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Ask HN: Favorite ergonomic/mechanical keyboard for programming and typing?

6 points by dattl ↗ HN
I'm looking for a keyboard that is comfortable to use because prolonged typing causes strain on my wrists and hands.

Currently considering the Surface Ergonomic keyboard, any particular experience with that?

(My budget is ~120€)

18 comments

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kasey_junk
You usually need to figure out what particularly is causing the strain. For instance for some strain types mechanical switches are basically out.

Meanwhile ergo split key keyboards don’t help me as my wrist strain is caused by laziness in my posture. Both standing desks and very resistant keyboards help.

All said I use a code keyboard and don’t have wrist issues. I do have shoulder nerve issues at times (especially when my lifting routine is lax).

PaulHoule
Years ago I had pain in my wrists so bad I thought I had to stop coding.

I started doing push-ups and in two weeks my hands were OK.

kasey_junk
Small joint jujitsu solved my problems for years.
UnoriginalGuy
Mechanical keyboards require deeper compression and are thus the opposite of what you want. They'll worsen strain.

Have you checked your chair/table height, monitor height, and are you placing both feet on the floor? You might be able to mitigate this without buying things.

muzani
Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000

It's awesome and well within your budget. Not mechanical, though. It's perfect for wrist strain as it gives your wrist a resting place.

But if you have strain on your wrists, consider adjusting your table and chair height. Your elbows should be about even height with your keyboard.

punchclockhero
Microsoft have a lot of decent ergo keyboard offerings. A friend with wrecked wrists swears by his Sculpt Ergonomic (within your budget and stocked by many physical stores so you can try it in person), although it acts funny under Linux. I have a Comfort Curve 3000 which is under $20. It's the only curved keyboard in this price range I know of.
sethammons
I love my 4000. I feel if they made a mechanical one that it would sell like hotcakes.
truffle_pig
I've made a site for reddit's opinion on various products, you can find keyboards here:

https://redditfavorites.com/products?category_id=keyboards

Any of the most popular ones there are generally good.

itsgonbetrouble
Funny you say that, I had just been on your site the other day. Was wondering how exactly your algorithm ranked the sites.
truffle_pig
The products are ranked according to the "Popularity score" which uses # comments with distinct authors and positive karma. Amazon links in a comment usually = endorsement
stone-monkey
A heads up: your home icon links to localhost:3000
jaden
Apparently there's not as much evidence as you'd think that ergonomic keyboards make a difference for wrist pain. I used to think I could only use an ergonomic one, but I've been I've been using a brown switch CODE keyboard for almost 3 years now and it's been no better or worse than my old ergonomic keyboards. As long as I don't overdo it, my wrists are fine.

https://codekeyboards.com/

gnicholasgreen
I had major forearm/hand tendon pain for years, and switching to an ErgoDox EZ cured it. I also switched to a standing desk at the time, which helped.

I've also spent lots of time with an Atreus62 and a Dactyl Manuform, and still use the ErgoDox EZ as my daily driver. It's just so great.

return1
Imho ergonomic keyboards are not much better. They are hard to learn and you get confused as soon as you use someone else’s computer, plus they have annoying features like a tiny Esc key. I think overall a gaming / mechanical keyboard helps you type faster and more accurately, which itself leads to less strain. I recently got a logitech g-413 and i m very pleased with how fluently it works , without a lot of noise.

For ergonomics you should consider an upright mouse, in my case it eliminated ulnar nerve pain