When was the last time you noticed the mouse pad on your desk? When you’re considering upgrading your setup, chances are you’ll consider the graphics card or monitor, and for added comfort, you’ll probably purchase an ergonomic office chair. Still, chances are you’ve been using the wrong size mousepad for too long, making your working or gaming experience much less optimal than it should be.
If you own a tiny mouse pad, you know how annoying it is when your mouse hits the desk in the middle of an intense remote work or gaming session. You may have even made small adjustments with your hands to prevent the keyboard from sliding or, in the worst case scenario, developed large calluses because your wrists are in constant contact with your desk.
A large desk pad, or an XXL mouse pad, seems like an unnecessary and flashy investment until you consider the bigger picture. On the one hand, with a simple update you can enjoy many ergonomic benefits. On the other hand, you unlock additional mouse real estate, upgrade your mouse and keyboard, and ultimately make your setup visually stand out.
Why invest in a desk pad?
Although it may seem insignificant, a desk pad is one of the best gadgets to improve your gaming space. Of course, gamers are more familiar with the space you need to perform complex professional moves in first-person shooter games. However, remote workers can also benefit greatly from extending the total working surface area of their mouse.
With a mat, you’ll never find yourself in a situation where your mouse slams the desk full force while you’re in your flow state. Best of all, putting it back in the center of a small mouse pad is a thing of the past. But more importantly, your body will thank you.
For starters, the keyboard and mouse will be at the same level on the desk, which will significantly reduce the overall strain on your limbs and improve your posture. A soft desk pad is much gentler on your wrists than a rigid desk, so if you work long hours, you’ll probably appreciate the extra padding. You also won’t have to worry about your keyboard slipping when you play or type, so you can adopt a more natural position.
Besides the life-enhancing qualities, you can’t deny that a desk pad will simply make your setup cooler. As an added bonus, you can choose from many patterns and colors. So you can radically renovate your office without breaking the bank.
Do you really need a desk pad?
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The big question is whether you really need a large desk pad. One could argue that yes is the most logical answer, considering all the good it brings (no pun intended). There are, however, some small drawbacks, the price being the main one. A large desk pad (35 inches x 16 inches) is, on average, more expensive than a smaller or medium desk pad (8 inches x 8 inches to 12 inches x 10 inches).
If price isn’t an issue, perhaps the lack of portability will be. If you plan to occasionally toss the mat into your laptop bag and just get a change of scenery, then perhaps a regular mat will work better. Depending on your setup, you may also find that a mat can get in the way of other items on your desk. However, since you can change things, this is actually more of a first world problem.
That’s not to say that regular mouse pads are completely useless. If this works for you and you don’t strain your wrist (or throw your mouse in frustration), feel free to stick with the one you’re currently using. However, for those who need more, it doesn’t hurt to remove or reuse your old mouse pad and finally go for a big desk pad.
