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Everglide Xtreme Mouse Pads |
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Written by Mikhail Ivanenkov
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Wednesday, 13 June 2007 |
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Thanks to GamerzStuff for the product sample.
Just a few years back the "gaming mouse pad" as we know it was defined by only a handful of manufacturers. With today's advanced optical engines almost any surface is suitable, making it significantly easier to make a pad and call it high performance. Since the tracking bit is all but identical across most pads, differentiation is seen in sizes, comfort, designs, versatility, and a slew of other features that until recently were unheard of.
Like so many companies, GamerzStuff is a newcomer to the scene. They sent us 4 of their 5 Everglide Xtreme mouse pads, as seen above. They're more or less the same, differing only in size, thickness, and backing material. Each pad has a printed converging pattern which a random cloud-like print in the background. They're very rich in detail and while this certainly doesn't hurt tracking, with current technology a completely black pad will fare just as well. These just look cooler.
There are 5 total pads available. Clockwise from top left: GamingMat (11" x 16" x 3mm), MouseMat (8.5" x 10" x 3mm), MouseMat Ultra (8.5" x 11" x 1.5mm), and GamingMat Ultra (11" x 16" x 1.5mm). There's also a MegaMat (14" x 17.5" x 3mm) that's not in stock as of yet. Each pad uses a vinyl matte finish surface and non-slip rubber backing of either 3mm or 1.5mm variety.
Although vinyl, up close the front of each pad is very finely textured which helps with tracking. On the flipside, you can either opt for a thin 1.5mm non-slip backing or a slightly thicker, more textured 3mm back. Neither one really slips, but if I had to choose a more stable one I'd go with the latter. Also, the thicker pad has a layer of cushion between the two surfaces, so it's nicer on the wrists than the thin pad. Neither one can be rolled up due to the semi rigid vinyl matte top layer.
As for the thickness, the thicker pad is in fact 3mm. The ultra-thin ones, on the other hand, are actually less than 1mm. Both have the same tracking abilities, but as previously mentioned the thicker pads are more comfortable and less dependent on the surface they're placed upon thanks to the cushion.
Testing a mouse pad is of course subjective. Using my Logitech MX510 and less-than-impressive gaming rig, I fired up good 'ol Quake 3 (naturally followed by Doom 3). And then there's all the office work, which doesn't require as much "mouse action", but the movements need to be just as precise. The only other gaming/performance mats at my disposal were the recently reviewed XtracPads series. Did I notice any difference? Not really. Tracking is exceptional with all these pads, though XtracPads are a tad slicker (and therefore allow the mouse to glide more).
Price is the final selling point: with models like the Steelpad S&S running upwards of $40, other companies are low-balling with single digit offerings. Fortunately for Everglide the Xtreme pads are anything but expensive, ranging from $5 for the smaller versions to about $13 for the oversized pads. If you have a performance mouse, you owe it to yourself to get a performance pad and these days they're about as cheap as case fans.
Pros
- Sleek design
- Good size choices
- Non-slip backings
- Flawless tracking
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Cloth surface option is needed
So, should you consider Everglide Xtreme mouse mats when shopping for a performance pad? Absolutely. Are they any better than almost every other gaming pad out there? Not really. In the end, it all comes down to aesthetics, feel, and price. Personally I'm going back to my cloth pad and I would encourage Everglide to create a cloth option of the Xtreme series (for comfort reasons), but that's just personal preference. Get yours here.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 26 June 2007 )
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