Introducing the Zaku Switch by Bolsa Supply. The name and colorway is inspired off the mobile suit MS-06R-1A Zaku II piloted by Shin Matsunaga which is one of Bolsa’s favorite Gunpla models.
The switch is a very smooth linear that is paired with an extended stem pole and a 63.5g double spring – providing a clacky bottom out and a snappy return experience.
Review
Typing Test
Vendors
Canada: You are here!
USA: Bolsa Keyboard Supply
This is Prevails’ new Epsilon linear switch manufactured by JWK! This switch features a bright orange color, full nylon housing, JWK’s P3 stem (same stem from their Durock POM linear switches), and a 68g gold-plated progressive spring.
With the JWK produced full nylon housing, mystery material stem from their POM linear switches, and progressive spring, this switch will have not only a nice, smooth, bouncy feeling when typing it also has a very pleasing sound signature.
Check out the reviews and sound tests below!
Reviews
Shoobs
Tech Kile
From TKC and C³Equalz come their third switch and the first in the Snack Time family line, the Banana Split switches! They are a linear switch and feature a custom polycarbonate and nylon housing with a POM stem, and 62g gold-plated springs. Comparably to the V2 Tangerines, these have a slightly lower pitch to their keypress, and have improved stem wobble as well. These switches in particular take to lube really well, and an even coating of Krytox 205g0 can make quite a noticeable difference in the acoustics. That being said, lubing and filming the Banana Splits are not necessary as they are quite smooth stock, though there are many that prefer to lube all of their switches for a variety of reasons. Like many other JWK and Durock switches, they will benefit from films once opened to reduce housing wobble.
These are some of the higher-rated linear switches for our staff, and are featured in Brownie’s Primus build! These are a fantastic switch for both beginners and long-time enthusiasts alike.
Typing Test
Stock
(more…)Gateron Oil King linear switches are a phenomenal addition to Gateron’s switch repertoire – offering a super smooth, thocky keypress with consistently applied factory lube to help avoid spring ping and unnecessary friction. Similar to the Gateron CJ switches, the Oil Kings implement the proprietary Ink housing material blend, but this time for the bottom housing. The top housing is instead using a PA66 Nylon plastic, which, in conjunction with the POM stem, results in an impressively smooth keypress from actuation to upstroke. The stem tolerances in the top housing are also fantastic, with only a very slight amount of wobble, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing as it can help prevent possible stem binding on the top housing on the upstroke.
Gateron has also been experimenting with different spring lengths, and the Oil Kings feature a matching 20mm black spring allowing for the light actuation and heavy bottom-out weights.
For those that prefer to be able to buy switches, install them straight into their board, and type on will be more than satisfied with Gateron Oil Kings!
Photos taken by the wonderful Captain.Sterling!
Typing Test
We couldn’t be more excited to announce one of two parts of our first switch collection release: the Amethyst tactile switch! They feature two of the colours from our logo, and the housing shares the same colouring as its namesake gem. The Amethyst switches feature a long stem pole which makes for a satisfying, clacky bottom-out, and the double-extension spring allows for a snappy stem return!
Photos taken by the wonderful Sterling & Co. Photography!
Typing Test
Stock
Vendors
Canada/USA: You are here!
USA: Bolsa Keyboard Supply
EU/UK: Salvun
SEA: Zion StudiosWe’re happy to announce that we’re (finally) carrying Gateron switches! The first two that we’re carrying are the full milky-housing Gateron Yellows, and milky-top Gateron Blacks. These were chosen primarily for both their acoustics and smoothness. They’re very budget-friendly, and while they do have some scratch to them while stock, they take very well to lube and films, and Gateron Yellow springs are so well-loved that the switches are bought just to harvest them!
Typing Test
Gateron Yellow
Gateron Black
Gateron Black Ink V2 linear switches are one of the community’s most favoured switches to date, seeing use in an enormous number of builds from the average enthusiast up to professional streamers and e-sports competitors. They sport a proprietary plastic mix not seen before in Gateron’s switches, which has helped the switch become well-known for its stock smoothness and bassy accoustics. They also have matching black springs, which have little spring ping on stock Ink switches.
Lubed, Black Ink V2s are pretty hard to beat in terms of smoothness and sound; we would recommend Krytox 205g0 on the housing and stem, with GPL 105 or GPL 106 on the springs. The Ink housing is also incredibly tight, and have found that 0.125mm TX films are some of the few types of films that will fit.
Photos taken by the wonderful Sterling & Co. Photography!
Typing Test
Behold, the long-awaited Nebula switches from Prevail Key Co! These beautiful switches are a collaborative project between Prevail and Cobertt from Control on Caps originally conceived in 2020, featuring a full nylon housing, LY material long-pole stem and 62g long progressive springs.
The star-spattered Nebula switch is genuinely the most aesthetically pleasing switch we’ve carried to date and boasts a super solid stock switch feel and great bassy acoustic. Due to the revised factory lubing job there isn’t much of a need to hand-lube them, but if you so desire, you’ll want to use an ultrasonic cleaner first, then apply your lube of choice. We would recommend 205g0 switch lubricant for the housing and stem, and GPL 106 switch oil for the springs.
Review
Shoobs
Karan
Our first offering from SP Star come the SP Star Magic Girl switches! Designed to match Mintlodica‘s DSA Magic Girl keycap set, these tactile switches have a 67g bottom-out, nylon housing with a POM stem, and a more subdued medium tactile bump compared to Kiwis, T1s, etc. The stem pole has tapered slide rails, with each side being lightly lubed by the factory, slightly different to the typical oil on legs seen from other manufacturers’ factory lubing. This, combined with the materials used in the housing, result in a quieter press than other tactile switches in the same feel range, and thus may prove more beneficial for office settings!
We couldn’t be more excited to announce one of two parts of our first switch collection release: the Auralite linear switch! They feature three colours taken from our logo, with a two-tone purple and lavender body and a light pink stem, a gradient which is also frequently shared by the switch’s namesake gem. The Auralite switches feature a long stem pole which makes for a satisfying, clacky bottom-out, and the double-extension spring allows for a snappy stem return and creates an even feeling during compression.
Photos taken by the wonderful Sterling & Co. Photography!
Typing Test
Vendors
Canada/USA: You are here!
USA: Bolsa Keyboard Supply
EU/UK: Salvun
SEA: Zion StudiosBeloved by the community, the Zaku linear switch has come to be one of the most sought after linear switches on the market today. To expand upon that line-up, Bolsa Supply has brought in the Zaku II tactile switch to fill in the void. The Zaku II colourway follows the more widely recognized, and appropriately named, Zaku II gunpla.
The switches boast medium tactility with a sharp, P-shaped tactile bump at the top of the keypress. The material components match the Zaku linear switch directly, with a longpole POM stem, PC top housing, and Nylon bottom housing with a 63.5g double-extension spring.
Vendors
Canada: You are here!
USA: Bolsa Keyboard SupplyGateron CJ switches, the newest switch from the manufacturer as of September 2021, are a great linear switch that have a smooth, satisying keypress and will certainly satisfy clacky linear lovers. While all-POM switches tend to run into issues of feeling leathery, Gateron’s proprietary Ink housing plastic is used effectively in the top housing to allow for a smooth actuation and to round out the clacky sound. With a 50g actuation and 60g bottom-out, you won’t need to worry about fatigue using these in a daily driver.
While Gateron CJ switches are just fine stock, they do benefit from being lubed, though any lube of choice is satisfactory. With most linear switches, we recommend Krytox 205g0 on the housing and stem, and GPL 105 or GPL 106 on the springs. Depending on the type of lube used, the acoustics will deepen slightly, so if you’re not a fan of the sound being quite as clacky, then going with a thicker lube may be the way to go!
Photos taken by the wonderful Captain.Sterling!
Typing Test
Following the massive success of the Zaku linear switches, Bolsa Supply wanted to take things a little farther and have certainly done so! In collaboration with Tecsee, Bolsa has designed a proprietary stem unique to the Corsa switches, landing them in the light to medium tactility range inspired by MX Clears. Modern touches have been added, such as a longpole stem for that snappy feel and sound, and a lighter 60g slow spring to soften the tactility and still maintain a noticeable bump.
Photos taken by the wonderful Sterling Photography!
Review & Sound Test (Starts @ 5:16)
Gateron Blue Bubblegum linear switches were designed by KeebHut, a small vendor based out of Southern California. These super smooth linear switches are built with Ink bottom housings, Nylon PA66 top housing and a POM stem. The POM stem and Ink bottom housings aim to retain smoothness and feel of the much-loved Black Inks while using a Nylon top to lower the pitch of the keypress, and a 65g gold-plated spring to allow for these switches to be a daily driver and avoid finger fatigue over a long work day. And believe it or not, but the switches are as smooth as they are completely unlubed!
Photos taken by the wonderful Karan Chauhan!
Typing Test
CIRCLE – TRIANGLE – SQUARE.
KNC Keys has released another Jacket-themed switch, this time the Green Jacket linear switches! These phenomenal switches feature HPE top housing, Nylon bottom housing, and an extra long 13.9mm POM stem for a super smooth stock feel and clean, clacky sound. The 63.5g double-stage spring will keep the switches feeling super snappy, especially on the upstroke, and no factory lube means that if you feel like you want to make the Green Jackets a little more to your liking you can do so with ease!
Also available are the tactile variant of the Green Jacket switches! They have little to no pre-travel and once over the bump you’ll nearly be bottoming-out. All of the specs are identical to the linear variant.
Attempting to match the colour of the switch housing to the show the switches are inspired from was quite a challenge but they came out just perfect. They’re incredibly vibrant and will look amazing in your board and in a container waiting for the right time to be used!
Review & Sound Test
TTC Bluish White switches are a real sleeper hit of a tactile switch! The name of the switches isn’t particularly creative, yet the specifications are where it really shines. The first notable feature is the dust-proof stem, as seen on Kangaroo Inks and Gateron Yellow Inks, which simply aims to reduce the chance of dust falling into the switch itself and affecting performance. The other two most notable features are the double-coiled spring and the muted bottom-out.
The double-coiled spring results in an extremely satisfying press and return combined with the light spring weight (42g actuation), the top-out being described as “punchy”. There’s also a small silicone plug at the bottom of the center tube of the bottom housing which allows for the bottom-out to be muted as the stem pole makes impact, but the top-out is louder by comparison as a result.
The switch shines whether it’s stock or lubed, and if you’re really interested in trying to create a new silent switch, try lubing the top housing and see how it turns out!
Typing Test
The Fruit switch line has another fantastic entry with the Kiwi tactile switch! At 67g stock spring weight measured at bottom-out, the stock press has a prominent “p-bump”, with the tactile bump towards the top with a more linear press afterwards. Kiwis have the same chemical composition in the housing and stem as the V2 Tangerines, so the stock smoothness with light factory oil lubing is a fine choice for beginners into the hobby, and as the factory lube isn’t over done, it’s very easy to clean and re-do.
The switches work great with all types of switch lubricant we have available, with our personal favourite being 205g0. While it may slightly affect the tactility when properly applied, the smoothness is phenomenal and you’ll still have a satisfying, poppy tactile switch.
Photos taken by the amazingly talented Karan Chauhan!
Typing Test
From 43 Studio comes the second iteration of the Rara switch, one of the first JWK tactile switches to hit the Western market! First ran on Drop at the start of last year, this run was previously entrusted to us and a selection of other regional vendors! One of the major improvements over the previous version is the reduction of housing wobble, which is prevalent in JWK switches. The housing material has changed slightly, with adding a polycarbonate top instead of nylon for a smoother experience. It comes stock with ThicThock DL springs, as well as shipping with his own designed PVC films on a sheet.
To help answer some potentially common questions, I will list my experiences with the V1 Rara switches that I have. They are a medium-light tactile switch, in the realm of Ergo Clears with a b-bump that begins shortly after the initial keystroke. They are quieter on the upstroke than other tactiles that they’re compared to, such as T1s and Koalas, though with the change to a PC top it will most likely be a bit clackier. I personally really enjoy them, and think you will too!
Typing Test
The third switch in the Ashkeebs line-up, Alexandrite linear switches aim for a smooth stock typing experience and thocky acoustic. Following our previous switch nomenclature, Alexandrite is a stone that appears bluish green in daylight or fluorescent light, and purplish red at night, tying in perfectly with our brand colours!
The UPE stem and HPE top housing combination allow for a nice, smooth keypress, and the Nylon bottom housing gives the switch a solid, thocky bottom-out. These switches are provided with no factory lube for a consistent stock typing experience, however as with lubing most linears, we recommend 205g0 applied to the bottom housing and stem, with GPL 105 or your choice of oil for the springs. This will help to deepen the sound further and guarantee a super smooth keypress.
Photos taken by the amazingly talented Karan Chauhan!
Typing Test – Stock
Typing Test – Lubed
Vendors
Canada/USA: You are here!
USA: Prevail Key Co
EU: CandyKeys
UK: Protozoa Studio
SEA: Zion Studios
OCE: SwitchKeysPangHu’s Giant switch series has seen numerous material changes to its components, and now they’ve changed manufacutrer from Gateron to Tecsee! The Giant V5 linear switches continue the frosty aesthetic with a matching light blue UHMWPE stem and Nylon bottom housing, and milky UHMWPE top – boasting a super smooth linear keypress all the way through. The UHMWPE top gives the Giant V5s a satisfying, bassy upstroke so all of the thock enthusiasts will enjoy these switches!
Photos taken by the wonderful Captain.Sterling!
Typing Test
CIRCLE – TRIANGLE – SQUARE.
KNC Keys’ first Jacket switch has been remade! Red Jacket 2.0 Linear Switches feature UC Nylon housing, a long 13.5mm HPE stem for a super smooth stock feel and clean, clacky sound. Similar to the Green Jacket switches, Red Jacket 2.0 switches feature a double-stage spring, with a lighter actuation weight of 52g and bottom out weight of 60g and 3.5mm of travel distance.
Sound Tests
Designed by GEONWORKS and manufactured by Haimu, HG switches feature a KOS steel spring that helps to reduce ping. HG Clears are fully transparent, made from a polycarb housing with a PA12 stem, and come in two flavours – a factory-lubed variant with a 3.5mm travel distance, and an unlubed variant with a 4mm travel distance. HG Blacks are linear switches that differ from HG Clears in their housing and stem material, with Nylon housing and a POM+PTFE stem.
Typing Test
The Fruit switch line began with the Tangerine linear switch! Their UHMWPE housing and POM stem combination result in a super smooth keypress, thanks to both materials being low-friction. These switches are also factory lubed, though only lightly and can be lubed over without needing to remove what’s already there.
The switches work great with all types of switch lubricant we have available, with our personal favourite being 205g0. This can help to slightly deepen the clacky sound Tangerines produce and improve the smoothness even further.
Photos taken by the amazingly talented Karan Chauhan!
Typing Test
Following the success of their Tungsten linear switches, Owlab has returned with their latest long-pole linear offering, Owlab Neon! Like the Tungstens, the Neons are a linear switch with a Nylon housing and POM stem, though the composition of the plastics have been altered to provide a more refined sound and reduced friction. Additionally, the Neons come with a light coating of lube that gives them a great feel straight out of the bag, and feature a 20mm dual-stage spring with a 62g bottom-out, as well as a new anti-wobble housing!
Typing Test
Here are our ongoing deals - Buy two deskmats, get the third free!20% off when combining GMK Night Runner R2 base kit with matching Stellar65!Major discounts on Salvation case & parts!Keychrons & Skyloongs 40% discounted!
