XTracGear Carbonic, Ripper and Ripper XXL Mouse Pads Review

Check out a couple of classics alongside the newest mouse pad from XTracGear. Join us as we have a look at the Ripper, Ripper XXL, and the new Carbonic.

Published
Updated
Manufacturer: XTracGear
13 minutes & 22 seconds read time

Introduction, Specifications and Pricing

XTracGear Carbonic, Ripper and Ripper XXL Mouse Pads Review 99

With as many companies as there are out there producing peripherals today, it is hard to keep tabs on all of them, and see every product as it hits the market. This is one of those times where we have come across a company that is relatively new to us, but not so new to the market. When XTracGear asked us to look at some of their mouse pads, and we went to check out their site, we realized they are not newcomers to the game. In fact, a couple of the products we are looking at today are quite older in their lineup, but XTracGear wanted us to get a feel of where they started, and how far they have come with the latest mouse pad to grace their products list.

Today we will be looking at three mouse pads from XTracGear. It would appear that the company also owned and operated another website under the XTracPads.com address, but a quick glance there shows that the newest mouse pad has not been added to the lineup, where it has on XTracGear.com. We also looked at some of the older reviews of the products we have here, looked over what XTracGear offered then, and will be comparing that to what we see today as well.

It is not very often that you will see TweakTown.com do a standalone mouse pad review, as we typically add a page to mouse reviews of the mouse they are sent along with. However, we are obviously making an exception in this case, and for two key reasons. One reason is that we have a chance to look at multiple products over a long product life; or, in other words, we can see where XTracGear started, and how that plays into what they are offering today.

The second reason is that we also found this company to be worth a good look, as they not only offer flexible or hard style mouse pads, but they also offer a few accessories that are universal to any mouse on the market, so there is no need to hunt down more specific pieces. We hope to not only point out this relatively hidden company, but to also show that they are on top of their game, and have been for years according to what we have gathered in our testing.

XTracGear Carbonic, Ripper and Ripper XXL Mouse Pads Review 01
XTracGear Carbonic, Ripper and Ripper XXL Mouse Pads Review 33
XTracGear Carbonic, Ripper and Ripper XXL Mouse Pads Review 44

Over the three charts that cover the Carbonic, the Ripper, and the Ripper XXL, we find three features that seem to be the backbone of all of the cloth topped mouse pads. The first is that on all three pads, you will find they offer a Polished Textile precision mouse surface to effortlessly glide your mouse of choice across.

The second is that after the sandwich of materials is completed and made into one cohesive unit, the shape is laser cut. Laser cutting not only offers perfectly straight edges, but it also melts the top cloth, and "adheres" it to the pad, so it will not fray or lift from the foam center. The third part of this combination is that after 0.5mm of cloth on the top, and 2mm of foam in the middle, there is yet another 0.5mm of what XTracGear calls an "Enhanced Sure Grip," where the open cell foam has been textured to ensure these pads will not slide around on most surfaces. This extra 0.5mm of material makes these pads 3mm in total thickness.

At the top of the Carbonic chart, it states that this mouse pad is extremely durable, soft, and comfortable. Also, lending to its name, the Carbonic offers a Carbon Fiber patterning that not only looks cool, but also offers irregularity for the sensor to track more easily against, making movements more accurate and precise. That covers the features, but we also see that XTracGear offers a brief statement just below as well. Here they say "Why settle for less when you can have the best. Get yourself the XTracGear Carbonic precision gamer mouse pad today." That statement sort of sounds like something we would write at the end of this review. Regardless, at the bottom of the chart we find the Carbonic measures 216mm from front to back, 280mm in width, and is 3mm in thickness.

As we move on to a "larger sized" offering, we find the chart for the Ripper. Since the features of the Ripper are only what all three mouse pads share in common (which we already discussed above), we move on to the advantages instead. Here they discuss things like the whisper quite movement due to the polishing treatment offered on these pads. They also discuss the open cell foam being soft to the touch and forgiving, which will allow for longer stays in games without your hand sticking to the pad, or you becoming annoyed with the slight vibrations more aggressively textured pads have. It also addresses the size of the Ripper, and the fact that it would allow gamers who prefer lower DPI/CPI settings to still have plenty of room to get around without lifting. The Ripper measures in at 3mm thick, 280mm in depth, and 432mm in width.

The last chart offered is for our largest sample, the Ripper XXL. This product carries all of the same things that we discussed in the Ripper, with the only major change being the size. We still get a pad that is 3mm thick, but this time the pad is enormous, and it will take a large desk to allow you to spread out the entire 914mm of width, and 457mm of depth that this pad requires to lie flat.

Locating these products is not too hard at all. You can buy them directly from XTracGear.com, where we found that the Carbonic was listed at $14.95, the Ripper at $21.95, and the Ripper XXL was priced at $34.95. Of course, you don't "have" to go that route; you could go and Google shop for it, and there you will find quite a few places carrying their gear. Shopping around does pay off as well. We located all of these mouse pads on Amazon, and found the Carbonic is only $10.98, the Ripper is $13.98, and the Ripper XXL is a few dollars cheaper at $31.06.

For what we see offered on paper, and from what the features and specifications tell us, we feel that all three pads are priced well for what they offer, but will they stand up to countless others we have seen in the past? Continue reading, as we plan to cover exactly how well these mouse pads perform by the end of this review of the XTracGear Carbonic, Ripper, and Ripper XXL mouse pads.

PRICING: You can find the XTracGear Carbonic, Ripper, and Ripper XXL for sale below. The prices listed are valid at the time of writing but can change at any time. Click the link to see the very latest pricing for the best deal.

United States: The XTracGear Carbonic retails for $10.98 at Amazon, the XTracGear Ripper retails for $13.98 at Amazon, and the XTracGear Ripper XXL retails for $31.08 at Amazon.

XTracGear Carbonic Mouse Pad

XTracGear Carbonic, Ripper and Ripper XXL Mouse Pads Review 02

The XTracGear Carbonic ships inside of a cardboard envelope of sorts. On the front of the packaging we find the Carbonic in full view (both the top and bottom surfaces) across a bright red stripe that plays against the black background to highlight that image. We also find their web address at the bottom in white text.

XTracGear Carbonic, Ripper and Ripper XXL Mouse Pads Review 03

The red and black theme carries on over to the back of the packaging, where we again see the Carbonic, but this time there are lines pointing out the key features. Under that image there are specifications, branding, notations to its recycle-ability, and there is also a QR code that will take you to the product webpage.

XTracGear Carbonic, Ripper and Ripper XXL Mouse Pads Review 04

After sliding the Carbonic out of the packaging, we find we have a completely flat pad to start off with; there are no rolled edges to deal with. We also see that this surface has an angular striping that mimics the look of Carbon Fiber. Additionally, there is a large logo and naming applied to the bottom right corner of the surface.

XTracGear Carbonic, Ripper and Ripper XXL Mouse Pads Review 05

As we get much closer to the cloth covering this pad, we see very fine threads woven in black, with grey chevrons on an angle to help the laser track easily. Plain mouse pad surfaces can tend to wear smooth, but even if that happens here, the contrast will keep the sensor on track.

XTracGear Carbonic, Ripper and Ripper XXL Mouse Pads Review 06

After the laser cutting of the shape, it is the exposed, open celled foam that takes abuse, and is forgiving about it. We also see the bottom of that foam has a texture applied to ensure these pads do not slide around when in use.

XTracGear Carbonic, Ripper and Ripper XXL Mouse Pads Review 07

While we will address each of these products again in the conclusion, at this point we will end our look at the Carbonic with a brief look at it with our mouse. There isn't a ton of room, and that means it is easy to travel with, but you will need to use a higher DPI/CPI level to keep from having to lift and reposition the mouse all the time.

XTracGear Ripper Mouse Pad

XTracGear Carbonic, Ripper and Ripper XXL Mouse Pads Review 08

The XTracGear Ripper comes rolled up inside of a cardboard box. We see the red and black theme has continued to the Carbonic packaging, and this mouse pad is much older. We can see from these two sides that we again get a recyclable package, and a "large" mouse surface.

XTracGear Carbonic, Ripper and Ripper XXL Mouse Pads Review 09

The back of the box offers close up images of the foam backing, and cloth used on the top before an image of the product, and its specifications. Along with telling you to find XTracGear on Facebook, this Ripper also offers a QR code, so at least the packaging has been refreshed since its initial release.

XTracGear Carbonic, Ripper and Ripper XXL Mouse Pads Review 10

Something we really liked when looking at the packaging was this smaller end, where XTracGear shows us to open the packaging here to release the awesome inside.

XTracGear Carbonic, Ripper and Ripper XXL Mouse Pads Review 11

With the Ripper, we get an entirely black cloth top, and this time the weave is tighter; compared to the Carbonic, the feel of this pad is a fair bit smoother to the touch. We again see the large logo and naming applied in the bottom right corner. The logo on the Ripper is the same size as it is on the Carbonic, so that should give a sense of its size.

XTracGear Carbonic, Ripper and Ripper XXL Mouse Pads Review 12

As we zoom in to the top of the Ripper, we can see the weave much clearer this time, and there is a visible shine to the threads. This shine is left over from the polishing that is done to remove all loose threads, and make sliding a mouse on this surface nearly effortless.

XTracGear Carbonic, Ripper and Ripper XXL Mouse Pads Review 13

What does not change across all of these pads is the thickness of the foam center, and the pattern applied to the back to keep these pads in place. It is also easy to see where the laser has cut the cloth and melted it to the foam, as the light reflects off the edge of the cloth top.

XTracGear Carbonic, Ripper and Ripper XXL Mouse Pads Review 14

With the same mouse placed on top of the Ripper, we now see where the advantage goes to the low DPI/CPI gamers out there. Even as you drop the DPI to snipe that headshot, there is ample room to move around, and the need to lift the mouse is much less frequent with this pad.

XTracGear Ripper XXL

XTracGear Carbonic, Ripper and Ripper XXL Mouse Pads Review 15

When it comes to the extra, extra large version of the Ripper, the image of the Ripper XXL packaging is hard to gain perspective on, so just remember: this box is just over eighteen inches in length. On the packaging we see the same design from the Ripper, but this time there are "extras" in front of larges, and the XXL in its name; otherwise the packaging is the same.

XTracGear Carbonic, Ripper and Ripper XXL Mouse Pads Review 16

The back is also set up the same, even the images. The only things that really change are the specifications where it should draw attention to its foot and a half of depth and its three foot of width, and also the QR code is different.

XTracGear Carbonic, Ripper and Ripper XXL Mouse Pads Review 17

Now, if we opened the smaller panel on the Ripper box to "unleash the awesome" that was inside of it, shouldn't this packaging say: "open here for awesome on a whole other level" or maybe "open here for awesomesauce?" Either way, we feel this should also allude to the enormousness of what is found inside.

[img]18[/img

Photo editing is heavy in this image, as this three foot wide pad took up our entire photo booth, and even the largest cases can't seem to fill that up. Once unrolled, the Ripper XXL is one seriously large mouse pad.

XTracGear Carbonic, Ripper and Ripper XXL Mouse Pads Review 19

As we again move in much closer to get a good view of the cloth top, we again see a tight weave of all black thread. It is also polished just like the Ripper, and keeps a similar sheen.

XTracGear Carbonic, Ripper and Ripper XXL Mouse Pads Review 20

As with the previous two pads, the Ripper XXL also shares the 3mm of thickness, the use of open celled foam for comfort and pliability, as well as using the same texture on the back side; even down to the pattern size, it all stays the same.

XTracGear Carbonic, Ripper and Ripper XXL Mouse Pads Review 21

This view of the Ripper XXL with the mouse sitting on it really gives perspective to this pad. Not only will you have room for a mouse and keyboard, but this thing will cover most, if not all of the desk, padding the entire surface, and allowing you to use the mouse virtually anywhere on your desktop.

XTracGear Carbonic, Ripper and Ripper XXL Mouse Pads Review 22

In case you may have forgotten what we had covered up until now, or had the interest to see how the mouse pads all compared to each other head to head, well this image of them stacked on top of one another will give you a pretty good idea.

Final Thoughts

As a whole, this group of mouse pads has shown that not only was XTracGear on top of the game years ago with the Ripper and Ripper XXL, but they remain at the top of their game with the Carbonic. Although the Carbonic is smaller in size, there is a defined advantage to the contrasting pattern applied to it. By this, we mean that while the Ripper pads will last quite a long time, there will come a time when worn spots will appear, and tracking will become much less sensitive. We are talking two or three years down the line here, but all the same, even if you are to wear down the Carbonic, that pattern will allow the sensor to keep tracking, even if the individual threads get much smoother over time.

We also liked that across all three samples, we could not fray the edges of these laser cut pads from use at the edge of the desk, or intentionally rubbing an edge to try to make it lift; it just can't be done. One last thing we do want to cover is that all three pads are not spill proof, but we did spill some liquid on ours, and if you are fast, it beads for just a few seconds and is easy to clean. However, if the liquid is left too long, it will sink into the foam and it will require harsher measures than just a swipe with a rag to remove the liquid.

On an individual level, we find the Carbonic a bit lacking, but only due to its size. Even though it is small, the Carbon Fiber pattern applied to it did allow us to raise our DPI/CPI setting into the 5000 to 6000 range, and still have pretty good control over the movement. The nice thing is that even when we did drop the DPI levels into the 1000 to 2000 range, we found the pattern in the cloth really helped us with Photoshop. Of course, precise aiming is also easy to accomplish, but you can't track that enemy too long, or you may end up running out of mouse pad before you can pull the trigger. The fact that it is small can be advantageous though. If you were to get competitive, and feel that another pad just won't do, the Carbonic won't take up much room in a bag with your mouse and keyboard.

As far as the Ripper is concerned, this is what we prefer in a mouse pad; it's not too large, and not too small; as Goldilocks would say: "this one is just right." While it's not as aggressive as the Carbonic, we found that with the mice we tested with, at high DPI or on the low-end, there is a fair amount of room, and a slick glide to all the mice we used on it.

When it came to the Ripper XXL, we were very impressed. Its enormousness will allow a mouse, keyboard, USB hub, mouse bungee, your phone, and hell, even a large pizza can sit on here with all of that other gear already there. If you do not care for the constraints that any average sized mouse pad delivers, then this should definitely be a serious consideration for you. Whether you are using high DPI, or low DPI, it really doesn't matter, as you will be very hard pressed to run out of room, or have the need to lift the mouse. All in all, if you are going to go big, then go big with the Ripper XXL, and don't bother with something that will always restrict you in some manner. Most users of the Ripper XXL will love the fact that the majority of any table top can be a mouse pad.

Out of the three XTracGear mouse pads we considered today, we did like the precise control of the Carbonic. The Carbonic is a step above the other two solutions when it comes to those who need the utmost in tracking when doing all of those finite things that most gamers never even think about. This makes the Carbonic better for all around use as well, not to mention it is much more portable than the other two.

The Ripper has its place as well for an all around good mouse pad to use; it tracks just fine, and it is smoother to glide on than the Carbonic in our opinion. We just wish these pads still came with the Teflon mouse feet and sticker that the originals shipped with. When it came down to the Ripper XXL, it really is a different league of mouse pad, as it does take up most of your desktop, and it may even be too large for some. However, if you have the room, we definitely suggest you try the freedom it offers to your work or gaming environment.

As far as pricing is concerned for these products, we feel that each of them is priced very well, even on their MSRPs. Although, if you shop around as we did, you can find some pretty decent savings, and that makes these pads from XTracGear even more appealing. While we really can't say that any one is specifically better than the rest, as they all have their advantages and disadvantages, we will be awarding these pads as a group, taking into account where XTracGear has come from with their Ripper and Ripper XXL, and how it all plays into their latest Carbonic mouse pad design.

PRICING: You can find the XTracGear Carbonic, Ripper, and Ripper XXL for sale below. The prices listed are valid at the time of writing but can change at any time. Click the link to see the very latest pricing for the best deal.

United States: The XTracGear Carbonic retails for $10.98 at Amazon, the XTracGear Ripper retails for $13.98 at Amazon, and the XTracGear Ripper XXL retails for $31.08 at Amazon.

What do TweakTown.com awards mean? Click for details!

PRICING: You can find products similar to this one for sale below.

USUnited States: Find other tech and computer products like this over at Amazon.com

UKUnited Kingdom: Find other tech and computer products like this over at Amazon.co.uk

AUAustralia: Find other tech and computer products like this over at Amazon.com.au

CACanada: Find other tech and computer products like this over at Amazon.ca

DEDeutschland: Finde andere Technik- und Computerprodukte wie dieses auf Amazon.de

Chad joined the TweakTown team in 2009 and has since reviewed 100s of new techy items. After a year of gaming, Chad caught the OC bug. With overclocking comes the need for better cooling, and Chad has had many air and water setups. With a few years of abusing computer parts, he decided to take his chances and try to get a review job. As an avid overclocker, Chad is always looking for the next leg up in RAM and coolers.

Newsletter Subscription
We openly invite the companies who provide us with review samples / who are mentioned or discussed to express their opinion. If any company representative wishes to respond, we will publish the response here. Please contact us if you wish to respond.