Review: XtracPads Fat Mat

Watch the full video review: YouTube - XTracPads Fat Mat - Ergonomic Mouse Pad Review

Summary:

> Well constructed extra thick cloth mouse pad with a rubber core
> Wont slide around
> Good mouse friction resistance
> Similar to the QCK just thicker
> Good for RSI and may help with carpal tunnel

I use this exclusively with my G73 these days, its been nice to have it around. Keeps the mouse off the hard surfaces to extend the life of its feet and makes my hands hurt less as well as improving mouse accuracy over just regular desktop surfaces.

It will fit just fine in any bag that can hold a 17" laptop without folding and may even act as a layer of padding in the bag to help protect your stuff.

Definitely recommended if you think its a product you would be interested in.

 

Nice review

It is hard to talk about a mouse pad for 3 plus minutes, it is just a mouse pad after all. But you managed pretty well without repeating yourself over and over or giving irrelevant infos.

 

I'm trying to find a store in Europe that sells that mousepad, but can't find anything. Anyone knows a proper european retailer that ships to Portugal? I'm searching for a decent mousepad for some days and that one seems good to me.

 

Nice review there!

But may I know how's the packing? Is there a box/tube included?

 

It is rolled up in a plastic tube like a poster comes in, but thick plastic not like plastic wrap.

 

I dont think any XtracPad products are available in Europe. Not the UK or Germany at least.

Look at the Steel Series mouse pads as an alternative.

 

Yeah, maybe I'm going to buy some other mouse pad. I'm looking forward the Razer Sphex, found some good reviews...

 

I wouldn't bother with the Sphex. It's about as thick as a sheet of printer paper, and to be honest, it doesn't feel much better than one. Because it's so thin, it's extremely dependent on the condition of the surface it's placed on. It's nice and smooth if your desk is perfectly smooth, but any texturing on your desk surface transfers right through the Sphex to your mouse.

 

I know this is the wrong thread, but which mouse pad would you recomend?

 

It depends on a few preferences. One of the biggest decisions is hard mat vs. soft mat. Hard mouse surfaces tend to have less friction, and they're sturdy so you can use them on non-flat or soft surfaces (e.g. a couch or bed). On the downside, they have to be pretty clean to work well; if you mouse over a single grain of sand on a hard mouse pad, you will feel it. But luckily, keeping them clean usually doesn't involve more than a simple wipe with a rag or paper towel once in a blue moon. They also have a tendency to wear down due to all the friction, but this will take years before it begins to be noticeable. My eXactMat was purchased in early 2009, and both sides look and feel great.

Soft mouse pads inherently create more friction against your mouse's feet, which some people prefer. They're also less vulnerable to dirt and particles, although not immune. But they usually don't have a solid shape of their own, and thus are dependent on a relatively flat desk surface to begin with, and are more or less useless on beds, couches, etc.

I personally prefer hard mouse mats, but like I say, it's all about what you prefer. I use the Razer eXactMat, which is an aluminum mouse mat with two sides: the Speed side, which is very smooth and slick, allowing for effortless and unrestricted motion, and you can flip it over for the Control side, which is covered with a sort of grainy texture that lets you "feel" every tiny bit of motion, good for pixel-precise work like photo editing. You get the best of both worlds. It's been discontinued and is currently replaced by the Vespula, which is essentially the same thing, but made of a lightweight plastic (still very sturdy) instead of aluminum.

I don't have much experience with soft mats, but I've heard good things about the SteelSeries QcK lineup, which come in different sizes. There's also the Razer Goliathus series, which also come in multiple sizes, and you have a choice between a smoother Speed version or a more textured Control version.