Aflion Foggy Shadow vs. Outemu Spring Breeze
An in-depth look at the Aflion Foggy Shadow and the Outemu Spring Breeze switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to mechanical keyboard switches, the Aflion Foggy Shadow and the Outemu Spring Breeze offer unique characteristics for different typing preferences. The Foggy Shadow from Aflion is a tactile switch that provides a subtle tactile bump with a 63.5g bottom-out force, making it a great option for those who prefer a medium weight keypress. On the other hand, the Spring Breeze from Outemu is a clicky switch that offers a satisfying clicking sound with each keystroke. While the Foggy Shadow is categorized as 'Low-pitched' and 'Neutral', the Spring Breeze does not have any specific categorization. When choosing between these switches, one may opt for the Foggy Shadow for its balanced performance or the Spring Breeze for its audible feedback. However, 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
N/A
Actuation force
40g
Bottom-out force
63.5g
Bottom-out force
55g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
1.50 mm
Total travel
3.50 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
pom
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
20mm double-stage spring
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The Aflion Foggy Shadow's housing materials are split between polycarbonate for the top housing and nylon for the bottom housing. The polycarbonate top housing creates a sharp, high-pitched sound profile ideal for RGB lighting effects, while the nylon bottom housing produces a deeper, fuller sound profile. In contrast, the Outemu Spring Breeze utilizes nylon for both the top and bottom housing, resulting in a consistent deep and full sound profile throughout typing. While the Foggy Shadow's top housing offers a clear and resonant sound, the Spring Breeze's nylon housing absorbs more sound, creating a duller and rounder overall tone.
Both the polycarbonate top housing of the Aflion Foggy Shadow and the nylon top housing of the Outemu Spring Breeze provide a unique sound profile to enhance the typing experience. The stiffer polycarbonate of the Foggy Shadow generates a sharper sound, particularly noticeable when releasing a key, while the softer nylon of the Spring Breeze absorbs more sound, creating a deeper and fuller tone. While the top housings differ in material, both switches offer a comfortable typing experience with distinct sound profiles that cater to different preferences.
In terms of feel and sound, the bottom housing of a switch plays a significant role in determining the overall typing experience. The nylon bottom housing of both the Aflion Foggy Shadow and the Outemu Spring Breeze contributes to a deeper and fuller sound profile as the switch is pressed. This difference in material between the top and bottom housings allows for a unique typing experience, where the bottom-out sound and feel are affected by the bottom housing, while the top housing influences the sound when letting go of a key. The combination of different housing materials in the Aflion Foggy Shadow and the consistency of nylon in the Outemu Spring Breeze offer users a choice in sound profiles to suit their preferences.
Weight
When comparing the Aflion Foggy Shadow tactile switch and the Outemu Spring Breeze clicky switch, it's evident that their actuation and bottom out forces differ significantly. The Foggy Shadow has an actuation force of None grams, making it lighter in terms of the force needed to trigger a keystroke compared to the Spring Breeze, which requires 40 grams. However, the Foggy Shadow has a bottom out force of 63.5 grams, making it heavier than the Spring Breeze, which bottom outs at 55 grams. The Foggy Shadow provides a more substantial typing experience with its medium-heavy bottom out force, while the Spring Breeze offers a lighter actuation force for more extended typing periods. Ultimately, choosing between the two would depend on personal preference for either a lighter or heavier typing feel.
Travel distance
The Aflion Foggy Shadow tactile switch has a shorter travel distance of 3.5 mm compared to the Outemu Spring Breeze clicky switch which has a longer travel distance of 4 mm. In terms of key feel, the Foggy Shadow will provide a quicker response time due to its shorter travel distance, making it a preferred choice for gamers looking for speed. On the other hand, the Spring Breeze clicky switch offers a deeper key press sensation with its longer travel distance, which may be preferred by those who enjoy a more substantial feel when typing. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches will depend on personal preference for key feel and typing experience.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Aflion Foggy Shadow has an MSRP of $5.50 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Foggy Shadow for $3.91.
The Outemu Spring Breeze comes in at $3.10 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
When it comes to sound, the Aflion Foggy Shadow tactile switch offers a low-pitched tone, providing a bass-heavy and mellow sound experience. In contrast, the Outemu Spring Breeze clicky switch does not have any specific sound descriptors provided, leaving it unknown how it compares in terms of sound profile. It's important to note that the sound of a switch can also be influenced by factors such as the keyboard chassis and keycaps used.
Moving on to the feel of the switches, information regarding the tactile feel of the Foggy Shadow and Spring Breeze switches is not provided, making it unclear how they compare in terms of keypress feedback and responsiveness. Without this information, it's difficult to make a direct comparison between the two switches in terms of feel.
Taking into consideration the available information, it is evident that the Aflion Foggy Shadow tactile switch is characterized by a low-pitched sound profile and a light tactile bump with a 63.5g bottom-out force, highlighting a balanced performance in Aflion's switch lineup. On the other hand, the Outemu Spring Breeze clicky switch lacks specific descriptors for sound and feel, making it challenging to fully assess its qualities in comparison to the Foggy Shadow. Ultimately, without more detailed information on the Spring Breeze switch, it is difficult to make a comprehensive comparison between the two switches.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you are looking for a tactile switch with a light tactile bump and a medium-heavy bottom-out force, the Aflion Foggy Shadow would be the ideal choice for you. Its 63.5g bottom-out force strikes a balance between responsiveness and comfort, making it suitable for extended typing sessions. On the other hand, if you prefer a clicky switch with a medium-light bottom-out force of 55 grams, the Outemu Spring Breeze would be more suitable for you. With its satisfying clicky sound and lighter actuation force, the Spring Breeze is perfect for those who enjoy auditory feedback while typing. Ultimately, the decision between the Foggy Shadow and the Spring Breeze comes down to personal preference in terms of tactile feedback, sound, and bottom-out force.
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