Zoom v2.0

A slightly smaller mouse mat than the incredible RipperXL. This pad is the hard plastic kind. Its main feature is the fact that it is incredibly thin. This means that it will easily fit underneath your keyboard without it rocking at all. It is thinner than most credit cards.

The surface of the mat is, to be honest, not the most attractive thing that I have ever seen. The idea of the pattern is to make optical mice detect movement better. Again I tested the pad with my Genius Optical, a Razer Copperhead and a generic roller ball. The Copperhead worked fine with the pad and glided over the pad perfectly. The Logitech mouse just kept flickering over the screen and didn’t like the pattern. It should be said thought, my Genius mouse is very picky as to what surface it will work on. It’s a couple of years old now so don’t be too surprised that it doesn’t work.

When using InstaGlide with the pad, your mouse will indeed zoom across the surface. Whilst your hand is trying to keep up with the speed that the mouse is now going at, you’d have thought that the pad would be moving all over the place. Fortunately, Xtrac pads have designed Sure Grip III. Sounds a little gimmicky but it works. It’s a white rubbery surface that clings to anything that you put the mouse on. In fact, it clings too well to dust and general crap found on your desk. Once put down though, its effectively welded to your desk. Thats the back of the mat below:

This mouse mat had difficulties with the roller ball type mouse as the surface is so shiny and smooth that the rubber roller ball doesn't grip all the well.

Whilst smooth, it doesn’t have as good a surface as the RipperXL, but when you look at the price difference, you know why.

I would definitely give the thumbs up to this product.

8/10

Price: $14.95