Everglide Bamboo Green vs. Huano Elf
An in-depth look at the Everglide Bamboo Green and the Huano Elf switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing the right mechanical keyboard switch, the Everglide Bamboo Green and the Huano Elf offer distinct experiences that cater to different preferences. The Bamboo Green, a tactile switch, is renowned for its clacky sound signature and crisp, sparkling tactility, making it a popular choice for those who enjoy a pronounced feedback while typing. This switch is characterized by its sharp and polished feel, providing an engaging and responsive typing experience favored by typists and gamers alike. In contrast, the Huano Elf, a linear switch, is designed for a smooth, uninterrupted keystroke with a medium-light feel that promotes a satisfying touch. Its POK top housing enhances acoustics, creating a deep sound signature that adds a layer of enjoyment to each keystroke. While the Bamboo Green appeals to users seeking tactile feedback and auditory satisfaction, the Elf caters to those who prioritize a smooth and quiet typing experience. However, let’s dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
43g
Actuation force
42g
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
N/A
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
3.60 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
POK
Bottom housing material
PBT
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Stainless steel spring
Housing materials
The Everglide Bamboo Green and the Huano Elf utilize distinct materials for their top housing, which contributes to their individual sound profiles and tactile feedback. The Bamboo Green features PBT for its top housing, which lends a neutral sound that strikes a balance between crispness and dullness. This results in a predictable typing experience that won't overpower with harsh sounds or drowned in muted tones. In contrast, the Huano Elf's top housing is crafted from POK, also known as polyketone, which is renowned for its smoothness and durability. With a coefficient of friction of 0.04, POK provides a slick sensation upon keypress, and its exceptional wear and shock resistance elevate the switch's overall longevity. While both materials aim for pleasant auditory feedback, their distinct properties create different tactile experiences, with the Bamboo Green leaning towards a more neutral sound profile, while the Elf offers a smoother, clackier feel.
For the bottom housing, the materials selected diverge yet again, contributing to the overall performance of the switches. The Bamboo Green utilizes PBT that continues the trend of neutrality in sound, ensuring a balance in depth without overwhelming tones. On the other hand, the Huano Elf employs nylon, a traditional switch housing material that tends to absorb sound better, producing a deeper and fuller acoustic profile. This variance means that while both switches share a foundational cushioning effect with their respective bottom housings, the Elf's nylon base results in a more muted and rounded sound. Consequently, when typing on the Elf, one may notice a sound experience that is softer and more immersive, while the Bamboo Green maintains a more straightforward auditory feedback.
Ultimately, the differences in housing materials between the Everglide Bamboo Green and the Huano Elf will guide the user's typing experience, emphasizing how the top and bottom housings interact synergistically. The Bamboo Green achieves a consistent performance defined by neutrality, combining the characteristics of its PBT materials across both housing types. In contrast, the Huano Elf presents a dichotomy where the smoothness and resilience of the POK top housing meet the sound-absorbing qualities of the nylon bottom housing, leading to a richer typing experience. For enthusiasts seeking specific tactile sensations, understanding how these materials work together will inform their preferences, reflecting the nuanced qualities derived from varied switch housing designs.
Weight
When comparing the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the Huano Elf linear switch, we can see some differences in their actuation forces but a lack of data on the bottom out force for the Elf. The Bamboo Green features an actuation force of 43 grams, which is slightly heavier than the Huano Elf's actuation force of 42 grams, making the Elf the lighter option for users who prefer a softer touch. However, since the bottom out force for the Elf is not provided, it's unclear how the two switches compare when it comes to the experience of pressing them all the way down. The Bamboo Green’s bottom out force is 62 grams, indicating a more substantial feel, which may appeal to those who favor a stronger tactile feedback during typing or gaming sessions. Users who enjoy lighter switches for extended usage might lean toward the Huano Elf, while those looking for a heavier switch experience might prefer the Everglide Bamboo Green.
Travel distance
The Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch features a travel distance of 4 mm, while the Huano Elf linear switch has a shorter travel distance of 3.6 mm. This difference indicates that the Bamboo Green provides a more substantial depth when pressed, appealing to those who enjoy a hearty feel and a more traditional typing experience. In contrast, the Elf's 3.6 mm travel distance caters to gamers and users who favor a quicker response time, as shorter travel distances are often seen as more optimal for speed. Therefore, if you prefer a switch that feels less abrupt and gives you a fuller keystroke sensation, the Bamboo Green is the better option. However, if you're looking for enhanced responsiveness and quicker actuation, the Huano Elf would be the ideal choice.
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 Huano Elf has an MSRP of $3.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Elf for $3.29.
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
The sound profile of the Everglide Bamboo Green switches is characterized by a clacky, high-pitched resonance that offers a sharp and crisp auditory experience. This gives them a lively and engaging quality, making each keystroke feel pronounced and clear—a feature that appeals to many typists who enjoy a more dynamic soundscape. On the other hand, the Huano Elf switches produce a deep sound signature, enhanced by their POK top housing, which contributes to better acoustics. This results in a more subdued but satisfying auditory feedback, providing a rich typing experience, albeit less vibrant compared to the Bamboo Greens. Ultimately, while both switches offer distinct sound attributes, the Bamboo Greens will be more suitable for users who prefer clarity and brightness, while the Elf caters to those who appreciate a deeper, fuller sound.
When it comes to feel, the Bamboo Green switches deliver a striking tactile experience, marked by their stepped and accented characteristics. Users can expect a defined tactile bump that is both sharp and polished, allowing for a distinctive feel with each keystroke. This combination offers a medium tactile response that balances feedback intensity with smoothness, ideal for typing quickly and accurately. In contrast, the Huano Elf switches possess a medium-light feel, providing a smoother linear action without the pronounced tactile feedback seen in the Bamboo Greens. This characteristic makes the Elf switches well-suited for users who prefer a more fluid keystroke without the interference of a tactile bump.
In conclusion, both the Everglide Bamboo Green and Huano Elf switches cater to different typing experiences, largely influenced by their sound and tactile feedback. The Bamboo Green excels with its lively, clacky sound and sharp tactile feedback, making it an excellent choice for typists seeking a pronounced keystroke sensation. Meanwhile, the Huano Elf offers a deeper sound profile and a fluid linear feel, appealing to those who prefer a quieter and more seamless typing experience. Depending on personal preferences, users can choose between these two switches to achieve their desired auditory and tactile sensations while typing.
Conclusion
To conclude, your choice between the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the Huano Elf linear switch ultimately depends on your personal preferences and typing style. If you enjoy a tactile experience with a medium force of 62 grams and appreciate the crisp, high-pitched, and resonant sound that comes with each keypress, the Bamboo Green switch is likely the ideal option for you. This switch provides a distinct tactile feedback with a stepped and sharp feel, perfect for those who enjoy typing that offers a noticeable response without being too overwhelming. On the other hand, if you prefer a smoother, lightweight feel with a more subdued sound profile, the Huano Elf linear switch would serve you well. With its medium-light actuation and deeper sound signature, it caters to users who appreciate a more muted auditory experience while still enjoying satisfying keystrokes. In the end, consider your typing habits, the importance you place on sound and feedback, and choose the switch that aligns with your desired keyboard experience.
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