The best mousepad for CS:GO can be the one key difference between a recreational, casual player and professional one.
The Professional scene is dominated by the men and women who spend hours in Bomb Defusal mastering the nuances of the game.
When it comes to tourneys, it is these guys who walk away with the glory more often than not.
If you watch their gameplay closely, there’s one thing common across the board. They all use the best hardware that gets the job done.
Be it gaming mice, keyboards or mousepads, there’s no room for anything less than the best.
So if you have been wondering whether the mousepad matters in a game like CS:GO, here’s the answer.
It does!
Best Overall
- Most Popular Mousepad
- Woven Microfiber Surface
- Frictionless Gliding
Premium Pick
- Oversized Surface
- Finely Braided Fiber Surface
- RGB Lighting
Best Mousepad For CS:GO Comparison Table
If you are looking to upgrade your game from a casual player to a Pro, it is important that you arm yourself with the best accessories to support your gaming skills.
That said, there are hundreds of mouse pads that are being peddled with the CS:GO prefix attached to it.
How do you pick one that’s best for you?
Here’s some help.
1. SteelSeries QcK Gaming Surface – Best Overall
The SteelSeries QcK Gaming Surface is hands down, the most popular gaming mousepad in the world.
It has been used by esports pros for over two decades and more than 10-million of these have been sold so far.
If you’d like to know some of the CS:GO pros who use it, then there’s Neo, Guardian, Starix and Zeus among others.
What is it about this mousepad that makes it a favorite of the pros?
Our Pick
SteelSeries QcK Gaming Surface
For starters, it is 6mm thick. This means that even if you place it on an uneven surface, you won’t feel any minor imperfections on the desk. If you are a traveler, this feature alone can be godsend. Don’t even get us started on the quality of surfaces that you’d get in a LAN party
Secondly, the tracking surface is huge at 17.72” x 15.75”. Chances are that you play at low sensitivity like most experts at CS:GO.
If you are looking to make 360s as well as play without lifting your mouse while making wide sweeps, you need a spacious tracking surface. That’s what you get with the QcK.
The surface itself is micro-woven cloth with a non-stick rubber base. It stays put where you place it.
The cloth is tightly knit and offers a very smooth surface with frictionless gliding even at low DPI. In fact, many first timers will have a little trouble adjusting to the surface and might end up overshooting. But you will get used to it shortly.
The only possible quibble that we have with the SteelSeries QcK is that it’s not waterproof. It tends to become a magnet for dander and skin oils too.
So, every now and then, you’d have to manually wash and dry it. Is that really a deal breaker? Not for us.
There are various versions of the SteelSeries QcK that you can choose from. There’s the classic which is a little smaller and better suited for compact gaming desks, there’s one with stitched edges which is ideal if you are concerned about the edges getting frayed and there’s a thick version which is the same mouse pad, but a little thicker.
Pros
- Most popular gaming mousepad in the world
- Used by esports Pros for 20 years
- Used by CS:GO pros like Zeus, Neo and Guardian
- Woven microfiber surface
- Frictionless gliding even at low sensitivity
- 17.72” x 15.75” surface for large sweeps
- 6mm thick
Cons
- Not Waterproof
2. Razer Goliathus Speed (Large)
The Goliathus range of Mousepads from Razer features two models, speed and control.
If the names weren’t self-explanatory, speed is designed for faster, frictionless gliding in low DPI settings which makes it better suited for FPS games like CS:GO and Overwatch.
The control edition is a tad slower than speed, at least for horizontal movements.
That said, the verdict for this is still out there.
There are professionals like Shox, KennyS and Hiko who are sponsored by Razer and stick to the Speed version of the mousepad.
But a lot of recreational gamers prefer using the control version as they find it to be faster. We guess that there are many variables at play here, like the quality of the gaming mouse, in game sensitivity, your grip and your gaming style.
We personally liked the Razer speed.
Razer Goliathus Speed (Large)
It is a woven micro-fiber cloth surface that is available in four sizes. At 17.48″ x 13.98″, the large size is perfect for use with CS:GO. But if you have a roomy gaming desk, you might want to consider the extended version. It is 36.22″ x 11.57″.
The surface is a very tightly woven yarn that offers resistance-free gliding for your mouse. Also, this ensures that there’s no skin fatigue if your palm or wrist comes into contact with the surface. Don’t mistake this for a slick, plastic surface. There will be a little resistance on this. That’s perfect for most FPS games where you can prevent overshooting.
The edges are stitched and there’s a large green logo printed on the surface (not raised) that does not interfere with the mouse movement at all.
Pros
- Large woven microfiber gaming mousepad
- Used by professionals like Shox, KennyS and Hiko
- Available in four sizes
- Resistance-free gliding for FPS games
- Rubber feet for non-slip performance
- No wrist or pam fatigue
Cons
3. Zowie G-SR – Pro Pick
The Zowie G-SR is an amazing mousepad used by the likes of Fox, Flamie, Fallen and KioShima.
Just like the other two mousepads, this is a cloth surface with a rubberized base that offers consistent, resistance-free gliding even at surprisingly low sensitivity settings.
Zowie G-SR
Aiming to the head, sudden turns, 180s, you will have absolutely no problems making any kind of accurate movement on this mouse pad. There’s ample room on offer, even though it is a little more rectangular-shaped than the rest of the mousepads in this list.
While the microfiber is very tightly knit, the GS-R has a smooth coating on top which gives it the friction-free gliding that gamers seek.
That said, after the break-in period, the mousepad does seem to offer a little control, especially during fast sweeps.
If you tend to overshoot your targets on extremely smooth surfaces, you’ll love this one. But if it’s the other way round, you might want to check the SteelSeries QcK instead of this.
The control doesn’t mean that the surface texture is rough. Even if you use your wrist to move the mouse and frequently make contact with the mouse pad, it doesn’t feel rough to the touch. Naturally, there’s very little skin fatigue.
It does tend to slow down and develop inconsistencies when the surface has a buildup of dead cells and dander. But Zowie has detailed instructions on how to clean the mousepad. Follow it and you should be good to go.
One thing that must be mentioned here is that the Zowie G-SR is just 3mm thick as compared to the SteelSeries which is 6mm. If you play on a very uneven surface, you might feel some of the imperfections.
Pros
- Large, premium gaming mousepad
- Used by CS:GO professionals
- 3mm thick
- Smooth coated microfiber surface
- Friction-free glides
- Perfect for sweeping moves
- Offers a little control after the break-in period
Cons
4. Cooler Master MP510
Many brands are offering professional gaming mousepads made of Cordura these days. It seems to be the new buzzword in mousepad surfaces.
But none are as popular as the Cooler Master MP510.
This is one of the best options, if you seek great control without compromising on speed.
Cooler Master MP510
Cordura is a type of Nylon fabric. You can see very densely woven honeycomb patterns on the surface and it is a little rough to the touch. But when you place the mouse on it, you’ll be surprised at the control it gives you.
The movements are precise and accurate, there’s very little overshooting, you can make large horizontal and vertical sweeps, move around the map. No complaints whatsoever while playing CS:GO.
One of the best features is that Cordura is waterproof. No, that’s not an invitation to spill cuppa or beer on the mousepad.
It means that even if you tend to sweat a lot, or you do accidentally spill coffee on it, the liquid will just roll off rather than getting absorbed. This translates into less time spent washing the pad.
It is available in four sizes, the edges are stitched and there’s a tiny glow-in-the-dark logo on a corner. Everything else is black and minimalistic.
The MP510 is available in four sizes. We liked the large size as the 17 1/2″ x 13 3/4″ surface is perfect for our gaming desk and our gaming style.
Pros
- Cordura surface
- Densely woven nylon fabric
- Waterproof
- Offers great control on the mouse without compromising on speed
- Available in four sizes
- The large size is 17 1/2" x 13 3/4"
- Rubberized feet
- Stitched, fray-proof edges
- Low on maintenance
Cons
5. VicTsing RGB Gaming Mousepad – Premium Pick
There’s no dearth of gamers who drool at the thought of adding RGB lighting to their gaming peripherals.
How about a butter-smooth mousepad with some inbuilt RGB lighting effects?
Our Premium Pick
VicTsing RGB Gaming Mousepad
This is the VicTsing RGB gaming mousepad that comes with 12-lighting modes. 8 static ones and 4 dynamic effects to enhance your gaming setup.
The lights are plug and play. So there’s no additional software needed to set them up. Just plug the USB cable that’s 1.5m long (not braided) and enjoy the lighting effects.
There’s a dedicated light button on the pad which can be pressed to toggle the different colors and effects. Long pressing it for 3-seconds powers it off.
Once you are done ogling at the lights, you’ll love the large 31.5” x 15.7” surface on offer. It’s 30% larger than most other XXL gaming mousepads.
Be rest assured that this will suffice for most FPS games as well as other genres. Long sweeps (both horizontal and vertical), 180 degree spins, fast turns, there’s ample room for everything.
The surface is braided fiber with a very fine knit. There are no blemishes anywhere on it and it’s 5.08mm thick, which means that you won’t be feeling any minor imperfections on your desk either.
It is better suited for controlled movement rather than fast ones. Perfect for accurate aiming in CS:GO.
The texture is smooth enough to allow hours of gameplay without fatigue. Also, it comes with a water-resistant coating which means that an accidental spill or two won’t put it out of action.
The VicTsing RGB Gaming mousepad is a great budget-priced alternative to the more expensive professional-grade gaming mousepads.
If you play recreationally, this might be a great choice for your current set up.
Pros
- Oversized surface that’s 30% larger than most XXL-sized mousepads
- Perfect for FPS games like CS:GO
- Finely braided fiber surface
- 5.08mm thick
- Smooth surface with a water-resistant coating
- Fatigue free gaming
Cons
How To Select The Best Mousepad For CS:GO
When it comes to CS:GO as well as other FPS games, the requirements are pretty basic.
Most gamers will need a smooth, blemish-free surface that offers resistance-free gliding for the mouse even at low DPI settings.
However, some amount of control is appreciated, especially for sudden and rapid moves which can be very difficult to achieve with accuracy if the surface is too smooth.
Based on these factors, here’s how you can select the best mousepad.
The Surface Type
The mousepad can either be made of rubber, PVC or some type of fabric. Ones made of cloth are better suited for FPS games because they offer the right mix of speed and control. Control during vertical swipes and speed during horizontal ones that is.
Apart from the lack of friction, the surface should also be comfortable to rest your palm or wrist on.
If you game professionally, you’ll be spending hours with your wrist in contact with the surface. The last thing you need is something that chaffs the skin or irritates it even.
A waterproof coating is a good addition, but not really required unless you eat and live at the desk.
All the mousepads listed here are comfortable for prolonged use, and offer great control without affecting the speed of the mouse.
The Base
Mousepads come in different thicknesses with 2mm being the thinnest and 6mm being the thickest.
If you mostly play at home on a flat surface and you prefer a more solid feel, then go for a 2-3mm thick mousepad.
But if you travel for tourneys or LAN parties, then you’ll need a mousepad that’s at least 5mm thick. This will keep you covered even if you place it on an uneven surface
Size
Mousepads are available in small, medium, large and extra-large (called extended) sizes.
In an FPS game like CS:GO, you need a fair amount of room to allow for large sweeps as well as 360-degree moves.
The average size for a large mousepad is 17” x 15”, which should suffice.
But if you play on a very low DPI setting, you might want to consider an extended size.
Edge
Stitched edges work as an anti-fraying barrier and a perimeter around the surface of the mousepad.
This prevents the edges from fraying and also makes it easier to clean the surface.
However, there are some leading brands like SteelSeries that continue to offer mousepads with unstitched edges. So it’s not a feature that we’d be hung up over.
Closing Thoughts
That’s it fellow CS:GO gamers. We hope that you enjoyed reading our recommendations and that you can find a mousepad for you in this list.
Need an Ultrabook? Find the best Ultrabook for gaming.
Until next time, adios!
