UnUsual Way Sports dots — whispering on glass and hybrid pads - Damian Cooper/Airman
In the crowded field of gaming accessories, dot skates have carved out a niche for precision and speed. Among the many manufacturers, @UnwsGear stands out as a rising star, offering dot skates that promise versatility, a smooth glide, and quiet operation. Today, I am testing three packs of their dots to see how they differ and what they can offer to a gamer.
Disclaimer: three sets of @UnwsGear dots were sent to me for reviewing purposes: Magic Ice, Silver Fox Pink and Grey dots. However, the manufacturer had no influence on the review.
Rule of the thumb: use a hair-dryer before peeling off any skates. Wipe the residue with some alcohol pads, place at least 4–6 dots onto your mouse, try to place them diagonally, use the same amount of dots on top and bottom (if possible), use the same diameter dots for the whole mouse. The more dots you use, the better control you get, and conversely, the less dots you apply the better glide you get. Do not place to many dots because you get diminishing returns.
Mice used: RAWM SA-SHO1 Pro, RAWM ES21-Pro, Rapoo VT1 Pro Max.
Mousepads used: Waizowl Falcon, Artisan XSOFT/SOFT, QPAD GP48-C, KingJade Liu Li v2.
Dots Dimensions: 6.5–7mm in diameter, 0.8-0.9mm thick. There are 20 Magic Ice dots in one pack and 40 Silver Fox dots in one pack.
Material: pure, hydrophobic (so no humidity effect) PTFE with some SMPE foam on the bottom to silence them out
Break-in period: no break-in period. They are softer than the hardened PTFE so they wear down a bit quicker but therefore give more control on glass/hard pads and do not need any break-in time.
Shape: wider, flatter shape with a slightly concave base and slightly convex top (they are not usual cylindrical shape), so they are thinner in thickness and taller.
Reusability: they are thinner and softer than hardened PTFE skates so beware of bending them lest you should ruin them. The layer of adhesive is strong enough to last at least 3 applications even though it wears down. Due to their softer nature, they are not that durable as plastic or hardened PTFE skates, but that’s not a bad thing because they give you more control.
Glide, Stopping Power and Control
When discussing glide, stopping power, and control, the performance of Silver Fox and Magic Ice mouse feet varies distinctly across different surfaces. Magic Ice dots are renowned for their speed, offering the fastest glide with the least amount of control when used on glass mousepads. This makes them ideal for gamers who prefer a swift, less restricted movement. In contrast, Silver Fox Grey dots are the epitome of control, providing a precise and stable feel, making them excellent for users needing nuanced cursor movements. Silver Fox Pink dots, while still very controlled, fall just shy of their Grey counterparts in this aspect.
Regarding noise, both Silver Fox Pink and Magic Ice dots glide silently on glass, enhancing the user experience with their quiet operation. Surprisingly, Silver Fox Grey dots produce a bit more sound, which might be a consideration for those in quiet environments.
On glass, these dots not only impress with their control but also maintain good stopping power, ensuring that rapid movements can be halted effectively. This performance extends to hardened soft or hybrid mouse pads where control becomes even more pronounced, and stopping power is notably great. However, when these dots are used on thick, sponge-like slow cloth pads, their performance takes a hit. The dots sink into the material, resulting in what can be described as “mud-like control” — an excessive amount of drag that slows down the cursor in an unhelpful way.
In summary, for users with glass or hardened pads (including some cloth varieties), Silver Fox and Magic Ice dots deliver excellent glide, control, and stopping power, catering to both speed and precision needs. However, on thicker, more absorbent mousepads, the same dots become overly controlled, significantly reducing glide and not aligning well with the needs of gamers or users requiring fluid movement.
Closing Thoughts
Silver Fox and Magic Ice dots are rapidly making their mark within the mousepad community, securing some sizzling-hot partnerships with Tekkusai and GlssWrks. These dots are now included with every copy of Tekkusai’s Beast and GlssWrks’ Hana mousepads, indicating a strong endorsement by these manufacturers. While they may not match the durability of hardened PTFE dots, they compensate with significantly enhanced control, a feature highly sought after by users of glass pads. Their silence on glass surfaces is a notable advantage, and they also perform admirably on hybrid pads. The ability to reapply these dots, combined with their unique shape, adds to their appeal. Additionally, UnUsual Way Sports is gearing up to launch their Silver Fox Black Dots, which are rumored to offer even more control specifically for glass surfaces. In conclusion, these dots represent an excellent alternative for anyone looking to replace their mouse skates, particularly if you’re gaming on glass, hard, or hybrid pads, providing a balanced blend of performance and user experience.
Bullet Points
- pretty controlled on glass and hybrid pads due to their shape and material
- Magic Ice are the ones with the fastest glide, Silver Fox Grey dots are the most controlled, Silver Fox Pink dots only slightly less controlled
- pretty slow on cloth and spongy mousepads
- can be reapplied a few times
- pretty silent on glass (SMPE foam used) apart from Silver Fox Grey dots which are surprisingly louder
- 40 pieces in one pack make a great offer
- they wear down quicker than hardened PTFE feet
Disclaimer: this review is not a paid endorsement. I want to ensure transparency and let you know that I am not receiving any compensation, monetary or otherwise, for evaluating or discussing this tech product.
