Logitech Ergo K860
A superb keyboard that’s comfortable to type on and might just fix your repetitive strain injury
The Ergo K860 is a “sciencedriven ergonomic keyboard to help office workers improve their posture, increase comfort and lower muscle strain”. It splits the traditionally flat keyboard in two, angling each half toward your elbows and introduces a hump in the middle – Logitech calls this the “curved keyframe” – so your hands tilt slightly to the side as you type.
The Ergo K860 also includes a luxurious padded wristrest that raises your palms up slightly above the level of the keyboard. And I love it. It feels supportive, cushioned and pleasant to touch all at the same time – it’s like a memory foam mattress for your wrists.
Flip-out legs underneath the wristrest mean you can tilt the angle up at the front and get the ideal typing angle, whether you’re typing from a seated position or at a standing desk. The idea behind all these features is to promote a more neutral position for your arms and wrists; Logitech claims the keyboard reduces wrist bending by 25% and offers 54% more wrist support than a regular keyboard.
Coincidentally, I had pain in my right shoulder (brought about by poor typing posture) when the Logitech Ergo K860 arrived. Although it lacks the deep key action and satisfying mechanical “clack” of my usual keyboard, it immediately felt more comfortable to type on and, after a week of using it, my shoulder pain began to fade.
Although the key action isn’t as deep as I’m used to, it’s excellent, mimicking the quiet, shallow and yet positive feel of the superb Logitech MX Keys ( see
issue 303, p75). My one question mark is over the number pad: how many people really need it? After all, it only serves to push the mouse further over to the right.
Also note that there’s no backlight, but that’s probably to extend battery life: the two supplied AAA batteries should last for a couple of years. That’s great for a wireless keyboard. It connects over 2.4GHz RF (using the supplied USB-A dongle) or Bluetooth 5, and you can connect up to three devices at a time, switching between them with a button press.
If you’re suffering from RSI, the Ergo K860 is worth considering, despite its high price. And if £110 is too much, you can pick up a Microsoft Sculpt ergonomic keyboard for £25 less – which comes with a detachable number pad and wireless mouse in the box.