Everglide Bamboo Green vs. TTC Flame Red
An in-depth look at the Everglide Bamboo Green and the TTC Flame Red switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, it's important to consider both the tactile and visual aspects to find the perfect fit for your preferences. The Everglide Bamboo Green is a tactile switch that offers a clacky sound signature and a crisp, sparkling tactility. With its categorized as "stepped," "high-pitched," "accented," "sharp," "resonant," and "polished," it provides a unique typing experience. On the other hand, the TTC Flame Red is a linear switch that stands out with its dazzling light diffuser, making it a top choice for those who want a backlit, RGB keyboard. When typing on these switches, a weighty smoothness and a clacky sound profile can be felt, creating a satisfying experience. Classified as "neutral," "mild," and "polished," the Flame Red provides a different feel compared to the Bamboo Green. 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
45g
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
54g
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
Partial box
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
PBT
Top housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
PBT
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
24.5mm long spring
Housing materials
The Everglide Bamboo Green and the TTC Flame Red have contrasting materials for both their top and bottom housings. The Bamboo Green utilizes PBT for both its top and bottom housings, which offers a neutral sound profile. It neither provides a crisp nor a dull sound. On the other hand, the Flame Red employs nylon for both its top and bottom housings. Nylon is known to absorb more sound due to its softness, resulting in a deeper and fuller sound profile that tends to be duller and rounder.
However, if we focus specifically on the top housings of these switches, we see that they differ significantly. The Bamboo Green's PBT top housing, being relatively unseen when used in switch housings, offers a neutral sound profile as mentioned earlier. In contrast, the Flame Red's nylon top housing has a classic switch housing material that elicits a deeper and fuller sound profile. This is due to nylon's ability to absorb more sound compared to harder plastics. As a result, the Flame Red's top housing will contribute more to the sound when you release a key.
On the other hand, the bottom housings of these switches provide a similar experience. Both the Bamboo Green's PBT bottom housing and the Flame Red's nylon bottom housing offer a neutral sound profile. They do not possess distinct crispness or dullness and have a minimal impact on the sound and feel when bottoming out a key. Therefore, while there are clear differences in the top housing materials between the Everglide Bamboo Green and the TTC Flame Red, their similar bottom housings result in comparable sound profiles during the bottom-out motion.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the TTC Flame Red linear switch, there are some notable similarities and differences. Starting with the actuation force, the Bamboo Green requires 43 grams of force to trigger a keystroke, while the Flame Red requires 45 grams. Although the difference is minimal, the Flame Red has a slightly higher actuation force. Moving on to the bottom out force, the Bamboo Green has a higher value of 62 grams compared to the Flame Red's 54 grams. This indicates that the Bamboo Green switch requires a heavier push to fully press the key down.
Considering the weight of the switches, the Bamboo Green can be perceived as heavier due to its higher bottom out force. This additional weight in the typing experience might be preferable for some users who enjoy a more substantial and satisfying keystroke, as it requires a stronger push. On the other hand, the Flame Red, with its slightly lower actuation and bottom out forces, provides a lighter typing experience. This lighter weight may be favored by users who type for long periods or engage in extensive gaming sessions, as it allows for reduced fatigue.
In summary, while both the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the TTC Flame Red linear switch fall into the medium force category, there are notable differences in their actuation and bottom out forces. The Bamboo Green requires a lighter actuation force but a heavier bottom out force, while the Flame Red has a slightly heavier actuation force but a lighter bottom out force. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches depends on individual preference for either a heavier or lighter typing experience.
Travel distance
Both the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the TTC Flame Red linear switch have the same travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when you press down on a key equipped with either switch, you will feel a consistent and equal distance of travel from the top to the bottom. Therefore, you can expect to get similar results in terms of the tactile experience and overall typing feel with 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 TTC Flame Red has an MSRP of $7.29 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Flame Red for $4.38.
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 Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch has a clacky sound signature that is high-pitched and resonant. These switches produce a sharp and crisp sound when pressed, creating an immersive auditory experience. On the other hand, the TTC Flame Red linear switch has a neutral sound profile that is moderate in pitch. It offers a moderate actuation force requirement and a sound suitable for most purposes, whether you are a beginner or advanced user.
In terms of feel, the Bamboo Green switch is described as accented and sharp. It has a prominent amount of tactility that is neither overwhelming nor subtle, providing a distinct and intense tactile bump with each keypress. Additionally, these switches are stepped, meaning they have a slight pre-travel and/or post-travel sensation. They also have a polished finish, resulting in reduced friction and smooth key travel.
On the other hand, the Flame Red switch offers a mild typing experience. It provides a more gentle tactile feedback compared to switches with more pronounced characteristics. Similar to the Bamboo Green switch, it also has a polished finish, allowing for reduced friction and smooth key travel.
Based on the available information, the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch is known for its clacky sound signature and sharp, accented feel. It offers a rich auditory experience with a high-pitched sound and a distinct tactile bump. On the other hand, the TTC Flame Red linear switch provides a more neutral sound and a mild typing experience. Both switches have a polished finish for smoother key travel.
If you are looking for a tactile switch with a clacky sound and intense tactile feedback, the Everglide Bamboo Green is the preferred choice. However, if you prefer a more gentle typing experience with a moderate sound profile, the TTC Flame Red is a suitable option. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches depends on individual preferences and requirements.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you are looking for a medium-weight switch with a clacky sound and a crisp and sparkling tactile feel, the Everglide Bamboo Green switch would be the ideal choice for you. These switches offer a high-pitched and resonant sound profile, which adds to the auditory experience while typing. Additionally, the Bamboo Green switches are described as stepped, accented, sharp, and polished, providing a tactile feel that is neither overwhelming nor subtle, but rather offers a prominent amount of tactility. On the other hand, if you prefer a medium-light switch with a weighty smoothness and a clacky sound profile, the TTC Flame Red switch would be a great option, especially if you have a backlit or RGB keyboard. The Flame Red switches have a neutral sound profile and are described as mild and polished, offering a more gentle typing experience with reduced friction and smooth key travel. Ultimately, the choice between the Everglide Bamboo Green and TTC Flame Red switches will depend on your specific preferences and the type of typing experience you desire.