Natural rubber vs silicone mouse pads: Rubber wins for competitive gaming

Natural rubber creates more static friction against the desk, so it won’t slide during intense flicking. Silicone feels grippy at first but can shift on smooth surfaces under pressure. The trade-off is rubber attracts dust and hair and can stain lighter desks. For sweaty Valorant sessions, rubber wins every time — silicone is fine for typing or casual browsing.