My mouse was ruining my wrist, and I wish I had found this ultimate fix sooner (especially at 33% off)

For years, I had pain in my right wrist, but I could never understand why. I was pretty convinced it was due to the ergonomics at my office desk, but even after weeks of vacation, I’d still have joint issues.

It wasn’t until I stumbled across the Logitech MX Vertical mouse in early 2020 that my experience working at a desk truly improved, and now six years later, that trusty product has become one of, if not the most important tech purchases I’ve ever made in my life.

I know you’re reading that last sentence, thinking I’m exaggerating, but if you’ve ever sat at your computer and had to do wrist stretches to try and combat the pain, this article is for you. So please, if that sounds remotely like something you’ve experienced, keep reading, you need to hear what I have to say.

A vertical mouse? Really?

So what makes a vertical mouse so special? Well, in theory, it’s pretty simple, but the impact it has on the way you interact with your computer is genuinely revolutionary. In fact, I built a gaming PC last year and switched to a regular gaming mouse – yeah, that was a terrible idea.

You interact with a vertical mouse by holding a firm grip as if you’re shaking someone’s hand. From there, the movement of your cursor is controlled by a large motion stemming from your elbow, rather than the traditional wrist movement with a regular mouse.

Don’t get me wrong, at first, your experience with a vertical mouse is going to be incredibly annoying. So much so that you’re going to think about returning it before you’ve even given it a proper chance. But keep going, try to learn the way of the vertical mouse, and in time, any discomfort you’ve felt from using a standard mouse will disappear.

I understand vertical mice aren’t as trendy as the latest gaming mouse, and they definitely don’t have as many bells and whistles as the Logitech MX Master 4, often regarded as the best offering on the market. But where most vertical mice fall short in features, they make up for it in the way they vastly improve your computing experience.

Which one to buy?

It just so happens the Amazon Big Spring Sale is on at the time I write this article, which means there’s actually quite a nice variety of vertical mice available at a discount right now. In the collections widget above, you’ll see three different mice, all available at different price points.

My go-to vertical mouse is the Logitech MX Vertical, as it has an endless battery life, a very comfortable grip, and a premium feel you’d expect from any Logitech peripheral. The only downside with Logitech’s offering, and it’s a big one, is the substantial price for a mouse with not too many features.

That’s why, for most people who want to experiment with this kind of product, I recommend the Anker Wireless Vertical, as it’s less than $20 on sale right now and, in my experience, it has never let me down.

I’ve also highlighted another vertical mouse from a brand called Perixx. While I’ve never used this specific one, it’s Amazon’s best seller and has thousands of positive reviews. For the price, and with that RGB aesthetic some of you will want in a mouse, I think it’s well worth a try.

Not convinced? Just give it a go

I’ve tried to convert many of my friends and colleagues to a vertical mouse, and truthfully, most of them think I’m crazy for recommending such a mundane piece of tech. The thing is, for the people who need something like a vertical mouse to solve their problems, buying one will be the best purchase you can make.

For those who don’t have any issues with their current mouse and didn’t even know carpal tunnel syndrome was a thing, you’re probably best sticking to your fancy 10-button device, which can do no wrong. In fact, I wish Logitech would take the best parts of the MX Master 4 and apply them to a vertical mouse, but I’ve been wishing for more features for over half a decade.

Unfortunately, I think the company made such a good product the first time around, there’s no need for another iteration.

Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.