How to Choose a Keyboard for Small Desks or Travel

For many gamers around the world, the luxury of having enough desk space for a full-sized keyboard just isn’t in the cards. There are also situations like local tournaments or LAN parties where you don’t want to carry a bulky keyboard around, but you still want to make sure that you’re going to have gear that lets you compete at a serious level. Additionally, there are the jet-setters among us that are traveling the globe and need a travel keyboard so they can stay on their grind no matter what accommodations they have.

If any of those scenarios sound familiar to you, this article should shed some light on some good keyboard options for you to get your work or game on.

If you’re the type of gamer who’s competing in local tournaments or dominating the dorm gaming scene, a compact keyboard that’s easy to carry around could really up your competitive experience.

For players that prioritize performance, we recommend the VANGUARD PRO 96. The 96% layout gives you all the keys in a compact layout. It’s nearly as small as a tenkeyless (TKL) keyboard, but you still get all the arrow keys. On the performance front, you’ll have 8,000Hz hyper-polling, Hyperdrive MGX Hall Effect magnetic switches, and FlashTap SOCD. No matter which system you’re plugging the VANGUARD PRO 96 into, you can bring all your actuation settings and keybindings with you thanks to the onboard memory. If you need to adjust something, the web-based CORSAIR Web Hub will allow you to make the changes you need without needing to wait to get software installed.

If you’re willing to sacrifice some keys for ease of portability, the CORSAIR K65 PRO MINI is a clutch option. A 65% keyboard, it’s super-compact and gets rid of a lot of keys that you’re not going to be using in high level gaming. Easy to stow in a backpack or even just hand carry.

Got a desk setup at home that isn’t giving you enough room to make big plays? If you’re not an accountant, maybe the solution to your hybrid work and gaming woes is a tenkeyless keyboard. The K65 PLUS WIRELESS is a great performance keyboard in a TKL layout, which will give you more room for mouse movement. At 12.59 inches by 5.35 inches (or 319.79mm x 136.00mm, for the metrically inclined.) it doesn’t need a lot of space, and it doesn’t need to be tethered to a cable, either.

People who do want a numpad and arrow keys in a compact layout will want to give strong consideration to the VANGUARD PRO 96, or VANGUARD 96. By optimizing the layout of the keys, it fits nearly every key on a full-sized keyboard into a 15.28 inch by 5.6 inch footprint. (388mm x 141mm) That’s less than 3 inches longer than the K65 PLUS WIRELESS. Now, that’s an efficient use of space.

If you’re looking for a keyboard that doesn’t take up a lot of space in your luggage in addition to not taking up a lot of desk space, you’re going to want to look into low-profile keyboards.

The VANGUARD AIR 99 WIRELESS is extremely thin, clocking in at 0.71 inches, or 18mm at its thickest point. With an elegant aluminum top plate, it cuts a sleek figure that looks professional whether you’re on your grind in a coffee shop, conference room, or cubicle. Featuring CORSAIR OPX Low-Profile switches and quad-layer sound dampening, it also has the benefit of being responsive while not calling unnecessary attention to itself with loud keypresses.

With new keyboard layouts arriving at a faster rate than we’ve ever seen before, there are so many different options available for travel keyboards, and there are only more coming. Hopefully some of the options and sizes provided here will give you some food for thought when it comes to picking the perfect portable peripheral.