Introduction
Introduction
I am not going to start this review like a lot of sites by saying how a mouse pad is "as important as a fast CPU" or as "essential as a quality monitor", because lets face it, it is NOT, and the likeliness of your mouse pad saving you from potential problems such as RSI is remote. If you have a flat desk, and a quality mouse chances are that you are not even going to need one for everyday use. IF however you are a pro Quake player or a serious gamer of any other genre that requires a mouse, you will almost certainly want the smoothest, most comfortable ride possible.
Enter our three contenders, each of which are multiple award winners.
First up is the IceMat from IceMat.com. Made of glass, this mat is arguably the coolest looking of the three, and is as durable as it is handsome. It costs 30.53 Euros, $26.89 direct from their site.
Next is the Everglide Attack Pad, famous amongst the gaming elite for providing the smoothest ride around. Constructed of high-density plastic, there is no foam core or fabric covering to crack, peel or fade. The Everglide costs £14.99 ($16.95) from their site direct (.co.uk if you are in the UK, and .com if in the US)
Finally is the Ratpadz from www.ratpadz.com. Constructed in the US by Kyle Bennet of HardOCP fame, these pads are large bevelled rectangular mats and appear to be constructed of a similar material to the Everglide, but the surface is slightly more textured. The Ratpadz costs £15.28 from The Overclocking Store for UK customers, and just $12.99 from PC Mods if you are in the US (shipping charges etc.)
Here is a snapshot showing our three contenders together for scale. As you can see, the Ratpadz is significantly larger than the other two. Let’s take a look at each of the mats in more detail.
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