This is about the practicality of using a mouse pad. But not just any mouse pad: the Volcano Erebus. And it's not about the material it's made of or its size, as that's not what this post is about. It's about design and practicality.
The pad comes in two versions. The first is called Volcano Erebus and the second Volcano Erebus Black. They differ in one thing: appearance. As you've probably guessed, the pad with "Black" in its name is simply a black pad, with no graphics. This rather elegant, minimalist design suits any desk and decor. If you're an aesthete, this black pad will be a nice addition to your gaming setup. It's modern, fashionable and versatile: it may not have a "wow" effect, but you won't get bored of it.
The other pad, the Volcano Erebus, has a rather bold manufacturer's pattern across its whole surface: the Volcano Gaming logo. Some may find this design loud, while others will feel that the red and black don't quite suit, say, their favourite blue RGB lighting on their mouse and keyboard. I know you can't please everyone. But this pad has one advantage: it simply gets less dirty. Though that's not quite true: the dirt is there, but you can't see it as much as on a single-colour surface.
If you can't see it, it's clean.
A pad this size acts like a mini tablecloth. Firstly, not only does it fit a keyboard and mouse, it also covers a fair part of the desktop. Secondly, it's a great accessory for gaming or work because of its practicality. Let's not kid ourselves: there will surely be more than one occasion when a plate of soup or greasy food, a mug of coffee or tea, or a can of energy drink ends up on the desk. Not to mention chocolate bars, chocolate, biscuits, crisps and other snacks. From there, it's only a step to accidentally spilling on or staining the pad.
That's when the pattern on the Volcano Erebus comes to the rescue. Red shades blending into different tones, plus red blotches: all of this makes a nice design that's meant, in a sense, to fool the eye and seems to shout "hey! I really am clean!". So putting down a mug from which coffee has "accidentally" spilled is no big problem: on this pad, you just can't see it at first glance. You could safely say these pads are more practical than those without graphics. For those who don't like cleaning often and want to keep things relatively tidy, the bold design will be one of the reasons to choose it.
Of course, I encourage you to clean your pad regularly. Bacteria, food remains or even flakes of dead skin on it are not pleasant for your body. So look after the hygiene of your setup. But I understand anyone who, by choosing a pad with graphics like this, sometimes knowingly "cheats" reality, keeping their desk seemingly tidier 😉.
