Hi!
I just discovered the ergo clear switch so I bought some. I love them so I wanna know more switches of this type as I don't know so many and gonna build a keyboard with them.
Thanks
Well, this is your lucky day, because what used to be considered the premium Ergo Clear alternative is making a comeback:
https://zealpc.net/products/zealio_v1_redux?variant=39352365449280I have no idea if it is a good idea to buy them. The quality of the Zealio V1 redux is unknown, as there have been none reaching our shores and none reviewed yet. But it's cheaper to buy at this 'group buy' price.
Anyway, what are the alternatives to Ergo Clear? Generally these are:
1. Zealio V1
This was the first major alternative. They wanted a bump more distinct / prominent than MX Brown, but without the scratch and sandiness of Cherry tactiles like MX Clear and Brown.
Generally, the Zealio V1 are understood to be possibly less-tactile than MX Clear [should be more tactile than MX Brown], but definitely smoother.
Smoothness is their primary attribute, along with the 'bump' being more crisp or definite than the 'nebulous,' indistinct bump of Cherry tactiles.
Zealio V1 had issues with wobble, though. They were as wobbly as Cherry switches. Maybe it's being addressed now.
Also, stock sound wasn't great. It was insectile, unless you lubed it. The springs were noisy, too.
2. OUTEMU Sky / Silent SkyThe original OUTEMU Sky [pre-2.2] was modeled after the MX Clear stem. It was placed in a highly-tactile housing, with a 62 or 68 G spring.
It had a good tactility to it, and the weight was right, so it was a fair Ergo Clear approximation.
But the housing was noisy like crazy, as was the spring. And the housing was oversize. So this switch was scratchy and needed a lot of lube.
Later versions of the stem moved away from MX Clear and became its own thing. But still about as intense as an Ergo Clear. Personally, I feel that the later stems were too wobble, and with a strange actuation point.
The Silent Sky was just a Silent Sky stem inside that same housing. Good stem, bad housing. You can make a true Ergo Clear Silent Sky by putting the stem in something like a Huano Banana housing with stock or 55 G L spring.
So forget about these outdated switches, unless you need a Silent Ergo Clear, as the silent stems are really good.
3. RARA / Durock Medium TactileJWK was making tactiles like the T1, but wanted something less extreme. So they developed the 'RARA' stem which was later used in 'Durock Medium Tactile' and all subsequent recolours.
The RARA is kind of like a smaller T1 - the tactility is at the top, but it tapers off.
It's about as intense as an Ergo Clear, and may have been inspired by Zealio V1.
Stock, their sound is a little scratchy or squishy, but they are meant to be lubed. If lubed, they can become loud and clacky, if that's what you're looking for. Clean-sounding too. I have some professionally-lubed RARA V2 switches, and they sound much cleaner than any Cherry-derived switch.
Very affordable, if you know where to look. Because there is bound to be a deal on the RARA recolours: RARA V2, Mode Signal, Penguin, Taro Ball, Shogoki, and others.
4. Super-Browns (Really, intermediate light tactiles)
There are a number of switches that are either supposed to be more intense Browns, or some form of Ergo Clears. These are:
Everglide Jade Green - 58.5 G is brown-weight, but these are shaped differently, more like a Zealio V1. Tactile event is towards the top, and not much more intense than Brown. Some would say that they benefit from slightly heavier springs for more cushion, like 60 G TX 14mm or even 62 G Spirit. That would make them true Ergo Clears.
They sound scratchy in stock form. But lubed generously with 3204 and filmed, on a polycarb plate, they can sound quite pleasant.
TTC Gold Brown V2 - I think this was an attempt at an Ergo Clear. It's about 5 G heavier than MX Brown, and slightly more tactile. But all it does is end up feeling like a heavier Brown. So avoid this except as a base for Silent Sky stems. TTC Watermelon V2 seems similar.
Huano Banana - this is one of the 'fruit-themed' switches, and I swear this is an honest-to-god Ergo Clear imitator or 'super-Brown.' It's definitely snappier than MX Brown, very snappy, almost clicky tactility. And a little heavier than Browns. Snappiness is so great that it doesn't feel like MX Brown territory anymore.
AKKO CS Ocean Blue - this seems to be a scaled-down Holy-Panda type switch. Definitely less intense than the Pandas, it's a kind of 'lesser-panda.' The size of the tactile bump places it more in Ergo Clear range, although it's shaped more like Pandas and other heavy tactiles instead of a Cherry tactile.
Kailh Pro Purple - one of the classic 'super-Browns,' or light Ergo Clears. It has a spring in the 65 - 70 G range, and a tactility at the top, like many others in the Kailh custom range. Kind of a scaled-down Halo True. It has about the intensity of an Ergo Clear, and is frequently compared with them. Can be very good to type on, a fast switch. But it is lube-starved and very scratchy in stock form.
You can replace the spring with a 63.5 Spirit and get something very much with a proper Ergo-Clear weight and feel.
5. Halo / HAKO VioletThe BOX-derived switches from Kailh have at least one Ergo Clear variant.
The "Violet" switch seems to provide the tactile intensity of an MX Clear with a weight closer to MX Brown.
I have compared them side-by-side with BOX Browns, and the HAKO Violet switches are a little more intense, sharp, and snappy.
Ergo Clears themselvesWhy look for clones in the first place? Ergo Clears can be made many different ways, from really punchy MX-black-weight and heavy lube [an extremely clacky switch] all the way down to 63.5 Progressive Spirit springs, which is a richer MX Brown. 65 G TX 14mm seems to be a good weight for many people.
You can even lube with 205g0 for a thockier sound, and for use on a metal plate. Just lube carefully to preserve the tactility, and you have something more sophisticated than an MX Brown.
