Cyborg GLIDE 7 Gaming Surface Review

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Mad Catz is a leading brand when it comes to innovative gaming peripherals. Based in San Diego, Mad Catz has several brands that are aimed at different areas of the peripheral market. Today we are looking at the Cyborg range, which covers the pro gaming peripherals, which includes products such as the R.A.T mouse and keyboard range.

Since optical and laser mice became mainstream, it has been important to use the correct surface to get maximum performance from your mouse, which when it comes to gaming, is crucial for those extra frags. Today’s gaming surfaces usually exist in two main varieties, hard and soft, with the latter usually made from a fabric. Which surface is better is debatable as both have their pros and cons.

Today we are looking at the Cyborg G.L.I.D.E 7 gaming surface, which falls under the soft category. This mouse mat normally RRPs at the £20 mark and is available on the market now. So let’s take a look at the product.

The G.L.I.D.E 7 comes in cylindrical packaging, which features a small cutout area so you can feel the mouse pad without having to open it. The packaging has all the usual blurb and specifications for the product on, including the dimensions – 500mm x 400mm, which should be ample space for any gamer.

Once opened and unrolled, we can see the mouse pad in all it’s glory. However, because of the shape of the packaging, the mouse pad will require time to flatten out. The main image is of a cyborg that stretches across the left side, whilst not to everyone’s taste, this brings a little life the surface.[/wpcol_1half]

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The pad is 6mm thick, which provides ample cushioning and comfort for long periods of use. The fabric itself is very smooth, which has very little friction, thus provides greater accuracy. Whist not entirely rectangular, the laser cut, precision edges means there is no fraying often seen on the cheaper pads.

The underside is is non-slip, so during those aggressive gaming sessions the G.L.I.D.E 7 will remain fastened to the desk’s surface, that will require a lot of force before it slips.If a spillage does occur, the surface of the fabric does resist the liquid, which can then be wiped off. This was tested with only water, as the surface is only spill resistant – so try not to spill your coffee/beer/appletini on it!

When using the G.L.I.D.E. 7 with a selection of mice, there was not a single fault. Each mouse glided effortlessly across the surface. For both general use and gaming the pad did it’s job perfectly and the 6mm thickness meant that gaming could continue in comfort, to the early hours of the morning. Laser or optical, the pad took what we threw at it.

Finding the right mouse pad can be difficult as there are a lot of them on the market and there is not normally much that sets them apart. One of the main decisions is whether to go down the soft or hard route. Hard mouse pads tend to be a lot smoother which does mean that any dirt or crumbs stick out and produces a feeling similar to that of someone scraping their nails down a chalkboard.

Soft pads tend to be more comfortable but can produce more resistance. The Cyborg G.L.I.D.E. appears to have come to a reasonable compromise. Whilst not 100% smooth it still offers similar performance to that of a hard pad, yet with the added bonus of it being very comfortable.

So overall, Cyborg have produced a very good mouse pad that combines the smoothness of a hard mouse pad, with the comfort of a soft pad. The graphic on the mouse pad could be considered the main flaw, some may like it, but it would have been a lot more appealing with something less obtrusive. The size of the pad is ideal for most gamers although it could pose a problem on smaller desks and getting it flat after it’s been in the tube can take a while and effort.

The price is very reasonable for a mouse pad of this calibre, however there are many pads on the market for a similar price, which the G.L.I.D.E. 7 does little to distinguish it’s self from. It is close to earning the Gamers Choice Award, but there is nothing that stands out, to set it’s self apart from the rest, so because of this, no award will be given, but it is still a worthy contender.[/wpcol_1half_end]