Mats: all the information you need to know ?? ️✔️
Table of contents:
- Mat Materials
- Cloth
- Plastic
- Aluminum
- Crystal
- Mat finishes
- Mat Formats
- Sizes
- Shapes
- Conclusions on the mats
It is often one of the accessories that we pay less attention to when assembling our computer and organizing our gaming space, but the mats can become more relevant than it seems at first glance. Today in Professional Review: everything you need to know about floor mats.
Index of contents
Mat Materials
Currently we can find mainly four types of materials used when making mats. Each of them offers different types of surface and qualities, so we can obtain different sensations when moving the mouse over them due to the resistance they oppose:
- Cloth Plastic Aluminum Crystal
Cloth
We have all used a cloth mat at some time in our lives, even if we have not realized it. They are extremely common and the cheapest to make alongside plastic ones. This type of mat is the one that offers greater resistance when sliding the mouse, but also because of this they tend to be the most accurate. One thing to keep in mind is that we must be careful when keeping them clean since they lose effectiveness with the washes.
The micro-fiber surface is normally glued to a flexible rubber sheet that fixes the mat to the table. Unfortunately, they tend to wear out relatively easily in the area where our arm makes contact when sliding and the fabric loses fixation with respect to the rubber or falls apart. The good thing is that due to its low price we can easily replace it with another model. It should also be noted that they are not very suitable for people with a tendency to sweat for this same reason.
Plastic
Like fabric ones, they are very used and cheap. The materials used can vary but generally they usually combine PVC, rubber, polyurethane or silicone. The result of these is its level of friction, although it is usually between medium and low since the mouse tends to glide more easily over them than on canvas. Being plastic , maintenance and cleaning are more comfortable and can be done with a damp cloth or some models can be thrown in the washing machine. We can also find models with textures, screenprints or imitation leather. An advantage of these mats is that they withstand spills very well.
HP OMEN 100 - Mouse Pad (Black, 360mm x 300mm x 4mm) Size: 360x300x4amm. Weight: 0.22kg.; - - 10, 19 EUR Fellowes Gel Crystals - Mouse pad with mouse pad, Violet Nice gel texture, very easy to clean with just a damp cloth; Non-slip base adaptable to any surface 15.99 EUR Aisakoc Mouse Pad, 900 x400x2mm Ultra Thin Anti-Slip and Waterproof Double-sided PU Leather Desk Mat 17.99 EURAluminum
Aluminum mats have two layers: the table contact surface is non-slip rubber and the cover, which contains aluminum particles (normal or aviation) or a sheet of it. Its advantages are that they are extremely smooth and waterproof. It is not recommended to wash them in the washing machine, so the ideal for them is dry cleaning with a damp cloth. They can be rigid or flexible, but the smooth ones are usually literally made of aluminum foil, which can cause wear on mouse surfers .
Mars Gaming MMP3 - PC gaming mat (highest precision with any mouse, aluminum surface, natural rubber base, maximum comfort, nanotrack technology, 35 x 28 cm) 6, 90 EUR Gaming Mouse Pad, Jelly Comb Aluminum Mouse Mat Surface Matte, Slip, Solid, Silver Non-slip rubber base provides strong grip and security during play; Completely waterproof, easy to clean 14.99 EUR COOLEAD Aluminum Round Gaming Mouse Pad Waterproof Surface and Non-Slip Rubber Base Mousepad Metal Games Mouse Mat Mouse Pad for Office PC Computer Computer 8.75 EURCrystal
Few, fragile, expensive and heavier. Glass mats are not very popular in the market. For many it is a price to pay for the minimum percentage of friction possible (almost non-existent) and that will never wear out, but in our opinion it does not compensate for the cons. Like aluminum models they are waterproof, but they also have a tendency to undermine the mounts of our mouse with use. Glass particles can cause problems for some models of optical or laser mice and we have to be aware of their compatibility.
Perixx dx-4000W, Professional Crystal design Mouse pad Ideal with laser mouse Use 250x 210x 5mm, White Color Dimension 250x 210x 5mm; Tempered glass with Lightning quick glide.; Classic and elegant design for professional use and graphic design.Mat finishes
- Normal: “normal” or standard mats are between 0.2 and 0.3 mm thick. Thick: we consider a thick mat from 0.4 or 0.5mm. Stitched edge: It is typical of cloth mats. It is carried out to avoid the problem of separation of the micro-fiber fabric and the rubber base. Hard: Hard or semi-rigid mats are not flexible and cannot roll up. Those made of glass or aluminum belong to this category, although there may also be plastic models that are semi-rigid depending on the materials used. Its main advantage is that they are difficult to deform, making their surface reliable for much longer. RGB Prism: As you can imagine they are totally focused on gaming and they are quite attractive. The vast majority are made of fabric or plastic since they are the materials preferred by the general public and the most demanded. Disadvantages? Well they have some drawbacks, as they suppose one more cable to have around the desk since they need a USB port for RGB lighting. There is also the detail of cleaning and care that is needed, since they do not get along well with liquids and we cannot throw them in the washing machine. Lastly, they are typically rigid mats, making them less portable.
Mat Formats
The last section to deal with, but not for that reason with less variety. There are sizes and shapes for all tastes, and it is that at the beginning of time the mats were all rectangular or square with noses. They are still the most widely used formats, but today thanks to technologies such as laser automation there are many more varieties of shapes.
Sizes
Something to keep in mind when purchasing a mouse pad is the space on our desk and the amount of DPI of our mouse. A small desk can make good use of a full or small mouse pad. If we have a large table and we also use very low DPI to move the mouse, we will need a larger mat. Finally and regarding the materials, you can find any of the types in all of them, although the glass ones tend to be small and the medium-sized aluminum ones.
SteelSeries Mat Sizes
Here are some standardized examples, although they vary by manufacturer:
- Small: 21 x 25 cm Medium: 32 x 26 cm Large: 45 x 40 cm Extra large: 45 x 90 cm
Shapes
On the other hand there are ergonomic mats or that have memory foam or gel palm rests. For many players it can be very practical since it helps reduce problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome, but if we need to make very fast or sudden movements, they can often be cumbersome. Here are some models:
Mouse Pad Wrist Cushion with Wrist Rest, Ergonomic Memory Gel Support For Workers And Players black (Mouse pad) 7, 99 EUR Fellowes Gel Crystals - Mouse pad with ergonomic mouse pad, black Improve your productivity while working with this compatible wrist rest with optical mouse 15, 99 EUR Razer RZ02-02180100-R3M1 - Double-Sided Gaming Mouse Pads, Color Black Optimized form factor; Improved tracking surfaces; Memory Foam Wrist Rest Pad 39.99 EUR Kensington 62401 Ergonomic Mouse Pad with Gel Do Wrist Rest, For Laser and Optical Mouse, Non-Slip Gel Pad, Blue 14.38 EURConclusions on the mats
There is no perfect mat, but there is the perfect mat for every player. It all depends on our preferences and needs regarding size, shape and materials. The budget is also relevant, but generally a mat will not be an expense that will take away our sleep (unless you want it extra-large and with lights).
From Professional Review we can tell you that a cloth mat is the best option if you have a laser mouse not only for its price, but also because they do not reflect the light from the mouse. Opticians, on the other hand, find this point indifferent, so its use is precise and comfortable.
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