Few things in life are as satisfying as coming up with an idea, executing said idea, and seeing just how well it turns out when you've accomplished the task. This can be applied to a lot of things in life, especially when you build something yourself.
It's part of the reason why I have become so infatuated with mechanical keyboards over the past few years, moving away from low-profile alternatives that just aren't ergonomic (or fun). The majority of folks will probably just use whatever cheap keyboards they can get their hands on, but the mechanical keyboard rabbit hole offers a fun alternative.
When we talk about building a keyboard, we don't mean literally creating everything from scratch. But instead, you essentially figure out the different parts that you want to use and then assemble everything together. And with Cyber Monday upon us, now's the time to take the plunge if you've been holding off on jumping down the rabbit hole.
If you're just getting started
Even with all the different deals that can be found today, you might not want to go out and break the bank on a hobby that you aren't 100% sure about. Luckily, you don't have to do that, as you can get everything you need for less than the best gaming keyboard.
Keychron has skyrocketed in popularity over the years, and for good reason. The company does a fantastic job at providing excellent mechanical keyboard options, ranging from pre-built solutions to barebones kits, and everything in between. And that's where we start with the following set.
Build your "end game" keyboard
As you can see, there are three different key pieces that you need, in order to successfully (and easily) build your own mechanical keyboard. First is the body, which includes the PCB, backlighting, and the case itself. Our go-to barebones kit for most budgets is the GMMK Pro with its CNC aluminum case,
From there, you'll need to grab some key switches, and the Drop + Invyr Holy Panda switches are a personal favorite. These are tactile switches, offering smooth and responsive feedback with every press on the keyboard. Rounding out the pack is a keycap set, and again we're back to Drop, as the company is holding an incredible Cyber Monday sale on many different products.
