Are ergonomic mice okay for gaming? – Review Geeks

Ergonomic mice are generally intended for office work, so they are often a poor choice for gaming. That being said, many ergonomic mice are made specifically for gaming and are pretty good.

Repetitive stress injuries are a serious and ongoing threat to computer users. No one wants to deal with carpal tunnel, which can interfere with work, play, and almost every other aspect of your life. Ergonomic mice promise to reduce wrist strain, but are they a good choice for gamers?

Warnings: This article is intended to help people avoid Repetitive stress injuries. If you are experiencing severe wrist pain or are concerned that you may have a repetitive stress injury, talk to a doctor.

Most Ergonomic Mice Are For Work, Not Gaming

The vast majority of ergonomic mice are intended for office work. They often have a limited range of motion due to their thick, heavy, or uncomfortable design. And because these mice aren’t designed for gaming, they often have a low polling rate of 125Hz or less, which can cause noticeable latency on high refresh rate monitors.

So while you they can use an ergonomic office mouse for gaming, the experience is not that great. And, if possible, you may need to adjust some settings – higher DPI settings can compensate for a mouse’s limited range of motion, for example.

If you’re a casual gamer or someone who sticks to non-action games, these issues may not matter. You don’t need a fancy mouse to play stardew valley, Minecrafteither civilization. An ergonomic mouse designed for office work, like the Logitech Lift, is a good choice.

But what about hardcore or competitive gamers? Well, you’re in luck. A handful of well-respected companies make ergonomic mice specifically for gaming.

But gamers have plenty of ergonomic options

The average gaming mouse is designed to offer a wide range of movement. This is usually achieved through a lightweight, sculpted design. And interestingly enough, these qualities contribute to ergonomics: a decent gaming mouse should produce very little strain or fatigue, especially compared to a basic “professional” mouse.

Unfortunately, games are much more intense than spreadsheets. They require constant, twitching movements of the wrist and are often played for several hours without interruption. Even if you use an ultralight mouse, gaming will contribute to repetitive stress injuries.

That is why ergonomic gaming mice are slowly gaining popularity. These products often have names like “Razer Deathadder V2 X Hyperspeed” which can make shopping a bit confusing. They also lack the bulky or upright designs that are so common among “pro” ergonomic mice. Still, they promise to provide a comfortable gaming experience without compromising on speed and accuracy.

As far as I can tell, the Razer Deathadder V2 X Hyperspeed is currently the most popular ergonomic gaming mouse. And it’s a pretty solid option, not only is it highly customizable, but it feels like a lightweight version of Logitech’s MX-series mice. (It’s also super affordable, which is nice.)

But there are some rising stars in this market. The ROCCAT Kone Pro Air has an incredible cult following and is widely considered the most comfortable gaming mouse. FANTECH’s Helios Go XD5 is a popular ergonomic choice for gamers with small hands, and competitive gamers love the Pulsar Xlite’s ridiculously lightweight design.

Keep in mind that several factors can contribute to repetitive stress injuries. If you’re sitting with poor posture or your wrists are constantly pressed against your desk, an ergonomic gaming mouse may not reduce wrist strain.

What about trackpads and trackballs?

Some people prefer to use a trackpad instead of a mouse. And I actually use a Magic Trackpad on my desk. While I wouldn’t call trackpads “ergonomic,” they can reduce wrist motion by putting more control at your fingertip.

Unfortunately, trackpads are a very poor choice for gaming. They’re fine for point-and-click titles, but if you want to play action-packed shooters or MMOs, you should avoid using a trackpad.

On the other hand, I found trackball mice to be an excellent ergonomic solution for gaming (with some practice). I’m a big fan of the Kensington Expert, a legendary trackball mouse that features four buttons and a rotating scroll wheel. It’s easily customizable, it’s comfortable, and if you’re trying to game without hurting your wrist, it’s a reasonable choice. (However, you will need to adjust a lot of settings to get the sensitivity right.)

The Kensington Expert is my trackball mouse of choice, but there are plenty of great alternatives. I strongly suggest you check out the ELECOM HUGE, a sturdy and cozy trackball mouse with a proper scroll wheel, eight customizable buttons, and a DPI switch. (My only other suggestion is to avoid thumb-controlled trackballs. Index fingers provide better control than thumb.)

Should I use an ergonomic mouse for gaming?

If you spend a lot of time in front of a computer, you should take all possible steps to reduce stress on your wrists, neck, and back. Repetitive stress injuries are incredibly common, but they often take years to show up. And unfortunately, it can take several years to recover from this type of injury.

There are several ways to reduce stress while sitting at a desk. I suggest starting with the cheapest and most effective method: place your monitor, desk, and chair at a comfortable height. Sit with good posture, and when using a mouse or keyboard, keep your wrists off the desk. Ideally, your wrists and elbows should float at the same level. (This is why vertical mice are so effective. They force you to keep your arm in the “handshake” position.)

Once your desktop is set up right, an ergonomic mouse will help further reduce wrist strain while gaming. But ergonomic mice are usually meant for professionals, so you want to buy something that’s truly gamer-ready. A high polling rate and a lightweight design can go a long way.