If you are a writer and you don’t have a good keyboard, you probably end up in pain at the end of each day.
The fact of the matter is that many keyboards just are not designed for heavy use.
We want to help you find some of the best keyboards for writers, ones that are very ergonomically friendly for maximum comfort.
Finding the Best Keyboard for Writers – Some Tips
You cannot just go out and buy any old keyboard and expect it to perform well. The fact of the matter is that as a writer, you need to have a high-quality keyboard that is specifically designed for you.
The wrong keyboard can end up causing severe pain, inflammation, discomfort, muscle soreness, and more.
In the long run, a bad keyboard, especially if you use it all day long, can result in severe and serious conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
Therefore, you should follow the tips outlined below to find the best keyboard for writers.
An Ergonomic Design
The most important thing for you to look for is an ergonomic design.
When it comes to keyboards, an ergonomic design usually means that is made in such a way that the forearms, wrists, and hands all sit straight and in line with each other.
The main thing to look for is a keyboard which does not require you to bend the wrists, and this is true both vertically and horizontally.
Many ergonomic keyboards also feature a split design — the keys are split, with a big space in the middle, thus allowing you to keep your hands spread apart.
Size and Width
To keep you comfortable while writing, another thing you should look for is a keyboard that is fairly large.
The issue with small keyboard is that they force you to hold your arms crooked, in a way that causes you to bend your hands and wrists inwards to hit the keys.
This can cause discomfort, pain, and long-term damage.
Small keyboards may be great for tight spaces, but they won’t do you any favors in terms of comfort.
Adjustability
Something else that is important to look for when buying an ergonomic keyboard for writers is adjustability.
This is vital because the way your keyboard sits the best for maximum comfort is related to the way in which you sit, how high your desk is, how high your chair is, etc.
Therefore, so you can achieve a healthy and anatomically correct writing position, a keyboard that can be adjusted and has collapsible stands at the rear and the front is well worth the investment.
Wrist Support and Padding
The best keyboard for writers should also gave a good deal of wrist support and wrist padding.
More often than not, painful wrists and hands are caused by supporting your hands and wrists on a hard surface, such as the edge of a desk.
This can be mitigated by getting a good keyboard that has a thick layer of padding for wrist support.
Wired vs. Wireless
Although less important in this regard, you should still consider whether you want a wired or wireless keyboard.
Both have their own advantages and disadvantages, so do a little research on this front before making your purchase.
Durability and Responsiveness
The other thing to look for is how durable and long lasting the keyboard in question is.
Simply put, when it comes to keyboards, you often get what you pay for. If you are looking for a keyboard with a high level of durability, you will have to pay for it.
Related to this, responsive keys are also important. As a writer who has to write at lighting speeds to meet deadlines, having unresponsive or slow keys is not ideal.
Best Keyboard for Writers Reviews
We have a few keyboards for you to look at, all of which are ideal for writers in their own way.
Keep in mind that we have done our best to include a wide range of options in terms of price, from budget friendly options to some super fancy keyboards that will cost a bit extra.
Best Split Design Ergonomic Keyboard
Kinesis Freestyle2 Ergonomic Keyboard
This keyboard is a very fancy and high-tech option to consider. What really stands out about the Kinesis Freestyle2 Ergonomic Keyboard is its split design. Now, this is not like your average split keyboard where the keys are spaced out on a single platform.
Here, there are actually two separate keyboards. The big advantage is that you can move the halves of the keyboard closer or further from one another depending on what position works best for you.
This is all about achieving the proper spacing so your hands aren’t too close together or too far apart.
What also stands out here is that you can tent this keyboard, which is a fancy way of saying that each half can be tilted upwards by 5, 10, or 15 degrees in the center, thus allowing for a proper ergonomic hand position.
What you may also like about the Kinesis Freestyle2 Ergonomic Keyboard is how it features special low-force key switches, which means that it takes minimal pressure to activate the keys for maximum responsiveness.
Keep in mind that this is a wired keyboard that uses a USB connection, which many writers will find appropriate.
Now, a downside here, besides the big time price tag, is that the Kinesis Freestyle2 Ergonomic Keyboard does not include the number pad which is usually on the right hand side of keyboards.
However, on the other hand, this keyboard does come with a good deal of wrist padding, just another thing to help with comfort.
Cons
Cons
Best Budget Friendly Ergonomic Keyboard
Perixx Periboard-512 Ergonomic Split Keyboard
Here we have another split keyboard; however, unlike the one we just reviewed, this one is not totally split into two different platforms or halves. It does have a split design in the sense that there is a big space in the middle, between one half and the other, but it is all on one big keyboard.
Either way, this split key design is more than ideal for writers in terms of achieving an ergonomic hand position. It even has a split space bar, so you can easily use either thumb to hit the space bar.
Speaking of an ergonomic design, the Perixx Periboard-512 Ergonomic Split Keyboard comes with a good deal of padding for the wrist.
They keys are also laid out in such a way to allow for straight arms and hands, thus improving comfort and preventing discomfort from occurring.
What needs to be said is that this keyboard does not come with an adjustable or collapsible stand to adjust the height and angle, which is a downfall.
Another difference between this keyboard and the previous one is that this model comes with a full-fledged number pad on the right hand side, something which can help make life a little easier, especially if you have to deal with a lot of numbers.
What’s also worth noting is that this keyboard is very budget friendly, and is indeed one of the least expensive ergonomic keyboards for writers on the market.
This is a wired keyboard, so you never have to worry about batteries or connection issues.
Cons
Cons
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Best Mid-Range Ergonomic Keyboard for Writers
Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard
Here we have a keyboard that in terms of price comes in at about half way between the previous models we looked at.
For the decent price which it comes at, this mid-range ergonomic keyboard looks like and performs like a high-end alternative. Now, to get the bad out of the way, this keyboard is not the most durable in the world, but it still gets the job done.
Something you may appreciate about this keyboard is that it is a wireless option.
Some people like wireless keyboards and some don’t, and as mentioned in the buyer’s guide section in the beginning, wireless keyboards have certain advantages and disadvantages.
What is surprising is that the Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard actually has great responsiveness. Although it is wireless, the keys respond very well, plus it doesn’t take much pressure to activate the keys.
In terms of an ergonomic design, the Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard features this. First off, it comes with a large wrist pad to support the palms and wrists.
Second, it features a split design, which means that the keys are split in the middle, thus widening everything out and allowing your hands to be spread apart.
Now, the Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard does not have any sort of adjustability, but it does have a domed design to keep your hands, wrists, and arms in an ergonomic position.
What’s also pretty neat is how this keyboard comes with a totally separate number pad which you can position anywhere you see fit.
Pros
Cons
Overall Best Ergonomic Keyboard for Writers
Kinesis Advantage2 Ergonomic Keyboard (KB600)
What needs to be said right off the bat is that the Kinesis Advantage2 Ergonomic Keyboard is expensive, nearly $400. However, as we said, you get what you pay for, and here you get a super high-tech keyboard with a ton of features, one that is about as ergonomically friendly as possible.
Simply put, although it’s pricey, this might very well be the No. 1 best keyboard for writers on the market at this time.
It’s worth noting that this keyboard comes with a 3-year manufacturer’s warranty.
In terms of functionality, this keyboard works with all operating systems including Linux, Mac, Windows, and more. Also, this is a plug-and-play keyboard with no installation required, and yes, it is wired, so you never have to worry about batteries or connection issues.
Moreover, it comes complete with 4 MB of flash memory, one-touch key remapping, on the fly macro recording, and custom key layouts too.
This keyboard also features genuine cherry mechanical switches for a smooth and quiet typing experience, along with super responsive keys with awesome feedback.
In terms of durability, each key is rated to take up to 50 million hits before they start to wear down.
Of course, what really stands out about this keyboard is how ergonomically friendly it is. First off, it comes with concave key wells and thumb keys to reduce over-extension, plus it allows you to use your thumbs for many keys instead of your pinkies.
Second, it comes with 20 degree tenting to produce the right angle for writing.
Third, it comes with a split key design for comfort and an orthogonal layout to mimic natural finger movement. Finally, this keyboard also comes with great palm support.
Pros
Con
Conclusion
When all has been said and done, if you are a writer, you will want to be using an ergonomic keyboard.
If you don’t want to end every day in pain and discomfort, an ergonomic keyboard is the way to go.
