You might have heard a lot more use of the word “Ergonomics” on the web and in promotional materials for products such as chairs and standing tables and whatnot but what really is ergonomics?
Well, Merriam-Webster defines Ergonomics as:
“An applied science concerned with designing and arranging things people use so that the people and things interact most efficiently and safely”
In simple words, the more a product is designed while keeping user health and safety in mind, the more ergonomic it is.
There have been all kinds of new ergonomic products because we keep discovering more ergonomic ways of doing certain things which will keep us healthier than doing it the way we have been doing, and the same is the case with good old computer Mice.
We have been using traditional computer mouse design, designed to sit on the desk under the palm of our hands but that causes our wrists to sit in an unnatural twisted posture on the table as a result, making it Un-Ergonomic (Is that even word?).
Are Vertical Mice Better for Ergonomics?
Several studies have shown that Yes, Using a vertical mouse helps reduce major strain on our forearms and in turn keeps them in comfortable positions, reducing the risk of carpal tunnel. They also allow our wrists to have a natural movement and eliminate the strain on our tendons in long-term use.
Is Vertical Mouse for everyone?
Well, right now, most vertical mice are made for generally medium to large hands, which means they fit my hands perfectly but they might not work for someone with relatively smaller hands. Using a vertical mouse can also mean re-training our muscles since our muscles are used to the way traditional mice are designed.
In the very beginning, I faced the issue of needing to push hard to register a click because the clicks are designed to be pressed sideways on a vertical mouse instead of downwards in a normal mouse (which we are so used to and gravity does the work for us when we are clicking downwards) as I said, it can prove to be a bit of a learning curve but it is worth it
Why Did I switch to a vertical mouse?
I was rethinking the way I work, my workspace, and the peripherals I use to get my work done. Started with a more ergonomic chair to reduce my lower back pain and then moved toward my computer desk which helped me dramatically when I made the switch to a standing desk for work.
So while striving for better ergonomics I came across all the noise regarding ergonomic mice and while being a tad bit skeptical, I asked myself, why not?
Switching to a more ergonomic chair and standing table (which I once used to consider a gimmick) has helped my overall health so much, maybe a more ergonomic mouse will make some difference, and boy was I in for a surprise, it made a huge difference.
Granted I was going to try some of the different models of mice from different companies before I could settle on which one I liked but that was more about my preferences for a better-built mouse overall and less about the ergonomics of it.
I tried a couple of no-brand vertical mice from Amazon and then I tried a vertical mouse by Anker, which was pretty good but I was looking for something with a better feature set and build quality and for that, I finally settled on the MX Vertical wireless mouse by Logitech.
Having used other Logitech products (and especially Logitech mice) in the past and having MX Master 3 as a daily driver already, I understood that Logitech makes interesting and functional products. I already trusted the brand, not to mention I liked the MX Vertical mouse more than I liked any other vertical mouse I tried so eventually, I settled on it.
MX Vertical – My Pick for the Best Vertical Mouse for Better Ergonomics
Let me share a brief review of the Logitech MX Vertical mouse and why you might consider it as an option if you are going to buy a vertical mouse for better ergonomics and your health.
MX Vertical looks like a piece of art, the grooves and lines and curves on it make it look like a seashell or a modern spaceship but it’s not all about looks, this vertical mouse is very comfortable to hold while using for long sessions.
Like I mentioned above that I do occasionally notice “ghost clicks” because of the position of the buttons but I honestly believe that it’ll get better the more I get used to the mouse and this position of my hand and wrist while using the mouse.
The groove to rest my thumb helps my thumb rest in a natural position and makes me feel like my hand is gripping and using a joystick, which is a good sign because it doesn’t put any strain on my hand. In addition to the grooves, the thumb rest is coated with rubberized textured material which also helps me grip the mouse effortlessly.
MX vertical wireless mouse charges with a Type C cable and the battery lasts quite a long time, so no complaints there. MX Vertical supports Bluetooth as well as can be connected with the unifying USB receiver that comes with it. The DPI can also be adjusted with the button at the top, there is no indicator light for which DPI setting I am using, and that brings me to a couple of things I don’t like about this mouse.
Things I didn’t like in Logitech MX Vertical Wireless Mouse
I miss the horizontal scroll wheel of MX Master 3 but I can also understand that this mouse has a different target audience and purpose and for that, I’m sold on the design and comfort and especially the design of this mouse.
The main scroll wheel isn’t the same as the legendary rapid scroll wheel in MX Master 3, although I can also understand why that would be hard to implement in this kind of awkward position.
The other thing some people might not like if they are coming from a Logitech MX Master mouse is that the build quality of MX Vertical is pretty good but it feels nowhere near the built quality of MX Master 3 to me. That still doesn’t mean that this mouse has a bad build quality by any means, I haven’t noticed any squeaking or anything breaking.
The placement of the additional forward/backward buttons (which are reprogrammable using Logitech Options software) is a bit weird for me and I have noticed that I don’t use those as much with this vertical mouse as I used to with MX Master 3 or other traditional mice.
The MX Vertical is also well above 120 grams of weight unlike the gaming mice which are lighter and weigh around 65-75 grams, but that’s because MX Vertical Mouse isn’t targeted towards gamers, that’s why I still use my gaming mice for my gaming sessions.
Should you buy an MX Vertical Ergonomic Wireless Mouse in 2024?
Keeping all things in mind, this mouse does cost around 100 dollars and that’s a good amount of money to invest in a peripheral you might not like. So what I would suggest is, you give it a try in a retail shop, and if you feel it works for your hand and grip, absolutely by all means buy it.
Another thing to consider is, like I already mentioned above that if you have a smaller hand, you might not like the grip in hand because most of these ergonomic vertical mice are designed for medium to big hands, so that’s something to consider if you have small to medium-sized hands.
There are loads of cheaper vertical mice as well if you don’t feel like spending this amount of money on a vertical mouse right now, the Anker Vertical mouse is another great option on a budget (costs around 30 bucks on Amazon.com) and I recommend you buy it if you just want to give ergonomic mice it a try.
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