ErgoMechKeyboards
Ergonomic, split and other weird keyboards
Rules
Keep it ergo
Posts must be of/about keyboards that have a clear delineation between the left and right halves of the keyboard, column stagger, or both. This includes one-handed (one half doesn't exist, what clearer delineation is that!?)
i.e. no regular non-split¹ row-stagger and no non-split¹ ortholinear²
¹ split meaning a separation of the halves, whether fixed in place or entirely separate, both are fine.
² ortholinear meaning keys layed out in a grid
No Spam
No excessive posting/"shilling" for commercial purposes. Vendors are permitted to promote their products/services but keep it to a minimum and use the [vendor] flair. Posts that appear to be marketing without being transparent about it will be removed.
No Buy/Sell/Trade
This subreddit is not a marketplace, please post on r/mechmarket or other relevant marketplace.
Some useful links
- EMK wiki
- Split keyboard compare tool
- Compare keycap profiles Looking for another set of keycaps - check this site to compare the different keycap profiles https://www.keycaps.info/
- Keymap database A database with all kinds of keymap layouts - some of them fits ergo keyboards - get inspired https://keymapdb.com/
view the rest of the comments
Seconded on Sofle, though Moonlander would be a good choice too. Having the numrow helps ease the transition and reduces the chances that you give up on ergo splits. If you buy a 50+ split and later get the minimalist bug, you can change your keymap to test drive a numrowless layout.
I use Sofle V2 for WFH. I started with a Lily58 at the beginning of the pandemic because I was getting shoulder and wrist pain from using a TKL all day. I liked the Lily58, but I also have big hands and found the thumb cluster cramped and the stagger too shallow. The Sofle V2 is nearly the same layout except the thumb row is moved out by a column for more natural thumb placement. I've been using the Sofle for a little over a year now and am planning to build another for the 1 day a week I need to drive into work to hotdesk.
QMK is great, but I switched to VIAL, which is a fork of QMK that allows for on-the-fly keymap changes from an app without having to recompile.
OP, DM me at al177 on Discord if you're in the US and decide to DIY a Sofle. I have extra unpopulated V2 main PCBs (not top or bottom tho) and would be glad to send you a pair to get you started. I also have a Lily58 I would part with for cheap.