Everglide Bamboo Green vs. KTT Hyacinth
An in-depth look at the Everglide Bamboo Green and the KTT Hyacinth switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
The Everglide Bamboo Green and the KTT Hyacinth are two mechanical keyboard switches that offer distinct features and experiences for users. The Bamboo Green is a tactile switch known for its clacky sound signature and crisp, sparkling tactility. It provides a stepped, high-pitched, accented, sharp, resonant, and polished feel. On the other hand, the Hyacinth is a linear switch that stands out for its design choice of a 3.5mm travel distance. This decision aims to provide a balanced tactile feedback, auditory experience, and user comfort, avoiding the hard bottoming-out experience common in switches with longer stems. The Hyacinth also deviates from the mainstream trend by using a single-stage elongated spring, resulting in a more consistent force curve. While these general pointers give a glimpse into the characteristics of each switch, diving in deeper will help determine the best switch for individual preferences, typing style, and overall satisfaction.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
43g
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
56g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.90 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
3.50 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
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
PBT
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
22mm spring
Housing materials
The housing materials of the Everglide Bamboo Green and the KTT Hyacinth differ significantly. The Bamboo Green features a PBT top housing, while the Hyacinth uses a polycarbonate top housing. The PBT top housing of the Bamboo Green offers a neutral sound profile, neither crisp nor dull. In contrast, the polycarbonate top housing of the Hyacinth provides a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. Furthermore, the transparency of polycarbonate makes it ideal for RGB lighting setups, adding an aesthetic element to the switch.
Moving on to the bottom housing, the Bamboo Green utilizes a PBT bottom housing, similar to its top housing. This results in a consistent neutral sound profile. On the other hand, the Hyacinth incorporates a nylon bottom housing. Nylon is known for creating a deeper and fuller sound profile, thanks to its softer composition that absorbs more sound. Consequently, switches with nylon bottom housings produce a rounder and duller sound when compared to PBT.
When it comes to the overall feel and sound of the switches, the qualities of the housing material are divided between the top and bottom housings. Pressing down on either switch will result in feeling the impact and experiencing the bottom-out sound influenced by the bottom housing material. Conversely, when releasing a key, the sound will be more influenced by the top housing material. While the Bamboo Green and Hyacinth provide different sound profiles, they both offer consistent performance throughout the actuation and release of keys, ensuring a satisfying typing experience.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the KTT Hyacinth linear switch, there are some notable similarities and differences. In terms of weight, the Bamboo Green is slightly lighter with an actuation force of 43 grams, while the Hyacinth has an actuation force of 45 grams. Despite this slight difference, both switches fall into the medium category, making them suitable for a variety of users.
However, when it comes to bottom out force, there is a larger distinction. The Bamboo Green has a bottom out force of 62 grams, indicating a more substantial typing experience for those who prefer a stronger push feel. On the other hand, the Hyacinth has a lighter bottom out force of 56 grams, providing a slightly softer touch when pressing all the way down. This may be ideal for individuals who prioritize longer typing sessions or extended gaming sessions and would benefit from a lighter touch.
Overall, while the actuation forces of the Bamboo Green and the Hyacinth are relatively similar, their bottom out forces highlight the contrasting experiences they offer. For those seeking a heavier and more substantial typing experience, the Bamboo Green would be the preferred choice. However, if a lighter touch and longer typing sessions are desired, the Hyacinth would provide similar results with its lighter bottom out force. Ultimately, the decision between the two switches will come down to personal preference and the specific requirements of the user.
Travel distance
The Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch has a travel distance of 4 mm, while the KTT Hyacinth linear switch has a slightly shorter travel distance of 3.5 mm. The Bamboo Green switch falls into the category of traditional travel distances, offering a 4 mm depth. On the other hand, the Hyacinth switch provides a shallower travel distance of 3.5 mm.
In recent times, shorter travel distances have become more popular, particularly among gamers who prioritize quick response times. Opting for a switch with a shorter travel distance allows for faster key presses and enhanced responsiveness. However, it's important to note that some individuals find short travel distances to feel abrupt or lacking in depth. If you prefer a more hearty key press, the Everglide Bamboo Green switch with its 4 mm travel distance might be the better choice for you.
Ultimately, the decision between the Everglide Bamboo Green and KTT Hyacinth switches depends on your personal preference regarding travel distance. Both switches offer a relatively similar experience, although the Bamboo Green switch has a slightly longer 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 KTT Hyacinth has an MSRP of $4.03 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Hyacinth for $3.75.
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 best known for its high-pitched and resonant sound profile. The high-pitched switches produce a sharp and crisp sound when pressed, providing a rich auditory experience. On the other hand, the KTT Hyacinth linear switch is described as having a neutral sound profile. This means that it has a moderate sound and actuation force requirement, making it suitable for a wide range of users and environments. However, it's important to note that the sound of a switch is also influenced by factors such as the keyboard and keycaps being used.
In terms of feel, the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch offers a stepped, accented, sharp, and polished typing experience. The stepped design of this switch provides a mild tactile sensation with pre-travel and/or post-travel, offering a unique keypress feel. It also has an accented tactile bump that is neither overwhelming nor subtle, providing a prominent amount of tactility. Additionally, the sharp tactile bump ensures a strong and crisp feedback intensity with each keystroke. Furthermore, the polished finish of the switch contributes to a smooth and refined typing experience, reducing friction and enabling smooth key travel.
On the other hand, the KTT Hyacinth linear switch offers a silky and subtle typing experience. The silky switch design ensures an exceptionally smooth typing feel, enhancing the overall smoothness of the switch. It minimizes resistance when pressing and releasing keys, resulting in a satisfying and effortless typing experience. The subtle resistance of this switch maintains a light typing feel without being feather-light. Additionally, the Hyacinth switch is suitable for shared spaces as it produces a non-resonant sound signature, meaning it won't disturb others.
To conclude, the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the KTT Hyacinth linear switch offer distinct subjective qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Bamboo Green switch stands out for its high-pitched and resonant sound profile, as well as its stepped, accented, sharp, and polished feel. On the other hand, the Hyacinth switch offers a neutral sound profile and a silky, subtle typing experience. Both switches provide unique and satisfying qualities, allowing users to choose based on their personal preferences. If you are looking for a similar sound or feel, you can expect to achieve comparable results with the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the KTT Hyacinth linear switch, respectively.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you prioritize a clacky sound signature and a crisp and sparkling tactility, the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch would be a great choice for you. These switches offer a medium bottom out force of 62 grams and provide a stepped and accented tactile feel. They also produce a high-pitched and resonant sound, which can enhance the auditory experience during typing. On the other hand, if you prefer a switch with a design focused on balancing tactile feedback, auditory experience, and user comfort, the KTT Hyacinth linear switch is a good option. With a medium-light bottom out force of 56 grams, these switches feature a 3.5mm travel distance to avoid a hard bottoming-out experience. They utilize a single-stage elongated spring to ensure a consistent force curve. The Hyacinth switches offer a neutral sound profile and a silky typing feel, making them suitable for various purposes and shared spaces. Ultimately, the choice between the Everglide Bamboo Green and KTT Hyacinth switches depends on your specific preferences and priorities in terms of sound, feel, and typing experience.
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