Ask HN: Split, tenting, short travel keyboards? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Split, tenting, short travel keyboards?

2 pointsmgarfias4 comments

Hi HN: I'm starting to have major issues with RSI. Work's ergonomic guy suggested this "kinesis freestyle 2" keyboard, so i ordered it. I love the tenting so far, but i absolutely HATE the keyboard.

the key travel is too damn long and causes me to drag my fingers across the other keys and will cause a different RSI (confirmed from previous experiments with other keyboards).

I'd gone back to an apple magic keyboard simply due to the short travel of the keys. unfortunately, its cramped, and my shoulders are wide, which brings them forward which causes issues in my shoulders.

I'm hoping to find a keyboard thats split, small layout (i do not care for all these fancy macro keys, it just takes up room and i dont use them) with short travel keys + low profile caps.

Ideally it also wouldnt cost a car payment like this thing: https://dygma.com/products/dygma-raise?variant=43565239828718

Anyone have any ideas? Please help.

Not sure if you are still reading this, but on the odd chance that you are: if travel is a problem, your typing technique is probably wrong. The travel to the operating point on Cherry Browns is 2mm, however, the total travel is 4mm. A lot of people press mechanical keys much too far. You have to learn nog to press the keys not too far behind the actuation point. This is the easiest on a tactile switch like Browns, where the force curve changes after the activation point. Another thing that works well is a keyboard with a piezo speaker like the Advantage 2.

You could also ask your ergo guy what he thinks about the Kinesis Advantage 2 or 360. For me, the Advantage has been much better for reducing complaints, since it offers far more ergonomic features, like key wells (make it easier to reach keys and put the fingers in a more comfortable position), thumb keys (reduce load on pinkies), etc.

Another option is to build a keyboard with low-profile Choc keys. The heavier Choc keys are very scratchy, but those between 20-35gf are pretty good. Be warned though that no group studies are done on these custom designs, so they may be terrible for ergonomics and destroy your thumbs (or not).

Ideally it also wouldnt cost a car payment like this thing: https://dygma.com/products/dygma-raise?variant=4356523982871...

The standard switches for the Raise will have the same travel as a Freestyle pro. Also some facets of the Defy are terrible for ergonomics, e.g. they have positive tilt.

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I only now realized that you said Freestyle 2 and not Freestyle Pro. The Freestyle 2 has rubber membrane dome switches. Those are terrible, don't do that to yourself! They are mushy and usually require a lot of travel before reaching the operating point. An Advantage Pro or Edge RGB would be much better.

I don't think you'll find many split keyboards with shorter key travel, but if you get a mechanical keyboard with replaceable switches, you can look for switches which have higher activation points.

Eg. a database like this might help you: https://thegamingsetup.com/gaming-keyboard/buying-guides/key...

I don't know of many off the shelf keyboards that satisfy all your requirements, but if your willing to tinker a bit, you can probably make one https://github.com/davidphilipbarr/Sweep

CRKBD with kailh chocolate keys.

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