Everglide Bamboo Green vs. KTT Mannan Pipefish
An in-depth look at the Everglide Bamboo Green and the KTT Mannan Pipefish switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, two popular options that offer different experiences are the Everglide Bamboo Green and the KTT Mannan Pipefish switches. The Bamboo Green switch is known for its clacky sound signature and crisp tactility. With its stepped, high-pitched, accented, sharp, resonant, and polished characteristics, this switch is a great choice for those who enjoy a tactile typing experience. On the other hand, the Mannan Pipefish switch is praised for its effortless and enjoyable typing experience. With its smooth linear action, lengthened spring, light actuation and bottom-out force of 45g, and easy-to-press, neutral, and polished qualities, this switch is perfect for casual typists seeking a strain-free and precise keyboarding journey. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities, so you can best decide on the switch that suits your preferences and typing style.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
43g
Actuation force
37g
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
45g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.90 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
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
PBT
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
22mm spring
Housing materials
The Everglide Bamboo Green and the KTT Mannan Pipefish differ in their housing materials, resulting in varying sound profiles and aesthetics. The Bamboo Green features a PBT top housing, which offers a neutral sound profile that is neither crisp nor dull. In contrast, the Mannan Pipefish utilizes a polycarbonate top housing, known for producing a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound. This is due to the stiffness of polycarbonate, which creates a clear and resonant sound profile. Additionally, the polycarbonate top housing is beneficial for those who want to use RGB lighting, as its translucency enhances the lighting effect. Overall, the Bamboo Green's PBT top housing provides a more subdued sound experience, while the Mannan Pipefish's polycarbonate top housing offers a more vibrant and luminous option.
Moving on to the bottom housings, the Bamboo Green and the Mannan Pipefish differ once again. The Bamboo Green utilizes a PBT bottom housing, providing a neutral sound profile similar to its top housing. Conversely, the Mannan Pipefish incorporates a nylon bottom housing, which elicits a deeper and fuller sound profile. This is because nylon is a softer plastic that absorbs more sound than harder plastics, resulting in a duller and rounder sound. Therefore, the Mannan Pipefish's nylon bottom housing offers a more mellow and immersive typing experience, while the Bamboo Green's PBT bottom housing maintains a neutral sound profile throughout.
It is important to note that the qualities of each housing material are split between the top and bottom housings of the switch. When pressing down on a key, the impact on the bottom-out sound and feel is influenced more by the bottom housing. Thus, the Mannan Pipefish's nylon bottom housing will contribute to a more pronounced and satisfying tactile experience upon keystroke. On the other hand, the sound when releasing a key is primarily influenced by the top housing. Therefore, the polycarbonate top housing of the Mannan Pipefish will result in a more distinct and resonant sound when releasing keys, providing auditory feedback that complements the typing experience. While they differ in materials, both the Bamboo Green and the Mannan Pipefish offer unique and desirable features in their respective housing choices.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the KTT Mannan Pipefish linear switch, there are clear differences. The Bamboo Green has an actuation force of 43 grams, slightly heavier than the Mannan Pipefish's actuation force of 37 grams. This means that the Bamboo Green requires a slightly stronger push to trigger a keystroke. Similarly, the Bamboo Green has a bottom out force of 62 grams, while the Mannan Pipefish has a lighter bottom out force of 45 grams. This indicates that the Bamboo Green provides a more substantial typing experience due to its higher bottom out force.
However, if one prefers a lighter switch, the Mannan Pipefish would be the better option. With its lighter actuation and bottom out forces, it allows for a smoother and lighter typing experience. Additionally, a lighter switch can be beneficial for those who need to type for extended periods of time, such as in office or gaming settings. On the other hand, for individuals who prefer a more substantial and tactile typing feel, the Everglide Bamboo Green would be the ideal choice due to its heavier actuation and bottom out forces.
In summary, the actuation and bottom out forces of the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the KTT Mannan Pipefish linear switch differ significantly, with the Bamboo Green being the heavier option. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches depends on personal preference and the desired typing experience.
Travel distance
The Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the KTT Mannan Pipefish 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 the same distance of movement. Both switches provide a consistent and satisfying tactile feedback, ensuring a comfortable typing experience. Whether you choose the Everglide Bamboo Green or the KTT Mannan Pipefish, you can expect similar results in terms of 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 Mannan Pipefish has an MSRP of $3.53 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Mannan Pipefish for $3.05.
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 distinctive clacky sound signature. This switch produces a high-pitched sound, which is sharp and crisp when pressed. It has a resonant sound profile, providing an immersive auditory experience. This sound profile is clean and sharp, appealing to those who prefer higher-pitched switches. On the other hand, the KTT Mannan Pipefish linear switch is described as having a neutral sound profile. It produces a moderate sound with a pleasant tone, suitable for most purposes. The sound of both switches can be further influenced by factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps used.
Moving on to feel, the Everglide Bamboo Green switch offers a combination of stepped, accented, sharp, and polished tactile qualities. As a stepped switch, it provides a two-stage feel with some pre-travel and/or post-travel. It is also considered an accented switch, providing a medium level of tactility that is neither overwhelming nor subtle. The tactile bump is sharp and intense, giving a distinct feedback with each keypress. Additionally, the switch has a polished finish, resulting in reduced friction and smooth key travel for a sleek typing experience.
In contrast, the KTT Mannan Pipefish linear switch is designed for an easy-to-press experience. It offers gentle resistance during key presses and requires minimal force for activation. With a light actuation force of 45g, this switch provides effortless and comfortable typing, reducing finger fatigue during extended typing sessions. Similar to the Bamboo Green switch, the Mannan Pipefish switch also has a polished finish, resulting in reduced friction and a smooth key travel.
In conclusion, the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the KTT Mannan Pipefish linear switch offer different subjective qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Bamboo Green provides a clacky sound with a high-pitched and resonant profile, while the Mannan Pipefish offers a neutral sound profile. On the other hand, the Bamboo Green provides a stepped, accented, sharp, and polished tactile feel, while the Mannan Pipefish offers an easy-to-press and polished experience. Both switches excel in their respective qualities, allowing users to choose based on their preferences.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you prefer a switch with a medium bottom out force and enjoy a clacky sound signature accompanied by a crisp and sparkling tactility, then the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch would be a great choice for you. On the other hand, if you value a light bottom out force and prioritize a smooth and effortless typing experience, the KTT Mannan Pipefish linear switch would be more suitable. The Mannan Pipefish switch offers a light actuation and bottom-out force, making typing strain-free and enjoyable. It provides a precise and comfortable typing experience, especially for casual typists seeking a delightful keyboarding journey. Both switches have a polished finish, offering reduced friction and smooth key travel. Ultimately, the choice between these two switches depends on your preferences for bottom-out force, sound, and feel.
Mentioned in this article
