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Everglide Bamboo Green vs. Durock Black Lotus

An in-depth look at the Everglide Bamboo Green and the Durock Black Lotus switches—which one is the best fit for you?

Overview

When it comes to choosing the perfect mechanical keyboard switch, two popular options to consider are the Everglide Bamboo Green and the Durock Black Lotus. The Bamboo Green switch is known for its clacky sound signature and crisp tactility, providing a satisfying typing experience. On the other hand, the Black Lotus switch offers a silky smooth feel and unparalleled precision, with reduced housing and stem wobble for maximum typing pleasure. Additionally, the Black Lotus switch features a unique light column for in-switch lighting that can be fully removed. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities to help you make the best decision for your keyboard needs.

By the numbers

Technical specifications

Actuation force

43g

Actuation force

55g

Bottom-out force

62g

Bottom-out force

63.5g

Pre-travel

2.00 mm

Pre-travel

2.00 mm

Total travel

4.00 mm

Total travel

4.00 mm

Factory lubed

Yes

Factory lubed

Yes

Stem construction

Standard

Stem construction

Standard

Stem material

POM

Stem material

POM

Top housing material

PBT

Top housing material

Modified PC & UPE Blend

Bottom housing material

PBT

Bottom housing material

Nylon

Mount type

PCB (5-pin)

Mount type

PCB (5-pin)

Spring

Gold-plated

Spring

Gold-plated

Housing materials

The Everglide Bamboo Green and the Durock Black Lotus both have different materials for their top housings. The Bamboo Green utilizes a PBT housing, which offers a neutral sound profile. It may not have a crisp sound, but it isn't dull either. On the other hand, the Black Lotus features a modified PC and UPE Blend top housing, which provides a unique and premium feel. This material choice sets the Black Lotus apart, giving it a distinct tactile experience.

Moving on to the bottom housings, the Bamboo Green sticks with the PBT material, ensuring consistency throughout the switch. Similar to its top housing, the PBT bottom housing offers a neutral sound profile. It doesn't have a particularly crisp or dull sound, providing a balanced auditory experience. In contrast, the Black Lotus employs a nylon bottom housing. Nylon is a classic switch housing material known for eliciting a deeper and fuller sound profile. The softer nature of nylon absorbs more sound, resulting in a rounder and duller sound.

The different materials used in the top and bottom housings of both switches impact the overall sound and feel of pressing down and letting go of a key. With the Bamboo Green, the characteristics of the PBT bottom housing dominate the bottom-out sound and feel when a key is pressed. On the other hand, the sound when releasing a key is influenced more by the qualities of the PBT top housing. Conversely, the Black Lotus's modified PC and UPE Blend top housing brings a premium and unique feel to the switch, while the nylon bottom housing contributes to a deeper and fuller sound profile upon pressing the keys.

While the Everglide Bamboo Green and the Durock Black Lotus have different housing materials, they both aim to provide a satisfying typing experience. For those who prefer a neutral sound profile and consistency throughout, the Bamboo Green's PBT housing for both top and bottom provides that. Meanwhile, the Black Lotus stands out with its modified PC and UPE Blend top housing, offering a premium feel, combined with a deeper and fuller sound profile from the nylon bottom housing. In either case, keyboard enthusiasts can expect quality and attention to detail in their typing experience.

Weight

When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the Durock Black Lotus linear switch, there are some notable differences. The Bamboo Green has a lighter actuation force of 43 grams compared to the Black Lotus' 55 grams, making it easier to trigger a keystroke on the Bamboo Green switch. However, when it comes to bottoming out, the Bamboo Green requires a higher force of 62 grams, while the Black Lotus requires 63.5 grams. Therefore, both switches have similar bottom out forces but differ in terms of actuation force.

Considering weight, the Bamboo Green is lighter in terms of actuation force, which makes it more suitable for individuals who prefer a lighter typing experience. This is particularly beneficial for those who need to type for extended periods, such as in work or gaming sessions. Conversely, the Black Lotus provides a stronger push feel due to its heavier actuation force, offering a more substantial typing experience. For individuals who prefer a more pronounced tactile feedback, the heavier force of the Black Lotus may be preferable.

In summary, the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and Durock Black Lotus linear switch display contrasting characteristics in terms of actuation force. While the Bamboo Green has a lighter actuation force, making it ideal for extended typing, the Black Lotus provides a more substantial typing experience with its heavier actuation force. However, both switches exhibit similar bottom out forces, allowing for comparable results in terms of pressing all the way down.

Travel distance

The Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the Durock Black Lotus linear switch have the same travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when you press down on a key equipped with either of these switches, you will experience the same distance traveled from the top to the bottom. Whether you prefer the tactile feedback of the Bamboo Green or the smooth linear action of the Black Lotus, you can expect similar results in terms of the travel distance of both switches.

Price comparison

Which switch is more bang for your buck?

The Everglide Bamboo Green has an MSRP of $9.67 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Bamboo Green for $7.19.

The Durock Black Lotus has an MSRP of $5.60 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Black Lotus for $4.57.

Here at Milktooth, we offer the best prices on switches (on average, 27% lower the competition). In addition, we offer free shipping on orders over $49.00. We also offer free returns and exchanges, so you can shop with guaranteed satisfaction.

That said, while price is an important piece of the puzzle, our opinion is that you should ultimately pick the option that most suits your unique preferences since you’ll be using these switches for years to come. In other words, finding something perfect for you is, in our view, the most important criteria.

Typing experience

When it comes to sound, the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch is characterized by a high-pitched and resonant sound profile. These switches produce a sharp and crisp sound when pressed, providing an immersive auditory experience. On the other hand, there is no specific information available about the sound of the Durock Black Lotus linear switch. However, it is important to note that the sound of a switch is also influenced by factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps used.

In terms of feel, the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch is described as stepped, accented, sharp, and polished. This means that it offers a mild tactile experience with some pre-travel and/or post-travel, providing a medium amount of tactility without being overwhelming or subtle. The strong and crisp tactile bump of these switches can be felt distinctly with each keypress. Additionally, the polished finish of the switch contributes to a smooth and refined typing experience, resulting in reduced friction and smooth key travel. Similarly, the Durock Black Lotus linear switch is also described as polished, which means it offers a sleek typing experience with reduced friction and smooth key travel. It is also characterized as silky, buttery, and mild, indicating an exceptionally smooth and fluid typing experience with a gentle feel that is approachable to most users.

Taking into account the available information, the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch provides a clacky sound signature along with a crisp and sparkling tactility. On the other hand, the Durock Black Lotus linear switch offers a silky smooth feel with unparalleled precision and a unique removable light column for in-switch lighting. While there may be some similarities in the polished finish and smooth key travel between the two switches, it is important to note that they have different characteristics in terms of sound and feel. The Bamboo Green switch has a higher-pitched and resonant sound profile, while the Black Lotus switch is described as silky, buttery, and mild in terms of feel. It is advisable to choose the switch that aligns with your preferences for sound and feel in order to achieve the desired typing experience.

Conclusion

To sum up, if you are someone who values a clacky sound signature, crisp tactility, and a medium bottom-out force, the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch would be an excellent choice for you. These switches offer a high-pitched and resonant sound profile that provides an immersive auditory experience. In terms of feel, the Bamboo Green switches are described as stepped, accented, sharp, and polished, providing a tactile bump that is prominent and distinct. On the other hand, if you prefer a silky smooth feel, unparalleled precision, and a medium-heavy bottom-out force, the Durock Black Lotus linear switch would be a great fit. These switches are known for their reduced housing and stem wobble, resulting in maximum typing pleasure. With its silky, buttery, mild, and polished characteristics, the Black Lotus offers a smooth and fluid keystroke experience. Ultimately, the choice between these switches depends on your personal preferences for sound and feel. Consider what characteristics are most important to you in a keyboard switch and make your decision accordingly.

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