Steelpad S&S Mousepad

Making a better mouse…pad?

by Joshua Walrath

Overall Performance

            For quite some time, I really relished the feel of a band new Ratpadz GS.  It was smooth, slick, and uniform in its feel.  That feeling of course faded once the pad started to wear.  Frankly I did not think that the folks at Steelpad could surpass this feeling.  They did.

A good look at the overall shape and texture of the pad.  Nicely pebbled with an overall smooth mousing experience.

            Initial movement is smoother than what I had previously experienced, but there is still enough traction on the mouse to give it a firm feeling.  It is also textured enough that the user can receive a lot of tactile information on mouse movements, even very fine and precise ones.  The mouse does make some sound when it is moved, but it is nowhere near the scratching sound reported for the metal products from Steelpad.  In gaming and productivity settings, the noise is easily ignored by the user.

            The size of the pad basically insures that the user will not suddenly “run out of mousepad” at the most inopportune moment.  This is a problem that I have experienced with other products, and I am sure most readers can attest to such situations.

            Even when the pad is somewhat dirty, it still has a very good feel to it.  Once larger dirt or sand particles get on it though, it will start to scrape the mouse and the pad.  Keeping it clean is key to its performance.

This really does measure 1/12th of an inch thick.  As such, the wrist will not have to bend upward at all to grip the mouse.

            I must say that I am very pleased with the overall feeling of the pad, and the other design aspects such as its large size and thin profile help to make it a very comfortable and versatile mousepad.  I never felt uncomfortable with this pad, and the edges did not irritate my wrist in the least. 

Conclusion

            I have finally found the mousepad I have been looking for since I started gaming.  I honestly can not think of any improvements that would make this product any better.  It has excellent wear characteristics, excellent tactile feel, is planted firmly on the desk with no movement, and has plenty of space for any kind of mouse movement.

Though harder to see, the back is covered with "droplets" of a very sticky rubber material.  This creates a backing that will stick to even the slickest surface a user can find.

            While this pad is aimed at gamers, it would also find a very happy home for those working on professional applications.  Its smoothness would be great for any kind of graphics work, and its large size easily handles setups that utilize multiple monitors (no picking up the mouse and repositioning it).  Its durability more than makes up for its higher than average price, and it appears like it will last for many years (much like the original Ratpadz did).

            This is, without a doubt, the finest mousepad I have ever had the privilege of owning and using.  I just can’t see myself going back to the Ratpadz GS, Ratpadz, or any Everglide product.

Overall Score: 97%

Pros

Large surface

Excellent wear characteristics

Very smooth feel

Good tactile sensation

Easy to clean

Rubber base allows no slippage

Great for both ball and optical mice

Price is very reasonable

Protective case

S&S Padsurfers included

Cons

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