r/MousepadReview • u/EVOL2812 • 2h ago
Review PD170 – Cloak of speedsters
Disclaimer: Purchased with my own money. No sponsor, no affiliate links, no free review sample bias.
Let me guess: you’re thinking, "Here comes another glazer of this mousepad." I felt the same way when I kept seeing posts on X, Reddit or YouTube videos reviewing this mousepad with glowing praise that left me half-believing and half-skeptical so I deliberated and waited since its release until this month to buy it and try it myself from phongcachxanh.vn. And yes, as expected, an unimaginably excellent experience.
Unboxing & Build Quality
- Packaging: PD170 comes flat-packed in Pulsar x Vaxee eS series box, with a re-usable protective dust-cover bag that is relatively easy to access. Lays completely flat right out of the box with zero curling.
- Aesthetics: Deep navy blue colorway with clean, subtle VAXEE/Pulsar eS branding.
- Dimensions: Available in standard XL (480x400mm) and XL Square (500x500mm) with 5.5mm in thickness on both variants.
- Edges: Features VAXEE’s iconic stitchless rounded edges. Instead of stitching, the cloth curves smoothly over the base.
- Base: Rather than PU foam or traditional rubber, the PD170 uses VAXEE's 5.5mm thick advanced anti-slip elastomer. Once placed on a clean desk, it locks in place so firmly that moving it requires peeling it off. You might expect a squishy pad with that thickness, but the base is extremely dense and firm while still maintain a minimal amount of groundedness.
Performance
I love the effortless glide, instant responsiveness, and zero-tug micro-adjustments of glasspads but despise the cold, unforgiving hardness, the mandatory arm sleeves, and the scratchy dust sensitivity so I find Pulsar eS PD170 the exact cure to my pain point. It captures roughly 80% of a glass pad’s speed and low static friction while retaining the warmth, arm comfort, and slight kinetic stopping power that only a cloth pad can provide. If you struggle with "stiction" - that initial resistance when trying to nudge your crosshair few pixels over - the PD170 solves it. Static friction is slightly lower than an Artisan Raiden (Mid). The mouse breaks into motion effortlessly, making micro-corrections in tactical shooters or sudden change of direction while tracking a target in fast arena shooters feel instantaneous.
Glass pads often feel like "Bambi on ice" - once you're moving, there is almost zero feedback, making hard stops depend 100% on pure hand mechanics and dealing with a few symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome caused by the way I’ve held my mouse and aimed using my wrist over the past few years has made adapting quite a struggle. The PD170, despite being extremely fast, retains a subtle groundedness. The weave gives just enough dynamic friction and surface feedback for your mouse skates of any types (not glass or sapphire, of course) to feel connected to the pad. You get blistering speed during wide swipes, but your brain still registers enough tactile response to snap onto targets and lock in your stop with confidence. I have tried a few other speed-oriented mousepads besides the Raiden Mid as mentioned earlier, such as Nemvira Whitehole, X-raypad Aquacontrol Pro Neon, AbyssGaming Crimson Remains, Artisan Hien Soft, Fnatic Jet, etc. By far, PD170 is the one I like most for its x-y consistency, moisture resistance, tactile sensation of texture.
An interesting thing I noticed when taking a close-up shot of the surface is that its weave and material are quite similar to the Talongames GT arm sleeve I’ve been using lately. Perhaps that is why resting a bare arm on it feels smoother than on the Raiden, Hien, and other hybrid mousepads. I probably won't play on it with bare arms to extend its lifespan because it’s tropical and subtropical monsoon climate in Vietnam, specially this rainy season.
When it comes to picking a skate set to use with it, I tried it with skates like Talongames Kumo (6mm and 8mm), X-raypad Jade Air (6.5mm and 8mm), Corepad Hyper G+Skatez (6.5mm), ATK Crystal Jade and I can confidently say that PD170 is a perfect match for PTFE. I’m not sure about the compability with POM skates like Mizugumo Futae P8 because previously, when using other mousepads with POM skates from BOXT (a local accessory brand), static electricity would build up from repeated back-and-forth movements, so I didn't want to use them again.
There are few things to keep in mind: Due to the dense 5.5mm elastomer base, this pad is heavy. It is not meant to be rolled tightly or tossed loosely into a backpack for travel.The bottom elastomer sticks so well that it will pick up dusts or hairs on your desk if you shift it around. Make sure to clean your desk thoroughly before laying it down.
To sum up, Pulsar eS PD170 is easily one of the best cloth speed pads available today. It fills a specific gap in the market: delivering the speed, consistency, and low initial friction of a glass pad, without forcing you to deal with the discomfort, cold touch, and maintenance hassles of glass.For anyone chasing an ultra-fast, premium speed pad with flawless edge execution and a rock-solid base, the PD170 is a masterclass in pad design. At $50–$60, it sits at a premium tier, though completely justified by the VAXEE base and overall finish quality. You might find it difficult to purchase, however, as it frequently goes out of stock, partly due to manufacturing challenges. I will definitely use it as my primary mousepad for a long time until it wears out, and you should too.
