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The 5 Best Mouse Pad Wrist Rests For Working, Gaming & More
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Spending long hours at a computer can be quite uncomfortable, especially when it comes to your wrists. So, if you’re someone who often experiences strain while working at your desk, the best mouse pad wrist rests can help. Made from materials like gel and memory foam, they offer soft support while placing your wrist in a neutral position.
According to Jordan Duncan, D.C., a Washington-based chiropractor at Silverdale Sport and Spine, “The goal of a mouse pad wrist rest is to keep your wrist in a more neutral orientation and limit excessive ranges of motion that can lead to repetitive strain injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome.” For that reason, wrist rests offer slight elevation to place your wrist in line with the mouse, and offer soft support to prevent nerve compression.
As far as options go, Darryl Higgins, a work ergonomics expert and founder of Athlete Desk recommends memory foam as an “ideal material” that can help “relieve chronic wrist discomfort.” Memory foam molds to the shape of your wrist for customized support, then slowly bounces back. One thing to note about memory foam is that it absorbs your body heat, so it may warm up after long hours of work — an attribute that may be a drawback for some people. A gel wrist rest, on the other hand, remains cool to the touch, and is a squishier material that bounces back more quickly than memory foam. Your choice will come down to a matter of texture and temperature preferences.
Beyond that, you may want to consider options that come with keyboard rests, or extra-wide rests that support your wrist while giving you more room to move. To help make finding the right wrist rest easy, here’s a quick guide to the best mouse pad wrists rests you can buy for work or play. Pro tip: They’re the perfect complement to the best ergonomic mice.
1The Best Memory Foam Wrist Rest Set
- Also available on Walmart, $17
One of Higgins’s picks, this keyboard and mouse wrist rest combo includes everything you need to stay comfortable and relaxed while working or gaming. For soft support, each rest is made from memory foam that slowly bounces back without losing its original form or firmness. Plus, the wrist rest is contoured to support your entire wrist, as well as the base of your palm. Each rest features a nonslip gel base that keeps it in place on your desk, as well as a smooth Lycra surface that’s easy to wipe clean. Keep in mind, though, that memory foam tends to retain body heat, so it may get warm after long hours of work or gaming. Considering this is a two-in-one set, it’s a price-friendly choice that’ll promote comfort whether you’re typing, scrolling, or clicking.
One reviewer wrote: “I got it for my mouse and keyboard at work. I especially appreciate the wrist rest for the mouse because I can adjust the position if I ever find it uncomfortable.”
2The Best Gel Mouse Pad Wrist Rest
- Also available on Walmart, $17
The Kensington mouse pad with wrist support makes use of gel — instead of foam — to keep you comfortable. Unlike foam, the gel material won’t retain heat, and it’ll have a squishier texture with faster bounce back. That being said, the vinyl surface won’t offer tons of breathability — a drawback Kensington has made up for by adding a ventilation channel to keep things cool. The rest is thoughtfully contoured to support the shape of your wrist, and the nonslip backing keeps it all in place while you work.
One reviewer wrote: “I got this for my desk at work and it makes all the difference. I love the gel pad for support, it feels really smooth and my wrist hurts less at the end of the day. The size of this mouse pad is great too because you don’t have to readjust once you hit the corners.”
3The Best Massaging & Cradling Wrist Rest
Another Higgins pick, this memory foam wrist rest features concave holes that massage your wrists and hands when you run them across the surface — perfect when you need to boost circulation and get a little extra strain relief. Just as interesting, the rest is curved to create a cradle for your wrist, which some people find more comfortable. The memory foam offers contoured support and slow bounce back, but may warm up with hours of use. The surface is made with smooth Lycra, and the anti-skid bottom keeps the cushion firmly in place.
One reviewer wrote: “I have wrist issues and needed a quality wrist [rest]. I had a silicone one previously, but this one is so much better. Works great. Looks nice. Very supportive. And doesn’t shift around. Highly recommend.”
4The Best Design Options
If you want to add ergonomic comfort and a pop of style to your desk, this mouse pad with wrist support is the way to go — and it comes in dozens of design options, from florals to galactic patterns to cute cacti prints. The wrist rest is made with gel, which will stay cool to the touch while offering squishy support with fast bounce back. The mouse pad is shaped to give your mouse plenty of room to move, while the rest is contoured to fit your wrist. The surface is made from smooth Lycra, and the nonslip base keeps it firmly planted on your desk. One thing to note: Reviewers have reported it’s on the small side, so it works best if you’re not making wide movements with your mouse (but it’s great for small workspaces).
One reviewer wrote: “This pad makes my wrist feel amazing after working all day. No more wrist pain and the color is beautiful.”
5The Best Mouse Wrist Rest For Gaming
- Also available on Walmart, $27
For gamers out there, the Glorious Gaming mouse pad rest is a great option. The wide 8-inch rest gives you a little more room to move, and thanks to its anti-slip rubber base, it’ll stay securely in place through even the most intense gaming sessions. The rest is made with foam that offers medium-level of firmness, but keep in mind that it’s not memory foam, so it’ll be more springy and less dense. It's designed to work well with all types of gaming mice including brand names like Razer, Logitech, SteelSeries, Corsair and Zowie. Bonus: Its cloth surface is easy to wipe clean, which is a plus for any computer desk accessory.
One reviewer wrote: “What can I say? It’s a solid and comfortable arm rest for both a knowledge worker and gamer. I spend many hours, more than I would like to admit at a desk working or gaming. This does the job and it doesn’t seem to lose cushioning in commonly used areas all that quickly. It seems to be fresh as new the next day I use it. Unlike those cheap memory foam products this one seems to be a made of a more quality material than I normally see.”
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