Everglide Bamboo Green vs. Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie
An in-depth look at the Everglide Bamboo Green and the Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing the right mechanical keyboard switch, the Everglide Bamboo Green and Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie present distinct options catering to varied preferences. The Bamboo Green is celebrated for its clacky sound signature and captivating tactile feedback, providing a responsive typing experience that many typists and gamers appreciate. Its characteristics are marked by a stepped, high-pitched, and sharp resonance, which can be particularly satisfying for those who enjoy a pronounced tactile sensation with every keystroke. In contrast, the Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie offers a completely different feel. As a linear switch, it boasts a smooth and uninterrupted keystroke, providing a "thocky" sound profile that is both muted and pleasant. With its medium-weight, all-POM composition, the Sea Salt Smoothie strikes a balance between quality and affordability, making it an attractive choice for users seeking a leisurely typing experience. While both switches have their merits—Bamboo Greens for their tactile feedback and Sea Salt Smoothies for their smoothness—let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
43g
Actuation force
48g
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
N/A
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
3.70 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
POM
Bottom housing material
PBT
Bottom housing material
POM
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
20mm extended double-stage spring
Housing materials
When comparing the housing materials of the Everglide Bamboo Green and the Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie, notable distinctions emerge that influence their sound profiles and tactile characteristics. The Bamboo Green features PBT, known for its durability and a neutral sound profile that blends seamlessly with the mechanical keyboard experience. PBT's sound is not overly crisp or dull, striking a balance that caters to users who appreciate a consistent and understated auditory feedback. In contrast, the Sea Salt Smoothie utilizes POM for both its top and bottom housings, which contributes a unique, deeper sound that is decidedly more muted. This difference in material choice means that while the Bamboo Green provides a reliable sound experience, the Sea Salt Smoothie offers a distinctively richer auditory signature, characterized by the pleasing nuances of POM.
The impact of the different housing materials on the bottom and top portions of the switches further elaborates on their contrasting qualities. The Bamboo Green's PBT bottom housing maintains a neutral sound profile, ensuring that the experience when bottoming out is neither jarring nor overly enhancing. This consistency allows typists and gamers alike to achieve a solid, unintrusive feedback. Conversely, the Sea Salt Smoothie's POM bottom housing offers a deeper sound that resonates more significantly upon key release, conveying a muted but pleasing acoustic experience. Here, the POM material enhances the bottoming-out experience, providing a richer feel compared to PBT, which has a more understated effect.
Despite these differences, both switch types can deliver compelling results based on the user's preferences. If someone opts for the Bamboo Green, they can expect a more neutral experience that emphasizes reliability and consistency, while the Sea Salt Smoothie promises a more dynamic sound profile that could appeal to those seeking unique auditory feedback. Ultimately, the choice between the two will depend on individual preferences for sound and feel, but embracing the qualities of either housing material can lead to satisfying keyboard experiences—whether one values the dependable neutrality of PBT or the distinctive acoustics of POM.
Weight
The Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie linear switch exhibit differences in their actuation and bottom out forces, which impact the typing experience. The Bamboo Green has an actuation force of 43 grams and a bottom out force of 62 grams, making it a medium-weight option that strikes a balance between comfort and substance, suitable for prolonged typing or gaming sessions. In contrast, the Sea Salt Smoothie requires a slightly heavier actuation force of 48 grams, but its bottom out force remains unknown, creating uncertainty about how it feels when pressed all the way down. As a result, while the Bamboo Green is the lighter of the two in terms of actuation, the Sea Salt Smoothie might lend itself to a stronger push feel. Users seeking a lighter switch would likely prefer the Bamboo Green, while those who enjoy a bit more resistance may gravitate toward the Sea Salt Smoothie, provided the unknown bottom out force aligns with their preferences.
Travel distance
The Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch has a travel distance of 4 mm, while the Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie linear switch has a shorter travel distance of 3.7 mm. This difference in travel distance can influence the feel and responsiveness of each switch. The Bamboo Green, with its traditional 4 mm travel, offers a more substantial keypress that some users may find satisfies their preference for a deeper feel, making it great for typing and more deliberate keystrokes. In contrast, the shorter 3.7 mm travel of the Sea Salt Smoothie caters to those who prioritize quicker response times, which is particularly beneficial for gaming where speed is essential. Thus, if you're looking for a more direct and immediate feedback from your keyboard, the Sea Salt Smoothie would be preferable due to its reduced travel distance. Ultimately, both switches provide distinct experiences based on the individual's preferences for tactile feedback and speed.
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 Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie has an MSRP of $3.00 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Sea Salt Smoothie for $2.70.
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 comparing the sound profiles of the Everglide Bamboo Green and the Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie switches, it’s clear that they cater to different auditory preferences. The Bamboo Green switches produce a high-pitched, clacky sound signature that delivers a sharp and crisp auditory experience. This is complemented by a resonant quality, where each keystroke gives off a clean and immersive sound that can heighten the typing experience. On the other hand, the Sea Salt Smoothie has a thocky sound profile, which tends to be more subdued but offers a satisfying auditory presence. While the Bamboo Green’s sound appeals to those who prefer a more pronounced and lively clicking sound, the Sea Salt Smoothie provides a smoother, more balanced sound that prioritizes comfort over pronounced acoustics.
In terms of feel, the Bamboo Green offers a well-defined tactile feedback that features a stepped design. This means that typists experience two distinct stages during a keystroke, creating a more mild yet noticeable tactile sensation. The switch's accented nature adds to the medium tactile feedback, providing a strong, sharp bump that is distinctly felt with each keypress. Additionally, the polished finish of the Bamboo Green ensures a smooth experience, reducing friction and enhancing the overall typing feel. In contrast, the Sea Salt Smoothie, being a linear switch, lacks the pronounced tactile feedback characteristic of the Bamboo Green. Thus, while the Bamboo Green is designed for tactile feel enthusiasts who appreciate feedback with each keystroke, the Sea Salt Smoothie will offer less tactile resistance, catering to users who prefer a more fluid, uninterrupted typing experience.
In conclusion, the Everglide Bamboo Green and Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie switches present contrasting experiences in both sound and feel. The Bamboo Green’s high-pitched, resonant clack and tactile, sharp feedback cater to those who enjoy an engaging typing experience. In contrast, the Sea Salt Smoothie stands out for its smoother, thocky auditory presence and the seamless feel typical of linear switches. Choosing between them ultimately depends on whether one prioritizes a prominent auditory and tactile sensation or a more subdued and fluid typing experience. Both will deliver satisfaction but in notably different ways.
Conclusion
To conclude, choosing between the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the Gateron Sea Salt Smoothie linear switch ultimately depends on your typing preferences and the experience you're seeking. If you enjoy a pronounced tactile feedback with a high-pitched, clacky sound signature, the Bamboo Green is an excellent choice. Its medium bottom-out force of 62 grams provides just enough resistance for a satisfying typing experience, particularly if you appreciate that two-stage, stepped feel that offers a clear tactile bump with every keystroke. In contrast, if you prefer a smoother, quieter experience with minimal tactile feedback, the Sea Salt Smoothie is likely more suited to your needs. Its thocky sound profile and a reputation for exceptional smoothness can elevate your gaming or typing sessions without the distraction of noise. This switch is ideal for those who prioritize fluid key presses and a more muted auditory feedback. Ultimately, your decision should reflect whether you crave tactile engagement or a seamless typing experience, shaping your mechanical keyboard to fit your unique style and functionality.
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