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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: donnghia on Mon, 26 August 2019, 09:27:41

Title: Long Travel vs Short Travel
Post by: donnghia on Mon, 26 August 2019, 09:27:41
which one do you prefer and why?

many typing guys think short travel is better for fast typing while other one to feel the key by longer travel

also many prefer short travel for gaming...

what is your reason?
Title: Re: Long Travel vs Short Travel
Post by: fohat.digs on Mon, 26 August 2019, 09:56:03
I like short travel and tactility so that I don't have to bottom out.
Title: Re: Long Travel vs Short Travel
Post by: equalunique on Mon, 26 August 2019, 16:28:51
Anything to prevent bottom out.

High/short actation, but long travel. My dream switch is 1.4mm actuation kailh speed gold stem inside a housing with something like 6mm travel lol.

Sent from my Ono-Sendai Cyberspace 7 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Long Travel vs Short Travel
Post by: HungerMechanic on Thu, 29 August 2019, 21:16:15
I've always wondered why Cherry chose 4mm for travel. It seems like an arbitrary number. What research was behind this?

I think one of the main reasons I enjoy alternate tactile switches like Pro Purple and even BOX Brown is that they have 3.6mm travel. Even if I bottom-out, I'm using less energy on the up/down-stroke. I find that they just feel faster.
Title: Re: Long Travel vs Short Travel
Post by: tp4tissue on Fri, 30 August 2019, 11:12:56
I've always wondered why Cherry chose 4mm for travel. It seems like an arbitrary number. What research was behind this?

I think one of the main reasons I enjoy alternate tactile switches like Pro Purple and even BOX Brown is that they have 3.6mm travel. Even if I bottom-out, I'm using less energy on the up/down-stroke. I find that they just feel faster.

It's probably by feel through focus group testing.

They probably got a bunch of dudes in a room, ask them to try out a few different depths,  and poll, "which one feels good".

So 4mm is probably the point where the user FEELS like he's pressed a button.

Because that's been the main complaint of shallow keebs like the macbook, you press it, but it doesn't feel like you've buttoned.
Title: Re: Long Travel vs Short Travel
Post by: Benitone on Fri, 30 August 2019, 11:59:01
I'd like to test cherry mx speed switches with o-rings, not for the higher actuation point, but because they have globally a shorter travel.
Title: Re: Long Travel vs Short Travel
Post by: pixelpusher on Fri, 30 August 2019, 12:51:37
Anything to prevent bottom out.

High/short actation, but long travel. My dream switch is 1.4mm actuation kailh speed gold stem inside a housing with something like 6mm travel lol.

Sent from my Ono-Sendai Cyberspace 7 using Tapatalk

Try out some SKCC green alps, man.  Pingmaster is cheapest/easiest way to get them. It's a linear switch, but quite a bit of travel and early-ish actuation. 
Title: Re: Long Travel vs Short Travel
Post by: pixelpusher on Fri, 30 August 2019, 12:54:33
So many people who hate bottoming out.  Interesting.

It's not something I've every really worried about, but I guess I kinda get it.  This is likely the main reason why I like stock MX clears.  I love how the spring gets quite heavy at the end, almost preventing bottoming out.  Try them if that's your thing.
Title: Re: Long Travel vs Short Travel
Post by: Kevadu on Fri, 30 August 2019, 16:30:16
Halo True is the best switch for avoiding bottoming out.
Title: Re: Long Travel vs Short Travel
Post by: pixelpusher on Fri, 30 August 2019, 16:34:14
Halo True is the best switch for avoiding bottoming out.

What do you think about Halo clears?  I prefer them to trues because of the stiffer spring further into the press, like Cherry clears.
Title: Re: Long Travel vs Short Travel
Post by: Kevadu on Fri, 30 August 2019, 17:03:55
Halo Clears have a more traditional MX Clear-like spring but the True spring has very minimal preload so they start a bit lighter and then they get significantly heavier by the end of the travel.  They're actually about 20g heavier on bottom out than Clears even though they're actually lighter at the beginning.
Title: Re: Long Travel vs Short Travel
Post by: rxc92 on Fri, 30 August 2019, 17:26:18
I've typed on Clear switches for most of the time and switched over to Hako trues; they're more tactile than Halos or Clears and excellent for avoiding bottoming out. However, they're pretty heavy.
Title: Re: Long Travel vs Short Travel
Post by: Stupidface on Sat, 31 August 2019, 07:28:32
which one do you prefer and why?


Does it necessarily have to be one or the other?  Perhaps different occasions call for different keyswitches.


what is your reason?


Short-travel Cherry ML switches for light bouts of typing (e.g. surfing) because they are crisp and snappy*.

Long-travel Buckling Spring switches for serious, hours-long typing sessions.









*They are on my well-worn keyboard, anyway.

Title: Re: Long Travel vs Short Travel
Post by: Sintpinty on Sat, 31 August 2019, 19:47:41
Short travel , want to type fast
Title: Re: Long Travel vs Short Travel
Post by: EmersonPeters on Sun, 16 July 2023, 22:01:48
It's all about personal preference when it comes to keyboard travel distance.
Title: Re: Long Travel vs Short Travel
Post by: Sup on Mon, 17 July 2023, 06:09:17
short travel is just more comfortable since you don't need to lift your wrists as high with a long travel board. I really like low profile choc switches and they are also pretty nice for gaming.
Title: Re: Long Travel vs Short Travel
Post by: Rhienfo on Mon, 17 July 2023, 08:46:35
I'm not to fussed about travel distance honestly, strictly mx at least, I have used both shorter and longer distances and while I prefer shorter distances I can still enjoy and can type on standard 4mm travel.