Everglide Bamboo Green vs. KTT Pine
An in-depth look at the Everglide Bamboo Green and the KTT Pine switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, two popular options are the Everglide Bamboo Green and the KTT Pine. The Bamboo Green switch is best known for its clacky sound signature and crisp tactility. It provides a satisfying feedback while typing and is categorized as being stepped, high-pitched, accented, sharp, resonant, and polished. On the other hand, the KTT Pine switch offers a different typing experience with its smooth and effortless key travel. It is categorized as bassy, buttery, creamy, and low-pitched, providing a medium-heavy feel. Both switches have their own unique characteristics that appeal to different preferences. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities so you can best decide on the perfect switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
43g
Actuation force
45g
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
58g
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
Polycarbonate
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
15.5mm gold-plated spring
Housing materials
The housing materials of the Everglide Bamboo Green and the KTT Pine differ in terms of their sound profiles. The Bamboo Green's PBT top and bottom housings offer a neutral sound profile that neither feels crisp nor dull. On the other hand, the Pine's polycarbonate top and bottom housings create a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. The use of polycarbonate, known for its stiffness, leads to a more clear and resonant sound. Additionally, the Pine's clear polycarbonate housing allows for enhanced aesthetics, especially when paired with RGB lighting.
Another difference between the two housing materials lies in their impact on the typing experience. With the Bamboo Green, the qualities brought by the PBT bottom housing will be felt when pressing down on the switch, influencing the bottom-out sound and feel. In contrast, the top housing, whether PBT or polycarbonate, will have a greater impact on the sound produced when releasing a key. This distinction highlights how the choice of housing material can affect the overall typing experience, with the Pine's polycarbonate housing potentially delivering a more distinct and satisfying sound upon key release.
However, it is worth noting that both the Bamboo Green's PBT and the Pine's polycarbonate housings offer similarities. Both materials are relatively unseen in switch housings, providing a neutral sound profile overall. While the Bamboo Green's PBT housing may lack the crispness and sharpness attributed to the Pine's polycarbonate housing, it still offers an acceptable sound quality. Furthermore, the translucency of polycarbonate in the Pine's top housing can also be advantageous for those planning to use RGB lighting, as it allows for a visually appealing illuminated effect. In this regard, both housing materials can offer satisfactory results depending on the user's preferences and priorities.
Weight
When comparing the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the KTT Pine linear switch, the actuation and bottom out forces play a significant role. The actuation force of the Bamboo Green is slightly lighter at 43 grams compared to the Pine's 45 grams. This means that a lighter touch is required to trigger a keystroke on the Bamboo Green switch. On the other hand, the bottom out force of the Bamboo Green is heavier at 62 grams, while the Pine has a bottom out force of 58 grams. This implies that the Bamboo Green switch offers a more substantial typing experience due to the higher force required to fully press the key.
Considering weight, both switches fall into the medium category. However, for those who prefer a lighter typing experience, the Bamboo Green would be a suitable choice as its actuation force is marginally lower. This lighter actuation force allows for longer typing sessions and is ideal for portable keyboards used in office or gaming environments. Conversely, individuals who desire a stronger push feel may opt for the Pine switch. Despite the slight difference in actuation force, both switches deliver similar results in terms of actuation and bottom out forces, offering a balanced medium-weight typing experience.
Travel distance
The Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the KTT Pine linear switch have the same travel distance of 4 mm. This means that both switches will offer a similar experience when it comes to the feeling of pressing down on a key. Whether you choose the Bamboo Green or the Pine, you can expect a consistent and satisfying travel distance during use.
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 Pine has an MSRP of $4.60 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Pine for $4.15.
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 produces a high-pitched and resonant sound. These switches have a sharp and crisp sound profile, providing an immersive auditory experience. On the other hand, the KTT Pine linear switch offers a bassy and low-pitched sound. These switches have a deeper and richer sound profile, resembling the depth and richness associated with bass tones. Both switches offer distinct sound characteristics, so the choice depends on personal preference and the overall sound experience desired.
In terms of feel, the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch can be described as stepped, accented, sharp, and polished. The stepped nature of the switch provides a mild tactile feedback with some pre-travel and/or post-travel. It offers a medium amount of tactility without being overwhelming or subtle. The sharp tactile bump is prominent, delivering high feedback intensity with each keypress. Additionally, the polished finish of the switch ensures reduced friction and smooth key travel, resulting in a sleek typing experience. On the other hand, the KTT Pine linear switch offers a buttery and creamy feel. These switches provide a smooth and fluid keystroke experience, offering a seamless and effortless typing sensation. The creamy sensation feels like gliding your fingers across the keys with ease, as they effortlessly melt into each keystroke. Overall, the Bamboo Green offers a more pronounced tactility, while the Pine provides a smoother and more uniform typing experience.
Taking all the available information into account, the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the KTT Pine linear switch offer different subjective qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Bamboo Green provides a clacky sound signature with a sharp and crisp tactility. Its stepped, accented, and polished characteristics contribute to a medium amount of tactility and a sleek typing experience. On the other hand, the Pine offers a bassy sound with a buttery and creamy feel. With its medium-heavy weight and factory-lubed finish, it ensures smooth key travel and a seamless typing sensation. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches depends on personal preference, with the Bamboo Green offering a more tactile experience and the Pine providing a smoother and more uniform typing feel.
Conclusion
In closing, when deciding between the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the KTT Pine linear switch, you should consider the characteristics that best suit your preferences. If you enjoy a clacky sound signature with a sparkling tactility, the Bamboo Green switch is the way to go. On the other hand, if you prefer a smooth and buttery typing experience with medium-heavy actuation, the Pine switch is the perfect choice.
In terms of sound, the Bamboo Green switch produces a high-pitched and resonant sound, while the Pine switch offers a bassy and low-pitched profile. Consider whether you prefer a sharper and crisp sound or a deeper and richer tone during key presses.
When it comes to feel, the Bamboo Green switch offers a stepped, accented, sharp, and polished experience. This means you can expect a mild tactile feedback with pre-travel and/or post-travel, providing a prominent amount of tactility without overwhelming or subtle sensations. The polished finish reduces friction, resulting in smooth key travel. On the other hand, the Pine switch provides a buttery and creamy typing experience, characterized by a smooth and fluid keystroke. It offers a seamless and effortless sensation, as if your fingers effortlessly glide across the keys.
Ultimately, your choice between these two switches will depend on your personal preferences for sound, feel, and typing experience. Consider the characteristics described and determine which qualities align with your ideal mechanical keyboard switch. Whether you prefer the clacky and tactile experience of the Bamboo Green or the smooth and buttery typing sensation of the Pine, both switches offer their own unique advantages.
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