45g vs 55g vs Variable (Topre)

HHKB uses the Topre switch. It is a uniform 45g and they do not offer a variable version. You ask what the difference is? The amount of pressure needed to press each key. Really not rocket science, pick the one you think you will be most comfortable with.

Hit your ESC key. That is 55g weighted. I think most of the keys are 45g, so a 45g board will give you the most similar experience, just without the lighter weighting on the pinkies.

The difference is fairly subtle. Owning both an all-45g board and an all-55g board, I do slightly prefer the 45g weighting.

I got a topre tenkeyless with all 45gr from here

Thats perfect for me.

I tested all cherry mx, alps that i could get before and found 45gr linear cherry was my favorite followed by tactile 45gr (mx brown). This gave me enough confidence to invest into the topre.

Topre has definetly less noise and feels much softer when typing/gaming.

I purchased a 87 55g. The 103 ub variable is what I own already as well. I find it to be a little light for my taste overall, although it still feels great for typing. Judging by what I have heard on the net, the 55g should feel a bit more springy. As Crazy9000 said you should hit your ESC key a few times to get a better perspective. The 55g should be better for gaming over your variable. Although, for typing you may lean towards your variable. That is what most people say.

I know for me the movement keys for a cherry red, and for a Topre 45g are both too light for gaming. Accidental presses with the 45g for me is a factor while gaming. The 55g should help reduce those accidental presses. I suspect I will still love my 103ub for typing especially for long typing sessions. A variable, and 45g is probably going to be most people's first choice for touch typing.

Because this is the first result on Google, I figure a bump is in order.

I now own both the 45g and 55g Topre 87U's and type dvorak at anywhere from 100 to 125 wpm depending on what I'm typing. Yes, I'm a bit crazy for spending $600 on Topre keyboards (plus another $120 for a brown Filco).

55g - Very stiff on the fingers...feels similar in weight to the Cherry Black switch. Keys spring back quickly. My typing speed is about the same as the 45g but that is only because the stiff keys make me less likely to accidentally press a key. It's a very nice keyboard if you like to type slow and "get angry" with your keys. Trying to type fast for an extended period fatigues the fingers (mostly the pinky/ring fingers). Coding is a bit annoying when you're having to use many keys on weaker fingers...probably why the HHKB is 45g. Didn't have any major issues gaming with it except a few times when I was panic-switching a weapon and thought I hit a key but didn't hit it hard enough.

45g - Loves to be bottomed out. This keyboard you can move your fingers as fast as your brain will allow, but the lighter keys mean that you might hit a key on accident or double-tap. The weight feels just like a Cherry Brown switch, but the tactile response is much smoother. The keys feel slightly more hollow than the 55g. Haven't had a chance to game with it yet, but I haven't had any issues with the Cherry Brown's so I wouldn't expect any issues here.

Which one would I pick if I had to pick just one? Probably the 45g. The 55g is still easy to live with and many people will probably like the heavy experience, but I prefer fast and light and not feeling like I have to hammer each key to get it to bottom out. My slender fingers probably contribute to this feeling...if you're a bigger guy then you might find 45g to be too light. If there were a 50g , that is what I would buy. They're both vastly overpriced though. $200 would be reasonable. $290 shipped is just taking advantage of people with an addiction.

(Edit: I now use the 55g at work and the 45g at home. My Filco Brown is sitting in a drawer)
Edited by dr/owned - 9/1/12 at 1:38pm