Does using arm sleeves look extremely silly while gaming? Absolutely, no question. In return, the highlight clips in shooters are very impressive – or even in Minecraft:
Mousepads are an immensely important part of your gaming setup
What matters in mousepads? The perhaps most important issue that needs to be addressed is the role of mousepads in the gaming setup. Because they not only protect your desk from scratches caused by the mouse – they directly influence how you can move your mouse.
For example, if you apply a lot of pressure on your mouse while aiming, you might not want to buy a soft fabric pad because your mouse could literally sink into it. Especially in particularly sweaty matches, where you sit there grinding your teeth in front of the screen, your mouse movements can therefore be restricted – causing you to miss the headshot.
Speaking of sweating: Regular fabric pads vary in performance depending on the weather. Especially in summer, the higher humidity can give the pad a “mushy” feel, which also affects performance. This affects consistency in aiming, which is a noticeable problem here at Lake Constance.
Is such a purchase a must? Even though I have a lot of enthusiasm for the topic of mousepads, I also have to clearly state that this expensive top solution is not a necessity. Nevertheless, I recommend that every shooter fan pays a little more attention to their mousepad.
In my experience, most players use the first available solution from Logitech, Amazon, or even IKEA. And although none of these pads is directly bad, a conscious decision for a better mousepad can directly improve your performance.
The next time you game, pay attention to your habits while aiming. How do you move, how hard do you press the mouse, how do you stop it? These observations not only make upgrading your mousepad easier – this awareness helps you improve aspects of your aiming that go beyond mouse settings.
There are good mousepad alternatives beyond glass
What alternatives to the glass pad are there? If you want to replace your mousepad but don’t want to reach straight for the highest shelf, there are some good alternatives for every type of player.
- Those who want a fast pad should try the Endgame Gear MPC. The Cordura fabric allows for super fast movements and is also water-resistant.
- For a good balance, the Cooler Master MP511 is a great solution for a very good price. The performance of the MP511 is comparable to that of the SkyPad.
- If you’re looking for maximum control, the G-SR from Zowie is unmatched. However, the pad doesn’t last forever (experts say about 8 – 10 months on average) and reacts ‘allergic’ to high humidity.
*Affiliate-Links. Wir erhalten bei einem Kauf eine kleine Provision von Amazon. Vielen Dank für Eure Unterstützung!
Whether you choose the SkyPad or one of the many good alternatives – don’t underestimate how much difference the right mousepad can make.
If you want to learn what hardware I recommend in the area of controllers, I refer you to another article of mine:
This is how I enormously improved my Xbox Elite controller for just 25 €
Mousepads are extremely underestimated, but they are incredibly important for shooter fans. At least that’s what Marko Jevtic, shooter expert at MeinMMO, says. Why that is the case, and which mousepad is clearly the best for him, he explains here.
Anyone who has been in the Twitch chat of a shooter pro like Shroud or Dr Disrespect sees the same questions again and again. Which mouse is being used, what is the mouse sensitivity?
I am also interested in such things, but I feel that one accessory in the discussion is often neglected: the mousepad. There’s a lot to discuss. People who have ever ventured into the subreddit of mousepad nerds are overwhelmed by tabular rankings and unbearable, lengthy blocks of explanatory text.
And what can I say? I wrote the linked chunk of text. Between 2019 and 2020, I tried over 20 mousepads, spending nearly 1,000 €. All to find the perfect pad. Because mousepads are more than just a playing surface – they determine how you can move the mouse.
Just as the right sneakers are important when jogging, as they cushion the foot strike and support your movements, mousepads are important for aiming. Ideally, they emphasize your gaming strengths and mask your weaknesses.
This results in expertise in all the nuances of the shooter genre. He is in frequent contact with legends of the shooter community like KovaaK (known for his popular aim trainer and also a user of the glass mousepad).
Which mousepad did I choose? The best mousepad I have tried today is the SkyPad 3.0. One thing makes this pad particularly special: It’s completely made of glass. It has many advantages, such as consistently reliable performance and durability.
The SkyPad 3.0 offers perfect performance under all conditions
Why is the SkyPad so good? In the mousepad market, I have tried all the relevant mousepads – from A for Artisan Hien to Z for Zowie GSR-SE. The glass mousepad is the best solution I have found so far because it avoids all these issues. It is also incredibly popular among aim gurus such as KovaaK.
No matter how high the humidity is, or how hard I press the mouse button – the SkyPad cannot give way because it is made of glass. This ensures consistent performance that I can always rely on.
Particularly impressive is that the SkyPad offers a perfect balance of speed and control. Typical fabric pads are not particularly fast, but their softness makes stopping a movement very easy. Pads made of plastic or the water-repellent fabric Cordura are significantly faster, making it harder to stop efficiently.
However, with the SkyPad, fast movements are both easy and perfectly stoppable. The reason is that the glass is not perfectly smooth. Many fine “sand grains” on the surface are not visible but can be felt with a fingernail. Thanks to these, you have more than enough control over the mouse.
This short YouTube video captures how a (comparatively heavy) mouse glides and sounds on the SkyPad 3.0:
Also worth highlighting are additional benefits that go beyond gaming:
- With dimensions of 40 x 50 x 0.3 cm, the pad is very large. This makes it easier to use slower mouse sensitivities, which in turn can lead to higher precision in-game.
- If you crumb at your desk or spill a drink over the glass mousepad, you can easily wipe up the mess without long-term stains. Afterward, you can continue directly because no fabric needs to dry first.
- If you have pets, you don’t have to worry about fur getting stuck in the fabric fibers. With a wipe of a microfiber cloth, everything is perfectly clean again.
- Fabric pads have a light coating that dissolves over time. This significantly affects performance. The glass pad, on the other hand, does not wear out, and technically never needs to be replaced.
You also don’t have to worry about the durability of the SkyPad. Due to its high weight, it sits stably on the desk, and with normal use, it doesn’t even get scratches. If it does fall for some reason, there’s still no reason to worry, as this official tweet shows:
What are the disadvantages of the glass mousepad? The SkyPad also has its problems, which I naturally do not want to withhold:
- The price is very high. 120 US dollars is the cost of the pad, plus shipping from Denmark. This is steep, but the mousepad is also more durable than the competition.
- The movements of the mouse on hard glass cause loud noises, which can be bothersome.
- If a hair gets between the pad and the mouse while gaming, it creates a disgusting noise and sensation.
- If you don’t have quality mouse feet, they wear out faster than on fabric pads.
- On bare skin, there can be a ‘sticky’ effect between skin and glass.
The last point is probably the most annoying aspect of a glass pad in the long run. As a solution, aim gurus use sports arm sleeves when gaming, like those used by professional cyclists. SkyPad sells these on their website as well.
Does using arm sleeves look extremely silly while gaming? Absolutely, no question. In return, the highlight clips in shooters are very impressive – or even in Minecraft:
Mousepads are an immensely important part of your gaming setup
What matters in mousepads? The perhaps most important issue that needs to be addressed is the role of mousepads in the gaming setup. Because they not only protect your desk from scratches caused by the mouse – they directly influence how you can move your mouse.
For example, if you apply a lot of pressure on your mouse while aiming, you might not want to buy a soft fabric pad because your mouse could literally sink into it. Especially in particularly sweaty matches, where you sit there grinding your teeth in front of the screen, your mouse movements can therefore be restricted – causing you to miss the headshot.
Speaking of sweating: Regular fabric pads vary in performance depending on the weather. Especially in summer, the higher humidity can give the pad a “mushy” feel, which also affects performance. This affects consistency in aiming, which is a noticeable problem here at Lake Constance.
Is such a purchase a must? Even though I have a lot of enthusiasm for the topic of mousepads, I also have to clearly state that this expensive top solution is not a necessity. Nevertheless, I recommend that every shooter fan pays a little more attention to their mousepad.
In my experience, most players use the first available solution from Logitech, Amazon, or even IKEA. And although none of these pads is directly bad, a conscious decision for a better mousepad can directly improve your performance.
The next time you game, pay attention to your habits while aiming. How do you move, how hard do you press the mouse, how do you stop it? These observations not only make upgrading your mousepad easier – this awareness helps you improve aspects of your aiming that go beyond mouse settings.
There are good mousepad alternatives beyond glass
What alternatives to the glass pad are there? If you want to replace your mousepad but don’t want to reach straight for the highest shelf, there are some good alternatives for every type of player.
- Those who want a fast pad should try the Endgame Gear MPC. The Cordura fabric allows for super fast movements and is also water-resistant.
- For a good balance, the Cooler Master MP511 is a great solution for a very good price. The performance of the MP511 is comparable to that of the SkyPad.
- If you’re looking for maximum control, the G-SR from Zowie is unmatched. However, the pad doesn’t last forever (experts say about 8 – 10 months on average) and reacts ‘allergic’ to high humidity.
*Affiliate-Links. Wir erhalten bei einem Kauf eine kleine Provision von Amazon. Vielen Dank für Eure Unterstützung!
Whether you choose the SkyPad or one of the many good alternatives – don’t underestimate how much difference the right mousepad can make.
If you want to learn what hardware I recommend in the area of controllers, I refer you to another article of mine:
This is how I enormously improved my Xbox Elite controller for just 25 €
