Product Info

Developer: Soft Trading
MSRP (Euro): Black Icemat 33.51 (Plus 8.07 S&H); Original Icemat 30.82 (Plus 8.07 S&H)
Warranty: none

System Requirements

• Tracking Mouse (optical mouse not supported)

Although the mouse can be a vital part to anyone's gaming, it really wont mean anything unless you have the right surface to play on. This is especially the case with optical drives, as they are very picky as to what surfaces that can be effectively played on. For some time now, the Everglide pads proved to provide the best surface for any gamer. But the company Soft Trading has come up with a unique pad the Icemat.

The Icemat is essentially a specially treated glass mousepad. It comes packed in a tight box, surrounded by Styrofoam sheets to protect the glass during shipment. The size of the Icemat is 250 x 210 x 6.2 mm, which is about the same size as a 13" monitor. At the bottom of the mat, there are 4 feet, which keeps the glass from sliding around. Soft Trading even managed to get the Icemat logo imprinted at the bottom of the glass. The Icemat comes in two different colors, white or black. There have been some issues with the white Icemat on certain surfaces, so the black version would be the way to go. You can also have a custom design for your mouse, but you have to buy at least 50 of the same design before they will even begin your design.

Also with the Icemat come pad surfers, which you place at the bottom of your mouse to allow smooth movements with the mouse that you have. Should you opt not to place the pad surfers on your mouse, your are more than likely gonna hear this annoying scratching sound.

So how does it perform

Well, when it comes to playing on glass, it is pure gaming bliss. The mouse responds so great, that it will leave a wonderful smile on your face the first time you use it. But like any other glass, it is a dust magnet. But a little dab of Windex here and there, and you are right back into the mix.

However, there are two main issues with the Icemat. First and foremost is the issue with optical mice. Even though Soft Trading doesn't officially support optical mice, any serious gamer looking at this product will either have one, or a Boomslang. With that being said, the Icemat performance with optical mice is hit or miss. Logitech mice were especially prone to poor performance with pad in quake 3, causing the tracking to jump all over the place. One second you are looking forward, the next thing you know you are facing the ceiling while 4 rockets are coming your way. But the good news is that we tested the Logitech MX300, MX500, and MX700, and all three mice appear to have solved this issue. The Microsoft Intellimouse also works quite well with the Icemat. The best advice would be to do research on your optical mice to see if there are any known issues with glass surfaces before investing in an Icemat.

The second issue is one that you will only get one chance to find out. That mainly has to do with the Icemat's inability to become a portable mouse pad. For one, it's glass. The chances of you breaking it is very high, unless you can provide the same degree of cushioning as Soft Trading did when they shipped it to you. Another thing is that the glass isn't tempered, which means that instead of the glass breaking up into a bunch of tiny little pieces, it breaks up into big sharp pieces, creating a risk of injury. And I don't think anyone is ready to elevate gaming to this level just yet.

Overall

Despite the problems that I had with some of the Logitech mice, the Icemat performed quite well overall. Although many have had problems with glass surfaces in the past, the Icemat proves then when done correctly, a glass surface can meet and exceed expectations. It's easy to keep clean, and it won't wear down like other mouse pads tend to do. The thirty-five price tag seems a bit too steep for a mouse pad, but the durability of the pad may prove to be more than worth the price of admission. The Icemat will be a welcome addition to any player's system, but if you are a frequent LAN participant, you may want something a little more safe and portable.