Everglide Bamboo Green vs. KTT Mint
An in-depth look at the Everglide Bamboo Green and the KTT Mint switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, two popular options to consider are the Everglide Bamboo Green and the KTT Mint. The Bamboo Green switch is best known for its clacky sound signature and crisp, sparkling tactility. It provides a stepped, high-pitched, accented, sharp, resonant, and polished typing experience. On the other hand, the Mint switch offers a satisfyingly smooth linear feel. With its long pole stem, it provides a poppy thockiness while typing and a light and fleeting type feel. The Mint switch is categorized as low-pitched, neutral, mild, and polished. Both switches have their unique attributes that make them appealing to different types of typists. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities so you can best decide on the perfect switch for your needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
43g
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
53g
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
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
15mm spring
Housing materials
The Everglide Bamboo Green and the KTT Mint differ in their housing materials, which greatly affects their sound profile and aesthetic appeal. The Bamboo Green features a PBT top housing, offering a neutral sound profile that is neither crisp nor dull. In contrast, the Mint utilizes a polycarbonate top housing, which creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. Additionally, the polycarbonate material allows for RGB lighting to be showcased, making it visually appealing. Despite these differences, both switches provide satisfactory results, although with different characteristics.
Similarly, the bottom housings of the Bamboo Green and the Mint vary in material. The Bamboo Green uses a PBT bottom housing, resulting in a neutral sound profile like its top housing counterpart. Conversely, the Mint employs a nylon bottom housing, creating a deeper and fuller sound profile thanks to the softer nylon material that absorbs more sound. With these contrasting materials, it is clear that the bottom housing contributes significantly to the bottom-out sound and feel when pressing down on the switches.
In summary, the Everglide Bamboo Green and the KTT Mint exhibit distinct characteristics due to their housing materials. The Bamboo Green's PBT top and bottom housings offer a neutral sound profile, while the Mint's polycarbonate and nylon top and bottom housings produce a sharper and crisper sound profile with RGB lighting capabilities and a deeper, fuller sound profile, respectively. Although different, both switches deliver pleasing results, with the top and bottom housings influencing specific aspects of the overall typing experience.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the KTT Mint linear switch, some notable differences can be observed. The Bamboo Green has a slightly lighter actuation force of 43 grams, whereas the Mint requires 45 grams to trigger a keystroke. This slight variance may not have a significant impact on typing speed or gaming performance, but for those who prefer a lighter touch, the Bamboo Green may be the preferred option.
Moving on to the bottom out force, the Bamboo Green requires 62 grams of force to fully press down, while the Mint requires 53 grams. Here, the Bamboo Green exhibits a heavier feel, providing a more substantial typing experience for those who prefer a stronger push. Conversely, the Mint offers a lighter bottom out force, which could be more comfortable during longer typing sessions or extended gaming periods.
Considering the weight of these switches, it becomes evident that individuals with different preferences would lean towards one switch over the other. Those who prioritize lighter switches for extended typing or gaming sessions would find the Bamboo Green more suitable due to its lighter actuation force and medium bottom out force. On the other hand, individuals seeking a more substantial typing experience would likely gravitate towards the Mint, as it offers a slightly heavier actuation force and a medium-light bottom out force.
It is important to note that both switches fall within the medium range in terms of actuation force, which means they offer similar results in terms of triggering keystrokes. However, the variation in bottom out force allows users to choose between a lighter or heavier feel, depending on their preferences. Ultimately, the choice between the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the KTT Mint linear switch comes down to personal preference and the desired typing experience.
Travel distance
The Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the KTT Mint linear switch have the same travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when you press down on a key using either of these switches, you will feel the same distance traveled. Both switches provide a satisfying tactile feedback, but the Bamboo Green switch has a tactile bump that can be felt upon actuation, giving it a more pronounced typing experience. On the other hand, the Mint switch is a linear switch, meaning it does not have a tactile bump and offers a smoother keystroke. Depending on personal preference, some users may prefer the Bamboo Green switch for its tactile feedback, while others may lean towards the Mint switch for its linear and smoother typing experience. Ultimately, both switches offer a travel distance of 4 mm, ensuring a consistent and reliable typing experience.
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 Mint comes in at $2.91 per 10 switches.
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
In terms of sound, the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch is best described as high-pitched and resonant. These switches produce a sharp and crisp sound when pressed, providing an immersive auditory experience. On the other hand, the KTT Mint linear switch is described as low-pitched and neutral. It offers a more bass-heavy and mellow tone compared to higher-pitched switches. The sound profile of the Mint switch is moderate and suitable for most purposes. However, it is important to note that the sound of a switch is also influenced by factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps used.
Moving on to feel, the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch offers a stepped and accented tactile experience. Stepped switches provide a two-stage feel, with some pre-travel and/or post-travel. These switches are not overly tactile, striking a balance between subtlety and prominence. The tactile bump is sharp and intense, providing distinct feedback with each keystroke. Additionally, Bamboo Green switches are polished, resulting in reduced friction and smooth key travel.
On the other hand, the KTT Mint linear switch offers a mild and polished typing experience. These switches have a gentle tactile feel, making them approachable for most users. The feel of the Mint switch falls within a safe middle-ground zone, providing a comfortable typing experience. Similar to the Bamboo Green switches, the Mint switches are also polished, ensuring reduced friction and smooth key travel.
Overall, the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the KTT Mint linear switch have distinct subjective qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Bamboo Green switches provide a clacky sound signature with a crisp and sparkling tactility, while the Mint switches offer a satisfyingly smooth experience with a poppy thockiness. The sound of Bamboo Green switches is high-pitched and resonant, while the Mint switches produce a low-pitched and neutral sound. In terms of feel, the Bamboo Green switches are stepped, accented, and sharp in their tactile feedback, while the Mint switches offer a mild and polished typing experience. Both switches have reduced friction and smooth key travel due to being polished. Overall, these switches cater to different preferences and typing styles, ensuring that users can find a switch that suits their needs.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you enjoy a clacky sound signature and a crisp tactility, the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch would be an excellent choice for you. These medium-weight switches provide a satisfying feedback intensity with each keypress. The high-pitched and resonant sound profile adds an immersive auditory experience to your typing. Additionally, the stepped and accented feel of the Bamboo Green switch offers a smooth and refined typing experience, thanks to its polished finish.
On the other hand, if you prefer a smoother and lighter typing experience, the KTT Mint linear switch is the way to go. With a medium-light bottom out force, these switches provide a poppy thockiness that many users find satisfying. The low-pitched sound profile offers a more relaxed and mellow tone, perfect for those who don't enjoy sharp or crisp sounds. The mild and polished feel of the Mint switch ensures a gentle typing experience with reduced friction and smooth key travel.
Ultimately, the choice between Everglide Bamboo Green and KTT Mint depends on your personal preferences for sound and feel. Consider whether you prefer a clacky and tactile experience or a smoother and lighter typing feel. Both switches offer unique qualities that can enhance your overall typing satisfaction. So, make sure to explore and select the switch that best suits your needs.
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