Working on a computer for several hours is exhausting. For absolute comfort in front of your screen, using practical and innovative computer equipment is essential. Adding a mouse pad will optimize the fluidity of your movements without causing fatigue.
We're talking about ergonomic mouse pads with wrist rests that will support your hand during intense use. A good chair or armchair can also be very important.
The best ergonomic mouse pads in our ranking!
Things to know before you buy your new ergonomic mouse pad!
Here are 3 important things you need to consider before taking action:
- Mouse pads can be made from a variety of materials, such as glass, foam, fabric, gel, or plastic. Each material has different technical characteristics and offers varying benefits. Your choice should be based on how and why you use your mouse.
- An ergonomic mouse pad with wrist rest is an element of your setup that can greatly improve your performance, whether for gaming or work, so it is a very important element to consider and its choice should not be made lightly.
- The risk you run if you don't already own a mouse pad with a wrist rest is developing carpal tunnel syndrome. Here's what it will lead to: frequent and sometimes even continuous tingling, loss of strength and therefore difficulty gripping objects, and sensations of electric shocks in the fingers and throughout the hand.
We will discuss all of this again at the end of this comparison, in the Buyer's Guide and FAQ section.
Here is our comparison.
Comparison of the best mouse pads with wrist rests
We've selected the best ergonomic mouse pads on the market for you. You're sure to find the perfect one for you.
We focus on their quality, and have chosen different price ranges so that they can suit all budgets!
1. Fellowes: Crystal Gel Wrist Rest Mouse Pad
Features and Reviews
Winning every game is now easy thanks to the Fellowes gaming mouse pad. This computer accessory stands out with its wrist support. The underside of the pad features a rectangular, gel-padded rubber structure to comfortably position your wrist.
It provides ample gliding space for free movement of a wired or wireless optical mouse thanks to its dimensions of 25 x 202 x 235 mm. Flexible and ultra-lightweight, it's easy to carry and store. This mouse pad model has already satisfied many gamers, earning a 4.4 out of 5-star rating based on positive customer reviews. It's available in six themes: black, blue, chevron, pink, tropical, and rainbow.
2. Fellowes: Mouse pad with gel wrist rest
Features and Reviews
Also from Fellowes, this mouse pad with a wrist rest comes in blue. It offers a 23.3 x 20 x 1.9 cm surface for mouse movement. Even better, a thick, rectangular gel-filled section provides wrist support, ensuring comfortable and smoother mouse use.
It is compatible with all mice on the market. For wireless mice, the pad can accommodate the charging station. Maintenance is minimal; no special products are required. Cleaning this mouse pad simply requires a wipe with a sponge. It is suitable for gamers, office workers, and IT professionals alike.
3. 3M Precise: Foam mouse pad ideal for optical mice
Features and Reviews
The MW85B mouse pad from 3M is among the most popular computer accessories. It features a slim, square surface to optimize smooth cursor movement. Even better, it includes a thick gel-filled section to comfortably support the user's wrist.
For optimal device handling, 3M offers a generous surface area of 1.91 x 22.23 x 28.89 cm. This 3M mouse pad has received numerous positive reviews from buyers, earning it an excellent rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. The manufacturer recommends this type of optical mouse pad for office use.
4. Fellowes: Memory Foam Mouse Pad
Features and Reviews
The Fellowes 9175801 is an affordable mouse pad with an ergonomic wrist rest. It boasts a competitive price and offers high-quality features. Made from aluminum, it's built to last for years.
The wrist rest features a memory foam structure. It easily conforms to the shape of the user's hand for exceptional comfort. Compact yet offering ample space for mouse movement, this Fellowes mouse pad measures 23.5 x 20.16 x 2.54 cm. It is available in gray.
5. Fellowes: Crystal Gel Mini Wrist Rest
Features and Reviews
Fellowes continues to offer quality products at affordable prices. This time, they're offering a compact wrist rest. It includes gel padding to ensure optimal user comfort while minimizing the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome. Since it only supports the wrist, it measures just 18 x 122 x 88 mm. This model is available in black, blue, and purple.
Buyer's Guide to selecting the ideal mouse pad with wrist rest!
Following our comparison of the best mouse pads with wrist rests currently available, here's a buyer's guide. It's designed to be comprehensive yet short and concise, addressing all the questions you might have.
With this, you'll be all set to find the perfect rug, one that fully meets your expectations!
The advantages of an ergonomic mouse pad with a wrist rest
As mentioned in the introduction to this article, the main advantage here is preventing serious problems that excessive mouse use could cause. Your health is precious.
You could develop carpal tunnel syndrome, and the wrist rest is there to prevent that.
Another advantage of a mouse pad with a wrist rest is its affordability. It's an item that's very easy to find, both online and in stores, and very affordable (although different ranges do exist, of course). You can get one for as little as ten euros.
If you're a gamer, you undoubtedly pay close attention to your performance. And anything that can help improve it and make you a better player deserves consideration.
Well, believe it or not, your mouse pad with wrist rest is an essential part of any setup. Pro gamers use them almost all the time. Depending on your playing style and mouse usage, there are different characteristics to consider for better ratios and a better gaming experience, such as the material, for example, which we'll discuss later.
A mouse pad with a wrist rest is also recommended for those who don't play games but use their computer for work, such as office tasks. If this is your case, you too spend long hours in front of your PC every day and, without realizing it, you're slightly damaging your wrist and could be developing carpal tunnel syndrome. This is not something to take lightly.
The potential drawbacks …
The big problem you encounter when looking for a mouse pad with wrist rest is that they are everywhere on the internet, so making a decision and choosing one is really complicated.
It is to solve this difficult problem that we have developed this comparison, which I am sure will be very useful in your search.
Another drawback is that they are not foldable like some other mats. Therefore, transporting them can be more complicated.
Your mousepad should be suited to your mouse and how you use it
This is really very important.
Depending on your playing style, you will need to choose a mat that matches what you want and will therefore improve your gameplay.
Read carefully what concerns the material, the surface area and the thickness, because these are the elements you must take into account most in order not to sabotage your capabilities but on the contrary to take advantage of them 100%.
What are the different materials available and what do they offer?
There are several materials available, and they all have different characteristics, which means that the carpet does not offer the same advantages.
It is possible to find rugs made from recycled materials, which is a good point.
The main materials are glass, foam, fabric, gel or plastic.
Here's what they will bring you:
The glass carpet
Its main quality lies in its design. It's a beautiful product, even more desirable because it's rare and hard to find. In addition, it allows the mouse to glide more smoothly than on other mousepads, thus improving your speed and responsiveness. It's the most expensive mousepad you'll find.
The foam mat
It's not very durable, so choose it if you don't use your computer excessively. It's a good mousepad for the family computer in the living room that's only used for 2 or 3 hours a day. Your mouse will glide smoothly on it if you prefer slow movements and nothing too sudden.
The fabric rug
It's the most highly recommended option in terms of versatility. Whether for fast or slow movements, it will meet your needs. It's very durable if properly cared for, as it gets dirty quickly. We'll see in a moment how to clean your mat, and whether all mats are washable or not.
The plastic mat
Contrary to what you might think, it's the most durable. It glides very smoothly, so your mouse will be completely free and nothing will slow its movement.
Unlike a foam mousepad, this is the one we recommend if you're a fan of lightning-fast movements. It's also excellent for spontaneous movements and keeps your mouse securely in place, allowing for unrestricted use.
The frost
As you might expect, gel will be the material used for the wrist rest in most cases (although it can sometimes be made of foam). It's an excellent material that works wonders for this purpose because it offers good support combined with extreme comfort. The gel wrist rest will allow you to use your mouse for long periods without feeling any discomfort. Your wrist won't be sore or numb, and nothing will interfere with your gaming sessions or your work.
The material is an important characteristic, so be sure to consider it carefully before making your purchase. But it's not the only thing that matters; let's now look at the consequences of the different dimensions of the rug.
Features that you might appreciate and that we consider more than necessary
Here are 2 characteristics that seem very important and offer real added value.
The non-slip surface
It's practically essential… It's the underlayer of your mousepad, and it prevents it from slipping when you use your mouse. Most mousepads have one, but just to be sure, check that your future purchase does. Very important.
Reversibility
You may have understood that each of these different carpet materials provided benefits that were not the same.
What if I told you it was possible to have two materials in one mousepad, for twice the efficiency? Because there are indeed reversible mousepads that include a wrist rest. The best one is probably the Razer Vespula.
Its first side will offer you the possibility to make quick movements in complete tranquility while the second is there to allow you to be as precise as a sniper in your mouse control.
The little extras are very much appreciated
The memory foam wrist rest is a must-have that will provide maximum comfort and support for your wrist. The foam simply adapts to your wrist and molds itself around it. Ultra-effective.
There are ergonomic mouse pads with wrist rests and integrated ventilation channels . This is a small opening in the center of the wrist rest that forms a tiny tunnel, allowing air to circulate and wick away sweat. This will keep your wrist and hand dry and allow you to play even longer!
If you don't want a vent, you can still choose a mouse pad with an antibacterial . When you sweat, bacteria will accumulate on your mouse pad, causing it to deteriorate much faster and develop an unpleasant odor as these bacteria multiply. The antibacterial protection is validated and certified by health standards, guaranteeing that this will not happen.
One last interesting feature you might consider is whether your mousepad is waterproof . We've all spilled drinks on our computers (or keyboards) at some point. This will prevent it from getting dirty, sticky, or having to be thrown away after such a minor mishap. Another significant advantage: it will make cleaning much easier, as we'll see in a moment.
FAQs!
Are there different sizes?
There are indeed ergonomic mouse pads with wrist rests of varying sizes.
The most common size is around 25 centimeters in diameter and will allow you to excel in all precision movements. This is what's known as size S. It's the best fit for those on a budget because it's very inexpensive and will certainly cost you no more than ten euros, even for a Razer.
For an organic setup, where you want a bit of order and more interconnected elements for a better visual effect, an extra-large mouse pad is a great recommendation. You can place both your mouse and keyboard on it, and it will look fantastic. It's worth considering if you mainly use your mouse for large, sweeping movements.
Depending on your needs, one size or the other will suit you best.
There are 2 others between S and XXL which are M and L. They don't really offer any more technical features but mainly allow you to gauge whether you want to play in a smaller or larger movement space.
This will depend on your preference and may be a good compromise to the XXL rug which takes up a lot of available space on your desk, space which you may not have.
What about the thickness?
A mouse pad can be from 2 to 6 millimeters thick.
The primary function of the carpet's thickness will be to flatten the surface of your desk if it contains any roughness or holes, even slight ones.
A thick mat will flatten better and provide you with greater comfort of use, while a thin mat will effectively ensure the continuity of your mouse movement if it goes off the mat during a gaming session.
How do I clean and maintain it?
As with any object, if you want to avoid changing your rug too often and want it to last, you need to maintain and wash it from time to time.
You can put most rugs in the washing machine at 40°.
It is also possible to wash them more quickly by hand with a cloth, warm water and a little soap.
A dirty mousepad will impact your performance because stains and deposits will reduce the efficiency of mouse movements.
Is it possible to combine an ergonomic mouse pad with a wrist rest and a vertical mouse?
Vertical mice are more commonly used for office work than gaming (although some are designed for gaming), but they can be used perfectly well with an ergonomic mouse pad that includes a wrist rest. It's a combination that works.
Will I be able to get a keyboard wrist rest?
In the same way that a wrist rest for your mouse protects you from carpal tunnel syndrome, you can get a wrist rest for your keyboard that will provide good support during periods of intensive use, as well as some comfort.
Good to know, for even better performance!
You can pair and synchronize your mouse with your mousepad for even greater efficiency using software like Razer's Synapse 2.0. The mousepad will be scanned and its texture analyzed, greatly improving the speed and precision of your movements!
With this comparison and Buyer's Guide, you have all the information you need to make your decision!
