What is the Best Ergonomic Keyboard?

Picking the best ergonomic keyboard is vital as a blogger with tons of typing to be done every day. There are so many different keyboards on the market that it can seem impossible to pick the right one. In this brief ergonomic keyboard reviews guide for 2016, we have picked out three ergonomic keyboards that you should consider. Which option that works for you is a matter of your budget, your needs, and your preferences.

Comparison Table of the Best Ergonomic Keyboards

ModelFeature #1Feature #2Price Amazon Rating
Kinesis Advantage ProUnique style designed for the health of your fingersSolid user reviews on Amazon.com$$$4.2 out of 5 stars
Kinesis Advantage USBAdvanced ergonomics PLUS on-board programmabilityIntegrated two-port USB hub$$4.4 out of 5 stars
Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000Cutting-edge design and improved performance for max. productivityE-mail and Internet hot keys$4.2 out of 5 stars
Logitech Wireless Wave Combo Mk550Wave-design with cushioned palm rest for exceptional comfortPowerful 2.4 GHz wireless connection$4.3 out of 5 stars
Fellowes Microban Split Design Wired KeyboardMicroban antimicrobial protection keeps product cleaner7 additional hotkeys for multimedia control$4.3 out of 5 stars

Our Pick: Best Ergonomic Keyboard is the Kinesis Advantage Pro

The best keyboard in town if you don’t care about the price tag, but just want to have the best typing experience is the Kinesis Advantage pro. It features a unique design to save your fingers from stretching into awkward positions that can cause arthritis in the long term.
kinesis advantage pro

A quick look at the reviews will make it clear: This keyboard is for the dedicated computer user who does not plan on having fingerpains from too much typing. All the keys are laid out to fit the natural position of your hands.

It even features a foot pedal which allows you to control a single switch with your feet while typing with your hands. We don’t have a lot of experience with this feature, but it seems that is has received some nice feedback on Amazon.

The biggest concern about this keyboard it would is the same thing that makes it so great and unique: The special design. If you’re the type of person who switches keyboard a lot (having a computer at work, a laptop, etc.) this keyboard might not be the perfect fit for you. This is because the key placement is so different from that of a traditional keyboard that it can slow down your typing significantly if you switch between this and a regular one.

Overall this comes out as a keyboard with a unique style designed for the health of your fingers. Thereby it truly encapsulates what a real ergo keyboard is: Healthier and a way to increase your productivity. The price tag, however, does reflect this high value as the price is north of $300.

But if you use the computer as your primary workstation, remember: this is an investment in your health and efficiency rather than an expense. Therefore you might need to alter your budget. If this is not a possibility, fear not! We have another suggestion below.

best ergonomic keyboard

Best ergonomic for the price: Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000

At just $29,99 the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 provides massive value. The keyboard comes with many features including a small angle in the center to improve your hand position, a nice and soft palm rest to save your wrists, an improved numpad, and customizable keys.
microsoft natural ergonomic keyboard

Apart from the great price, it is also notable that this Microsoft ergonomic keyboard does not have too big of an angle. This makes it a lot easier to switch between this keyboard – which would be placed at your work station – and the traditional keyboard from your laptop.

While this model is a couple years old, it does not do much of a difference. The layout of keyboards has not changed a lot within the last couple of years. The only thing that would tell this keyboard of as a an old model is the fact that it has Windows 7-taskbar keys, rather than those from Windows 8.

But even these keys are not too different, and therefore it is a safe value-purchase if you are planning to upgrade your workstation without a massive grab in the pocket.

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Ergonomic Keyboard Tray – 3M knob Adjust keyboard trayadjustable keyboard tray

Another good idea when aiming for the best typing experience is to go for a keyboard tray with ergonomic benefits. This could be the 3M knob Adjust keyboard tray. By using a tray such as this you can improve the position of your keyboard to further reduce the risk of arthritis in your hands and wrists.

With this keyboard tray you can adjust the position just by loosening an knob. It is made in wood which means that the bouncing is minimized. It also features an all in one gel wrist rest with antibacterial product protection alongside a Precise Mouse Pad that can be placed on either side of the tray.

It also has guarantees including a one-year guarantee on the gel, five years on the platform and a lifetime warranty on the arm. It is unlikely that either of the two latter ones will come in effect as the gel will probably be the first thing to break if you use it frequently.

On the downside of this tray is the price tag. At almost $100 it is more than three times the price of the Microsoft Keyboard we featured earlier. This tells us that this tray is not for the average consumer, but rather for professionals looking to invest in their long-term health and increase their productivity.

While most reviews are positive a few have concerns regarding the range of the tray-arm where they report it not being able to reach their lap. This should not be a concern for pretty much anyone, since this position, although it might seem comfortable, is rather unhealthy and can cause back pain in the long term.

What ergo keyboard should you choose?

When deciding on what ergo keyboard to choose there are various things to consider. How much money do I have to invest? What are my needs? If you’re on a tight budget then we recommend you take a closer look at the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 as it has quite a bit of value.

If you’re a business executive planning to optimize your workstation then the Kinesis Advantage Pro has to be your go-to keyboard. It has so many features and is designed to suit your hands just right.

Although an ergonomic keyboard is a good step towards preventing arthritis, it is not the only measure you can take. Another good idea is to look closer at how your keyboard is positioned and then consider purchasing an ergonomic keyboard tray such as the one discussed in this article.

 


Image sources: Amazon.com

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