Humidity will mess with your cloth pad. Get a hybrid or coated one.

Yes, humidity absolutely changes the glide on a standard cloth mousepad — it gets slower and stickier.

Cloth pads are basically fabric. Fabrics absorb moisture from the air. When the fibers swell, the surface friction increases. In high humidity, your mouse will feel like it’s dragging through honey. In low humidity, it’ll feel faster. Annoying for gaming or precise work.

Least affected cloth-style materials: coated cloth pads (like the Artisan Hien or Razer Strider) use synthetic fibers or a hard coating that don’t absorb much. Also look for “hybrid” pads — they have a fabric top but a rubber or silicone base and a weave that resists moisture. These will stay consistent across seasons.

Hard pads (glass, plastic) are totally immune, but that’s a different category.

If you live somewhere humid, don’t fight it — pick a pad that doesn’t care about the weather.