Belkin’s WaveRest Keyboard Wrist Support helps you type with better hand and wrist posture. You can now type or surf the Internet for extended periods of time without suffering from accidents that can lead to repetitive stress disorder. The combination of our proprietary WaveRest concept and GelFlex Comfort Zone cushioning ensures optimum comfort and support.
The best keyboard wrist rests provide excellent support and comfort without breaking the bank (hopefully actually saving your wrists, in fact). The Belkin WaveRest wrist pad is made of gel and is designed to keep your wrists relaxed during the day. But, perhaps most importantly, it is one of the most affordable wrist rest options on the market. The Belkin WaveRest is designed to help you avoid RSD and maintain the protection of your wrist joints. To find something that fits with your setup and personal preference, look at the material and design options. Belkin’s WaveRest Keyboard Wrist Support is designed to not only improve typing comfort and support but also to reduce the risk of repetitive motion injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a disorder that induces numbness, tingling, or weakness in your side, according to the Mayo Clinic. This disease, also known as median nerve compression, can be caused by a number of things, the most common of which are repetitive wrist movements like typing. This is exacerbated when performing tasks that require your hands to be lower than your wrists, which is why a good wrist rest, or at the very least a keyboard that can be angled upwards, is essential.
In comparison to normal gel supports that are encased in plastic, the support has a special GelFlex Comfort Zone cushion that offers a nicer feel for your hands to rest on.
- Improves hand and wrist posture when typing, reducing the risk of injuries and RSD (repetitive stress disorder).
- Allows you to easily type or browse the Internet for long periods of time.
- WaveRest is a patented design that combines our GelFlex Comfort Zone cushioning with our patented WaveRest design.
Ergonomic Design
The term “ergonomic” is attached to almost anything intended for office use. To drive quality, wellness, and comfort, ergonomics simply means that the job is built with the worker in mind, not the other way around. Since there isn’t really a norm that anything must adhere to in order to be classified as “ergonomic,” something that can make the user experience more secure can be labeled as such.
Wrist rests are meant to protect your wrists when typing, right? Experts in ergonomics warn that using this accessory will put more strain on your wrists, potentially leading to carpal tunnel syndrome. Wrist rests, in the vast majority of cases, do not have any substantial ergonomic advantage and, in reality, typically increase the number of injury risk factors in your computer workstation. The explanation for this is that if you ‘rest’ your ‘wrist’ on some form of support, such as foam, gel, webbing, fabric, etc., you are putting your ‘wrist’ at risk of injury. You can compress the carpal tunnel and probably pinch the median nerve, which can cause not only long-term injury but also short-term symptoms like tingling, numbness, or coldness in the hands, as well as finger muscles that weaken more quickly due to decreased circulation.
According to Ergo Canada, using the wrist rest as palm support is beneficial because it decreases the risk of stretching the wrists and resulting in decreased blood flow.
The wrist support has an ergonomic design that conforms to the shape of your wrist/palms for comfort and support while reducing wrist tension that can cause repetitive motion disorders like carpal tunnel syndrome. If you spend a lot of time at your computer and are worried about the protection of your wrists, this support is a must-have.
Wave design
The unique wave design encourages upper wrist and hand movement, resulting in a more ergonomic typing experience.
GelFlex Comfort Zone Cushion
The support is packed with gel and covered in cotton. This makes it more comfortable to use because it has a nicer feel than plastic on which to rest your wrists when typing.
Pros:
- This Belkin keyboard wrist pad is both soft and strong, providing excellent support.
- It actually does the job – no more joint discomfort.
- Comfortable gel, grips to desk well.
- It’s smooth and comfortable, with a good height, and it’s made of gel rather than memory foam, so it stays cool and doesn’t wear out as quickly. Gel is squishier and cooler to the touch, while foam is firmer and absorbs heat. Some hybrids have succeeded in combining the best of both worlds, but the right response for this is mainly a matter of personal choice.
Cons:
- This keyboard pad isn’t very sturdy, but the softness of the material, both the fabric and the pad, makes up for it.
- There is a plastic-like odor, but it dissipates quickly. The one I use for my personal computer is a few years old and has no odor at the moment. I recall the odor, but it was never bothersome to me.
About the company
The products made at Belkin International help people understand the power of technology and make their lives healthier, simpler, and more fulfilling. Since their inception in 1983, this has been Belkin’s goal. Chet Pipkin, the CEO of Belkin, started the company in his parents’ garage. Chet’s passion for meeting consumer needs was evident even back then. In response to the burgeoning personal computer market in the 1980s, he produced computer cable assemblies in the evenings and on weekends and marketed them to local computer manufacturers and dealers. They’ve maintained their southern California roots since then, and are now headquartered in Playa Vista, right in the heart of the Los Angeles tech district.
Final Verdict
The only problem is that it gets thin around the Enter key location. If you type a lot, your right hand will rest strangely on the keyboard. It seems to be leaning against it rather than on top of it. Overall, I deducted one star due to the lack of durability. If you use your computer every day, you’ll need to upgrade it in a year or two, but I think it’s a worthwhile investment. The product is overall really good for it’s price.
Belkin claims that its WaveRest is designed to last for years, thanks to what the company terms “durable construction.” And, thanks to its lightweight nature, you should be able to easily transport it from one location to another.
