ROG Scabbard II Arctic Gray XXL: first look

A first positive point: the pad lay flat easily straight out of the box. We did not have to battle raised edges before trying its surface.

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The colour is its main attraction for us. We appreciate having an alternative to black pads, although the choice will primarily come down to taste and how it matches the rest of the desk.

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ASUS states that the treatment is designed to repel water, oil and dust. To the touch, what stands out to us is the fabric feel, rather than that of a hard or plastic-coated surface.

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We liked the glide from the first mouse movements. This is the type of surface we enjoy using, with a pleasant feel against the wrist. The pad also stayed in place during this brief hands-on session.

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The XXL size provides plenty of room for the keyboard and mouse. You do need to check the depth if you also want to place your monitor stand on it. In our experience with this size, you can end up with only part of the stand on the pad. That is something to plan for depending on your setup, rather than an issue specifically observed during this first look.

We usually use a SteelSeries QcK 3XL, which we prefer for its more generous size. Without that need to cover more of the desk, the Scabbard would have suited our preferences perfectly during this hands-on session.

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The Scabbard II Arctic Gray XXL leaves us with a good first impression: it lies flat easily, we like its surface, and its grey colour makes a pleasant change from black models. It is particularly worth considering if its dimensions suit your desk.

ASUS lists it at €49.99 at the time of writing. Within the €40–€50 range we had in mind, that price seems reasonable. The choice will mainly come down to colour, size and glide preferences. For our own setup, we would stick with a larger pad, but we liked this one.