry, a bit tired. hope the reply is satisfactory and actually readable. got many pads left to try but I think my journey is done with the Slamepad. just remains to be seen how long it will last me!

[Novus]

fUnc F30R has lasted me a great while as well, and is super fast. but the control is really not that good. took me a while to get used to it. but it's only sold as the double-sided one that has a pretty bad rubber backing and is $$$ for what you get.
I also really like the Razer Manticor, another aluminium pad. it's super thin and really smooth. performance not quite as good as on the Slamepad but close. not sure why, the slamepad just feels a bit smoother.
Steelseries 9HD, if it lasted a bit longer (5 months for me) it would have been awesome. same with the SP. though the latter didn't work too well with all my mice. S&S was also great but didn't last more than a few months. and the Qpad HeatoN same story. really nice feel for the first month or two though.
and I really like the Icemat of course, but it just is too tall... had mine forever, 2nd edition that is a bit larger than the original. only need nail polish to fix the paint chipping on the backside so the sensors read properly.
I wish I could recommend the fUnc F10S pads but they just scratch too easily and control is even worse than on the F30R. but the feel is nice and somewhat smooth. though pales in comparison to the Manticor and Slamepad IMO. it's weird how Razer could mess up the Ironclad (previous metal pad by Razer) so bad when the Manticor is so nice.

been meaning to try the Mionix aluminium pad as well, just need to find some place that has a demo for it.

though they're definitely not for everyone, as they require wiping down a few times a day I got a dedicated microcloth for mine. and the sound can be a bit annoying if you're sensitive to noise. need to keep the mouse feet really really smooth and even to get the optimal performance. they're not quite as fast as plastic, and not as slow as cloth. easier to control than plastic, though not as good as some cloth - however not a problem with my style of playing. perfect inbetween for me.
and they do get quite cold. and not the most comfortable for your wrist if you're sensitive.

sorry, a bit tired. hope the reply is satisfactory and actually readable. got many pads left to try but I think my journey is done with the Slamepad. just remains to be seen how long it will last me!

Thanks!
Very insightful.

Oh right one more question.
Does the slamepad or any of these aluminum pads kill your mouse feet (I've heard that's a common issue)?

[munch]

well, kill is a strong word... but I have only had it for a few months and have used 3 mice with it so far. the two that I have used Puretrak HD with it have been no problem, but the softer Hyperglide feet for example are getting worn down a bit faster.
the Puretrak HD feet are 1.2mm thick, so I think they will last quite some time. really hard material too. didn't feel worn down much at all after 2 months of use on my G400s.
and they don't seem to get to the stage where they get really noisy like most people complain about with aluminium/glass pads. I think that has more to do with not cleaning the pad properly? at least in my case.
so, I'd recommend the Puretrak HD as they seem to be the best for use with a really hard pad like this one. the performance is really good as well.

[Mastoras]

Anyone have a combo of 3310 optical sensor and Artisan Hien ? I have ordered a Corsair Raptor M45 and now i am worried they will not work well together.

[munch]

that's the same as the Rival right? PixArt something3310? actually heard the Hien works great with it. can't confirm or deny but I wouldn't really be too worried.

[combataran]

Sorry to threadjack, but I'm interested in getting higher quality mousepads. I've been using a QCK+ Tyloo edition, but it feels relatively rough to me after a few months. What's with the Artisan pads that justify their premium(?) prices?

[munch]

durability and performance, really. quality is higher than the QcK by quite a bit IMO/IME. The Hayate is really smooth, but it's also one of their more expensive ones.
ZERO is quite smooth too, though have no idea how durable it is. HIEN is rough at first but has a really smooth glide once it's been worn down a little bit. and a bit cheaper too.

[combataran]

durability and performance, really. quality is higher than the QcK by quite a bit IMO/IME. The Hayate is really smooth, but it's also one of their more expensive ones.
ZERO is quite smooth too, though have no idea how durable it is. HIEN is rough at first but has a really smooth glide once it's been worn down a little bit. and a bit cheaper too.

Which would you recommend as a middle ground? It should go well with my black on black Realforce 87U.

[munch]

I'd say the HIEN black would be very nice then just give it a week or two of intense gaming to 'wear down' a bit. Also your CM Storm Spawn is kind of perfect for it in the sense that it has big mouse feet, it didn't do very well with my G400s' small mousefoot that it has on the left side.

edit: although if you want smooth feel on the hand too, maybe the ZERO would be better. it's really smooth from the beginning and is smooth weave too! closer to the QcK in feel.

[combataran]

I'd say the HIEN black would be very nice then just give it a week or two of intense gaming to 'wear down' a bit. Also your CM Storm Spawn is kind of perfect for it in the sense that it has big mouse feet, it didn't do very well with my G400s' small mousefoot that it has on the left side.

edit: although if you want smooth feel on the hand too, maybe the ZERO would be better. it's really smooth from the beginning and is smooth weave too! closer to the QcK in feel.

What's the difference between the two?

[Mastoras]

I'd say the HIEN black would be very nice then just give it a week or two of intense gaming to 'wear down' a bit. Also your CM Storm Spawn is kind of perfect for it in the sense that it has big mouse feet, it didn't do very well with my G400s' small mousefoot that it has on the left side.

edit: although if you want smooth feel on the hand too, maybe the ZERO would be better. it's really smooth from the beginning and is smooth weave too! closer to the QcK in feel.

I am using Artisan Hien black VE. Munch is right. This pad shines after 1-2 weeks of break in period. The build is flat and solid. The edge and material did irritate my wrist at start but after each day of use it feels better and better. Looks like a pad that will last long and becouse of relatively hard surface easy to clean. Not the smoothest pad on market for sure. You better check artisan site for details or the pdf review on first post of this topic

[munch]

the HIEN has a noticeably textured surface, it'd be considered 'rough' in feel when you glide your hand across it. but mice glide super smooth and a bit faster on it.
ZERO is super smooth texture, feels smooth to the touch and with the mouse. but it isn't as fast or precise as the HIEN (with the mice I used for it etc)

[combataran]

the HIEN has a noticeably textured surface, it'd be considered 'rough' in feel when you glide your hand across it. but mice glide super smooth and a bit faster on it.
ZERO is super smooth texture, feels smooth to the touch and with the mouse. but it isn't as fast or precise as the HIEN (with the mice I used for it etc)

I personally am a little more concerned about the fraying rather than the feel, but I still take that into consideration. How large is the L size? Could it fit both my board and mouse?

edit: I checked the size of the Hien L. It's 16.5 x 13 x 0.16 inch, whereas my QCK+ is 15.7 x 17.7 x 0.16 inch. Do they have something larger, like the Tekmat (12 x 36 inches x 0.25 inch)? Thickness I personally don't care for.

[munch]

not as far as I know unfortunately, I used the entire pad just to move mouse around on when I used my artisan.

[Novus]

From what I understand, Hayate is the "flagship" pad from Artisan.
I believe Hein is also held in high regard but some people really don't seem to like it.

The other Artisan mousepads have issues with optical sensors.

If you want a table matmousepad try the one of the extended versions. Like the goliathus, corsair, xtrac. There's quite a few of those.
These pads are not going to be as high quality as the Hayate though.

[CK Briefs]

From what I understand, Hayate is the "flagship" pad from Artisan.
I believe Hein is also held in high regard but some people really don't seem to like it.

The other Artisan mousepads have issues with optical sensors.

If you want a table matmousepad try the one of the extended versions. Like the goliathus, corsair, xtrac. There's quite a few of those.
These pads are not going to be as high quality as the Hayate though.

I'd love an Artisan mousepad, but the $20 shipping for ~$40-50 pads just doesn't bode well for me

I think a good question would be whether or not massdrop has done a drop for these mousepads yet,and if not, we should be pushing them to

[Novus]

If it helps, they do send it with international express mail.
So you get it quickly.

[combataran]

Think I'll go with the Hayate L. Thanks for the sound advice. Don't know if they take Paypal/debit though. Apparently buying it from Amazon costs me $15 more, but as a college student I don't have a credit card yet.

[Novus]

They take paypal. You should use it since the yen is relatively weak thanks to Abenomics.

[combataran]

Directly from their site, yes?

[Novus]

Directly from their site, yes?

Yep

[munch]

does anyone know if the RAIDEN has the same type of glass coating as SHIDEN? like it "cracks" when you fold it? mine was completely fudged after having it in my suitcase when I was moving...
I might be able to get to try one but they seem to be out of stock so... just maybe...

also if anyone has had one for about a year or so, does it wear out? does it get a lot slower with use?
it's impossible to find information about this one it seems? or am I just a bad googler...

well, it appears it was just a website error - the RAIDEN MID is in stock. might get to try one after all. will see tomorrow!

[zig_ziglar]

Think I'll go with the Hayate L. Thanks for the sound advice. Don't know if they take Paypal/debit though. Apparently buying it from Amazon costs me $15 more, but as a college student I don't have a credit card yet.

Do yourself a favour and don't ever get one. Stick with a debit card.

[Novus]

Whoa looks like they just released a new hayate with a "mid" hardness.
I kind of want to get one of these and a red mouse pad (I know I'm betraying tracking fidelity with that red color).

Looks like the softer pads have more stopping power, harder pads have a bit faster initial glide. I get that (classic soft vs hardpad comparison) except it's not actually talking about the materials used on the top.
Artisan is actually referring to the middle layer of the mousepad with the various hardness ratings (xsoft,soft,mid, hard)

I don't really understand this.
So what exactly is the difference between the hardness levels?
Can somebody who's used different hardness versions of the same model share some insight? For example, if you've used both the Hein soft and Hein mid or hidenkai Xsoft and Shidenkai mid or anything analogous.

[ajx]

I picked the hardest from Hien
Why? because i hate soft pad but hardest Hien comes very close to what you feel with hard pad
e.g my former Hard Hien was even closer to any hard pad than Qck soft pad in term of gliding
 

[Novus]

It's still the same material on the surface though.

[ajx]

I think so, hardness levels just mean soft is softer, hard is harder lol
Dont really worry about it
hardness levels  simply give more choices.
It a matter of taste
If you like softer surface, go on softer level

[lakiozoon]

Ratpadz, best mouse pad ever!
Glide and durability are superb.

http://www.ratpadz.com/
http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1465624

[Binge]

Loving my simple Artisan Classic :3

so smooth and neat and well.. I don't game competitively so my opinion does not matter.

[Frenir]

Loving my simple Artisan Classic :3

so smooth and neat and well.. I don't game competitively so my opinion does not matter.

Screw competitive gaming, how is it? can you post pics?

[Novus]

[Frenir]

(Attachment Link)

That looks really really nice, how much did it cost ?

[noisyturtle]

Wow, I dig their redesign. One of the biggest issues before was the glue coming undone around the edges making the fabric curl up in an unsightly manner. That stitching looks like it'll solve that problem.

What pad is that?

[munch]

unfortunate update:

I got to try the Raiden today and it does NOT work with Kana v2. jitter and super low max speed before malfunctioning.
however I can confirm that the G100s works perfectly fine on it. don't know what sensor it uses though. but it's good enough for me I'd say.
much picker about mousepads than mice, strangely enough. I only require a good sensor without acceleration and minimal prediction, lightweight and nice buttonfeel. and those aren't too rare these days.

so, I guess we can assume none of the A3090 sensor mice work on this? as they themselves say Zowie AM/FK/EC eVo do not work with it. G400 uses A3090 as well right? I don't have one anymore to try it with, nor G400s.

the fortunate news though:
gosh darn this is a nice and smooth pad. it's like a perfect blend between Icemat and a cloth pad. not sure I'd say as fast as Shiden/ShidenKAI but it's fast and offers for me great control and precision.
precision is just a little bit less than the Icemat (micromovements, initial motion) but close to that of the Manticor and Slamepad (aluminium pads). speed's about the same as the aluminium pads for me with my configurations. not quite as fast as Icemat. which is just where I like it.
the MID height is definitely great for me, as I hate too soft pads where the mouse feet sink in too much. I wouldn't know if the XSOFT does that but I can imagine so.
remains to be seen if it's as durable as I hope. I'll probably update if I notice anything within the next few months?

SO, Kana v2 is going away (already have a buyer and a few backups. this thing's popular...)

[Elrick]

SO, Kana v2 is going away (already have a buyer and a few backups. this thing's popular...)

So you throw away the mouse and keep the mouse pad?  Weird, usually most would throw away the pad because they're cheaper than a mouse.

I currently don't have a Kana V2 but I have never swapped out any mouse because of the mouse pad it was using.   I've got several pads and it's far easier to just swap one over than to pull out a mouse cable from behind the PC.

You need to get more pads buddy, then there will be no problems.

[munch]

 
I know, I'm a weird one. but as I was saying, I am more picky about a good surface than a good mouse. glide/feel and precision is harder to get right for how I mouse than a good mouse.
light weight, not too small, good sensor, liftable with fingers only.

and well... I tried it with my brother's G100s before I did anything, which is a mouse I'm more than happy to use. it worked.
I mean, how much does that say about how good I think the Raiden is!

and I'm a bit of a glass/metal pad fan, so... it's really hard to find a good soft pad that is comfortable enough to use without just being plain bad, especially after a month's use. I've tried so many different cloth pads and didn't really like most of them...

and now when I found one that works as well as this one, I'd rather use one of the mice that I know works and that I like.
the price doesn't matter much, as long as I find something I'm happy with.

oh and for swapping out pad vs pulling out a cable... yeah. I got a cable management setup so it was a bit of a PITA.

[zig_ziglar]

The Hayate is on Massdrop (active) now, guys!

[karazi]

Anyone have a recommendation for a rectangular mousepad, like 18"x10" or so, if one exists?  As I change positions on my chair I often move my mousepad further from or closer to me and I would like to not have to do that.

[munch]

starting to notice some major flaws with my G100s on the Raiden... the back feet and front feet glide very differently, so it's very inconsistent in feel on the Raiden. it gets worse the more the feet get worn out.
so... uh. ****. there's soooo little information, and so much conflicting with what works and doesn't work on this pad.

I know for a FACT that Kana v2 which is my favourite mouse, unfortunately does not work, as I've been trying it in different ways to get it to work. it just skips and bounces around.
and since it has the same sensor as Zowie AM/FK, I find it weird that the European distributor of Artisan pads say that the AM works... maybe it's a lens problem? since it has a different lens.
plus one guy sais the Zowie EC1/EC2 eVo jitters a little bit on it, whereas another guy says the FK works perfectly fine but malfunctions a bit faster...
and then there's a guy on OCN that says that the Avior 7000 (which I tried earlier btw... really nice shape and buttons) does not work, which sucks.
and it has the same sensor as the Rival, which this guy on youtube who uploads some Battlefield 4 videos, claims he uses with a Raiden... again, could be a lens problem then?

I'm so confused! I don't know what to do... no other mouse on the market has the Logitech G100s sensor, it seems... and the mice that I like with the better sensors don't work. I really don't want to give up on this mousepad, it is truly fantastic.
is there anyone who has any thoughts/advice on this silly matter of mine? it's a bit upsetting to be honest. maybe a Kana v1...? as it's supposed to work according to manufacturer.
I recently gave my Kinzu v2 (same sensor/lens as Kana v1) away so I can't test it with that, but that'd be nice. sure, sensor isn't perfect, but I was happy with the Kinzu v2 - it just was too narrow for my rather large hands.

I may have answered my own question here but I'd kinda like to know how the buttons on the Kana v1 are, and feel/quality of the plastic case?
OR if anyone knows any similarly shaped mice with the same sensor perhaps, but good quality buttons? I really feel a bit spoiled with good switches...
thanks!

actually a small update: going to call up a local computer store here on Friday and see if I can try the Rival with my Raiden, since I do kind of like it despite being a bit bigger and heavier than what I normally use. it has a rather grippable shape for me and I use my thumb to do most gripping and lifting, and it has a fantastic thumb rest spot.
the Kana I went to a friend's place to try it, and it just feels ****ty. buttons are meh and plastic casing isn't as nice as the V2. I don't trust it'll last me long enough, since he only had his for 6 months and isn't a heavy gamer although a heavy computer user in general.

so, Rival's up next... I'll update for everyone interested, maybe see if I can somehow get some MSPaint drawings at the store as well.

Rival edit2:
HOLY **** THIS SENSOR IS AMAZING! I must have forgotten what a good sensor was like but it's so responsive.
it's almost jitter free on my Raiden and max speed is impossible for me to reach omg omg omg and I freaking love the grip. weight is on the higher side but I'm a strong swole swedish viking so it's no biggie, just preference.
buttons are weeeeeeeird but feel quality. will just get used to, I think. since they're not bad.
disco light warning when updating firmware, my eyes got a bit of a shock from it.
highly recommend this mouse for right handers. it's really good. I will test it in games later and update again, with MSPaint images showing the (low) jitter if anyone's interested.

so I wonder... why is the Avior 7000 not working well, despite having supposedly the same sensor under a different name? :/
I'm wondering if there are variations. optical LED colour maybe?

now I just need to fix my cable management and... yeah... it has the worst cable mess ever.

[munch]

http://i.imgur.com/6AUCMXS.png

^ at 900 CPI, very little jitter to, to me.

update again: works great in games, however I have some little speck on the mousepad where it just... skips... I need to clean it. I am not sure what it is. might have gotten there in the car when I was going to the shop.

and I do notice a TINY TINY bit of accel. maybe just a few %? 2-3%? it is noticeable but it's not going to bother me. it's when you get like 10% that I had with the Sensei that it's a bit too much.

[combataran]

Do the artisan pads fray easily? Say compared to the Goliathus or Corsair MM200?

[munch]

mine have never frayed, but I've read that they do.
it might depend on how you use it? I don't play super low sensitivity so my arm doesn't rub against the edge often. and I tend to game wearing t-shirt, or rolled up sleeves.
the new Goliathus has sewn edges though so that one shouldn't fray at all.

[feizor]

mine have never frayed, but I've read that they do.
it might depend on how you use it? I don't play super low sensitivity so my arm doesn't rub against the edge often. and I tend to game wearing t-shirt, or rolled up sleeves.
the new Goliathus has sewn edges though so that one shouldn't fray at all.

I thought we were talking about artisan pads?

[Zeal]

Why did the classic get discontinued?
The stitching & small form factor would be really nice when you're on the go. There's also hardly any reviews anywhere about it. 

[munch]

mine have never frayed, but I've read that they do.
it might depend on how you use it? I don't play super low sensitivity so my arm doesn't rub against the edge often. and I tend to game wearing t-shirt, or rolled up sleeves.
the new Goliathus has sewn edges though so that one shouldn't fray at all.

I thought we were talking about artisan pads?

yes, but he was asking compared to the Goliathus. and I was talking about my Artisan pads I have/had a few of them.

indeed, the Classic was a cooler design. I really can't see what the downsides might be unless it's about costs?

[Heezy]

Have been using my Artisan Hayate for about a year now, I guess it's time to get a new one. 

EDIT: Best mousepad I've ever used.

[combataran]

Which model has sewn edges?

[Flyersfan1]

Have been using my Artisan Hayate for about a year now, I guess it's time to get a new one. 

EDIT: Best mousepad I've ever used.

Very happy to hear that, I just picked one up from the recent massdrop buy.  My desk is just large enough to accommodate the full size. The medium sized one sold out rather quickly.

[CK Briefs]

Have been using my Artisan Hayate for about a year now, I guess it's time to get a new one. 

EDIT: Best mousepad I've ever used.

Very happy to hear that, I just picked one up from the recent massdrop buy.  My desk is just large enough to accommodate the full size. The medium sized one sold out rather quickly.

Heh I went straight for the large, even while the medium still had stock

[Zeal]

Have been using my Artisan Hayate for about a year now, I guess it's time to get a new one. 

EDIT: Best mousepad I've ever used.

Very happy to hear that, I just picked one up from the recent massdrop buy.  My desk is just large enough to accommodate the full size. The medium sized one sold out rather quickly.

Heh I went straight for the large, even while the medium still had stock

I looked at the Massdrop Price, and then went to look at the price from Artisan, and figured that the total savings was less than $1USD difference after Canadian USPS/EMS shipping, and went ahead and ordered 2 pads from Artisan instead. :3
The Hayate wasn't even close to $44 MSRP on Artisan as stated on Massdrop either. False discount advertising!
Ordered 1x Medium sized Hayate-Soft stiffness, and 1x Medium sized Shiden-Medium stiffness. Should receive it on Monday. Worth the $1 extra for faster delivery.

[Heezy]

Have been using my Artisan Hayate for about a year now, I guess it's time to get a new one. 

EDIT: Best mousepad I've ever used.

Very happy to hear that, I just picked one up from the recent massdrop buy.  My desk is just large enough to accommodate the full size. The medium sized one sold out rather quickly.

Heh I went straight for the large, even while the medium still had stock

I have to go large, I just have to! 

Have been using my Artisan Hayate for about a year now, I guess it's time to get a new one. 

EDIT: Best mousepad I've ever used.

Very happy to hear that, I just picked one up from the recent massdrop buy.  My desk is just large enough to accommodate the full size. The medium sized one sold out rather quickly.

Heh I went straight for the large, even while the medium still had stock

I looked at the Massdrop Price, and then went to look at the price from Artisan, and figured that the total savings was less than $1USD difference after Canadian USPS/EMS shipping, and went ahead and ordered 2 pads from Artisan instead. :3
The Hayate wasn't even close to $44 MSRP on Artisan as stated on Massdrop either. False discount advertising!
Ordered 1x Medium sized Hayate-Soft stiffness, and 1x Medium sized Shiden-Medium stiffness. Should receive it on Monday. Worth the $1 extra for faster delivery.

Before Artisan was all the craze, I checked the shipping from Japan, and it costs like 70-80$ AUD to get to me. That's like.. 60+$ USD.

[Zeal]

Before Artisan was all the craze, I checked the shipping from Japan, and it costs like 70-80$ AUD to get to me. That's like.. 60+$ USD.

How many pads are you buying?! $70-80 AUD shipping would equal to about 13-16 medium sized mousepads... Shipping 1 pad via EMS costs ~$15 to US/CAN/AUS.

[Heezy]

Before Artisan was all the craze, I checked the shipping from Japan, and it costs like 70-80$ AUD to get to me. That's like.. 60+$ USD.

How many pads are you buying?! $70-80 AUD shipping would equal to about 13-16 medium sized mousepads... Shipping 1 pad via EMS costs ~$15 to US/CAN/AUS.

Only the large Hayate. I have no idea why it was so expensive. But that was a few years ago..

[epzy]

Which Artisan mat is closest to the QCK heavy/mass?

[feizor]

Have been using my Artisan Hayate for about a year now, I guess it's time to get a new one. 

EDIT: Best mousepad I've ever used.

Very happy to hear that, I just picked one up from the recent massdrop buy.  My desk is just large enough to accommodate the full size. The medium sized one sold out rather quickly.

Heh I went straight for the large, even while the medium still had stock

I have to go large, I just have to! 

Have been using my Artisan Hayate for about a year now, I guess it's time to get a new one. 

EDIT: Best mousepad I've ever used.

Very happy to hear that, I just picked one up from the recent massdrop buy.  My desk is just large enough to accommodate the full size. The medium sized one sold out rather quickly.

Heh I went straight for the large, even while the medium still had stock

I looked at the Massdrop Price, and then went to look at the price from Artisan, and figured that the total savings was less than $1USD difference after Canadian USPS/EMS shipping, and went ahead and ordered 2 pads from Artisan instead. :3
The Hayate wasn't even close to $44 MSRP on Artisan as stated on Massdrop either. False discount advertising!
Ordered 1x Medium sized Hayate-Soft stiffness, and 1x Medium sized Shiden-Medium stiffness. Should receive it on Monday. Worth the $1 extra for faster delivery.

Before Artisan was all the craze, I checked the shipping from Japan, and it costs like 70-80$ AUD to get to me. That's like.. 60+$ USD.

You can get them from PC Case Gear for like $8 shipping.

[munch]

Which Artisan mat is closest to the QCK heavy/mass?

they say it's the ZERO but I like the Hayate a lot more.


slightly irrelevant update: going to test Raiden with the Sensei tomorrow, going by a friend's place so he can try the Rival since he was curious.
in case anyone wanted to know if it's compatible.

sensei works great. we actually exchanged mice to see if we like either one better... since I prefer the shape of the Sensei to be honest. will see if I can get used to the sensor being so different, some minor inconsistent accel and whatnot.

and yet another update: sensei sensor is a bit weird, I decided to trade it for an FK and I much prefer this one - and IT WORKS on the Raiden!

[Glenn315]

I just ordered a Hayate a few days ago.. Gonna use it with a G9x while waiting for a Kana v2 from a friend in China.

[Flyersfan1]

I also recently received a hayayte from the massdrop buy.  I thought I knew what mousepads were supposed to feel like, this thing just feels so much better than my prior thin steelseries variant.  I'm probably going to be super OCD with it too, cleaning eveyr little wear use anytime one comes up.  I'm really glad I pulled the trigger on one though, you can really feel the quality of these mats!

[Zeal]

I also recently received a hayayte from the massdrop buy.  I thought I knew what mousepads were supposed to feel like, this thing just feels so much better than my prior thin steelseries variant.  I'm probably going to be super OCD with it too, cleaning eveyr little wear use anytime one comes up.  I'm really glad I pulled the trigger on one though, you can really feel the quality of these mats!

The only downside of the Hayate I got was the edges are really rough, and scratch your wrists if you're using your mouse extensively. Also doesn't help that it's black, so every spec of dust/skin cells it kills scrapes off shows really obviously.

[trizkut]

I also recently received a hayayte from the massdrop buy.  I thought I knew what mousepads were supposed to feel like, this thing just feels so much better than my prior thin steelseries variant.  I'm probably going to be super OCD with it too, cleaning eveyr little wear use anytime one comes up.  I'm really glad I pulled the trigger on one though, you can really feel the quality of these mats!

The only downside of the Hayate I got was the edges are really rough, and scratch your wrists if you're using your mouse extensively. Also doesn't help that it's black, so every spec of dust/skin cells it kills scrapes off shows really obviously.

Just let it hang a cm or 2 over the edge of your desk, edge problem solved 

[combataran]

I wonder why don't they make one with stitched edges like the newer Goliathi?

On a sidenote, would the edges on the Hayate fray after extensive usage? I tend to keep my arm on the table, so it kinda drags on the edge most of the time. And I prefer not to have my mouse pad hang off the table edge.

[munch]

a lot of people say yes, personally it never happened to me on any artisan pad yet.
I would say in general yes though unfortunately. I don't really move my wrist over the edge of the pad much since I play higher sensitivity.
might depend on your use, of course.

[combataran]

a lot of people say yes, personally it never happened to me on any artisan pad yet.
I would say in general yes though unfortunately. I don't really move my wrist over the edge of the pad much since I play higher sensitivity.
might depend on your use, of course.

Just noticed a maintenance guide on their site that addresses the fraying problem, so I'm not that worried anymore.

Stuck between the Hayate soft, Shiden mid and Hien mid. The price isn't really the problem here since it's below $30 shipped. Which one should I go with? I'm used to the QCK+, but it's nothing to write home about(really rough, IMO). I use a CMStorm Spawn, btw.

[munch]

Hien is even rougher in texture, so I'd rule out that one.
Shiden is very smooth, but the Hayate should be even smoother.

my vote goes to Hayate it's really nice, definitely an improvement over QcK!

[combataran]

Hien is even rougher in texture, so I'd rule out that one.
Shiden is very smooth, but the Hayate should be even smoother.

my vote goes to Hayate it's really nice, definitely an improvement over QcK!

Great, thanks!

[combataran]

Hien is even rougher in texture, so I'd rule out that one.
Shiden is very smooth, but the Hayate should be even smoother.

my vote goes to Hayate it's really nice, definitely an improvement over QcK!

I just had carpet burn on my QCK+. I gotta get my Hayate soon. Or is there something softer?

[munch]

Hayate x-soft is very nice and soft but if you rub fast enough, any cloth pad will give you a rug burn. I do think the rubber of the Artisan pads is a LOT better though.

[combataran]

Hayate x-soft is very nice and soft but if you rub fast enough, any cloth pad will give you a rug burn. I do think the rubber of the Artisan pads is a LOT better though.

It's CS:GO. You gotta rub fast Would the Shiden actually make things easier, or at least not encourage me to rub the pad so quickly? Sometimes when things get intense I kinda push down on the mousepad hard, plus the high speed rubbibg really takes a till on my palm. There's a callus from all the years of gaming already.

[munch]

ahh, yeah that makes more sense. perhaps you'd want a faster pad then. the QcK isn't very fast.

[combataran]

ahh, yeah that makes more sense. perhaps you'd want a faster pad then. the QcK isn't very fast.

Wouldn't a faster pad mean a harder pad, which might also mean a rougher pad?

[davkol]

Not really, it's a matter of cloth texture in the first place. My Corsair MM200XL is definitely smoother/faster than QcK, but still soft (rubber base thickness is right between ordinary QcK and QcK Mass/Heavy). If you want something even faster, you have to go hard though, but I don't think it's that bad with pads that have a rubber base and a plastic surface (like say Roccat Sota).

[combataran]

Not really, it's a matter of cloth texture in the first place. My Corsair MM200XL is definitely smoother/faster than QcK, but still soft (rubber base thickness is right between ordinary QcK and QcK Mass/Heavy). If you want something even faster, you have to go hard though, but I don't think it's that bad with pads that have a rubber base and a plastic surface (like say Roccat Sota).

So...a softer pad like the Hayate, or a hard one like the Shiden?

[Glenn315]

I've been using the Hayate for about a month now, and I love it.

[munch]

Not really, it's a matter of cloth texture in the first place. My Corsair MM200XL is definitely smoother/faster than QcK, but still soft (rubber base thickness is right between ordinary QcK and QcK Mass/Heavy). If you want something even faster, you have to go hard though, but I don't think it's that bad with pads that have a rubber base and a plastic surface (like say Roccat Sota).

So...a softer pad like the Hayate, or a hard one like the Shiden?

well, the Shiden is very different from the QcK (you have one no? ) so I don't think that is necessary.
a hard pad doesn't mean faster, generally, so a Soft one should be fine. like, soft Raiden is super fast and still soft. very very smooth.