We recently received a brand new mousepad from Xtrac (thanks Christopher!). I know, mouse pads are not normally something to get really excited about but the HYBRID is a definite exception to the rule.
First off, it comes with a whole collection of things to make your mousepad use more enjoyable. In the box you get the HYBRID (of course), transportation instructions (a definite plus), a HYBRID sticker and a package of Xtrac’s Mad Dotz. For those of you who haven’t had the privilege, Mad Dotz are Teflon coated circles you put on the bottom of your mouse to enhance manoeuvrability. To quote the packaging, they are “Mouse Feet Enhancers”. I have always been a big fan of Mad Dotz, finding them to be some of the slipperiest on the market. To have a package of 12 included with the HYBRID is just icing on the cake.
So, on to the HYBRID. At 10”x 16” x 3/16” (254mm x 406mm x 4.77mm) it is a fair sized pad, but that’s not what makes the HYBRID so interesting. It’s the shape. This is not a standard square as you might expect. Instead it is a great big rectangle. I have to be honest. I took this out of the box and I was really confused. Honestly, I couldn’t imagine why anyone would want a long mousepad. Well, I’m not confused any more! This is beyond a doubt the best mousepad I have ever had the privilege of using. I never really thought about it before but 90% of all movements I make with a mouse (especially in gaming) involve a left and right motion. The up and down is not nearly as important. That is what the HYBRID gives me that I never had before. All the horizontal space I could ever need!
Add to that the fact that this pad has an excellent slippery surface. It’s basically a cloth mat with a nice non-slip backing but the top is the same as many plastic mats out there. Hence the name HYBRID I suppose. What this gives the gamers out there is the portability of a cloth mat with the gaming surface of a plastic pad. The good news is that this is not JUST a gaming mat. For those of you out there with limited desk space, you can turn the mat sideways (making it long instead of wide) to fit into smaller spaces. This is a huge benefit considering many of the larger mousepads on the market today demand an excessive amount of desktop real estate.
So, retailing at $29.95 USD this is an excellent mousepad that shouldn’t let anyone down. The gamers will love the slick surface and the HYBRID’s portability, while people who want a high quality mousepad that doesn’t take your whole desk will be happy as well. Add to that the fact that Mad Dotz are included with purchase and you have a winning combination. This is everything I have ever wanted in a mousepad and I few things I didn’t even think of. An absolute winner! Which is why I am giving XTrac’s HYBRID our very first Editor's Choice award.
Pros:
• Well designed
• Portable
• Combines the best of cloth mousepads with plastic pad slickness
• Comes with Mad Dotz
• It’s a rectangle (Trust me, that is amazing!)
Cons:
• None. This is the best mousepad I have ever had the privilege of using…bar none!
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