Mechanical switdhes for typing that aren't mx blues

[Mad153]

Hello!

(And long time no see, forum!)

 

I have a surface laptop that I use for most of my work at school, but they keyboard isn't amazing for fast typing and has not much travel.

I tried a friend's keyboard with some blue switches but when I rested my hand on it, the keys already started to press. 

I'm not entirely sure if this is because of his keycaps, but I didn't really like the feeling because I couldn't rest my fingers. They're also quite noisy but I don't really mind.

So what switches should I get for a mechanical keyboard I'm planning to buy? I've seen others say something like white's, but there isn't much of a consensus on the posts I found.

 

Thanks 

[minibois]

Just now, Mad153 said:

So what switches should I get for a mechanical keyboard I'm planning to buy? I've seen others say something like white's, but there isn't much of a consensus on the posts I found.

Keyswitches are incredibly personal. Something you like, may be something someone else dislikes.

I think Kailh BOX White (which I think you are referring to?) are great clicky switches and indeed do not press down as easily as a MX Blues (which is a positive thing, if you lean on your keys and find your press down MX Blues quickly).

 

Kailh BOX Jade/Navy are of course alternatives, which are quite close to Kailh BOX White. I would check out those options.

[Mad153]

4 minutes ago, minibois said:

Kailh BOX Jade/Navy are of course alternatives, which are quite close to Kailh BOX White. I would check out those options.

Thanks!
I think they might have been talking about cherry whites, but I've lost that tab now so...

[minibois]

1 minute ago, Mad153 said:

Thanks!
I think they might have been talking about cherry whites, but I've lost that tab now so...

Cherry MX White are rather uncommon, which is why I assumed Kailh BOX White.

Personally I think the clicky BOX switches as a better choice too, if you feel like you press down Blues too easily.

 

Reason being, the Chery MX switches all have a design catered towards linear switches. The clicky switches just added what is called a 'clickjacket', which doesn't provide too much of a clicky feel (in my opnion).

The Kailh BOX clicky switches have a clickbar, which creates much more resistance, without just making the spring heavier (which is the different between a Cherry MX Blue and MX White).

Spoiler

The silver part in the middle there is the thing that provides much of the clickyness of a Cherry MX clicky switch, with the white teeth on the blue part also having a part in it.

Spoiler

The Kailh BOX switches have a 'clickbar' (the metal wire/spring on the left) which gets pushed by the switch stem.

In my opinion, this makes Kailh BOX clicky switches better than Cherry MX clicky design.

 

But again, I had to use "my opinion" quite a few times here, because it really has a lot to do with personal preference. Maybe you wouldn't like these switches, it all depends on what you prefer.

 

If at all possible, it's best to get a switch testing kit, with a couple different switches, to actually feel for yourself what you might like most.

[Dr0y]

I'm one that really hate clicky switches ... like it's the most annoying thing that ever existed ... until I tried kailh box white ... those are heavenly compared to cherry or outemu blue ... I would highly recommend that you try those if you like clicky already ... or the kailh box navy as I've heard that the stiffer clickbar make them sound a bit deeper than the white.  Maybe it's my next set I'll buy