SteelSeries SteelPad 5L Review - Enough already, show us the pad
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When I opened the package that contained the mouse pad, the first thing that struck me was the overall size. In retrospect, this makes perfect sense. I know that when I'm involved in some intense game sessions, I tend to move my mouse a lot. This, among other things, is one of the reasons I stopped using a mouse pad altogether. I mean, who wants to keep picking up their mouse and re-centering it on their mouse pad every couple of minutes?
Here's a pic of the 5L still in its packaging. This consists of semi-rigid plastic around the pad itself, with a cardboard side. Right on the front of the package is listed the size of this mouse pad, a whopping 15 x 11 inches. Yeah, that's hefty.
Turning the package over, I see some specifications for how this pad is made. There are apparently five layers of material that make up the SteelPad 5L. Here's the image:
Just in case the image is a little on the fuzzy side, the five layers are:
1) Plastic coating: The thin plastic coating assures durability and maintains the texture of the underlying cloth.
2) Cloth: A highly durable and extremely strong cloth provides a smooth gliding experience. The texture of this plastic coated cloth surface allows for minimal mouse movements and maximum precision.
3) Soft polyisoprene: Specially treated polyisoprene is soft to the touch. The softness of this rubber foam is very easy on the wrist, important for hardcore gamers and those who use their mouse for extended periods of time.
4) Hard plastic compound: A hard plastic compound maintains the stability and shape of the mouse pad helping ensure a consistent gliding experience, even on uneven surfaces.
5) Rubber elements: Small soft rubber elements provide a non-slippery steadiness.
The above diagram is another rendering of the makeup of the SteelPad. You can definitely see where they spent some serious time designing this product.
Next: Open the box! >>
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