Durock Sea Glass vs. Everglide Tourmaline Blue
An in-depth look at the Durock Sea Glass and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When it comes to choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, two popular options to consider are the Durock Sea Glass and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue. The Sea Glass is best known for its captivating selection of five pastel colors that stand out as favorites among Durock switches. These linear switches offer a distinct dryness, wispiness, and airiness in the typing experience, while maintaining a smoothness that is uncompromised. Despite their 62g bottom-out force, the Sea Glass switches possess a weightlessness that defies expectations, making them frictionless and easy to press. Additionally, typing on these switches reveals a uniquely hollow sound signature. On the other hand, the Tourmaline Blue switches are prized for their deep and thocky sound profile, immersing the user in a satisfying typing experience. Featuring a lengthened single-stage spring, they provide a bouncy feel with each keystroke, striking a balance with their standard spring weight. These switches are categorized as buttery, easy-to-press, mild, and neutral. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond these generalities so you can best decide on the switch that suits your preferences and needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
45g
Actuation force
59g
Bottom-out force
62g
Bottom-out force
67g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.80 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
P3+
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend
Bottom housing material
Polycarbonate
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
Gold-plated
Spring
Gold-plated
Housing materials
When comparing the housing materials of the Durock Sea Glass and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue, there are notable differences between the two. The Sea Glass features a unique blend of Polymer nylon and UHMWPE in both the top and bottom housing. This blend offers a pleasant sound profile that is bright but not particularly sharp. On the other hand, the Tourmaline Blue utilizes polycarbonate in both its top and bottom housing. Polycarbonate, being a stiffer plastic, creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. Additionally, the translucency of polycarbonate is advantageous for those planning to use RGB lighting.
While the two switches have different housing materials, their top housing has similar characteristics. Both the Sea Glass and the Tourmaline Blue have a top housing that is associated with a brighter sound profile. However, the Sea Glass's blend of Polymer nylon and UHMWPE provides a more nuanced and less sharp sound compared to the Tourmaline Blue's polycarbonate top housing. Therefore, if you prefer a brighter sound without excessive sharpness, both switches would deliver similar results.
On the other hand, the bottom housing of the Sea Glass and Tourmaline Blue differs significantly. The Sea Glass utilizes its unique blend of Polymer nylon and UHMWPE in the bottom housing, resulting in a sound profile that is pleasant and slightly bright. In contrast, the Tourmaline Blue employs polycarbonate in its bottom housing, which creates a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound. As a result, when pressing down on these switches, the qualities of the bottom housing will significantly impact the bottom-out sound and feel. So, if you prioritize a crisper sound and a more pronounced tactile feel, the Tourmaline Blue would be the better choice.
In summary, the housing materials of the Durock Sea Glass and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue have both similarities and differences. While their top housing materials provide a bright sound profile, the Sea Glass offers a more nuanced experience due to its unique Polymer nylon and UHMWPE blend, while the Tourmaline Blue delivers a sharper and higher-pitched sound with its polycarbonate top housing. Additionally, their bottom housing materials diverge, with the Sea Glass providing a pleasant and slightly bright sound, and the Tourmaline Blue offering a crisper and more resonant sound. Ultimately, the choice between these switches will depend on individual sound preferences and tactile preferences when bottoming out.
Weight
When comparing the actuation force and bottom out force of the Durock Sea Glass linear switch and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch, there are some noticeable differences. The Sea Glass has a lighter actuation force of 45 grams compared to the Tourmaline Blue's 59 grams, making it easier to trigger keystrokes on the Sea Glass switch. Similarly, the Sea Glass has a lighter bottom out force of 62 grams compared to the Tourmaline Blue's 67 grams. This means that typing on the Sea Glass switch will require slightly less force to press the keys all the way down. However, it is important to note that both switches fall within the medium range for actuation and bottom out forces. For those who prefer a lighter typing experience, the Sea Glass switch would be a suitable choice, offering a lighter actuation and bottom out force. On the other hand, the Tourmaline Blue switch provides a slightly heavier feel, which may be preferred by those who desire a more substantial typing experience. Ultimately, the choice between these switches will depend on individual preferences and the desired typing feel.
Travel distance
In comparing the travel distance of the Durock Sea Glass linear switch and the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch, it is clear that the Sea Glass has a shorter travel distance of 3.8 mm, while the Tourmaline Blue has a slightly longer travel distance of 4 mm. These measurements fall within the range of traditional travel distances, with 4.0 mm being the most common. However, there has been a growing trend towards shorter travel distances for increased responsiveness, particularly among gamers seeking faster response times. For those who prioritize quick and precise keystrokes, the Sea Glass with its shorter travel distance would be the preferable option. On the other hand, individuals who enjoy a deeper and more substantial feel to their keystrokes may find the longer travel distance of the Tourmaline Blue more satisfying. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches depends on personal preference and the desired typing or gaming experience.
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 Everglide Tourmaline Blue has an MSRP of $6.86 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Tourmaline Blue for $3.89.
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 Durock Sea Glass linear switch offers a distinct hollow sound signature. This unique characteristic sets it apart from other switches and gives it a captivating quality. On the other hand, the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch is described as having a deep and thocky sound profile. This creates a satisfying typing experience that immerses the user in the sound of each keystroke. Both switches have different sound profiles, but they both provide enjoyable typing experiences.
In terms of feel, the Durock Sea Glass switch is known for its frictionless and smooth typing experience. The switch is described as offering a fluid travel, with little resistance or friction when pressing the keys. This frictionless nature provides a lightweight typing feel that defies expectations, despite its 62g bottom-out force. The Everglide Tourmaline Blue switch, on the other hand, is described as having a bouncy feel due to its lengthened single-stage spring. This gives each keystroke a satisfying bounce, creating a unique tactile sensation. Both switches provide different tactile experiences, with the Sea Glass offering a mild and feathery feel, while the Tourmaline Blue provides a buttery and easy-to-press feel.
In conclusion, the Durock Sea Glass and Everglide Tourmaline Blue switches offer different subjective qualities in terms of sound and feel. The Sea Glass switch provides a distinct hollow sound signature and a frictionless, mild, and feathery typing experience. On the other hand, the Tourmaline Blue switch offers a deep and thocky sound profile, along with a buttery and easy-to-press feel. Both switches have unique qualities that cater to different preferences, making them suitable for a diverse range of users. While their sound and feel characteristics differ, users can expect a satisfying typing experience from both switches.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you are looking for a switch that offers a weightless and frictionless typing experience with a distinct dryness and wispiness, the Durock Sea Glass linear switch is the one for you. Despite its medium bottom-out force of 62 grams, these switches provide a uniquely hollow sound signature and a typing experience that defies expectations. On the other hand, if you prefer a deep and thocky sound profile and a bouncy feel with each keystroke, the Everglide Tourmaline Blue linear switch is an excellent choice. With its medium-heavy bottom-out force of 67 grams and lengthened single-stage spring, these switches strike a balance between enjoyment and accessibility. Ultimately, the decision between the Sea Glass and Tourmaline Blue switches will depend on your preference for typing experience, sound, and feel.
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