SteelPad 5L Review

Several months ago, I reviewed the SteelPad QcK from SteelSeries and found it to be a great mouse pad with only one major drawback. In my opinion, the look of the pad just left something to be desired. It got the job done but didn’t have that distinctive flair I’ve come to appreciate in other pads. It should come as no surprise then, that when I was asked if I would like to review the SteelPad 5L, I jumped at the chance.

UPDATE: It’s important to point out that this design is no longer being used for the SteelPad 5L. A new design, similar to what the QcK was using, has been standardized across all their pads. My review covers the original design below, but my guess is that the mechanics of the new pad remain the same.

As you can see, the 5L comes with improved graphics in the form of a colorful abstract design. The primary color is still black, but they’ve added blue and white highlights throughout. In case you didn’t notice, the dimensions in the picture are backwards. The pad is 11”x15”, just not in the directions indicated. It’s a slightly wider pad than the SteelPad QcK and is made from cloth and plastic, which gives it a distinct feel. At 0.15”, the 5L is twice as thick as the QcK but is still thinner than most of the low-end pads you’ll see in the stores. I’ve been using the pad for a while now, and I believe I’m ready to share that experience with others. If reviews be the fruit of blogs, then read on my friends.

The Good
The SteelPad 5L is packaged in such a way as to show off its assets. Protected by cardboard but covered in plastic, one can really get a sense of just how big the pad is and see what it brings to the table in terms of visual flair. Make no mistake about it, this pad was meant to be seen. I like the design, but I’m sure there are people out there who would rather stick with the simple black pad. It really all boils down to personal preference. You can never really predict who will love or hate a certain design. Some people want puppy dogs and babies on their mouse pads. Thankfully, SteelSeries went with something else. I think they really needed at least one pad with some kind of signature design, and they hit the nail on the head with this one.

The next thing I noticed about the pad is its overall construction and how it feels. It’s really hard to conceptualize what a cloth and plastic mouse pad is like without actually having one in your hands. The pad’s surface is soft to the touch but is incredibly smooth. My mice glide right over it with absolutely no snags. The rubber elements on the bottom prevent the pad from sliding around during normal usage, yet there is no adhesion to the desktop making the pad easy to move around as needed. The core of the pad is the plastic which gives it a stiff, rigid shape that bends only slightly when held aloft. I’ve never used a mouse pad like this before.

The Bad
First off, let me start with saying that there isn’t really anything bad about this pad. It has some minor drawbacks, in my opinion, but nothing that’s a real deal-breaker.

If you’re used to a micro-thin pad, the 5L will take some getting used to. The thickness is noticeable but you would be amazed at how quickly your hand and wrist will adapt to it. I don’t even notice it now. The pad is still thinner than most of the cloth pads you’ll see at your local computer store.

As much as I love the pad, there are still some drawbacks with the fact that the top layer is cloth. I brought up some of these issues in my QcK review, so I don’t see a need to rehash all of them here. The pad still looks great after all this time, but there is some noticeable fraying around the edges. It’s not a big deal, but I feel like it’s worth mentioning.

I wouldn’t be a very good reviewer, if I didn’t bring up the issue of cost. This is not a cheap mouse pad. At around $40, there are a lot of people who will probably pass on this one. With that said, I don’t think it’s fair to judge the cost based on what the average computer user is willing to pay. SteelSeries is about making professional gaming gear and their market is guys and gals who spend more on graphics cards than an average family spends on groceries in a month. To that market, a $40 pad is probably an investment. It could be the difference between them getting 1st or 5th in a tournament.

The Bottom Line
Now that we have that out of the way, I can get to the good stuff. I absolutely love this pad. I haven’t been doing any hardcore gaming with it, but I have been using it everyday for months now. Although SteelSeries isn’t really gunning for the casual gamer or user, this pad can fill that niche. If you’re willing to shell out a little money for a great pad, then you can’t go wrong with the SteelPad 5L. I can comfortably say it’s the best mouse pad I’ve ever used, and I have absolutely no desire to use anything else.