Mouse mats can feel like such an afterthought when it comes to PC kit. For years, to me they were always just a novelty addition. The kind of thing you’d find stashed in a showbag or the likes and be underwhelmed by. When mice moved away from the roller ball design, I often wouldn’t even bother with one.
It felt like just another thing to clutter my desk. It wasn’t until I started dedicated PC gaming that I understood the value of a good mouse surface. It wasn’t until the Razer Gigantus V2 that I realised they could be more.
Like I’ve said, the Razer Gigantus V2 isn’t my first mouse mat. I’ve used other gamer marketed mats in the past and the differences are subtle, but definitely there. There’s different textures, thickness, sizes, and all sorts of other preferences. However, one of the first things I noticed with all of them is definitely the smell.
Razer Gigantus V2 Review
Almost any product made of rubber foam has a pretty distinct odour. It seems the cheaper the mat the worse they smell with the character printed ones from shops like Ali Express being the most noxious offenders. Many products will recommend hanging them out to air, or even hand washing them first to deal with this.
Thankfully, the Razer Gigantus V2 is possibly the most minimally stanky piece of rubber I’ve ever owned. The smell wasn’t immediately obvious upon opening the box, and I was able to use the mat straight away with only faint wafts.
It’s been nearly a week now and while I may pick up a very slight scent occasionally, it’s barely noticeable. Definitely a good choice for anyone with a sensitive schnoz like me.
Sizeable Difference
The Razer Gigantus V2 comes in a few different sizes depending on your needs. The model I was provided is the second largest, the XXL. At this size, it more than comfortably fits my keyboard and mouse, with ample room for elbow swinging. The larger size looks like it would let you set your monitors on it, and anything smaller looks to be designed for mouse use only.
I actually think the XXL is pretty much perfect for my desk space needs. I do a lot of rearranging so having my monitors on it could get frustrating to constantly move. But if I’m honest, before I received the Razer Gigantus V2 XXL mat I would have thought it to be overkill. I have a small desk, crowded with things. So, I often fall victim to what I like to call desk creep.
You know, the phenomena where you just put something down or need to read from something at your computer. Or maybe you’ve realised how handy having this item nearby while you work or game could be. Either way soon a nice clean desk is cluttered and overcrowded. It’s uncomfortable to do anything with as your space is constantly encroached upon by your poor past decisions.
The Razer Gigantus V2 XXL mat helps. It gives me a dedicated space for my mouse and keyboard. Something about it just stops me putting other things on it. It helps me keep my desk organised, or at least that part of my desk, by giving me nice clear boundaries that look and feel different. I can’t even absent-mindedly put something on it without realising. The fact that the minimal matt black top with stylish Razer green edge-colouring looks great on my desk is definitely a plus. It’s a really nice slick look while still keeping a little flourish.
Gripping Experience
But I left the most important feature to last, the grip. I feel like this can be a really personal thing but I am genuinely very pleased with the feel of the Razer Gigantus V2. My mouse glides on it easily without slipping, and the size also means I never have to worry about going off the mat. When I pick it up and place it down there’s ample cushioning without any give. I never realised I was kinda slamming my mouse down until I realised how much less noise I make with this mat. It makes my mouse feel safe and supported, like the first time I was properly fitted for a bra.
Despite my smooth mouse movements, whenever I try to move my keyboard I have to pick it up or it basically doesn’t budge. I tried a few other keyboards and objects out of curiosity and it seems to just work. Everything with grips that are built to stay in place, does. Everything without, like a mouse or a glasses case, for example, glides. Meanwhile, the mat itself grips firmly to my desk. I can make small adjustments to it with purposeful movements, but if I don’t want it to move, it doesn’t. Which seems to be the Razer Gigantus V2’s secret motto.
All in all, I think a Razer Gigantus V2 is a great addition to a desk. I’ll admit I’m surprised, but I’ve genuinely noticed a benefit from having a high-quality large desk mat. The nasty rubber smell that comes with mouse mats is barely present and I think will completely go away after another week or so, despite it being much larger than ones I’ve had in the past. It helps me keep my apocalyptic desk space clean and organised while still looking really slick. And it does pretty much what’s advertised – stays put and stops my keyboard from moving while giving my mouse a seriously smooth ride. Perhaps better yet, it’s a relatively cheap piece of kit that can elevate your experience in lots of nice little ways you’ll notice every day.
The Razer Gigantus V2 was provided by Razer for the purposes of this revew.
