Though optical mice don't require mouse pads to work properly, mouse pads nevertheless offer a ton of benefits to PC users. Using one simply feels better for most people, and they can help protect both your mouse and your desk from dirt, oils, scratches, and more. Because of how valuable they can be, it's a good idea to invest in a quality mouse pad that will serve you well for a long time. The market for mouse pads is wide and fierce since they're a simple accessory, but in the end, we think that the VicTsing Extended Gaming Mouse Pad is the best option for most people thanks to its large size, durable and convenient construction, and good price.
If you're looking for the best overall balance between quality and price, it doesn't get any better than the VicTsing Extended Gaming Mouse Pad. Its massive size means that it can comfortable cover most of your desk, which allows you to bring the protective benefits that a mouse pad offers to your keyboard as well as your mouse.
Its rubber-like cloth material is incredibly smooth, and the stitched edges help combat the risk of tearing. It's also waterproof, making it great for resisting liquid spills, and the bottom of the mat has slip-resistant shading to ensure that it stays in place no matter what. Thanks to its size, it's not as portable as other options on this list, but if you spend a lot of time at your desk, this is a great choice.
If a big pad isn't your style, than we recommend going with the SteelSeries QcK Mouse Pad. Its compact size makes it ideal for small desks and for taking with you on-the-go, and its got the same non-slip base and smooth and well-made cloth material that the VicTsing mat does. It's also more affordable, too, which is always a plus. It *does* lack durable stitched edges, but that's not really a problem in the grand scheme of things.
This large mouse pad from Blade Hawks brings snazzy RGB lighting to your desk with ten different light modes, and all you need to do to get it working is to plug it into an open USB port and press the button on the pad until you find the setting you like. Its large size is also ideal for most desks, and its smooth, waterproof material and anti-slip base makes it excellent for performance, too.
Out of the smaller RGB mouse pads that are available, we recommend the VPPOWER Gaming Mouse Pad. Like with the Blade Hawks mouse pad, all you need is a USB port and a press of the button on the pad to use the lights, though unlike the Blade Hawks pad, there are only seven color settings instead of ten. If you want to conserve space and also bring a gamer-style aesthetic to your desk, this is the pad for you. Be aware, though, that it lacks stitched edges.
If you prefer something hard over a soft cloth pad, than Blade Hawks has you covered with this excellent dual-sided mouse pad. Featuring an aluminum core with two cloth sides, rubberized anti-slip corner feet, and waterproofing throughout, this mouse pad is the best of the best of the hard variety.
If something classy and stylish is what you have in mind, look no further than Londo's leather mouse pad offering. Stitched together with genuine leather, this mouse pad both looks and performs great. In addition, it also has a non-slip backing and a convenient wrist rest, too. While it's not as hard as the previous choice from Blade Hawks, it still can't be rolled up to take on the go.
This small mouse pad from Wknoon isn't as well-made as the other pads on this list, but for how little it costs, it's a great deal, and it even comes with an anti-slip base like the others. If you want something solid and don't want to pay much, this mouse pad is perfect for you.
Bottom line
Mouse pads can make or break your experience with your mouse, especially if you're a gamer. The main one is that they will protect both your mouse and your desk from any potential scratches or dings that the two may give each other over time upon contact; another is that it will help keep your desk and your mouse clean of dirt and oils, too. Most people tend to prefer the texture of a mouse pad over that of a naked desk during use as well. Though they're not very pricey, they *are* very useful.
The market for mouse pads is pretty vast and varied, and at least one of the pads we put on this list is sure to appeal to you. Ultimately, though, we think that the VicTsing Extended Gaming Mouse Pad is the best mouse pad on the market for most people, as its perfect balance of quality and price, as well as its large size, makes it ideal for the average PC user.
