When it comes to sitting down and grinding out huge expanses of words, you need to be prepared.
And I do mean prepared.
Get your snacks ready. Ensure that coffee or tea pot is full. Do some stretches–seriously guys, this is crucial in preventing some of those late night charlie horses. And whip out the most comfortable keyboard you’ve got.
That’s right. Break out the good keyboard. You know that one with those sexy angles and a key gap that would make Michael Strahan blush. We’re talking abut the Ergonomic Keyboard. Specifically designed to help alleviate muscle pain and cramping during extended use, you haven’t really typed until you’ve gotten on one of these babies.
But which one is right for you?
Let’s go over the top 5 best ergonomic keyboards for writers!
The Best Ergonomic Keyboards for Writers
- Microsoft Sculpt
- Koolertron with Cherry MX Brown Switches
- Kinesis Freestyle 2 for Mac
- Fellowes Microban
- Logitech K350
1. Microsoft Sculpt (Best Overall)
- Split keyset design helps to position wrists and forearms in a natural, relaxed...
- Cushioned palm rest provides support and promotes a neutral wrist position
- Domed keyboard design positions wrists at a natural, relaxed angle
- Separate number pad provides greater flexibility for workspace setup
- Natural arc key layout mimics the curved shape of the finger tips
Honestly, this is the gold standard when it comes to ergonomic keyboards for writers. It’s split design does wonders for a more natural placement for your hands to prevent undue stress and strain. And the domed part in the middle? That’s not a manufacturing default, but a way for wrists and hands to effortlessly float to keep your wrists in a natural position all day long. Heck, even the keys maintain a curved profile in order to maximize the comfort for your fingertips. Top this all off with its padded wrist rest, and you can’t ask for much more when it comes to ergonomic keyboards. The Microsoft Sculpt makes for a wonderful gift for yourself or any other long stretch writer.
2. Koolertron w/ Cherry MX Brown Switches (Best Mechanical Ergonomic Keyboard)
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If you’re like me, then you probably prefer a mechanical keyboard. I just love the feel of the key press, the resistance provided, and that little clicky-clacky when pushed. To me, it’s a real writer’s style keyboard. And thankfully there’s a solid option when it comes to choosing a mechanical ergonomic keyboard. Enter the Koolertron–it even sounds cool. The Koolertron is essentially a keyboard cut in half and connected via link cable. However, this allows for you to place the keyboards at the proper interval for your hands. Now, this version comes with the Cherry MX Browns. I like these as a great middle of the road mechanical switch. But this keyboard can come with heavier black switches or the Cherry MX Reds for those with a more delicate touch. Check out my best keyboards for writers article to get the scoop on mechanical vs membrane keyboards.
3. Kinesis Freestyle2 for Mac (Best for Mac)
- AWARD-WINNING SPLIT DESIGN: Unlike fixed ergonomic keyboards, the Freestyle2 Blue allows...
- CONVENIENT BLUETOOTH WIRELESS CONNECTION: Multichannel Bluetooth technology allows you to...
- STANDARD MAC LAYOUT: The Freestyle2 for Mac features a standard Mac layout with...
- LOW-FORCE KEY SWITCHES: The Freestyle2 Blue uses a custom membrane key switch that...
- WHAT'S IN THE BOX: Freestyle2 Blue for Mac wireless Bluetooth keyboard with a standard Mac...
Although I’m a PC girl through and through, we gotta cover the best option for Mac. It’s actually kind of disheartening when you realize there’s just not as many options available for the Mac platform. But this particular keyboard more than makes up for the lack of options. The Kinesis comes with a 9″ degree of separation between the two keyboards allowing you to position them just where you need them. Not only that, but it also comes in standard Mac key layout. There are some keyboards out there that can do both Mac and PC. But they tend to fall behind on the Mac side. This one is dedicated strictly to Mac. Oh! Did I forget to mention it’s also Bluetooth compatible with all your Mac, Apple, and iOS devices? If you’re a Mac user, this is definitely something you should take a look into.
4. Fellowes Microban (Best for a Budget)
- Microban antimicrobial protection keeps product cleaner
- Conforms to natural arm and hand positions for added comfort
- 16-character buffer for fast typists
- 7 additional hot keys for multimedia control and one touch Internet access (internet must...
- Wired keyboard
There’s one thing that these ergonomic keyboards for writers have in common that kinda sucks. They can get pricey. Sure, you get what you pay for, but isn’t there something out there for us common folk? Yes there is. The Fellowes Microban is a no-frills plug-and-play keyboard for the PC. It’s ergonomically curved–although just one piece sans gap–so your hands and wrists can minimize the dreaded carpal tunnel. It also comes with a 16 key buffer making it ideal for fast typists. And the anti-microbial coating doesn’t hurt either. This keyboard is not only great for those on a budget, but if you’re looking for a cheap reliable keyboard for the office… This is it.
5. Logitech K350 (Best Wireless Option)
- Wave design with Constant Curve layout: Curved layout guides hands into just the right...
- Ease and comfort: Cushioned palm rest makes work easier and fun more fun
- Longer battery time: This feature gives you up to three years of battery life. (Battery...
- Logitech Unifying receiver: The tiny Unifying receiver stays in your notebook, so there's...
Now this ergonomic keyboard isn’t quite as ergonomic looking as the others. That being said, this is no ordinary keyboard. It does retain the slight Constant Curvature needed to keep your hands and wrists in maximum comfort during long typing spells. Also, the Logitech comes equipped with a soft, cushioned palm rest so you can type with ease. This keyboard is also very unique with its full-on media controls located on the keyboard itself. The fact that this keyboard is wireless makes for an even better reason to look into this. And it’s long battery life is sure to impress at a maximum battery life of 36 MONTHS on just a single set of AAA!
Why Choose an Ergonomic Keyboard?
Why go ergo? Because the standard keyboards in front of you were probably not designed to the human body. Not saying it’s a flaw, but I’ve got some pretty large mitts. And typing on most keyboards cramps my hands and fingers. On top of that, my wrists hurt at the end of the night even after periodically stretching them during the writing process.
If a keyboard can be more naturally designed for my hand placement and make my joint life easier… Who am I to disagree? But I’m just one person and there are those out there who tend to disagree.
Either way, I do enjoy a good ergonomic keyboard, and if you do too…. These are my top pics.
Cheers!
I have a posturite keyboard. It has 2 usb ports so I can add my wireless mouse. It has a slide out numbers shelf for when I want to number. That makes it dinky yet still chunky for pounding the keys. I bought myself a back up because I love it so much and I bought it for two friends. It says posturite.co.uk on it but I bought mine from an importer.
Hmmm… Looks like I’ll have to look more into that one. Thanks Deb!