Mad Catz is one of the leading brands specialising in hardware for PC and game consoles. Their Mad Catz G.L.I.D.E 38 Mouse Pad aims to provide comfort and improve productivity for those spending long hours on their keyboards and mouse, whether they’re typing up documents, doing data entry, or even sitting through long gaming sessions.

The Mad Catz G.L.I.D.E 38 comes neatly rolled up in a long rectangular box, and it’s easy to remove. Setting it up is as simple as unrolling it and placing it flat on the desk, and it does this without any curls or bends. This also makes it really easy to roll up again and travel anywhere with it.

The surface is predominantly black, with GLIDE 38 displayed on the top left and the iconic claw marks on the top right, and being mostly black, it helps to make it look presentable and professional if using it at a workplace.

The pad measures 900 mm wide, 400 mm long, and 2mm thick, and at that size, it feels more like a mouse mat than a mouse pad, but no one is complaining.

The red anti-skid rubber base underneath helps prevent it from slipping around, but it also allows it to be repositioned easily, simply by lifting and adjusting it. It has an advanced textile-weave material, which does feel a little rough, but moving almost anything on it is an absolute breeze, from a mouse, keyboard, phone, tablet, papers, stationery, coffee mugs, and more. Even electronics with rubber feet/bases can be moved around easily on the G.L.I.D.E 38.

The advanced textile-weave surface is also waterproof – really handy in case someone accidentally spills their drink, food, or any other kind of mess. The surface is incredibly easy to clean with a cloth or paper towel, but for the hobbyists out there, paint and glue stains can be a little harder to remove, but they really shouldn’t be anywhere near a computer desk anyway.

Like anything else, dust will build up on top over time, but a damp cloth is all you need to clean it, making it look and feel brand new again.

Over time, the texture on the surface can wear down, especially moving a mouse around on it frequently. Thankfully, it doesn’t seem to have much effect when moving anything over those areas. The only minor downside is that the marks are pretty visible on the areas that get the most use, however, it’ll be a very long time before the worn-out areas become a major hindrance.

The Mad Catz G.L.I.D.E 38 Mouse Pad is available at various Australian retailers and online for $90 – $100 AUD, which is a fantastic price for its level of quality, size, ease of use, simplicity to clean, and how long it can last. There really isn’t any reason to not want to buy this mouse pad – it makes an excellent addition to your desk at home, at the office, and even while traveling. Mad Catz proves once again why they’re one of the leading brands in PC and gaming hardware.

Written by: Sammy Hanson