A vertical mouse saved my wrist from years of pain — if you only buy one product this Black Friday, make it one of these

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By John-Anthony Disotto
published

Vertical is love. Vertical is life.

Anker Vertical and Logitech MX Vertical
(Image credit: John-Anthony Disotto)

I’ve suffered from wrist pains for years, and they’ve caused me issues with the way I interact with my tech and even sometimes do my job. I’m very vocal about ergonomics in technology, which is why I moaned for so long about the 14 Pro’s sharp edges and the way it made my hands hurt. As for my wrists, there’s one product that has genuinely changed my life, and I’ve used it every day for the last two years, even after it survived a calamitous coffee spillage.

That product is a vertical mouse, and it has saved not only my wrist pain but probably my career, as the carpal tunnel pains I was getting from my previous mice were just too much to endure. 

A vertical mouse changes how you think about interacting with your Mac, and while there’s a slight learning curve, it’s well worth persevering to have a far more comfortable mouse experience. Instead of using a mouse with your hand flat, a vertical one makes you hold the mouse in a more natural handshake position. The different ergonomics means you move your arm instead of your wrist to move the mouse, eradicating any wrist pain within a few days of transitioning.

The mouse I use daily, the Logitech MX Vertical, is on offer for Black Friday, and I’ve been so passionate about this product since I bought it for $100 that I’ve championed the concept of a vertical mouse with my family members, friends, and even my tech-enthusiast colleagues.

Logitech MX Vertical Wireless Mouse |$99$85 at Amazon

Logitech MX Vertical Wireless Mouse | $99 $85 at Amazon

The best vertical mouse solution on the market, the Logitech MX Vertical, is rarely discounted. With $15 off, this makes an expensive mouse a little bit more affordable, so why not give your wrist the gift it deserves this Black Friday?

I genuinely believe that the best technology purchases are the ones that improve your life long-term, and there is no other product that has had such a life-changing impact than this one here.

If you don’t want to spend $86 on the Logitech MX Vertical, there are other vertical mouse options I own that are more affordable and will allow you to test the waters before you fully commit to the vertical life.

The Anker Vertical Mouse comes in a wired option for $17 and a wireless version for $19 in Amazon’s Black Friday sale. I own the wireless version, and despite taking batteries, the battery life is excellent and the comfort is on par with Logitech’s more expensive offering. The Anker Vertical is the ideal budget option to see if a vertical mouse will help your RSI (repetitive strain injury). I bought this one as a travel option, and the only reason I use my Logitech MX Vertical more often is because of the customizable buttons in Logitech’s Options software.

Anker Wireless Vertical Mouse |$25$18.99 at Amazon

Anker Wireless Vertical Mouse | $25 $18.99 at Amazon

This budget vertical mouse option from Anker is reliable and comfortable for under $20 this Black Friday. With multiple DPI options and extra buttons for interacting with your computer, this is the best entry point into the world of vertical mice.

Anker Wired Vertical Mouse |$23$17 at Amazon

Anker Wired Vertical Mouse | $23 $17 at Amazon

The wired version of Anker's vertical mouse offering is even cheaper than the wireless option. If you work at a desk and don't mind using USB to connect to your computer, this mouse is perfect.

A final option if you want all the bells and whistles of Logitech’s more premium MX Vertical without spending close to $100 is the Logitech Lift. I haven’t used this one personally as it is made for smaller hands, but if you want color options and a more aesthetically pleasing look, then this could be the vertical mouse for you. Currently, there’s a small discount on the Logitech Lift in Amazon’s Black Friday sale, but quite honestly, these products are worth it even at full price.

Logitech Lift Vertical Wireless Mouse | $69.99 $63 at Amazon

Logitech Lift Vertical Wireless Mouse | $69.99 $63 at Amazon

The Logitech Lift is an excellent option for smaller hands looking for better mouse comfort and comes in lovely colors. While there is only 10% off just now, the price varies from color to color, and the product is well worth its RRP.

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So if you’ve got any pain at all from using your computer, this is the one product you should buy this Black Friday. If my experience is anything to go by a vertical mouse will change your life.

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John-Anthony Disotto
John-Anthony Disotto
How To Editor

John-Anthony Disotto is the How To Editor of iMore, ensuring you can get the most from your Apple products and helping fix things when your technology isn’t behaving itself. Living in Scotland, where he worked for Apple as a technician focused on iOS and iPhone repairs at the Genius Bar, John-Anthony has used the Apple ecosystem for over a decade and prides himself in his ability to complete his Apple Watch activity rings. John-Anthony has previously worked in editorial for collectable TCG websites and graduated from The University of Strathclyde where he won the Scottish Student Journalism Award for Website of the Year as Editor-in-Chief of his university paper. He is also an avid film geek, having previously written film reviews and received the Edinburgh International Film Festival Student Critics award in 2019.  John-Anthony also loves to tinker with other non-Apple technology and enjoys playing around with game emulation and Linux on his Steam Deck.

In his spare time, John-Anthony can be found watching any sport under the sun from football to darts, taking the term “Lego house” far too literally as he runs out of space to display any more plastic bricks, or chilling on the couch with his French Bulldog, Kermit.