Everglide Bamboo Green vs. Gateron Glory Red
An in-depth look at the Everglide Bamboo Green and the Gateron Glory Red switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When considering the perfect mechanical keyboard switch for your typing or gaming needs, the Everglide Bamboo Green and the Gateron Glory Red present two compelling options, each catering to different preferences and styles. The Bamboo Green is celebrated for its distinct clacky sound signature and sharp, polished tactility, making it an excellent choice for those who enjoy a pronounced feedback while typing. Its stepped design appeals to users who appreciate a tactile experience that enhances every keystroke. On the other hand, the Gateron Glory Red switches offer a smooth and lighter keystroke that promotes speedy typing, making them ideal for gamers seeking quick, uninterrupted action without the distraction of tactile bump. While the Bamboo Green excels in providing auditory and tactile stimulation, the Glory Red prioritizes a seamless and effortless 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
45g
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
POK
Top housing material
PBT
Top housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
PBT
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
20mm single-stage spring
Housing materials
When comparing the housing materials of the Everglide Bamboo Green and the Gateron Glory Red switches, it's evident that distinct materials are used for the top and bottom housings. The Bamboo Green features a PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) top and bottom housing, which is known for providing a balanced sound profile. PBT's neutral sound profile ensures that the typing experience is consistent; it does not create excessively crisp or overly dull sounds. In contrast, the Glory Red's housings are made of nylon, a softer plastic that significantly influences the auditory experience. Nylon absorbs sound, leading to a deeper and fuller profile, which differentiates the typing experience from that of the Bamboo Green switches.
The impact of the materials on the typing feel and sound is further influenced by the combination of top and bottom housings in each switch. While the Bamboo Green's PBT housing results in a muted experience that promotes a clean and neutral auditory performance, the Gateron Glory Red's nylon materials contribute to a rounder and richer sound profile. Since the bottom housing is more influential on the bottom-out feel and sound, the Glory Red switches are likely to offer a softer landing and a deeper sound than if they were made from harder materials. This suggests that users who favor a softer typing experience may lean towards the Gateron switches despite the similar top and bottom materials of the Everglide Bamboo Green.
Ultimately, while both the Everglide Bamboo Green and the Gateron Glory Red switches possess distinctive qualities in their construction, the sound profiles reveal their differences markedly. The Bamboo Green's PBT housings will produce a more neutral typing experience overall, ideal for users seeking a consistent feel and sound. In contrast, the Gateron Glory Red, with its nylon material, caters to those who prefer a fuller and deeper sound. While the tactile sensations will vary due to the housing materials, typists looking for a mix of both worlds might find acceptable performance in either, depending on whether they prioritize sound or feel more heavily in their typing experience.
Weight
The Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the Gateron Glory Red linear switch exhibit some interesting differences in terms of actuation and bottom out forces. The Bamboo Green has an actuation force of 43 grams, which is slightly lighter than the Glory Red's 45 grams; this means that users will find the Bamboo Green to require a bit less force to initiate a keystroke, making it potentially more comfortable for extended typing or gaming sessions. However, the Bamboo Green has a bottom out force of 62 grams, indicating that it does provide a firmer feedback when fully pressed compared to the Glory Red, which has an unspecified bottom out force. While the lack of a bottom out force for the Glory Red suggests that it may provide a unique experience, it does not provide a direct comparison for bottoming out with the Bamboo Green. Overall, those who prefer a lighter touch while typing might lean towards the Bamboo Green, while those seeking more resistance might favor the Gateron Glory Red due to its higher actuation weight, despite its unknown lower force outcome.
Travel distance
The Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch has a travel distance of 4 mm, while the Gateron Glory Red linear switch features a shorter travel distance of 3.6 mm. This means that the Bamboo Green offers a more substantial depth when pressed, providing a tactile experience that some users may find more satisfying and substantial. In contrast, the Glory Red's shorter travel distance caters to those who prioritize quicker response times, which is particularly beneficial for gamers. For individuals who appreciate a more immediate feedback with each keystroke, the Glory Red is the better option. Overall, if you're looking for a deeper and more pronounced typing experience, the Bamboo Green is the way to go, while the Glory Red offers a quicker and less abrupt feel due to its shorter travel distance.
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 Gateron Glory Red has an MSRP of $4.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Glory Red for $4.19.
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 offers a distinct auditory experience characterized by its high-pitched and resonant qualities. Typing on these switches produces a sharp and crisp sound that appeals to those who prefer a more vibrant and clacky feedback. The resonant nature of the Bamboo Green enhances the overall typing experience, creating an immersive auditory backdrop. In contrast, the Gateron Glory Red linear switch lacks a specific sound profile described in this context, but linear switches generally provide a quieter operation compared to tactile ones. As such, if you lean towards a less pronounced sound, the Glory Red could be more to your liking, although the exact sound characteristics of this specific switch remain unspecified.
In terms of feel, the Bamboo Green switch offers a firmly tactile experience, defined by characteristics such as its stepped and accented nature. The tactility is noticeable but not overpowering, presenting a balance that provides a satisfying, yet mild, feedback at both pre-travel and post-travel segments of the keystroke. The switch's sharp tactile bump ensures a strong tactile response with every key press, while the polished finish contributes a smoothness to the experience. Conversely, the Gateron Glory Red switch, being a linear switch, does not have tactile feedback in the same way, resulting in a smooth and uninterrupted keystroke. This leads to a more straightforward and fluid typing experience, making it suitable for those who favor rapid key presses without distraction.
In summary, the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch is marked by its high-pitched, resonant sound and a prominent tactile feel, perfect for typists who appreciate pronounced feedback and an engaging auditory experience. On the other hand, the Gateron Glory Red linear switch offers a quieter, smoother typing experience, suitable for those who prefer a more simplistic and linear feel. Each switch has its own unique qualities, catering to different typing preferences; thus, whether you choose the distinct tactile response of the Bamboo Green or the smooth operation of the Glory Red will ultimately depend on your personal typing style and sound preferences.
Conclusion
To conclude, choosing between Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switches and Gateron Glory Red linear switches ultimately hinges on your personal preferences regarding feedback, sound, and typing experience. If you enjoy a pronounced tactile feel with a satisfying sound profile, the Bamboo Green is the optimal choice. Its medium bottom-out force of 62 grams and high-pitched, resonant sound provide a lively tactile experience, perfect for both typing and gaming, especially if you appreciate a more pronounced feedback with each keypress. On the other hand, if you favor smoothness and ease of actuation without significant tactile feedback, the Gateron Glory Red is likely to appeal to you. While the specific bottom-out force isn’t available, this switch’s smooth keystroke and satisfying travel distance make it an excellent choice for fast-paced gaming or extended typing sessions where a softer touch is preferred. Ultimately, your decision should be informed by what you value more in your typing experience: pronounced tactile feedback and auditory response with the Bamboo Green, or the seamless and effortless flow of the Glory Red.
Mentioned in this article
