Hard and Soft Gaming Mousepads and protecting mousefeet from wear?

[Prince_Zuko]

I just got a Roccat Kone XTD mouse. I want a hard mousepad to go with my mouse and am looking at the Razer Invicta mousepad. I like it because its basically 2 mousepads in one, so if one surface starts to wear away, I can just flip it. I also like that you can choose between a smoother and more textured surface. That being said, im aware that harder surfaces will always wear away softer surfaces. Normally, I wouldn't worry about my mouse's feet, but unfortunately, it looks like Roccat doesn't sell replacement mousefeet like Razer does so im a little concerned. Is there any way to avoid this or will I have to go the soft mat route in order to protect my mouse? I've also heard about mouse skates to protect it. Anyone try that? Im thinking I can just cut it to size to fit my Roccat.

[vun]

You can cover the feet in teflon tape. Or send Roccat a mail about replacement feet.

[eth0s]

Don't worry about the mouse feet wearing out.  Your mouse will die before the feet wear out.   Also both surfaces will polish each other.  Hard/ soft doesn't matter, each is acting on the other.  A softer one will polish faster, but they both will wear down.  Which is not necessarily a bad thing, if you like a slippery mouse.  As the feet wear smooth, and as the surface of the mouse pad wears smooth, the mouse will get more and more slippery.  If you like a scratchy mouse feel, i.e., a high coefficient of friction, then you will want to flip the mouse pad surface periodically to extend the lifetime wear, or just get a new mouse pad when it gets smooth (if you don't like smooth).  As for the amount of time it will take, probably 2-3 years of vigorous mousing.  But like I said, your Roccat mouse may die before that.   Because even after 2-3 years, the mouse feet will still be in great shape, with some polishing.  Also, I'm not sure which one you think is softer, the mouse feet or the mouse pad.  Both are very hard, and very durable.

[vun]

Don't worry about the mouse feet wearing out.  Your mouse will die before the feet wear out.   Also both surfaces will polish each other.  Hard/ soft doesn't matter, each is acting on the other.  A softer one will polish faster, but they both will wear down.  Which is not necessarily a bad thing, if you like a slippery mouse.  As the feet wear smooth, and as the surface of the mouse pad wears smooth, the mouse will get more and more slippery.  If you like a scratchy mouse feel, i.e., a high coefficient of friction, then you will want to flip the mouse pad surface periodically to extend the lifetime wear, or just get a new mouse pad when it gets smooth (if you don't like smooth).  As for the amount of time it will take, probably 2-3 years of vigorous mousing.  But like I said, your Roccat mouse may die before that.   Because even after 2-3 years, the mouse feet will still be in great shape, with some polishing.  Also, I'm not sure which one you think is softer, the mouse feet or the mouse pad.  Both are very hard, and very durable.

This is usually my personal stance, but with the amount of people saying their feet have worn fast on hard pads I'm being cautious and would recommend to play it safe. If you find a mouse you really like, make sure you're set with feet for a while, either by stocking up on replacements or getting something like teflon tape.

[Hyde]

Get a hybrid pad.  Something like Artisan Shiden that is fast like hardpad but soft on the surface.

Or if you insist on having hard pad, maybe check out corepad.com they seems to have every mouse feet ever.  I've personally never bought from it yet though so I don't know how the quality/shipping is.

[CorsairJames]

Get a hybrid pad.  Something like Artisan Shiden that is fast like hardpad but soft on the surface.

Or if you insist on having hard pad, maybe check out corepad.com they seems to have every mouse feet ever.  I've personally never bought from it yet though so I don't know how the quality/shipping is.

I like hybrid pads too. I've always used a soft pad all my life and only recently used the harder stuff. I definitely prefer the hard side for gaming but when Im browsing, I like to rest my wrist on a softer material which helps when you have a large pad.

[hazeluff]

Soft pads all the way. It bothers me when my skin rubs along a textured hard pad. Also Soft pads are comfy.

[Elrick]

Soft pads all the way. It bothers me when my skin rubs along a textured hard pad. Also Soft pads are comfy.

Totally agree, currently have the Artisan HAYATE pad and it's just easy as hell to glide an XTD all around without even worrying about wearing out it's feet.   Besides I never worry about getting extra feet for any mouse, Ebay provides heaps of extra choice for just about every mouse that was ever made.

[Oobly]

I use a Steelseries SX anodised aluminium pad. It's super smooth and seems to be very friendly to mouse feet in terms of wear. Only downside is that it feels cold when you first start using it. Warms up fairly fast, though.

I can't go back to floppy, squishy pads, they just don't feel right to me and some are downright abrasive.

[CorsairJames]

With my old mousepad (a non-Corsair model), I found that I actually wore out the pad faster than I did with the feet on my mouse. I tend to like pads that are hard and have friction on the surface but I see that certain pads may wear out faster than others depending on how much you use the mouse. What ends up happening for me is a nice smooth area where I rest my hand and use my mouse.

[Elrick]

What ends up happening for me is a nice smooth area where I rest my hand and use my mouse.

I use to have a QPad and I just wore it out to bits.  Now having the Artisan you can go rogue on that baby, yet no filaments or bits are coming off.  Thus far it's been perfect.  I never owned an Artisan product before but these guys really know their product and I'm sure you can choose the right model for your needs.

[Emospence]

What would you guys recommend for Zowie EC1 eVo/CL? Artisans? Artisan's own website seems to advise against using their mousepads with Zowie mice, though o.O

Currently using a Zowie G-TF Speed, love the fact that it's water resistant but dislike the rough, textured surface; I can feel it both on my wrist and when I glide my mouse over. And it feels like it'll wear out my mouse feet fast.

[Elrick]

What would you guys recommend for Zowie EC1 eVo/CL? Artisans? Artisan's own website seems to advise against using their mousepads with Zowie mice, though o.O

Currently using a Zowie G-TF Speed, love the fact that it's water resistant but dislike the rough, textured surface; I can feel it both on my wrist and when I glide my mouse over. And it feels like it'll wear out my mouse feet fast.

Yeah if Zowie is pushing their pad then go for it, don't forget to get them to ship out EXTRA mouse feet when yours are worn out though.  I never knew Zowie rodents are totally ignored by Artisan? 

Not fair since I'm still waiting for my EC1 eVo to come in  .

[noisyturtle]

Favorite soft pad ever: the Artisan Hayate. The surface is a perfect mixture of control and slide. The only problem I have is that Artisan pads don't have a very long life before they begin to fuzz in the center and fray around the edges. The star that burns twice as bright burns half as long.

[Elrick]

The only problem I have is that Artisan pads don't have a very long life before they begin to fuzz in the center and fray around the edges. The star that burns twice as bright burns half as long.

The surface is fabric glued onto a very high quality rubber base.  That's it, nothing more.  But it doesn't cost much and when mine starts to go 'fuzzy' I'll just buy something else because there are so many choices, in the world of mouse mats.

[Emospence]

Yeah if Zowie is pushing their pad then go for it, don't forget to get them to ship out EXTRA mouse feet when yours are worn out though.  I never knew Zowie rodents are totally ignored by Artisan? 

Not fair since I'm still waiting for my EC1 eVo to come in  .

Not ignored, more like users feedbacked to them and they just put it up on their site like a heads up

[Emospence]

Favorite soft pad ever: the Artisan Hayate. The surface is a perfect mixture of control and slide. The only problem I have is that Artisan pads don't have a very long life before they begin to fuzz in the center and fray around the edges. The star that burns twice as bright burns half as long.

That sucks, considering how much they cost..

[noisyturtle]

Favorite soft pad ever: the Artisan Hayate. The surface is a perfect mixture of control and slide. The only problem I have is that Artisan pads don't have a very long life before they begin to fuzz in the center and fray around the edges. The star that burns twice as bright burns half as long.

That sucks, considering how much they cost..

Does suck that the best surface for my needs only lasts about 5-6 months. And yeah, the Hayate is expensive. I guess it's not totally crazy to think $100 in mouse pads a year, at least not in this business. Others might find that insane.

[Emospence]

Does suck that the best surface for my needs only lasts about 5-6 months. And yeah, the Hayate is expensive. I guess it's not totally crazy to think $100 in mouse pads a year, at least not in this business. Others might find that insane.

Any idea if Hien would last better?

[noisyturtle]

Does suck that the best surface for my needs only lasts about 5-6 months. And yeah, the Hayate is expensive. I guess it's not totally crazy to think $100 in mouse pads a year, at least not in this business. Others might find that insane.

Any idea if Hien would last better?

I also have a Hein in red and that was the same deal, sans the fuzzing. The edges of the fabric began to peel away from the mat and bunch up which got very frustrating. I tried to superglue them back down but the glue seeped through the fabric, and now the edges of my Hein are white and crusty and look gross. Otherwise the pad still works fine, although I do prefer the Hayate overall.
I'll take some pics showing the bunching later if you want.

[Elrick]

Otherwise the pad still works fine, although I do prefer the Hayate overall.
I'll take some pics showing the bunching later if you want.

Lets face it, we need to go back to all Metal mouse-pads like Steel or Aluminum.  That is the only material that never wears away.  I'll be getting another 2 metal ones because I'm sick of worn out pads as well.  Just want something you can go mental with but shows no damage.

In fact you want to wear out the rodent before anything happens to the pad.

[Emospence]

I also have a Hein in red and that was the same deal, sans the fuzzing. The edges of the fabric began to peel away from the mat and bunch up which got very frustrating. I tried to superglue them back down but the glue seeped through the fabric, and now the edges of my Hein are white and crusty and look gross. Otherwise the pad still works fine, although I do prefer the Hayate overall.
I'll take some pics showing the bunching later if you want.

Was pretty much set on a Hein but you've changed my mind heh

[Elrick]

This would be my final purchase in the world of so-called SOFT mouse pads, just bought a ROCCAT Hiro 3D Supremacy Surface Gaming Mousepad (ROC-13-411).

Just want to try another softie before swinging back to the hardcore pads that never wear out their edges or peels away.  I only bought this one ROCCAT pad, due to a rounded edge claiming it never separates from each other.  Just have to wait and see because mouse pad manufacturers seem to lie now more than Razer Corp  .

[vun]

This would be my final purchase in the world of so-called SOFT mouse pads, just bought a ROCCAT Hiro 3D Supremacy Surface Gaming Mousepad (ROC-13-411).

Just want to try another softie before swinging back to the hardcore pads that never wear out their edges or peels away.  I only bought this one ROCCAT pad, due to a rounded edge claiming it never separates from each other.  Just have to wait and see because mouse pad manufacturers seem to lie now more than Razer Corp  .

Or you could just get a Goliathus, stitched edges means it'll take waaaaay longer before you'll start seeing the layers come apart. I wish more manufacturers would do that.

[Elrick]

Or you could just get a Goliathus, stitched edges means it'll take waaaaay longer before you'll start seeing the layers come apart. I wish more manufacturers would do that.

I know it seems to sound good BUT I really do HATE their LOGO emblazoned upon the surface of this mouse pad.  If it can be removed without damaging the surface then I would try it.  Razer will never get FREE advertising on my desk(s).  It shows how much I truly 'love' that company  .

[noisyturtle]

I also have a Hein in red and that was the same deal, sans the fuzzing. The edges of the fabric began to peel away from the mat and bunch up which got very frustrating. I tried to superglue them back down but the glue seeped through the fabric, and now the edges of my Hein are white and crusty and look gross. Otherwise the pad still works fine, although I do prefer the Hayate overall.
I'll take some pics showing the bunching later if you want.

Was pretty much set on a Hein but you've changed my mind heh

Don't let me change your mind, Artisan pads are amazing they just have a short lifespan.

[Emospence]

Don't let me change your mind, Artisan pads are amazing they just have a short lifespan.

Some are telling me they last just fine. All this mixed info!

[noisyturtle]

Don't let me change your mind, Artisan pads are amazing they just have a short lifespan.

Some are telling me they last just fine. All this mixed info!

 ) No, I'm saying they are incredible surfaces if you enjoy cloth mats, but they don't last too long.

[Emospence]

) No, I'm saying they are incredible surfaces if you enjoy cloth mats, but they don't last too long.

I know, it's just some people are saying they last fine

I ordered 2 red Hien VEs :s

[Elrick]

) No, I'm saying they are incredible surfaces if you enjoy cloth mats, but they don't last too long.

I know, it's just some people are saying they last fine

I ordered 2 red Hien VEs :s

I have just received my ROCCAT Hiro 3D mouse pad.  It feels like a cloth mat but made from vulcanized silicone.  I think it's way better than any Artisan pad, yes - I have thrown down the gauntlet challenging one and all with this statement  .