Everglide Bamboo Green vs. TTC Silent Red
An in-depth look at the Everglide Bamboo Green and the TTC Silent Red switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, it's important to consider your personal preferences and requirements. Two popular options in the market are the Everglide Bamboo Green, a tactile switch, and the TTC Silent Red, a linear switch. The Bamboo Green is known for its clacky sound signature and crisp tactility, giving a satisfying typing experience. On the other hand, the Silent Reds offer a smooth and seamless typing experience with a muted sound profile, making them ideal for office or shared living space use. Additionally, they provide a consistent feel from top to bottom and a padded bottom-out feel for maximum comfort. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond 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
63.5g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.90 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Total travel
3.70 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Partial box
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
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The Everglide Bamboo Green and the TTC Silent Red differ in terms of their housing materials. The Bamboo Green features a PBT top housing, which offers a neutral sound profile. It is neither extremely crisp nor dull. In contrast, the Silent Red utilizes a polycarbonate top housing. Polycarbonate is a stiffer plastic, creating a sharper and higher-pitched sound profile. Additionally, its translucency makes it ideal for RGB lighting. Therefore, the Bamboo Green will provide a more balanced and mellow sound, while the Silent Red will offer a more vibrant and clear sound, especially when releasing a key.
Moving on to the bottom housings, both switches employ different materials again. The Bamboo Green utilizes a PBT bottom housing, which complements its top housing. It maintains a neutral sound profile, similar to the top housing. Conversely, the Silent Red incorporates a nylon bottom housing. Nylon is a softer plastic that absorbs more sound, resulting in a deeper and fuller sound profile. This means that when typing on the Silent Red, you can expect a slightly duller and rounder sound compared to the Bamboo Green. The choice between the two will depend on your preference for a crisp or fuller sound experience.
It's important to note that the top and bottom housing materials have different impacts on the overall sound and feel of the switch. When pressing down on a switch, the bottom housing plays a significant role in the bottom-out sound and feel. Therefore, with the Bamboo Green's PBT bottom housing, you can expect a neutral and mellow bottom-out sensation, while the Silent Red's nylon bottom housing will provide a slightly softer and deeper bottom-out experience. However, when you let go of a key, the top housing mainly influences the sound. Therefore, the Bamboo Green's PBT top housing will deliver a more balanced and neutral sound release, while the Silent Red's polycarbonate top housing will result in a sharper and more resonant sound upon key release.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the TTC Silent Red linear switch, there are some notable differences. The Bamboo Green has an actuation force of 43 grams, while the Silent Red has an actuation force of 45 grams. Both fall within the medium range, but the Silent Red requires a slightly stronger push to trigger a keystroke. In terms of bottom out force, the Bamboo Green requires 62 grams of force, while the Silent Red requires 63.5 grams. Again, both switches fall within the medium range, but the Silent Red is slightly heavier.
Considering the weight of the switches, some individuals may prefer the lighter actuation force of the Bamboo Green, as it allows for longer typing periods without causing fatigue. This is particularly beneficial for those who use their keyboards for work or engage in extensive gaming sessions. On the other hand, those seeking a more substantial typing experience may prefer the heavier actuation force of the Silent Red, as it provides a stronger push feel.
Although the differences in actuation and bottom out forces between the two switches are relatively minor, those who prioritize a specific force requirement may opt for either the lighter Bamboo Green or the slightly heavier Silent Red. Ultimately, the choices will depend on individual preference and typing style.
Travel distance
Comparing the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the TTC Silent Red linear switch, we can see that there is a difference in their travel distances. The Bamboo Green has a travel distance of 4 mm, which is considered a more traditional depth, while the Silent Red has a slightly shorter travel distance of 3.7 mm. The Bamboo Green offers a slightly deeper key press experience compared to the Silent Red.
For those who prefer a more responsive typing or gaming experience, the shorter travel distance of the Silent Red may be more appealing. This shorter distance allows for faster response times, making it a popular choice among gamers. On the other hand, some individuals may find shorter travel distances to feel too abrupt or lacking in depth. In this case, the Everglide Bamboo Green with its slightly longer travel distance may provide a more satisfying typing experience.
Ultimately, the choice between the two switches boils down to individual preferences. Those who prioritize responsiveness may lean towards the Silent Red, while individuals seeking a more substantial key press may lean towards the Bamboo Green. Both switches offer distinct characteristics and can deliver similar results depending on the user's preference.
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 TTC Silent Red has an MSRP of $5.28 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Silent Red for $4.38.
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 known for its high-pitched and resonant characteristics. These switches produce a sharp and crisp sound when pressed, creating an immersive auditory experience. On the other hand, the TTC Silent Red linear switch offers a muted sound profile. It produces a softer and quieter sound compared to regular mechanical keyboard switches. This makes the Silent Reds ideal for office or shared living spaces where noise reduction is important. However, it's important to note that sound can also be influenced by other factors such as the keyboard board and keycaps used.
Moving on to the feel of the switches, the Bamboo Green is described as having a stepped, accented, sharp, and polished feel. Stepped switches offer a tactile experience with two stages, allowing you to feel some pre-travel and/or post-travel. Accented switches provide a moderate amount of tactility that is neither overwhelming nor subtle. Furthermore, the sharp tactile bump of the Bamboo Green is quite pronounced and gives a strong feedback intensity. Lastly, the polished finish of the switch ensures smooth and refined key travel, reducing friction. On the other hand, the TTC Silent Red switch offers a buttery, mild, and polished feel. The keystrokes on Silent Reds are smooth and fluid, providing a seamless and effortless typing sensation. They offer a gentle typing experience without any extreme characteristics, making them approachable for most users.
In conclusion, the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch and the TTC Silent Red linear switch have distinct subjective qualities. The Bamboo Green switch offers a clacky sound signature with a crisp and sparkling tactility, while the Silent Red switch provides a muted sound profile with a smooth and consistent feel. Both switches have a polished finish, resulting in reduced friction and smooth key travel. If you prefer a more high-pitched and resonant sound with sharp tactile feedback, the Bamboo Green switch would be a suitable choice. However, if you require a quieter typing experience with a buttery and mild feel, the Silent Red switch is recommended. It's important to consider your personal preferences and the environment in which you'll be using the keyboard when making a decision.
Conclusion
In closing, if you're looking for a switch that provides a tactile typing experience with a clacky sound profile, the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch is the perfect choice. With its medium bottom out force of 62 grams, you can expect a crisp and sparkling tactility with each keypress. The Bamboo Green switch is best suited for those who prefer a stepped and accented tactile feel, accompanied by a high-pitched and resonant sound profile. On the other hand, if you prioritize a smooth and seamless typing experience with a muted sound, the TTC Silent Red linear switch is the way to go. With a slightly higher bottom out force of 63.5 grams, these switches offer a buttery and mild typing feel that is approachable to most users. The Silent Red switch is known for its consistent and padded bottom-out feel, making it ideal for office or shared living space use. Ultimately, the choice between the Bamboo Green and Silent Red switches depends on your preference for sound and feel, with the Bamboo Green providing a clacky and tactile experience, and the Silent Red offering a smooth and quiet typing sensation.
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