60% keyboards

[phinix]

I'm planning to buy HHKB and start a whole new direction in my mechanical keyboards adventure very soon.
I wanted to see what do you guys think about 60% keyboards in general, what 60% models are out there and which one you guys use.
I may also buy Frog Mini as it looks like amazing board and similar to hhkb.
I know of Tokyo60, Fjell and similar. What else is there?

[autumnfall]

It's funny that I am going on a different direction than you, went from 60% to TKL because the lack of F-row and arrows in 60%. I tried poker layout, Tsangan and HHKB. Tsangan is probably my favorite one, because I can do mod-tap from qmk/via to turn my left alt, winkey, ctrl and shift into arrows. If you are looking at customs, bakeneko60 is open source and you can even modify the case yourself to your liking. HHKb definitely is more unique to me because it is topre, which give a pretty nice typing feeling and sound.

[Rob27shred]

The Salvation by Salvun would be one to keep an eye for when the GB delivers & extras are available. I jumped right on the GB once I seen that it's basically a leaf spring mounted case designed to to take any tray mount compatible 60% PCB. The idea just seems great to me as you can have a high quality case with a unique mounting system that allows for a nice soft bouncy typing experience. Yet still use the most inexpensive & widely available PCBs &/or plates with it!

Another one I'd like to mention would be the Meridian by Aio3. It's 60% Alice like layout with a much less aggressive tilting angle of the keys. Mine has become my daily driver ever since I got mine & got it built up a way I am happy with. Very comfortable board to type on (it's just top mount though so not much in the way of flex or bounce) with a pretty unique layout IMHO. The only downside here is that they are currently not being made. So you'd have to hit the 2nd hand markets or wait for Rd.3 if there is one.

As far as layouts go with 60% boards I'd say you're on the right track looking at the HHKB layout. While the true HHKB layout is not my fav for 60%. I do always use split backspace, split R shift, HHKB diamond arrow cluster on the 2nd layer, but use a Tsangan or WKL bottom row. I've found that to be the most useable layout on 60% boards for me. Basically allows me to do everything I need to with my KBs unless I am working with numbers.

[LightningXI]

I love 60%s. And TKLs. Those two are my favorite form factors to use.

In general, I can do pretty much everything I need to do on a 60%. The TKL is nice to cover some extra desk space and have that cluster-based separation that looks so good, not to mention how WKL blockers look on these cases.

I am particularly keen on the Thermal by wilba.tech - a very unique keyboard with a unique typing experience. Prophet by westfoxtrot/Cable Car Designs. bisoromi's Kei is also quite nice. There's other keyboards like Jubi by ION (which expand on the 60% and add macro keys) that are also splendid as well. Many recommendations to make; generally speaking, the layout is versatile in use once you can get used to use of the split right Shift (for the Function layer use). I have a strong preference for 7u bottom row layout overall, but true HHKB is great as well.

[phinix]

I love 60%s. And TKLs. Those two are my favorite form factors to use.

In general, I can do pretty much everything I need to do on a 60%. The TKL is nice to cover some extra desk space and have that cluster-based separation that looks so good, not to mention how WKL blockers look on these cases.

I am particularly keen on the Thermal by wilba.tech - a very unique keyboard with a unique typing experience. Prophet by westfoxtrot/Cable Car Designs. bisoromi's Kei is also quite nice. There's other keyboards like Jubi by ION (which expand on the 60% and add macro keys) that are also splendid as well. Many recommendations to make; generally speaking, the layout is versatile in use once you can get used to use of the split right Shift (for the Function layer use). I have a strong preference for 7u bottom row layout overall, but true HHKB is great as well.

I saw your build stram of bisoromi, nice one.
What do you mean by Thermal's unique typing experience? I like the design with those side grills

[phinix]

It's funny that I am going on a different direction than you, went from 60% to TKL because the lack of F-row and arrows in 60%. I tried poker layout, Tsangan and HHKB. Tsangan is probably my favorite one, because I can do mod-tap from qmk/via to turn my left alt, winkey, ctrl and shift into arrows. If you are looking at customs, bakeneko60 is open source and you can even modify the case yourself to your liking. HHKb definitely is more unique to me because it is topre, which give a pretty nice typing feeling and sound.

I've seen Bakeneko60 - nice and cheap board. But I would prefer WKL, just for its looks, beautiful
I'm after Frog Mini, which is perfection in my opinion.

[LightningXI]

I love 60%s. And TKLs. Those two are my favorite form factors to use.

In general, I can do pretty much everything I need to do on a 60%. The TKL is nice to cover some extra desk space and have that cluster-based separation that looks so good, not to mention how WKL blockers look on these cases.

I am particularly keen on the Thermal by wilba.tech - a very unique keyboard with a unique typing experience. Prophet by westfoxtrot/Cable Car Designs. bisoromi's Kei is also quite nice. There's other keyboards like Jubi by ION (which expand on the 60% and add macro keys) that are also splendid as well. Many recommendations to make; generally speaking, the layout is versatile in use once you can get used to use of the split right Shift (for the Function layer use). I have a strong preference for 7u bottom row layout overall, but true HHKB is great as well.

I saw your build stram of bisoromi, nice one.
What do you mean by Thermal's unique typing experience? I like the design with those side grills

It was one of the first to introduce what people have called the "leaf-spring" plate design and it has a trampoline-like typing feel. It can be polarizing. Some people like it a lot; some people don't as much.

[granola bar enthusiast]

the PLX was a great board but its GB ended on March 15th, the Frog mini also looks like a great board but i'm all for TKL's so i will have to pass on it.