Durock Sea Glass vs. Dareu Sky POM
An in-depth look at the Durock Sea Glass and the Dareu Sky POM switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When comparing the Durock Sea Glass and Dareu Sky POM mechanical keyboard switches, it's clear that they both offer unique qualities that cater to different preferences. The Sea Glass stands out for its captivating pastel colors, proprietary material blend, and distinct dry, wispy typing experience. Despite its 62g bottom-out force, the Sea Glass switches feel weightless and produce a hollow sound signature. On the other hand, the Dareu Sky POM switch is crafted entirely from POM material, providing a premium feel at an accessible price point. It is known for its clacky sound, exceptional smoothness, and gentle actuation force. While the Sea Glass offers a frictionless, feathery typing experience, the Sky POM provides a buttery, low-pitched feel. 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
45g
Actuation force
40g
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
N/A
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.80 mm
Total travel
3.80 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem material
P3+
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend
Top housing material
POM
Bottom housing material
Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Gold-plated spring
Housing materials
The Durock Sea Glass and Dareu Sky POM both offer unique housing materials that contribute to their distinct sound profiles. The Sea Glass features a Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend top housing, providing a brighter and pleasant sound profile. In contrast, the Sky POM utilizes POM top housing, which creates a deeper and more muted sound. While both housing materials offer unique characteristics, they cater to different preferences in sound output.
In terms of the bottom housing, the Durock Sea Glass continues its use of the Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend, maintaining a consistent bright and pleasant sound profile. On the other hand, the Dareu Sky POM switches to a nylon bottom housing, known for producing a deeper and fuller sound profile. This contrast in bottom housing materials highlights the impact of different plastics on the overall sound output of the switch, with nylon offering a duller and rounder sound compared to the brighter tones of the blend used in the Sea Glass.
Although the housing materials of the Durock Sea Glass and Dareu Sky POM differ in their composition, they both prioritize delivering a unique and pleasing sound profile. The Sea Glass's blend top and bottom housings provide a consistent brightness in sound, while the Sky POM's split between POM and nylon offers a more diverse range of sound characteristics. Despite these differences, both switches are crafted with quality materials that enhance the typing experience and cater to varying preferences in sound output.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Durock Sea Glass linear switch and the Dareu Sky POM linear switch, there are some notable differences. The Sea Glass has an actuation force of 45 grams and a bottom out force of 62 grams, marking it as a medium-weight switch. In contrast, the Sky POM has a lighter actuation force of 40 grams, though the bottom out force is unknown. This makes the Sky POM potentially lighter than the Sea Glass, which could be beneficial for those who prefer a lighter typing experience. However, for those who prefer a more substantial typing feel, the Sea Glass may be the better choice with its slightly heavier bottom out force. Ultimately, the weight of the switch is a personal preference, with lighter switches being favored for extended typing sessions and heavier switches providing a more satisfying typing experience.
Travel distance
Both the Durock Sea Glass linear switch and the Dareu Sky POM linear switch have the same travel distance of 3.8 mm. This means that when pressing down on a key with either of these switches, users will experience the same amount of travel distance. Therefore, in terms of travel distance, both switches are equal and users can expect similar results when using either one.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Durock Sea Glass has an MSRP of $5.80 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Sea Glass for $4.87.
The Dareu Sky POM has an MSRP of $7.78 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Sky POM for $4.98.
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
In terms of sound, the Durock Sea Glass linear switch offers a uniquely hollow sound signature, while the Dareu Sky POM linear switch is characterized by a low-pitched and clacky sound. The Sea Glass switch may provide a more airy and wispier sound compared to the Sky POM, which offers a more bass-heavy and mellow tone.
Moving on to the feel, the Durock Sea Glass linear switch is described as frictionless, mild, feathery, and easy-to-press. These qualities contribute to a typing experience that is smooth, effortless, and light on the fingers. On the other hand, the Dareu Sky POM linear switch is characterized as buttery, creamy, and silky, offering a smooth and uniform typing sensation. Both switches prioritize smoothness and ease of typing, catering to users who value a comfortable and responsive typing experience.
Taking all the available information into account, while the Durock Sea Glass and Dareu Sky POM linear switches offer different sound profiles and tactile feels, both switches prioritize smoothness and ease of typing. Users can expect a comfortable and enjoyable typing experience regardless of which switch they choose, with the Sea Glass providing a unique airy sound and the Sky POM offering a more clacky tone. Ultimately, users can achieve similar results in terms of typing feel and sound by selecting either of these high-quality linear switches based on their personal preferences.
Conclusion
In closing, when deciding between the Durock Sea Glass linear switch and the Dareu Sky POM linear switch, consider the following guidelines. Choose the Sea Glass if you value a unique typing experience with a weightless feel, hollow sound signature, and a medium bottom-out force of 62 grams. The Sea Glass switches are ideal for those who prefer a frictionless and mild typing experience. On the other hand, opt for the Sky POM if you prioritize a premium, clacky sound, exceptional smoothness, and a gentle actuation force. The Sky POM switches are perfect for those who enjoy buttery, creamy, or silky typing sensations. Ultimately, your decision should be based on your preferences for typing feel, sound, and overall aesthetic appeal.