DeltaHub Carpio 2.0 Wrist Rest Review: Modern Ergonomics
Retail price: $39.90
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As someone who has struggled with carpal tunnel for the majority of her adult life, it’s been crucial for me to find an ergonomic setup that works for me and the 10+ hours I spend daily at my desk. For $40, the DeltaHub Carpio 2.0 wrist rest was the smallest, most forward thinking accessory I’ve seen yet. But is a little piece of plastic really that simple of a solution to improve the stress on your wrists? Let’s find out.
a modern take on ergonomics
I’ve been through my fair share of bulky, ergonomic equipment so far in my work life. When I first began developing wrist issues at work, my employers would give me large keyboards that were uniquely shaped and mice that were so big that they looked as though they belonged on the control room of the USS Enterprise. While these items did help me, they were far from practical other than in a cubicle setting. When I started working remotely from home, I eventually found a comfortable rhythm using my wrist pad that propped against my keyboard in combination with a sit stand desk with adjustable height. But the wrist rest I was using for my keyboard didn’t quite give me the length I needed to comfortably use simultaneously on my mouse and I often found my wrist at an odd angle that became sore after 30 minutes or so.
The Carpio 2.0 is a small curved shaped device made of plastic and silicon pads that allow you to easily move your wrist around comfortably with a mouse or similar computer accessory. The version I have is the right-hand model but there’s also a left-handed variant and a larger size as well.
To be frank, I love how modern and clean the design of the Carpio is. It’s portable (and comes with its own drawstring bag) and has minimal packaging and a slim design to it. The black color looks almost matte (there’s a gray and white version too) and the design is clean and functional. For those who are on the go frequently, the Carpio is also very easy to travel with and works great with a travel mouse. There are various logos and branding across the device but it comes off as very subtle and classy. This is by far the most aesthetically pleasing ergonomic accessory, not to mention simple looking product, I own yet.
form and function
What is perhaps the most unique part of the Carpio is that unlike other ergonomic accessories such as wrist pads, the Carpio is so simple to transport around. It took me a while to understand this, as I actually used it upside down the first day I received it. However, the bottom edges of the device are made of a smooth plastic material meant to glide on your desk pad and other surfaces. While it’s a little finicky on rougher surfaces like textured counters or wood, it works great on desk pads and glass. What this also does is give you full control over your device so you can move around as freely as possible while keeping your wrist in a supported environment.
The silicone pads are also very comfortable to rest your wrists on and the curved design keeps your wrist nestled in quite nicely. I can even see the use case that if you don’t have a long enough wrist rest for a keyboard, you can purchase both a left hand and a right hand version of the Carpios and use them in lieu of a wrist rest. If needed, the silicone pads are also easy enough to remove and clean.
For those who are frequent mice swipers for documents on programs like Excel or gaming regularly where you are constantly moving your mouse around, the Carpio is fantastic for those use cases. The hours that I spent clicking around on my computer doing various tasks felt so much more bearable thanks to Carpio, but there are two downfalls that I’ve experienced in my use that I quickly discovered after a few days.
does it actually work?
The first downfall to the Carpio is that while it’s advertised to help make you feel freer in lieu to the real estate on your desk, what I quickly discovered is that it’s almost a little too mobile. What do I mean by that? If you are someone who likes to have DPS speed on the faster end like me, it’s easy for your wrist to slip off the Carpio during movement because the device glides so cleanly. I know this might sound odd, but it’s been an issue I’ve continuously had because of how I use my devices. In a way, the Carpio encourages me to properly use my mouse the way it should be without flailing it around but it takes time to get used to. There are a couple wrist sizes to get a correct fit, but it’s extremely tough for two molds to fit every single person’s wrist shapes.
Speaking of time to get used to, the second (and final) downside of the Carpio is the length of time it takes to get used to. I’ve noticed that when I’m typing a lot and switching my hand between mouse and keyboard, the Carpio doesn’t function as well as I hoped it would. It works best when your hand is placed on top of it for long periods of time. However, when you’re checking email or clicking and typing in various hand placements on the table, it feels less comfortable than I anticipated. This may be because of the silicone material that is more rough than a cushion-type gel might feel. Nevertheless, I believe the Carpio will ultimately last longer than a traditional wrist rest due to its material and lesser ability to conform to the wrist. I also prefer the gliding material at the end of the day and have gotten used to it.
final thoughts
Overall, the DeltaHub Carpio 2.0 is a solid ergonomic device made for the 21st century. I love how portable and minimalist it is while also being multifunctional for both mice and keyboards. The $40 price point is a little high (if this were priced a little lower, it would be a no brainer) but from the unboxing experience to usage, everything about the Carpio 2.0 feels premium and high quality. I appreciate how helpful this little device has been for my wrist during long days and hours spent working and looking forward to using it more. For those who use their mice frequently or game a lot, look no further than the DeltaHub Carpio 2.0.
Lida
Always the number cruncher, the former narrative journalist turned data scientist, can’t help but find herself bursting with excitement with each new generation of tech gadgets. After all, predicting future trends is Lida’s forte. Any gadget that survives Lida’s torturous, adult working woman itinerary of over 700 notifications a day deserves praise!