ZOWIE GEAR P-RF Mousepad

(3.5 star rating)

A relative newcomer to the market for gaming products – ZOWIE GEAR has sent to us their first product line, the P-RF mousepad. This is a mousepad designed for serious PC users like graphic designers and gamers who will appreciate a high-quality mousepad. It includes one new feature that I have not seen in a mousepad – a water proof surface. Does the water proof surface really work? Read on for our test conclusions on the new ZOWIE GEAR P-RF Mousepad.

Design

The PR-F is a cloth-styled mousepad that uses a specially designed rubber base to keep the mousepad from sliding around during gameplay. I use the term “cloth-styled” because it is not a true cloth material that is used, but rather a combination of cloth and some sort of rubber grainy material to provide the water-proof surface.

The rubber base is securely and evenly attached to the cloth surface with no overlap. The entire pad is only 4mm thick, so there is very little elevation of your mouse. As you rest your wrist on the surface, the resulting feel is soft and a bit springy – definitely a different feeling that all other cloth mousepads I have used previously.

The size of the mousepad is quite large at 13.4” W x 11.4” H x 0.16” D inch, and those users with less free desk space should opt for the N-RF1 or N-RF2 that are smaller in size. The large size of the P-RF is well suited for gamers who appreciate using low-sensitivity settings. The overall black color small logo in the corner give the P-RF a very low-profile appearance.

Features

• Water proof surface , easy for cleaning
• Works perfect for all mice
• Right size for designers & gamers : 340 x 290 x 4 mm / 13.4 x 11.4 x 0.16 inch
• Special designed non-slip rubber base
• Pure cloth surface could be bent without damage

ZOWIE GEAR P-RF Box	Logo	Overhead View

Performance Testing

The first round of testing with the P-RF was done by playing a few hours worth of the typical FPS games that I enjoy playing. I spent a few hours playing Quake 4, Quake Live and Crysis. There are countless other sports and RTS games available, but I have always migrated back to FPS games for a true test of any mousepad.

Tracking using P-RF was outstanding, and there were no abraisions or other design imperfections that got in the way while testing the surface. There was even consistentcy across the entire mousing surface and my aim / movement was smooth in all of the games that I tested.

The grainy surface of the P-RF does take a bit of time to get used to, especially if you are like me and have primarly been a cloth mousepad user. It is a rougher surface that all other cloth mousepads I have tested, but it is reminiscent of other hard surface mousepads like the func 1030 and SteelPad 5L.

Overhead View with MX518		Water applied on surface

Comfort wise, the P-RF was very nice to use. Extended gaming sessions never resulted in a sore wrist due to an uncomfortable mousepad. The spongy feel of the pad was a pleasant texture to rest my wrist on while gaming.

My PC sits beneath my old wooden desk, so my keyboard and mousepad are used on a a slightly fading veneer coating. This coating makes for a good surface to test the claims of the non-slip base of the P-Rf. I can confirm that at no time during my gaming sessions did the mousepad slip from the spot where I had originally placed it. At all times the pad stuck right to the spot where I placed.

Finally, to test the claim of a water-proof surface I decided to pour a bit of good ol’ H2O onto the mousepad to see how it reacted. I poured the water onto the surface and let it sit for about 15 minutes.

As you can see below, the P-RF withstood the water test and passed with flying colors. While 15 minutes may not be a huge amount of time, it definitely proves that the mousepad is water-proof and does not absorb ANY water whatsoever. Clean as a whistle!

After 15 minutes		Wiped Clean

Portability

A nice bonus to the P-RF is that it can be easily folded up to store in a backback on a gym bag. The cloth-like material makes it easy to roll up the pad or fold it together to minimize the space it occupies. The easy transport would be a nice benefit for LAN gamers who frequently take their mice and mousepads with them.

ZOWIE GEAR P-RF Mousepad

ZOWIE GEAR is a newcomer to the market of gaming products, and the P-RF is a great first product release. The non-slip grip worked as advertised, and the easy portability makes for a nice mousepad for LAN gamers. I was also impressed by the water-proof surface, even if I am not a fan of the “cloth-like” surface. My preference is still toward pure cloth surfaces, but there is no arguing the fact that the P-RF will outlast any cloth mousepad on the market today.

The only other drawback that I see with the P-RF, as well as other ZOWIE GEAR products, is that they are not yet available to order in North America. --- UPDATE: I just got an update from ZOWIE saying that there are a few retailers in North America that carry the P-RF. Check out the www.zowiegear.com site for the up-to-date list of retailers.

Pros: Water-proof surface will outlast cloth surfaces, non-slip backing works well, easily portable.

Cons: Not a true cloth surface feel, very limited availability.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

www.zowiegear.com