Everglide Jades
Tested with: Stock, 60 gr TX, 62 gr Spirit springs.
Lubed versions were tested with 3204.
Stock switches:
These switches are okay. It’s my understanding that they are basically Zeal V1s. Maybe in a T1 housing. I’m not sure. But I like the idea.
Everglide Jades are relatively smooth tactiles that have a crispy, distinct, and punctual tactile bump part-way through the switch. It’s a conventional MX tactility, like Browns or Clears. I’d say it feels like a sharper Ergo Clear, with less ‘noise’ in the switch.
Without the tactile bump, it would definitely feel more like a clean linear than MX Brown does.
The actual typing sound is chittery, and higher in pitch. I don’t like it, and became interested in a lubed version of the switch. One video described the switches as “rattly,” which is true.
The tactile bump is sharper than I’m used to, it’s feels steep and almost two-stage. I thought lubing might smooth it a little.
Somebody on Drop described these as “similar but crisper than Browns,” which I feel is accurate.
I’m not sure that the stock spring is the best choice. It’s light and rebounds okay, but it feels lighter than expected. It’s listed as 58 gr bottom-out, and I think it could stand to be 2 gr heavier.
Lubed / spring-swapped Jades:
However, the lubed 60 gr Jade was disappointing at first. The spring feels heavier, thicker, and more resistant, but this does not necessarily lead to a better typing experience. Lube + spring-swap just makes the switch feel heavier and noisier.
Upon further testing, it isn’t so bad. The 60 gr TX springs have a gentle bottom-out, and are easy to type on. Spirit springs can be stiff in contrast to their TX counterparts. It is possible to type quickly on the 60 gr TX Jades, but also softly. So there may be something there.
The lubed 60 gr TX Jades are softer than stock and still poppy. But with the softness, they lose some of the exciting springiness of the originals.
The 62 gr Spirit spring was more fun, both in the unlubed and lubed varieties. The 62 spring is very poppy, maybe too poppy for the limited tactile bump of the Jade switch. But I am enjoying the lubed 62 gr Jade. It really feels very robust. The 62 gr Spirit is an interesting choice. But it is noticeably heavier than stock, and MX Brown, and I’m not sure it’s the ideal choice for sustained typing. This spring dominates the switch.
The 62 gr Spirit version of the Jade also sounded the deepest.
I have to reiterate. The 62 gr Spirit springs are a good weight for the Jade, for those people who want a more “MX Blue” experience than “MX Brown.” The 62 Spirit is heavier than MX Blue. If you type lightly, you can avoid bottom-out. But it will require overall greater force than the stock springs and MX Brown.
What about stock spring, lubed? That actually worked out pretty okay. These test switches were lubed a bit more heavily than the ones with replacement springs. The lubing succeeded in softening the tactile bump. The sound is lower-pitched. But maybe it was a mistake to soften the bump, as the stock Jades are more fun.
I was critical of the stock spring, because I felt that the bottom-out weight was a little light.
On the plus side, it has a relatively strong upstroke. So maybe these springs are more appropriate than I at first thought.
VERDICT: 62 gr Spirit springs are authoritative in these switches, can be good if you were looking for a higher weight. 60 gr TX were meh at first. But it turns out they are gentle and fast.
Stock, lubed Jades are pretty gentle, but maybe not as exciting as unlubed stock. Maybe just leave them stock? The problem with stock is the typing sound.
Stock Jade is a decent tactile, but sounds rattly.
Maybe I should use stock parts and listen to this guy:
