Best Mouse pad with wrist rest 2022

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Gaming pick

Carpio Ergonomic wrist rest

Best mouse pad with wrist rest: Things to consider

When it comes to picking the best mouse pad with a wrist rest there are a few key things that you need to think about. Most of these are the same things you’d be considering for any mouse pad, but it’s worth getting into regardless. The main areas of consideration are size, material, ergonomics, and aesthetics, once you’ve got these down, the process of buying a mouse pad with a wrist rest will become far easier.

Size

This is the first and most important thing to think about as it will define the experience and practical limits of the mouse pad. Those of you keen on gaming will probably prefer a desk pad-sized one as it extended the usable area which is particularly useful if you play on low DPI as it can mean less resetting mid-game. If you’re less gaming-inclined a small mouse pad will be sufficient and allow more things to fit on your desk. If you’re finding it difficult to visualize sizes, we’ve made an infographic for you to help put all this in a little more context.

Material

This will define the feeling and speed of the mouse pad, it can also affect the longevity so it’s an important factor to be aware of. Broadly speaking, there are two main types of mouse pads: hard and soft. If you’re unfamiliar with the world of mouse pads you’re probably used to the soft type of mouse pad as this is the type typically included with pre-built PCs.

The main benefit of a soft mouse pad is the price as these are significantly less expensive to produce and ship. Additionally, they are more easily stored and come in a wider range of sizes than their hard counterparts. Hard mousepads are typically more robust and come in a wide variety of different materials, meaning you can more consistently match the mouse pad to your current setup.

Ergonomics

This is where we steer away from traditional mouse pads and get more specialized. utilizing a wrist rest provides support for your wrist, which can help to alleviate symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome and other related joint issues. In short, it stops your wrist from having to hover which reduces fatigue over long gaming or general computing sessions.

The wrist rest is usually made from high-density foam in order to keep its shape for continued use. The more premium mouse pads with wrist rest utilize memory foam as it can adapt more comprehensively to the user in question, some even feature gel-based wrist rests that help keep your wrist cool. These materials might cause you to pay a little more, luckily mouse pads don’t tend to be all that expensive overall so it must be too hard on your wallet.

Aesthetics

This consideration is entirely subjective so it’s tricky to give advice here. you can get mouse pads with wrist rests that look like any other mouse pad, all the way up to premium offerings made of more exotic materials like glass or wood. Depending on your priorities, you might be paying a lot more to get a mouse pad to fit your visual preferences, to that end, we’ve made sure to include a few options that differ visually from the rest to give you an idea of the sheer variety that’s out there.

Price

As mentioned earlier, mouse pads don’t typically cost that much, even when considering the premium options. You probably won’t end up spending more than ~$30 unless you opt for a bespoke mouse pad from the likes of Etsy or eBay. Luckily, decent mousepads can be found for as little as $10 if you shop around enough and we’re going to include some budget offerings here just in case.

The best mouse pads with wrist rest

Kensington Duo Gel Mouse & Keyboard Wrist Rest Bundle

While it’s more expensive than most would be expecting to pay, the Kensington Duo bundle is a great value-for-money proposition as you also get a full-size keyboard wrist rest. While the mouse surface is nothing too special, the more interesting stuff comes as a result of the unique and visually striking wrist rest.

As we mentioned earlier, some of the more premium mouse pads with wrist rests utilize a gel-like substance inside the wrist rest. The Kensington Duo is a very good example as the gell smoothly and reliably adapts to any user’s wrist and positioning, and it provides a cooling and comfortable experience.

The cooling is further enhanced by the channel between the two sections of the rest. This allows for more airflow around the wrist and results in a two-tone overall design that we really like as it gives a somewhat futuristic vibe to this mousepad. The keyboard rest is identically designed so it boasts the same benefits. all this makes the Kensington duo a fantastic option and our current favorite of the bunch.

Gimars Large mouse pad with wrist rest

Pros

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  Comfortable memory foam wrist rest
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  Very affordable

Of course, not everyone has the capability or inclination to spend $50 on a mouse pad, so we had to include a budget offering that’ll get the job done, just without quite as many bells and whistles.

This is where the Gimars mouse pad with wrist rest comes in. It accomplishes the ergonomic purpose of a wrist rest and is neutrally designed so it will fit in with whatever visual style you’re going for with your setup. It is a pretty boring design, but when you’re getting it for less than $10 you can’t expect all that much. Despite the low price the lycra construction is known to be very sturdy so it’ll last in the long run, and when you do have to inevitably replace it, you won’t be spending too much which is always a good thing.

Despite the boring base design, this mouse pad also boasts the highest number of alternative designs we’ve seen. So if you don’t fancy the standard matte black colorway, there are myriad different options to choose from at no extra cost.

Additionally, it actually features a larger usable surface area than the previous option, spanning 193mm x 209mm. This is ideal for those of you who use a low DPI setting for your mouse as it lowers the chance of accidentally flying off the mat in the heat of battle.

Carpio Ergonomic wrist rest

Pros

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  Unique design
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  Designed with medical professionals

Cons

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  Needs to be used with a mouse mat

Yes, this isn’t technically a mouse pad, but it’s worth considering anyway as it still supports the wrist, but can be used in conjunction with any existing mouse pad. This makes it ideal for gamers who are particularly picky about their mouse surface. It features PTFE mouse feet, so it will slip and slide around as well as even the best gaming mouse.

Additionally, the mobile design means that you don’t need to be worried about running out of room like the other picks on this list as the Carpio moves with your mouse which is a novel design decision and we really like it.

This is also the most portable solution for wrist support we’ve seen as it doesn’t need to be rolled up or packaged away. Simply put it in your pocket or launch it into a bag and get on with your life. It’s probably the most comprehensive solution we’ve seen, but as it isn’t technically a mouse pad, we couldn’t give it the top spot.

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Best mouse pad with wrist rest: Final word

It might not have been the most exciting article to read, but those of you with persistent wrist pain will be aware of how important it is to find a mouse pad with good wrist support. All of our picks were extensively researched to ensure that our recommendations are the best we can manage.

Overall the Kensington Duo combo took the top spot for the value for money and the unique breathable design. But if you’re more focused on gaming, the Carpio is unbeatable for its versatility and portability.