Best Gaming Mouse Pad of 2020

What is a gaming mouse pad?

A gaming mouse pad is a surface on which a gaming mouse is used. Unlike a regular mouse pad, a gaming pad is designed to help the player improve gaming performance.

The object’s glide over such a surface is smooth and effortless, and it makes your gaming rig look way fiercer. Apart from its appearance-boosting features, it can actually have some cool and practical features as well (e.g., wireless charging, RGB lighting, and more).

How does a gaming mouse pad work?

The gaming mouse pad works like all the other regular ones you can find. The materials and designs used to create a gaming one might differ from other pads one can find out there. The goal of these mouse pads for gamers is to protect the desk surface, make the cursor move effortlessly, and avoid gamer’s annoyance.

Advantages and Applications

According to various gaming mouse pad tests, they turn out to have quite a few benefits—and most gaming enthusiasts will agree on that. First of all, they offer great peripheral control, which is one of the most important parts of gaming. When in-game, a player could use all the help to gain control over the circumstances as video games are getting increasingly demanding as the years pass. This is where this seemingly unimportant piece of gaming equipment can come in handy.

Gaming requires a lot of concentration. Professional gamers sometimes need to remove all the potential obstacles to be able to show their skill level. Equipment problems could be disruptive and annoying, and they can even affect the player’s performance. Hard-core gamers know that that piece of cloth, foam, plastic, or whatever, could be responsible for their in-game performance levels. However, increasing performance levels is not the last advantage there is.

Gaming setup customization is the secret obsession of almost every gamer out there. This is possible with various pieces of equipment, including a mouse pad. The XL mouse pads can cover a great deal of desk surface, making it look themed and professional. Besides, it can be used to cover up scratches on a desk and protect other pieces of hardware from unnecessary wear and tear.

What types of gaming mouse pads are out there?

In terms of size, there are several different types of gaming mouse pads. No matter how limited you are with your desk space, you will probably be able to find a suitable size for you. The sizes vary from small or regular ones to large, extra-large, and sometimes even custom-made.

In addition, there are so many different shapes, but the most common ones are rectangular and square. The third most popular shape is circular, and players can always opt for a variety of customized, irregular shapes. Yet again, one can choose the most convenient option according to personal needs.

The base thickness is also used to categorize mouse pads. Extra thin pads can have a very slim base starting at 2 mm (or 0.08 inches), which is great for gamers who love the low-profile look. Moving on to the standard base thickness of 3 mm (0.12 inches), which is not too thin, but it also isn’t on the thicker side. All heavy-based pads go from 5 mm (0.2 inches) and provide a more comfortable feel.

Gaming mouse pads can have different levels of sturdiness, varying from soft to hard. Different materials used to design one can contribute to this.

The sturdy ones include the following.

Plastic
Aluminum
Glass
Wood
Stone
Stainless steel

The softer ones include the following.

Fabric
Rubber
Neoprene
Leather
Cork

Additionally, you can support your wrist by investing in a gaming mouse pad with a wrist rest pillow. Repetitive mechanical motions gamers make can lead to wrist tenosynovitis due to overuse and fatigue. This completely individual problem can be reduced by using a wrist rest pillow mouse pad.

How a Gaming Mouse Pad is Tested

To find the gaming mouse pad test winner for you, you will have to keep certain criteria in the back of your mind. The three most important parts of a mouse pad are its surface, base, and edge finish. The synergy of the three parts and the perfect balance is what makes a great mouse pad. Take a look at some of the most important features to which you should pay attention when buying your next gaming mouse pad.

Surface friction level
Base slip level
Size
Comfort and durability
Physical appearance
Price

What to Look For When Buying a Gaming Mouse pad

Price–performance ratio

One of the first gaming mouse pad test parameters when buying this piece of gaming equipment is the price–performance ratio. In case the mouse pad is on the pricey side, it is likely that the materials used to make it are durable and of high quality. However, many manufacturers add unhelpful characteristics just to sell.

Style

Choosing the right kind of style is completely individual and it all depends on what the gamer loves. There are many plain, monochrome models, others feature a print or a theme, or even RGB lights. So, choosing any particular style is ultimately a matter of taste.

Gamer’s expectations and needs

Depending on the type of games you play, you might prefer a different mouse pad. For example, FPS-type games might require a mouse pad that allows faster movements and less friction. If you are an MMO gamer, you might need a bigger surface to access your skills and weapons more easily.

Best Gaming Mouse Pad Brands

When you think of a blue-themed gaming setup and a minimalistic gaming mouse pad, you think Logitech. The company has been present in the industry for a long time. They offer cloth, hard, as well as wireless charging system mats. As a cherry on top, they offer their special Pro series for e-sports players.

This brand offers a lot of different options when it comes to gaming mouse pads. They provide ultimate control for video game players for “pixel-precise shots,” as they claim. Their webshop offers hard- and cloth-surfaced pads, as well as RGB and wireless charging gaming pads.

In addition to their standard mouse pads, Sharkoon offers the 1337 edition, or the “Gaming Mat for the Elite,” including various pad sizes. Naturally, they offer RGB, wireless charging, and regular pads of varying softness and size. These mats are designed for precise gaming with full and easy control that pro gamers will love.

Razer is famous for designing high-performance gaming hardware as well as software. Their trademark is their RGB products and also the possibility of combining and synchronizing all of their RGB devices and accessories such as mouse pads.

Another great gaming equipment manufacturer that offers RGB and red-themed plain stylized gaming mouse pads. This affordable brand offers Fury as their pro gaming line with a few different models such as the Fury S, the Fury S Speed Edition, and Fury Ultra.

Apart from their minimalistic and RGB mouse mats, SteelSeries offers the QcK artist series of mouse pads. These mouse pads all have different designs from various artists that collaborated with the brand. Most of these mouse pads are usually limited-edition products, and some are webshop-exclusive.

With a collection of premium gaming surface mats, Roccat is one of the high-end gaming mouse pad brands. The materials they use are durable while allowing the user to have full control. Some of their pads have max grip, dual side, smooth surface, and high precision as main characteristics.

Internet Versus Retail Trade: Where should I buy my gaming mouse pad?

It is always better to purchase a gaming mouse pad online. First of all, you can manage a limited series product as soon as it appears in the online store. Secondly, many brands offer an additional discount for completing purchases online and they usually have some web-only products. Plus, the product will be delivered to your doorstep, so you won’t have to even leave your home to buy one.

On the other hand, buying in a regular store can help you see the product, but you will probably need to pay a bit more for it than in an online store.

Advantages and Disadvantages Based on Customer Reviews

Disadvantages

Stitching causes it to not lay flat

Some mouse pads have stitches on the edge that might cause the surface to be slightly lifted. It can disturb gamers who tend to spend a lot of time playing.

Undoing the roll-up is difficult

Shipping items such as a gaming mouse pad might include rolling the item. Sometimes unpacking could get difficult and the product might become creased.

Poor quality

Mouse pads can be made from various materials, and sometimes the quality of those materials will affect the overall quality of the product. Many reviews criticize the poor quality of stitches, surfaces, foam, plastic, and other parts.

Great pad, smells bad

Reviews including a complaint of peculiar smell of gaming mouse pads are quite common. Sometimes this can be due to the material the manufacturer used to create the pad or even packaging and storage problems.

Coloring is not as in pictures

This is often the most common type of reviews related to the product. If a gaming mouse mat has a print on it it might not look the same as on the picture once it arrives. The inability to create product images that can depict the colors and look of the product is one great setback.

Slow edition

Mouse mats that say “Speed Edition” might have low performance due to bad texture and surface bumps. Too much friction will slow down the mouse, which might be a problem in low-quality gaming products.

If you like a noisy pad, this is for you

Yet again, different materials used for the surface level of a mouse pad can cause a lot of noise. Buyers who prefer a quiet environment while playing should definitely pay attention to this one.

Tracking issues

When a mouse pad has tracking issues, it is usually a really bad sign. It is either of really poor quality or it is not compatible with your mouse.

Too small

Gaming mouse pads come in various sizes and buyers sometimes ignore that. Make sure to carefully read the description of a product and order the size that will meet your expectations.

Advantages

Comfort

Gaming mouse mats can be quite comfortable, especially if they come with wrist support add-ins. The softer and thicker the mat, the more comfortable it can be.

Glides perfectly

The main goal of a pro gaming mouse pad is that it has just enough friction and that it allows the mouse to glide perfectly.

Full control

Another common review regarding the advantages of a gaming mouse pad is that it allows players to be in full control while playing games. This might be the single most important advantage of any product from this category.

Good value for money

When a piece of gaming equipment doesn’t disappoint users, they tend to feel fortunate for making the purchase. If the quality of a product is great and the price is on the lower side, that is always a plus.

Pleasant RGB

Mats made by companies such as Razer put in a lot of effort into making their RGB products convenient for use.

Super comfortable and big enough for a whole desk

Most brands make their mouse mats in various sizes, including XXL, which can cover the majority of most desk surfaces.

Stitching is well done

When done properly, stitching can add to the cosmetics of a mouse pad without bothering the user. If high-quality threads are used, stitching will remain flawless even after many hours of use.

Looks exactly like the picture

When a premium brand offers its product online, the buyers get what they see.

Great looks and function

The design and the functionality of a gaming mouse pad can be well-balanced and these are usually the high-rated products.

A great solution to a typical mouse pad

Gaming mouse mats can be quite different from the standard ones. This is why users who switch from basic to pro can feel the difference immediately.

The History of Gaming Mouse Pads

Back in 1968, mouse pads were presented as a support area for one of the most important elements of computer hardware, the mouse. It was done by Jack Kelley of Herman Miller, who created the first official mouse pad in 1969.

In 1979, A. M. Fernandez designed another one and described it as a “CRT Cursor Control Mechanism Pad.”

The mouse that was designed in that period, the Xerox ball mouse, had a cathode ray tube pointer and a ball (metal). It was hard using one without a mouse pad, plus, all sorts of residue and dirt would stick to the ball. Later on, the first manufacturer of mouse pads, MousTrak, appeared. Even if it used to be a luxury product, it became affordable in the 1980s as low-cost mouse pads started appearing on the market.

Figures, Data, and Facts about Gaming Mouse Pads

Here are some interesting facts and dates related to gaming mouse pads.

The first time the term mouse pad was supposedly used was on August 24, 1983. The Oxford Dictionary was able to go back to this date and find the term in an InfoWorld publication. In addition to that, the British term mousemat was tracked back to October 17, 1989.

The first time a mouse pad was presented along with the Xerox ball mouse, it consisted of rubber-like material attached to a hard base. The hard base was there to keep the top surface flat, and the lower side of the base had rubber pads to avoid sliding off the desk.

In 2017, Healthline made an observation that if one does not clean the mouse pad for over four months, the accuracy of the cursor tends to decrease. This is why it is so important to keep the mouse pad clean.

Apple distributed MousTrak’s mouse pads all across the US with an Apple logo in the 1980s. During its prime time, MousTrak collaborated with Paramount, Lucasfilm, and Disney.

Install a Gaming Mouse Pad Correctly in 4 Steps

When buying a mouse pad, you will need to place it on your desk surface correctly. Here’s how to do it.

Spet 1

Unpack the gaming mouse pad making sure that you don’t damage the product.

Spet 2

If the item was delivered rolled up, make sure to unroll it and place it upside down on a flat surface.

Spet 3

After a few hours, you may flip the pad and use it. If there is still some unevenness, put a heavy, flat object such as a book on top of it to flatten it.

Spet 4

Make sure to set it on a clean desk surface and clean the keyboard as well as a mouse before placing them on top.

10 Tips for Care

Tip 1

When handled improperly, your gaming mouse pad won’t last too long. Take a look at how to take care of it properly.

Tip 2

Don’t put a gaming mouse pad near a heating source. Most such products are made from different foams and plastic and can be damaged by heat.

Tip 3

Read the washing instructions. If a product says that it is machine washable, you can easily throw it in a machine to wash it. Otherwise, make sure to follow the cleaning instructions.

Tip 4

Don’t fold it. If you tend to fold a corner or a side of your mouse mat, it will crease. Sometimes these creases are impossible to flatten back out again.

Tip 5

Avoid pulling the stitches. The stitches on the edge of them can come apart if you pull them. This can affect the quality of the product.

Tip 6

Don’t rip off or tear the foam. Doing this you will affect the product’s looks, functionality, and longevity.

Tip 7

Avoid using water on RGB mats. Gaming mouse mats that use RGB lighting or have a function of wireless charging for a mouse can malfunction if you clean them with water.

Tip 8

Don’t write, draw, or doodle on your mouse pad. If you want to prolong the usage of your mouse mat, make sure not to make any notes or doodles on its surface.

Tip 9

Clean it regularly. The whole surface of your mouse pad can get quite dirty if you don’t clean it regularly. Be sure to clean the mouse, too. This can affect functions and appearance.

Tip 10

Don’t peel off the fabric on top. Peeling off the cloth on the surface can make the mat completely useless and destroy all of its gaming features.

Tip 11

Avoid eating and drinking near it. To keep your whole gaming setup clean, stainless, and hygienic, make sure to avoid eating, drinking, and smoking near it.

Useful Accessories

Pieces of equipment such as gaming mouse pads usually don’t have many accessories. However, we managed to find a few.

A cleaning solution and a microfiber cloth are one of the most needed “accessories” for your gaming mouse pad. Mouse pads dirty easily and the more often you clean it, the better.

If you don’t like built-in wrist support pillows and you feel pain in your wrist after gaming all night, buy a separate one. This little silicone or foam pillow can be a keyboard wrist rest pads you can add to your gaming rig to maximize comfort.

FAQs

Are gaming mouse pads different from regular mouse pads?

Gaming mouse pads should provide better control, optimal friction, and an overall better gaming experience than regular mouse pads.

Which gaming mouse pads are the best?

Selecting one product as the ultimate one is difficult. What makes a mouse pad good is the synthesis of the unique characteristics that a certain gamer is looking for.

Is a gaming mouse pad necessary for gaming?

No. A gaming mouse pad is not a necessary part of your gaming equipment. However, some players cannot play without one and further claim that they notice better results when using one.

What is a good gaming mouse pad?

A good gaming mouse pad is the one that has all the features you need. The quality of the material used to make it, levels of softness, durability, design, and other parameters can affect it and it is completely subjective.

Are gaming mouse pads expensive?

The price of gaming mouse pads can vary from very cheap ones to lux versions. It all comes down to the brand and how much one is willing to pay.

Where can I buy gaming mouse pads?

If you don’t feel like going to the nearest PC equipment store, you can buy your new gaming mouse pad online.

Can gaming-specific pads be used for anything other than gaming?

Sure. Gaming-specific mouse pads can be used for any kind of activity needed to be done on a PC or laptop.

Why are gaming mouse pads so big?

Most FPS gamers will adjust their mouse sensitivity to low. With such settings and a small pad surface, it would be quite difficult to play and achieve any success.

What are gaming mouse pads made of?

Most gaming mouse mats are made out of rubber composites, fabric, leather, or plastic.

Are hard mouse pads good for gaming?

Depending on the player’s preference and the type of mouse sensors, some gamers might prefer hard surface mouse pads. Typically, though, softer, cloth pads are in higher demand.

Alternatives to Gaming Mouse Pads

Here are some of the gaming mouse pad alternatives gamers sometimes use.

Magazines

A thicker magazine might work as a temporary substitute for a mouse pad, but don’t expect much.

Placemat

A placemat with a nice smooth surface could be a short-term substitute, as well.

Cardboard

If you have an old box made out of fine cardboard, you might want to try that out.