What’s especially attractive about this one is that there are a couple of branded versions that allow you to wear your fandom on your desktop. If you’re an aspiring e-sport athlete, the League of Legends pad is a must-have, while K-Pop stans will enjoy having the members of K/DA keeping them company during gaming sessions. Syncing your gaming peripherals into your RGB lighting ecosystem is always a satisfying experience, but each new element added does come at the expense of an open USB port to use for other things. This fully-featured gaming mouse pad from Corsair goes some way to correct this issue by including a USB hub, providing two extra ports for the one that it uses.

Key specs – Dimensions (HWD): 200 x 230 x 2mm; Material: Polyester, rubber; Weight: 73g; Waterproof surface: Yes; Additional features: N/A The mouse pad itself is on the smaller side, so is definitely better suited to a mouse set to a higher sensitivity. Even so, the space is used economically, with the plastic surface making even the smallest of mouse movements go a long way. The rubber base may not be all that luxurious but it’s still sturdy enough to keep the pad from sliding around during use, while also providing a decent level of cushioning beneath the mouse. If you’ve got the desk space and a tendency to cover an extensive surface area when using your mouse, you’d be wise to opt for the biggest mouse pad you can get. Logitech’s G840 XL is a full desktop pad that essentially turns every inch of your deskspace into a mouse mat, giving you plenty of room to manoeuvre, as well as the freedom to adjust your setup on the fly. As well as the lighting and extra ports, the M700 is a full desktop pad, so you’ve got plenty of room to move your mouse around, as well as the option to reverse your setup at a moment’s notice. The cloth surface allows your mouse to glide around unhindered, while the non-slip rubber base keeps the mat firmly in place and avoids any irritating bunching in the corners. For a gaming mouse pad that enhances your experience, the M700 is pretty much the best there is.On the other hand, those who opt for a lower sensitivity on their mouse, or people working with a multiscreen setup, will benefit from having more room to manoeuvre. You can also get extra-large options that sit under your keyboard like a placemat. These keep your keyboard from sliding around on the desk and add a certain style to your whole setup too. A hard mat, on the other hand, is designed for speed, cutting out any unnecessary friction to keep your mouse movements as nippy as possible. If you feel confident in your ability to stop the mouse on a dime, or if you just generally prefer speed over precision, a hard mouse pad will provide the least amount of resistance. While correct positioning can ensure that your wrist is supported when using any of the other entries on this list, the Kensington Duo Gel makes the process a whole lot easier with its built-in wrist rest. Not only is this a wonderful mouse mat to use, but it also comes with a handful of other benefits such as a useful flap, which can be used to store important documents. We also really liked the bundled wireless charger, which snaps magnetically to the side of the mouse mat and can be used to charge your smartphone up to 15W. It can also simultaneously charge a pair of AirPods or other earbud cases with wireless charging support.

USB hub: If you’re low on USB ports, you may want to look into a mousepad that has an integrated USB hub. As with the RGB lighting, these will need an open USB port to connect to your laptop or PC, but from there you can use it to connect your desktop peripherals. As well as providing more ports, it’s also handy having them in reaching distance for when you want to swap something out. Ergonomic wrist rest: If you spend a lot of time at your desk, you’ll already be aware of the importance of an ergonomic setup. A wrist rest provides a soft but supportive place for your wrist to sit, allowing you to keep it in a comfortable position while using your mouse. You can buy these separately, but for the sake of simplicity, as well as ensuring that you have enough space on your desk, a mouse pad with an integrated wrist rest could be the way to go. The soft surface is made from 100% recycled polyester, which in addition to being better for the environment, also provides a silky smooth ride for your mouse, with just enough friction to keep movements precise and deliberate. The edges are braided, so fraying is a non-issue and you also get a handy boundary that stops your mouse from skipping off the edge of the pad. The rumours are true – size does matter. Specifically, you need to be mindful of the space you have to work with when buying a mouse pad; an extra-large mat will be of little use to you if you’re working from a desk with limited surface space.Included in the box is a handy hand measurement sheet, which shows you which setting would be ideal for you, based on the size of your hand. From there, you simply add or remove the appropriate colour-coded inserts in the wrist rest and enjoy the support. Your wrist sits on a soft, gel-padded plinth

The PowerPlay is the most expensive item on this list for a reason. Specifically, it offers one of the most useful features that you could want from your gaming mouse pad – charging your mouse while you play, ensuring that it will never unexpectedly die on you mid-game. This feature does come with some caveats, the first being that it is not cheap. Secondly, this pad is only compatible with the Lightspeed brand of wireless gaming mice from Logitech, comprising of the G502, the G703 and the G903, the latter of which appears in our roundup of the best gaming mice. Key specs – Dimensions (HWD): 780 x 370 x 4mm; Material: felt, vegan leather; Weight: 55g; Waterproof surface: No; Additional features: Wireless charging, document storage flap The RGB lighting can easily be set to any of the twelve onboard programs via a small button on the USB hub, or, for the best results, you can use the Corsair iCUE software to program your own setup and link it in with the rest of your rig. Buying the best mouse pad may not be all that high on your list of priorities when designing the perfect workstation or gaming rig, but you’d ultimately be doing yourself a disservice if you overlook this crucial component. After all, even the best mouse in the world is at the mercy of the surface it sits upon.

Construction

Unlike some cheaper mouse pads, the Eono features braided edges, which should help to ward off fraying and wear – a common complaint among more budget models. The surface is also waterproof, so any spills are easily cleaned, and the whole thing is machine washable too. It may be a little on the thin side, but for what you’re paying here, the Eono Round Mat is a surprisingly sturdy and stylish mouse pad. Equally, for gamers, there are few things more frustrating than lining up the perfect headshot, only to lose your kill because your mouse dipped off the side of the pad. While high-DPI gamers can get away with a smaller mousepad, more space to perfect your play is never a bad thing.