A desk pad protects your desk from the items you place on it. It prevents scratches and keeps your desk looking nice. There are many desk pads out there, so it can be hard to choose. I decided to buy 5 highly rated desk pads from Amazon to figure out which is best.
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Highly Rated Amazon Desk Pads Links
1. The Search for the Best Desk Pad
I started my search on Amazon like most people. It is the easiest way to see all different types and brands of desk pads. I found that most were made with the same PU material. They were cheap and all looked like real leather. Most if not all of the desk pads had high reviews and customers were genuinely happy with them.
I bought 4 different mats which included the Aothia, Ysagi, Knodel and the Towwi. I wanted to test out the differences and similarities. One thing that I was curious about was how good they laid flat when unrolling them from the box. All except for the Ysagi stayed flat once placed on the desk for an entire day. The Ysagi had small bumps within the mat that didn’t go away.
The next test I wanted to try was a smell test. The Towwi had the strongest smell similar to ink and the Knodel and Aothia were more neutral. On the other hand, the Ysagi had an odd smell and frankly the worst out of them all.
2. PU Pads
For the rest of the tests, the PU pads had identical results. The Knodel desk pad was a great example of this. I would recommend the PU pads are the only ones to write on. However, if you push too hard, the pen will go through the paper. These pads also win the spill test, therefore it’s an easy clean up when a coffee cup ring is left.
The texture of these mats are all smooth and allow a mouse to move easily. I also noticed when dropping something heavy on the mat, it left marks initially but disappeared within minutes.
The Gallaway Leather Desk Mat is a great option as well. It looks premium without breaking the bank and feels softer than the others. The only downfall with this is my pen went right through the paper and even left marks on the pad when I dropped my utility knife on top. This is the only mat that actually left marks weeks later. I would recommend this product to anyone looking to add more of a classier look to their desk setup.
3. Ktrio Gaming Desk Pad
Furthermore, we have a desk pad specific to gamers called the Ktrio Gaming Desk Pad. Mouse glide and control are two very important things when it comes to gaming so having a good product is worth it. This pad ranges from $15-$19 and has a 4.8 star rating. The only negative review is the pad never lays flat, there will always be a corner or part of it that rolls up.
The mouse does glide significantly better than any other mat I’ve tested so that is a win. It also passes the test of something being dropped on top of it. There is no sign of marks or creases. I would say it did fail when it came to writing and cleaning up a spill. Unfortunately, my pen easily went through the paper so you may need to use the desk surface instead. As for the coffee cup ring, it did not disappear. Not only is this pad for gaming, but it can be used for photoshop editing. It is crucial for my mouse to glide easily when I am image editing.
4. Grovemade Desk Mat
This desk pad runs at about $160, now this might sound expensive and to some it can be, but is it worth it? I believe this one is more for looks than function. Many of my tests failed and I’ll explain why. Writing is pretty much impossible because of the material. There is some glide for the mouse, but not consistent enough.
I would not suggest having a cup of coffee on this desk pad because if not cleaned up quick enough, it will soak right in. Weeks later, I could still smell that coffee spot. Another issue I have with the pad is how easy the pad slides and stretches around on the desk. This can get distracting for me as I like a desk pad to simply blend in with my setup. When dropping a heavy item, it didn’t leave any marks so that was an advantage.
Bottom Line
Overall, all of these pads have their similarities and differences, but the PU pads seem to take the lead. They are cheaper and pass the most tests above all the other desk pads. Desk pads are a great accessory to have for your desk setup so don’t shy away from trying one out.
