Everglide Bamboo Green vs. Durock Piano
An in-depth look at the Everglide Bamboo Green and the Durock Piano switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, there are various factors to consider, such as sound, feel, and overall typing experience. Two popular options to examine are the Everglide Bamboo Green, a tactile switch, and the Durock Piano, a linear switch. The Bamboo Green is renowned for its clacky sound signature and crisp, sparkling tactility, resulting in a satisfying typing experience. On the other hand, the Durock Piano stands out for its proprietary material blend, providing a gliding push feel and a deep, creamy sound signature. These switches are categorized differently, with the Bamboo Green described as 'stepped', 'high-pitched', 'accented', 'sharp', 'resonant', and 'polished', while the Piano is labeled as 'bassy', 'frictionless', and 'silky'. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities so you can make an informed decision on the best switch for your personal preferences.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
43g
Actuation force
N/A
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
63.5g
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
No
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
Mystery material
Top housing material
PBT
Top housing material
Proprietary POM blend
Bottom housing material
PBT
Bottom housing material
Proprietary POM blend
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Gold-plated
Housing materials
The Everglide Bamboo Green and the Durock Piano differ in terms of their housing materials, particularly in the top and bottom housings. The Bamboo Green features a PBT top housing, which offers a neutral sound profile. It is not very crisp but neither is it dull. In contrast, the Piano utilizes a proprietary POM blend top housing, which provides a uniquely satisfying and deep sound profile. The top housing of the Bamboo Green will likely result in a more balanced and less distinctive sound when releasing a key, while the Piano's top housing is expected to deliver a more pronounced and satisfying sound upon key release.
Moving on to the bottom housing, the Bamboo Green employs a PBT material, which shares the same properties as its top housing - a neutral sound profile that is neither crisp nor dull. Conversely, the Piano utilizes its proprietary POM blend for the bottom housing. Although the exact details of this blend are unknown, it is known to offer a uniquely satisfying and deep sound profile. As a result, when pressing down on a switch of the Bamboo Green, the bottom housing will have more influence on the bottom-out sound and feel, delivering a neutral and balanced experience. Alternatively, the bottom housing of the Piano is likely to provide a more distinct and deep sound, resulting in a more satisfying tactile feedback upon pressing down on a key.
To summarize, the Everglide Bamboo Green and the Durock Piano differ in their housing materials and the qualities they bring to the switch. The Bamboo Green's PBT top and bottom housings offer a neutral sound profile without being particularly crisp or dull, while the Piano's proprietary POM blend top and bottom housings provide a uniquely satisfying and deep sound profile. The differences in the top and bottom housings translate to variations in the sound and feel when pressing and releasing keys. However, both switches are designed to deliver a pleasant typing experience, ensuring that users can still achieve similar results in terms of overall satisfaction with their respective switch choices.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the Durock Piano linear switch, there are some notable differences. The Everglide Bamboo Green has an actuation force of 43 grams, while the actuation force of the Durock Piano is unavailable. Both switches have a medium level of actuation force, so in terms of triggering a keystroke, users can expect similar results.
However, when it comes to bottoming out, there is a slight distinction. The Everglide Bamboo Green has a bottom out force of 62 grams, indicating a medium level of resistance when pressing all the way down. On the other hand, the Durock Piano has a slightly heavier bottom out force of 63.5 grams, categorizing it as medium-heavy.
Weight is a crucial factor to consider for keyboard enthusiasts. Those who prefer a lighter switch will appreciate the Everglide Bamboo Green, as it allows for longer typing sessions and is ideal for use in professional environments or extended gaming sessions. On the contrary, individuals seeking a more substantial typing experience may prefer the Durock Piano due to its heavier bottom out force, providing a stronger push feel.
In summary, while both switches have similar actuation forces, with the actual force of the Piano being unknown, there is a slight distinction in their bottom out forces. The Everglide Bamboo Green is lighter with a medium bottom out force, while the Durock Piano is slightly heavier with a medium-heavy bottom out force. Ultimately, the choice between the two will depend on personal preferences for typing experience and desired weight.
Travel distance
The travel distance of a switch is an important factor to consider when choosing a mechanical keyboard, as it directly affects the typing experience. In the case of the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the Durock Piano linear switch, both switches have a travel distance of 4 mm. This means that when you press down on a key equipped with either of these switches, you will feel a similar travel distance of 4 mm. Consequently, both switches would provide a comparable typing experience in terms of the distance traveled by the switch from the top to the bottom.
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 Durock Piano has an MSRP of $6.70 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Piano for $5.57.
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 has a high-pitched and resonant sound profile. The high-pitched nature of these switches produces a sharp and crisp sound when pressed, which is great if you prefer a brighter sound instead of a deep bassy tone. Typing on the Bamboo Green switches provides an immersive auditory experience due to their clean and sharp sound profile. On the other hand, the Durock Piano linear switch offers a deep and creamy sound signature. These switches have a bassy sound profile, characterized by a lower frequency range that resembles the depth and richness associated with bass tones. It's important to note that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps used.
When it comes to feel, the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch offers a stepped, accented, sharp, and polished typing experience. The stepped nature of these switches provides a mild tactile feel with some pre-travel and/or post-travel, creating a two-stage keystroke sensation. The accented tactile feedback is prominent but not overwhelming or subtle, offering a medium level of tactility. The sharp tactile bump of these switches provides a distinct and intense feedback with each keystroke. Additionally, the polished finish of the switches ensures reduced friction and smooth key travel, resulting in a sleek typing experience.
On the other hand, the Durock Piano linear switch offers a frictionless and silky typing experience. These switches provide an extremely smooth and effortless feel when pressing the keys, minimizing any sense of resistance or friction. The fluid travel of the switch enhances the overall smoothness of the typing feel and ensures minimal resistance when pressing and releasing keys.
In conclusion, the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the Durock Piano linear switch offer different qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Bamboo Green has a high-pitched and resonant sound profile, while the Piano has a bassy sound signature. In terms of feel, the Bamboo Green provides a stepped, accented, sharp, and polished typing experience, while the Piano offers a frictionless and silky feel. Depending on your preference for sound and feel, you can choose between the two switches. However, if you prefer a similar sound or feel, both switches offer comparable alternatives.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you value a clacky sound signature and a crisp, sparkling tactility in your typing experience, the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch is a great choice for you. These switches provide a medium bottom out force of 62 grams, giving you a balanced feel. Additionally, if you prefer a higher-pitched and resonant sound profile, the Bamboo Green switches will be to your liking. On the other hand, if you prefer a linear switch and prioritize a gliding push feel with a deep, creamy sound signature, the Durock Piano linear switch is a fantastic option. With a medium-heavy bottom out force of 63.5 grams, the Piano switches offer a slightly heavier touch. The proprietary material blend used in these switches ensures a pleasant and enjoyable typing experience. Furthermore, if you appreciate a bassy sound profile during key presses, the Piano switches will deliver the rich sound you desire. Ultimately, the choice between the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the Durock Piano linear switch comes down to personal preference and whether you prioritize a tactile or linear switch. Both switches excel in their own unique ways, providing an immersive typing experience.
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