Over the time I’ve been reviewing products and owned a computer I’ve reviewed and owned many mouse pads, and of course I have found some to be better than others, but is there a perfect mouse pad out there? Well I think there is, and it is called the Ratpadz XT, and I have it for review today. This mouse pad is the best I have ever owned, it makes using a mouse more enjoyable and effortless. The design if the Ratpadz XT makes it almost indestructible but at the same time like sliding your mouse across a sheet of ice. What’s unique about the Ratpadz XT is not only the shape of it but the fact that it is rough to the touch, but yet smooth under your mouse. Read on to check this most excellent mouse pad out…
Ratpadz XT Mouse Pad
Reviewed by: Kristofer Brozio AkA Dracos
Sponsor: Ratpadz
Tech Specs,Features or the Basic Info:
The GS and the XT offer the same surface area, both 11.5 wide x 9.3 tall. The cut-out design of our GS and XT allows for users to also turn the surface sideways utilizing it on the left and right sides of the keyboard.
Ratpadz XT
The original Ratpadz is now the XT! This favorite has been brought back by popular demand that again uses the heavy duty solid construction that will stand up to all kinds of abuse. If you are a hardcore gamer or mouser, logging hours and hours with your mouse; the Ratpadz XT UltraSlick long-lasting surface is for you.
How big is a Ratpadz?
11.5 wide X 9.5 tall X .25 thick. All edges are rolled to be very comfortable on your wrist and arm.
Like any high-performance unit, the Ratpadz XT requires care over its lifetime. This UltraSlick polymer surface is pliable to some degree and might warp over time. What is usually the culprit is the pad getting exposed to some pretty harsh environments during shipping or transportation. If your Ratpadz XT shows up and it is not flat, or starts to bend after you have used it for months or years, do not worry. All it requires is reforming the surface to an arched position.
Don’t be afraid to straighten your Ratpadz XT out. The XT is nearly indestructible using only human hands! The Ratpadz GS new polymer body will not warp or exhibit memory issues like our XT surface.
How do I clean my Ratpadz Mousing Surface?
Simply use warm soapy water or a glass cleaner like Windex or 409. You can use more stringent cleaners but it is possible that they will wear the printing off the surface if it is a logo pad. We no longer suggest putting a Ratpadz in the dishwasher. Although if you must, we highly suggest you do not use any heated cycles. We also suggest cleaning your mouse often to ensure proper tracking. A quick dusting of the feet on both the GS and XT will return it to like-new gripping power as long as it is on a clean surface.
Find Ratpadz at ShopZilla!
A Better Look at Things
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The Ratpadz XT does not come with any fancy packaging, after all when you have a great product like this you don’t need it. It just arrived to me in a priority mail envelope, very fast shipping, got it two days after they said they were shipping it out to me.
The Ratpadz XT is a fairly large mouse pad, you can see it is comparison to my Logitech MX1000 in t he following picture. The interesting thing about the Ratpadz XT is the curve of it for you hand or wrist to fit into.
The bottom of the Ratpadz XT features nine rubber feet to make sure the pad stays in place no matter what you do.
Engraved into the bottom is also the Ratpadz website address and ‘Made in the U.S.A’ proudly displayed.
The Ratpadz XT mouse pad is fairly thick and will be able to handle most any transportation it needs, I’m used to thinner pads but I quickly got used to the height of the XT. The XT is formed from a solid piece of plastic with texturing on the surface for your mouse to glide across.
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A Better Look at Things
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The edges of the Ratpadz XT are rounded off for comfort and looks.
Here are a few pictures of the actual mousing surface of the Ratpadz XT so you can get an idea of what it is like. It looks rough and feels rough to the touch, but your mouse actually just glides across it as if it was on ice.
Other mouse pads I have owned and reviewed that had a rough surface actually slowed my mouse down and actually produced friction, the surface of the XT surprised me by being rough but yet allowing the mouse to just glide across its surface. This is something very unique about the XT that I have never seen in a mouse pad.
Installation, Testing and Comparison
Well for installation you just need a space for the Ratpadz XT, this should not be a problem as it isn’t that large at all.
For testing I used my Logitech MX1000, Logitech G5 and other optical and ball mice that I have lying around for just such purposes. All of them worked great and actually made some of them work even better. Using any mouse with the Ratpadz XT is much more enjoyable and just all around easier to use.
Of course I got to play a few games as well to test tracking with the Ratpadz XT and I found that none of my mice missed a movement and actually seemed more responsive.
Everyday usage is made much more enjoyable and effortless with the Ratpadz XT. When I first got the Ratpadz XT there was a bit of an adjustment period because I was used to using a cloth mouse pad that was very thin. The surface of the XT made my mouse just slide across it, I found myself ‘over-mousing’ and going to fast with the XT, but I soon became adjusted to the mousing surface of the XT and everything is ok now. The height of the XT was also a bit of an adjustment but after a couple days I did not even notice it.
One thing that I did notice is that the curve of the Ratpadz XT also acts as a sort of warning, in this I mean that you feel the corner well before your mouse might possibly fall off the pad. For me this was a problem as I used a cloth deskpad, so my mousing space was basically unlimited. Subconsciously though I think I adjusted to the size of the Ratpadz XT because of the curvature of the pad, and adjusted much more quickly than other mouse pads.
I use my computer for 10-12 hours per day and usually longer, I’ve found the Ratpadz XT to be excellent for any type of use, be it gaming, working with photos, general surfing the internet, everything seems more effortless with the Ratpadz XT.
Summary:
Overall I love the Ratpadz XT and it has found a permanent home on my desk now, this thing will not be moving anytime soon. I’ve never had a pad that is like the Ratpadz XT, and I have reviewed and owned quite a few of them over the years. I just can’t express in words the quality and enjoyability of using this pad, dare I say it is the perfect mouse pad, but perfect might just be the only word for the Ratpadz XT.
DragonSteelMods gives the Ratpadz XT a 5 out of 5 score and our Editor’s Choice Award as well.
Pros:
-Smooth as ice
-Very durable
-Overall excellent product
Cons:
-None…
I would like to thank Ratpadz for the chance to review the Ratpadz XT and for their support of DSM.