Wraith Esports Ace Series Mouse Pads Review
Introduction
The Wraith Esports Ace series includes three mouse pads: the Storm, the Serenity, and the Sunset. These represent speed, balance, and control surfaces, respectively. Wraith is an esports brand based in Turkey, known for products like the Wraith Cosmic Glass, one of the slowest glass pads on the market. The Ace Series aims to provide high-performance surfaces for enthusiasts and competitors alike. But how do they stack up against comparable mouse pads on the market?
Build Quality and Feel
Premium Build and Base
The first thing to note is how premium these mouse pads feel right out of the box. They all feature a 3.5mm thickness with a Poron base that provides excellent desk adhesion. The base is one of the softest implementations of Poron, offering a pliable and comfortable feel.
The Serenity and Sunset feel softer when pressing into the surface compared to the Storm, which has a more robust texture. This contributes to the Storm’s faster glide while maintaining a tight weave.
Each pad is available in 500x500mm and 480x430mm sizes, priced at $53 and $46, respectively, with several color options.
Speed and Performance
Friction and Speed Testing
Wraith has successfully created three mouse pads that cover the full speed spectrum:
- Storm: An average friction of 0.237, similar to the Padsmith Genesis Pro and Pulsar Hyperion, slightly slower than the Artisan Raiden Mid.
- Serenity: An average friction of 0.278, about 17% slower than the Storm, placing it in the balanced-to-control category.
- Sunset: An average friction of 0.311, making it roughly 10% slower than the Serenity, comparable to true control pads like the Curissen Shogun.
Surface Characteristics
Storm
The Storm has a unique weave structure, with a less uniform X-axis pattern and smaller Y-axis fibers, creating a tight weave. This results in an even XY-axis experience, with less than a 0.5% difference between the two directions.
Serenity
The Serenity shares similarities with the Artisan Zero but features thicker, tightly packed fibers without the pronounced X/Y differentiation. This creates a smooth and controlled glide.
Sunset
The Sunset has a looser weave, thinner fibers, and larger gaps, producing higher friction. This design is similar to the Ghost Glides Mecca, though less structured than pads like the Type 99 or Shogun. One downside is that dust and hair easily get trapped in the weave, making it prone to looking dirty over time.
Skate Compatibility
Performance with Skates
I tested these pads with both full-sized and dot skates, and both performed well. However, bottoming out was an issue on the softer bases when using only four-dot skates. Adding more dots helped mitigate this, with the Storm being the least affected.
The Sunset felt slightly muddy with slower full-size skates like those on the WL Mouse Strider. If you prefer a slower glide, this could be a great option. However, I personally preferred using aftermarket full-sized skates for a better experience, particularly on the Serenity and Sunset. The X-raypad Jade Air skates performed exceptionally well during my tests.
Final Thoughts
Conclusion
Wraith has done an excellent job with the Ace Series, offering high-performance mouse pads that feel unique rather than clones of existing designs. Their soft base and varied surface characteristics provide great value for performance-oriented users.
While cleaning may be a minor concern, I highly recommend these pads. My personal favorite was the Serenity due to its versatile glide, while the Storm was a close second for its dot skate compatibility. The Sunset, while excellent for micro-adjustment tasks in KovaaK, was a bit too slow for my general use.
Overall, Wraith has successfully introduced themselves to the premium esports mouse pad market, and I look forward to seeing more from them in the future.
