As a Cherry MX blue user looking to go linear,should I go with reds or blacks?

[Nikelu]

What's your opinions on this matter? I heard that reds are really really light for some users and some who purchased a keyboard with reds think that blacks would be a much better option.Are they really different or is it just the actuation force required.

[jacobolus]

I’m not a linear switch guy, so don’t take my opinion as gospel, but I don’t like either MX red or MX black. One isn’t stiff enough, and the other is too stiff. I personally think the reasonable range of stiffnesses for linear MX switches is from “62g” to “67g” “Korean” springs, or the springs from MX clear switches are also kind of interesting. Linear MX switches really need some lubricant added to be pleasant; unmodified, they’re quite frictiony.

Alternately, black Gateron switches from https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=68943.0 should be a pretty good weight, and a bit smoother than current MX switches.

Better still, both white Hi-Tek “space invader” switches, and green complicated Alps are quite nice linear switches, if you can find them in good condition, though obviously neither is compatible with keyboards designed for MX switches.

[Nikelu]

Yeah I was considering Clears too tbh. Also the gateron seem super interesting. Is it easy to put switches on ?

[jacobolus]

Yeah I was considering Clears too tbh.

I mean, pulling the springs out of MX clear switches, and swapping them into a linear MX switch.

Also the gateron seem super interesting. Is it easy to put switches on ?

If you have a soldering iron and some soldering experience it’s pretty easy. If you don’t, it’s a fun way to learn to solder. :-)

[custommods]

i use reds and they are great. if you put o rings in them they are really nice!

soft handed + with o rings its virtually soundless (there is sound)

[snipars]

I'd say black. i think reds are too light

[Oobly]

I like 62g springs for linears, but anything from 62g to 67g is acceptable. I find Ghost Blacks (linears with Clear springs) too stiff for my taste, although I like the force profile, how it stiffens up more near the bottom.

So I'd say: Neither. Get whichever you like the colour of and swap in some Korean 62 to 67g springs.

[feizor]

62g is a popular weight. However stock for stock, coming from blues I think you would find that red is slight lighter but black is much heavier. Although blues are rated at actuation of 55g, once you pass the click, there's not much resistance, whereas with blacks, actuation is at 60g but the resistance builds all the way to 80g as you fully depress the switch.

So to directly compare the three from actuation to bottom out:
Red 45g-60g
Blue 55g-60g
Black 60g-80g

Essentially blues and reds use the same springs but blues take 10g extra to actuate due to the little bump on the clicky part of the stem.

Hope this answers your question.

[Sencha]

Gotta say Reds. But I'm bias...they're my favourite MX switch.

[Novus]

Can't speak for others but I went from blues to red with no issues. if you bottom out a lot on reds though you won't really like it.