Fnatic Dash review: This is the best gaming mouse pad I've used to date

I know what you're thinking. "A mouse pad is just a mouse pad." A $5 mouse pad will be just as good as a $50 mouse pad, right? Well, it's not quite that simple. That budget-friendly pointer surface would be just fine for many PC owners who don't play games in a competitive manner, but for those who need the best performance, more expensive mouse pads do offer notable improvements.

The Fnatic Dash is from the same organization that manages a few esports teams, so it knows what makes for good gaming peripherals. The Fnatic Streak65 made me fall in love with more compact mechanical gaming keyboards and so I have high hopes that the Fnatic Dash will convert me away from a grubby old mouse pad. Is it the best desk mouse pad?

You'll love how glorious the Fnatic Dash is to use

The Fnatic Dash (in "XD") we received for review arrived in a cardboard tube, which is the norm for many of these larger mouse pads. Unboxing it is easy enough, it simply slid right out once the lid was removed. Once the Dash was rolled out and allowed to take its shape on a desk, the XD size is huge. Measuring in at 95 x 50 cm requires ample free space.

The F15 surface on the Fnatic Dash is though, but smooth. The massive surface has but a small Fnatic logo located on the bottom-right, but the rest is fair game for a keyboard and mouse. In terms of quality, the stitching is almost immaculate. It's really good, all the way around. I couldn't locate a single imperfection and that should be the case at $55.

The entire mat is black, so to is the underlying rubber, which holds to the desk without issue. You'd struggle to tell that this is a gamer-focused mouse pad that was designed and tested with esports in mind. Thank you, Fnatic for sticking to the basics and not including USB passthrough or RGB lighting.

Fnatic claims 60% lower static and dynamic friction than other mouse pads and I'd have to agree with them here. The F15 surface is incredibly fast. You almost feel like it's not physically there and the mouse is simply gliding over thin air. The combination of a soft cloth and hard plastic results in an exceptional experience.

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I've been using the Fnatic Dash for the past three weeks for work and play. The results are astounding compared to some of the other mouse pads I have available. The Dash allows me to work with photos more efficiently, enjoy games at a higher level, and not worry about having to have a free USB port for RGB lighting and other needless features.

I tried the SteelSeries Rival 600, Razer Basilisk X HyperSpeed, and MadCatz M.O.J.O. M1. All three high-performance gaming mice performed well with the Fnatic Dash. The X and Y tracking are sublime and I didn't once encounter any issue with pointer inaccuracy.

While I imagine you'd be able to get away with more budget-friendly pointers, I'd recommend spending a little more on a premium mouse to get the most out of the Dash. It's truly a marvel when it comes to a pointer surface.

You may dislike the price of the Fnatic Dash

The only drawback to the Fnatic Dash is the price. I know plenty of people who would scoff at the idea of parting with $25 (for the smallest size!) on a mouse pad. It's a shame as the mouse pad is worth every penny if you can get the most out of it. Should you be at your PC for countless hours each day, it's well worth the price.

If your mouse has any imperfections on its shoes then you'll notice this with the Fnatic Dash. Because of the materials used, if the contact isn't smooth between the surface and your pointer, you will immediately feel the disturbance while gliding the mouse across the pad.

Should you buy Fnatic Dash?

I would recommend the Fnatic Dash if you use your PC for creative work and/or play plenty of PC games. The smallest Dash size starts from $25, which is still pretty hefty for what is nothing but a mouse pad, but it's one of the best mouse pads I've used. If you have the available desk space, go with the larger options.

The F15 surface is brilliant for quick, reactionary mouse movements, as well as precise and careful adjustments. Couple the Fnatic Dash with an equally capable and highly accurate gaming mouse and you'll have a killer combo. So long as you can overlook the price, the Fnatic Dash is worthy of any gaming setup.