EPOMAKER Hack 59 Mechanical Keyboard

$69.99

I’ve long been a big fan of a mechanical keyboard, and I actually use one every single day for work. I love the satisfying key-click feeling; however, it can get a little noisy when in a quiet office environment. The noise is something that even my coworkers have noted, saying that when I’m typing fast it does sound like a hamster running on a wheel! Therefore, when I heard about the EPOMAKER Hack 59 Mechanical Keyboard which has been designed to dampen the sound of the keys, whilst still providing you with a satisfying typing feel I had to give it a go.

The Hack 59 Mechanical Keyboard is compact, roughly 60% the size of a traditional keyboard, providing you with 59 keys. This means that a typical number panel on the left and some keys including the arrow keys have been removed. The smaller size is designed to simplify the typing experience providing a more minimalistic approach to your office set-up. I’ve used a compacted keyboard for a while, so switching to this wasn’t too much of an issue, but if you’re used to a traditional-sized keyboard the more compact movements can take a little getting used to. However, I found that once you get the hang of it, the reduced size makes it much more efficient for typing, and with much less movement for your hands across the keys it makes it surprisingly more comfortable for long typing or gaming sessions. Plus, with a reduced size, the keyboard saves on desk space and makes it the ideal keyboard for taking with you on the go.

However, possibly the most interesting thing about the Hack 59’s design is the 5-layer sound dampening gasket structure, which features Poron Sandwich Foam, IXPE Switch Pads, Sound Enhancement Pads, Poron Switch Socket Pads, and Bottom Silicone Pads. Each of these layers helps to reduce excess keystroke sound and makes each click less harsh than a typical mechanical keyboard. The sound dampening was surprising, as it still had a small click with each key, but they were softened so they didn’t travel too far – brilliant for my coworkers! After using the keyboard for a few weeks, they were impressed with how much better the sound was, and I was happy with how comfortable yet satisfying each keystroke was – a very happy medium for a mechanical keyboard enthusiast and a quiet office environment! 

Like many of EPOMAKER’s keyboards the Hack 59 benefits from tri-mode connectivity meaning you can use it with a wired USB-C connection or wirelessly using Bluetooth 5.0 or the included 2.4Ghz receiver which you just plug into your computer. This makes it super easy to use on the go, and with the 3000mAh battery inside, you won’t have to worry about your keyboard running out of charge mid-meeting again. In addition to the tri-mode connectivity and large battery, the Hack 59 is completely QMK/VIA programmable, which means you can fully customise your keyboard to suit your specific needs. This ensures that you can make your work tasks quicker thanks to inputted shortcuts to make your keyboard work just as hard as you. Plus, with each keycap being hotswappable, you can go one step further and customize down to the very feel of each key to get an even more tailored perfect typing experience every time.

Once again EPOMAKER remind us why they’re experts in keyboard design with the Hack 59. With the design stemming from input from the EPOMAKER community, it's no surprise the compact, super functional yet completely personalized keyboard is a clear winner for many. Whilst, the smaller size may not be everyone’s cup of tea, if you are someone who is always working on the go, or just want to maximise your desk space, the Hack 59 is an ideal solution to let you remain productive whilst saving space and reducing key click for an all-round harmonious user experience.

Pros:

• Compact 59 key design which is ideal for travel or for a smaller desk
• Completely customisable with QMK/VIA programming and hotswappable keys
• Sound dampening for reduced keystroke sound – ideal for quiet working or gaming environments

Cons:

• Small and compact keyboard design can take some getting used to as the keys are closer together than you may be used to – but in my experience, the learning curve is quick