Introduction
As a computer programmer, piano player, and avid gamer, I would strain my wrist after sessions longer than an hour growing up. I read online about how a gaming sleeve (compression sleeve) can help mitigate this issue, but I wanted to see if there was more utility in what I was looking into.
The truth is some gamers sweat a lot, some get wrist strain from overuse, or they game on rough surfaces like old desks that give them splinters or on sturdy mouse pads that aren’t comfortable for long sessions. Others want to absolute most upper edge over other gamers and never want to loose a kill streak because their mouse grip slipped.
Either way, there’s one product in particular that can help with all these things that I just mentioned.
So what are gaming sleeves?
Gaming sleeves are accessories gamers wear to improve mouse gliding, reduce wrist strain and irritation from rough surfaces, and improve overall comfort for long term gaming. Gaming sleeves wick away sweat, improve blood flow, and allow for more accurate shooting during competitive games by up to 20%.
Some of you might just be wondering what a gaming sleeve is, or if it actually makes you a better gamer. If you’re an avid gamer like me, then I encourage you to keep reading and not overlook these extremely helpful products. There’s more utility in gaming sleeves than you think.
In this article I’ll share with you the following things:
- What exactly are gaming sleeves and what makes them special?
- Should you get a gaming sleeve?
- Which gaming sleeve is right for the games you play
Important Note: When I was conducting my original research and talking to experts, I also learned there’s some types of gamers who definitely should not buy gaming sleeves for certain reasons, which I’ll cover later in this article.
What makes gaming sleeves special?
After I did my research, I actually game to realize there’s much more to them than I thought. Most gaming sleeves have a few different material types:
|
Nyelon |
Most sweat wicking |
|
Spandex |
Most breathable |
|
Silk |
Most form fitting |
When looking to purchase a gaming sleeve, pick the material type you want and then look at what majority of the material is made out of.
Pro Tip: you can use any kind of compression sleeve as a gaming sleeve. There isn’t a material or brand specific to gaming that you have to get (sports ones such as cycling sleeves work just as well). One of my gamer friends uses his old football uniform compression sleeve when he plays Apex. Some people even just decide to wear a sweatshirt and call it good from there!
“Every gaming sleeve tends to be a one size fits all. You don’t need to measure your arm to find the perfect fit for you, and cutting them to fit your arm is also something I’ve seen people do” –Edward T, Pro amateur gamer.
When I was texting my friend Edward back and forth asking him for recommendations, he said it’s also a great option to buy one if you feel like you have rug burn irritation on your forearm after gaming. Pro gamers spend long hours in front of a screen either practicing or in tournaments, which can cause a rug burn sensation after many hours.
Wrist agitation also comes down to the type of mousepad you’re using. If you don’t have one yet or dislike the one you’re currently using, check out my article on how to choose gaming mouse pad roughness. In this article there’s a link to a spreadsheet of how to choose the right gaming mouse.
Should You Get a Gaming Sleeve?
On average, most gamers don’t use a gaming sleeve unless they feel some real agitation with the surface their arm rests on or want extra precision in their aiming accuracy. If you don’t game competitively nor have any ergonomic pain in your arm, there is not need to use one.
To elaborate, a gaming sleeve will still improve your gaming performance because of the smooth gliding it gives. Better yet, gaming sleeves aren’t expensive at all. This means you can easily drop $10 on one and have it for decades if you take care of it.
Many of the pros stick with Precision Gaming Arm Sleeves
You can choose the material type for this one (Nyelon, Spandex etc) based on the table above to decide how you want it to fit. Reports say that gaming sleeves make gamers 20% more accurate when using a sleeve compared to their performance without one.
A sleeve such as this one also greatly reduces arthritis and improves blood flow the same way any other compression sleeve does.
Below are some other reasons why a gamer would want to use a sleeve:
- Hot weather: players sweat more in the summer, especially if they don’t game in air conditioned rooms. Some people just sweat a lot more in general when they hold controllers (like my brother)
- Gaming on a sticky surface or rough textured desk: even with a mouse pad, dragging your wrist across parts of a rough, wooden desk will agitate anyone. Older desks can even cause splinters.
- Playing majority competitive games: if all you play are competitive first person shooters for hours on end, then you know that games like Apex or Fortnite really do require some extra precision mechanics to make you competitive.
Important Note: one thing that also affects aiming precision is mouse size. If you have big hands, chances are you could be using the wrong size mouse for optimal ergonomic use. I wrote a super helpful article here on the best researched gaming mice for large hands.
Which Gaming Sleeve Should I Get?
You want a gaming sleeve that does the following things:
- Fits snug, but not too tight. You shouldn’t feel any tingling caused by wearing a gaming sleeve. Sleeves don’t need to be tight and they can even be as loose fitting as a sweatshirt sleeve.
- They shouldn’t snag, drag, or catch surfaces of your desk as you pan across it with your arm.
- Silk sleeves will fit the tightest compared to Nylon.
- Style. Don’t get a boring one. you want to feel cool while you game and it’ll motivate you to wear if more often if it’s not plain white
Pro Tip: look for reviews with people who say they have long arms, it gives you an indication of how much it can be stretched and still work really well.
Related Questions
Should I get a gaming glove? Unless you plan to be a pro gamer competing in tournaments or like the way they look, then it is not necessary to get a gaming glove. Gaming gloves are for gamers who absolutely don’t want sweat interfering with extreme accuracy during games, and who can’t afford to loose one millisecond of reaction time as a result. It does help reduce Carpal Tunnel syndrome however.
How do you clean a gaming sleeve? Wash it individually in cold water over the sink. It doesn’t need to be washed with all your laundry in a washer nor should it. The material of gaming sleeves are so light that they can easily shrink during a washer dryer load and reduce the material integrity. You won’t be sweating while wearing it so it shouldn’t get too dirty.
One thing I learned is that ergonomic support really makes a difference when it comes to being comfortable for gaming over long hours. If you’re interested in completely outfitting your gaming setup, check out this guide to ergonomic gaming chairs.
Final Thoughts
I saw pro gamers wearing these sleeves during tournaments but never really wondered what purpose they actually served since most of these guys are healthy and young. So I did some research. Some of you might be wondering what a gaming sleeve is in general, or if it actually makes you a better gamer.
If you’re ready to fully understand what a great gaming setup looks like, and want all the easy gold nugget insight into each piece of gaming gear, check out this free E-Book I created.
While gaming sleeves aren’t commonly used by most gamers, they can actually be a really useful accessory that really make gaming a lot more comfortable and enjoyable. On that note, thanks for reading! If you have any further questions or comments, feel free to reach out at entertainmentden.ns@gmail.com and I’ll do my best to respond. Thank you for the feedback I’ve received already and stay tuned for the next article!