Selecting the right ergonomic mouse can transform your working comfort, especially if you’re aiming to reduce strain or improve posture for your upper limbs. Over the past few months I have been testing out a range of centered input devices and have identified my 2 favourite contenders in this space – the Contour Rollermouse Red and the Mousetrapper Prime. Here’s a concise look at the pros and cons of each to help you decide, noting that both connect wirelessly:
Contour Rollermouse Red
The Contour Rollermouse Red has a unique rollerbar placed centrally, allowing easy control from in front of the keyboard. This layout reduces reaching and supports a natural arm position.
Pros
- Centralised Design: Positioned in front of the keyboard to maintain a neutral, central hand position, which can help reduce shoulder strain. Greater hand position options compared to the Mousetrapper.
- Rollerbar Precision: The rollerbar allows smooth, precise cursor control, which is helpful for detailed work.
- Adjustable DPI: Customisable speed settings let you switch between precision tasks and general office work.
- Wrist Support: Large, padded wrist support reduces strain during extended use.
- Minimal Hand Movement: Designed to reduce gripping and reaching, which can relieve forearm and wrist strain. The ability to share ‘mousing’ tasks between both hands also helps to reduce repetitive movements.
Cons
- Learning Curve: The rollerbar mechanism may take a few days to get used to, even if it feels quite ‘alien’ at first.
- Pricey: Positioned at the high end of the price range for ergonomic mice options (note that Contour offers some excellent lower-priced alternatives, such as the Pro3, that I will review in future blog posts).
- Desk Space: The wider wrist rest requires more desk space, which might be a limitation in smaller setups (plus you also need to consider the shape of the keyboard you want to use with these devices as they both work best with a straight one).
- Portability: Larger, heavier and less portable, making it less suited for frequent travel.
Mousetrapper Prime
The Mousetrapper Prime also sits in front of the keyboard but uses a touchpad-style control that may feel more familiar to laptop users (i.e. it is ‘flatter and squarer’).
Pros
- Touchpad Familiarity: A small trackpad-like control provides a familiar feel, especially for laptop users. Using the right edge of the pad for scrolling can also simplify use after a bit of ‘training’.
- Ambidextrous: Symmetrical design lets users easily switch hands, promoting hand-switching for balance and reduced strain.
- Customisable Buttons: Eight programmable buttons let you create shortcuts, streamlining workflow (Red only has six)
- Compact and Portable: A slimmer and lighter overall design makes transporting it easier.
Cons
- Lower Precision: Some may find that the touchpad-style control lacks the fine control of a rollerbar, which might not suit detailed design tasks but is fine for general computer use. I actually found that using the pad for ‘left-clicking’ gave better precision than any of the rollerbar models.
- Minimal Wrist Support: Smaller and less padded wrist support may be less comfortable for prolonged use (but I never had an issue during “normal” use).
- Less Tactile Control: Touchpad controls may feel less responsive than a traditional mouse or rollerbar, but they are something that you will likely get used to.
- Cost: Also on the higher end for ergonomic mice (but other excellent lower-priced models with fewer features are also available from Mousetrapper, such as the Advance 2.0+).
Summary: Which One is Right for You?
- Choose the Rollermouse Red if: You need more precise cursor control, especially if you work in design or with detailed tasks. The rollerbar and optional extended wrist rest offer added comfort but may require some desk space and an adjustment period.
- Contour Rollermouse Red – US site
- Choose the Mousetrapper Prime if: You prefer a touchpad-like device that’s portable and easy to use. This device is ideal if you move between workstations frequently and want an intuitive ergonomic solution.
- Mousetrapper Prime – UK site
Both are designed to enhance posture and reduce strain and in this regard you really can’t go wrong with either, but your ideal choice will depend on your work style and desk setup.
The best way to know for sure is to arrange a trial period, which is something that Ergo Experts can help with – please call on 0409 512 434 or email us
