Corepad is arguably one of the most recognizable names in the peripheral scene when it comes to aftermarket mouse skates. They cater to a large array of mice, including models that are no longer manufactured. This is worth noting, as many other brands don't allocate resources to support older, discontinued mice.
While Corepad does sell dot skates, most people seek them out for their excellent full-size skate offerings. This is a safer choice, as dot skates tend to feel more experimental and less forgiving.
For most users, a full-size skate is all you need and is the safest option. With dot skates, especially on softer mousepads, the amount of force applied to the left or right side of the mouse can affect how the skates and mouse perform.
This force causes the skates to dig into the mousepad surface, leading to an inconsistent experience. Some may enjoy this added friction and stopping power as it allows for more control by pressing the mouse into the pad, but it's not for everyone.
Starting with the skates that everyone knows and loves: the Original Corepad Pro skates. These are widely popular—and for good reason.
They strike a perfect balance between feeling too fast or too slow, sitting in the middle as a great baseline for someone trying aftermarket skates for the first time. They also offer excellent value.
For $10 USD, you get two pairs of skates in the package, whereas many other manufacturers only provide one.
The most unique skates that Corepads sells are the Air skates. As the name suggests, they provide a light and airy feel.
What makes the Air skates special is their bubble-like texture, a feature not found in other skates on the market. This textured surface reduces friction, making them faster than the rest of the Corepad lineup.
These skates are ideal for adding speed to slower mousepads or building a setup optimized for speed. However, I recommend using them only on cloth pads and avoiding hard surfaces like plastic, resin, or glass. The bubble-like texture may wear down quickly on harsher surfaces.
With Air skates, you also tend to feel the texture of your mousepad more. For instance, on a pad like the Artisan Hien, which is abrasive and textured, the pad's texture is very noticeable.
This can be a good or bad thing depending on your preference. Some people enjoy the additional feedback, while others prefer a smoother feel with less feedback.
In my opinion, these skates are a great alternative to dot skates, offering nearly the same speed but in a full-size design.
They also come in a pack of two, providing great value for money.
On the other hand, Corepad offers the CTRL (Control) skates, which are slower than the Air skates but not significantly slower than the Original Pro skates. These feel like the Originals but with a broken-in sensation. Despite the "Control" name, I wouldn’t classify them as slow.
On a mousepad like the LGG Saturn Pro, the main difference between the CTRLs and the Originals is the additional friction during micro-corrections. Small movements felt stickier, but during larger swipes, like tracking or dynamic movements, they maintained good speed with minimal drag.
These skates are also smoother than the Air and Original Pro skates, meaning they don't pick up as much texture from abrasive mousepads. Like the others, you get two pairs in the package.
Finally, we have Corepads' newest release: the Pro Max lineup. While they use the same material as the rest of the lineup, the manufacturing process sets them apart.
Corepads now uses CNC milling, ensuring every skate is precisely cut and consistent in size. With older Corepad models, there was a chance of slight size variations, but now every Pro Max skate should be exactly the same.
The Pro Max skates are also completely flat, ensuring full contact with the mousepad surface. In contrast, regular Corepads can sometimes be slightly bent inward at the center.
The new manufacturing process also changes their look and feel. The Pro Max skates feature a flat bottom with a pronounced beveled edge, which is designed to improve glide and allow for smoother movements.
On the mouse, they feel solid. I tested them primarily on the Artisan Raiden Mid, a fast cloth mousepad, and these skates made the Raiden feel even faster.
They did feel slightly scratchy at first due to the beveled edge, but this sensation disappeared after a day or two of use.
The best way to describe the Pro Max skates is that they enhance the natural characteristics of the mousepad they’re paired with. On the Raiden, they made the pad feel faster and smoother, while on the LGG Saturn Pro, they amplified its control-oriented characteristics.
For users who enjoy feeling feedback from their mousepad while gaming, these skates are the best option. They felt smooth on nearly every pad I tested, providing little to no feedback.
Unlike other Corepads, the Pro Max skates come with only one pair per package, but given their durability and premium feel, this seems fair.
Corepads is a well-known and respected name in the peripheral world, offering solid skates that are easy to recommend to anyone.
With the release of the Pro Max skates, Corepads has elevated its lineup, creating what I believe is the ultimate Corepad skate.
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