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Most tactile medium-to-light MX-compatible switch (including clicky switches)? (programming.dev)

submitted 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I'm looking for a lighter companion to the Clickiez 40g (which actually has ~75-80gf peak force). The Clickiez and the Box Navies are the only MX-compatible switches whose tactility I've really found sufficient before, but I'm willing to sacrifice a little tactility to get a lighter switch for some special keys. What's the best I can do out there for a slightly lighter switch with good (some would say 'extreme') tactile feedback? (Clicky switches are fine if they provide better tactility, as they generally do.)

I've spent a lot of time looking at reviews, force graphs, and have even ordered some switches to try (yet to arrive). But I'm exhausted and ready for some human recommendations to help settle the question.

Any advice?

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 11 months ago (2 children)

What have you tried that you didn't like? And did you consider swapping springs in some that you do like? Then you can those as light as you'd like.

Did you try Gazzew U4T?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Truthfully, I've not tried many MX-compatible switches in a full board. Just Box Whites and Box Royals, besides the Box Navies. My daily driver is a Model M.

I haven't tried the U4Ts! They're on my list of candidates. Do you find them to be pretty good as a relatively light switch that still gives good feedback?

I do have some Emogogo Silver Grays which I think might be comparable, but I need only a handful of these switches so I wouldn't mind ordering some U4Ts if they're good.

Spring swapping is a good idea, especially since I don't need a ton here. I wonder how light I can go with the Clickiez before they have return issues... maybe I could lighten those a bit.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I like the U4Ts (there is a also a silent version called "U4Ts", just FYI.)

I haven't tried a ton of switches either, but the U4Ts are the tactile switches I have tried that I like the most for their noticeable tactility. And I've been using 68g, which maybe even hides some tactility. So I've bought some 55g two-staged springs I want to swap to.

If you don't know it, then there is an immense collection of switch reviews which also covers the U4Ts: https://github.com/ThereminGoat/switch-scores/blob/master/U4T%20(62g).pdf

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

I'll give the U4Ts a chance, too! They could be a nice fit here. Since I only need the lighter switches in a few keys, the spring swap doesn't even feel like much trouble.

I think we don't want the silents here since the person I'm gifting this to prefers a longer travel distance, and dampeners shorten the throw. Thanks for alerting me to that detail!

Should I look for springs on Amazon or are specialized keyboard shops a better bet for those?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

That's a great question - sorry for the slow reply! I bought some from a mechanical keyboard online shop that had a sale, but maybe you can find some as cheap elsewhere.

I bought SPRiT MX Multistage 55 M1 and SPRiT MX Extreme 45s Slow springs. I'm thinking I'll try the 55g ones first. They were just really cheap, so I bought the 45g, too.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Boba U4T are a good try at ~60g with nice tactility. Zilent v2 come in two weights but they’re only 5g apart or something.