My wrist is killing me. It’s probably due to my age, but I also have carpal tunnel from years of poor posture and work environment. Ever since I started working from home — long before this pandemic hit — I’ve been backing up, improperly propping up keyboards and monitors, and using the wrong kind of mice. The Logitech elevators It couldn’t have come at a better time.
This vertical mouse is the first time I’ve ever used one, but it feels like a fitting entry point into the world of a better ergonomics. While I had a flare-up of wrist pain before calling this mouse for a review, things improved dramatically once I moved on to the lift from another Logitech mouse, the G305. The G305 is a powerful wireless mouse, but I had to face the fact that aesthetics wasn’t something I could continue to prioritize without increasing the toll on my body.
Fortunately, with cool elevator colors and a modern style, you don’t have to give up looks for ergonomics. After several weeks of use, I honestly look forward to sitting down with a Logitech Lift to get rid of the day. The handshake style grip gives my fingers more room to breathe. The only major problem about this $70 vertical mouse is that it’s not finger-fat resistant. Now I have to figure out a way to clean it up.
What does a Logitech crane look like?
The Logitech Lift vertical mouse is a sibling to the Logitech MX Vertical mouse, so it comes from a solid stock. However, the lift is smaller, making it more comfortable for smaller hands (Logitech has size finder For mice if you are interested in whether this fits in your grip). It also comes in a range of colors, including the rose you see here, graphite, and pale gray. There is a special model for left-handers as well, although this model only comes from graphite.
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The Logitech Lift has quiet left and right click buttons, which is not something I considered would be a selling point for this particular peripheral. But they are so soft when you press them, which is perfect for this mouse’s ergonomic nature. Other buttons include a clickable scroll wheel, which I use with my index finger to scan through pages, and a small button beneath that, which adjusts the DPI. Logitech also includes two thumb buttons pre-programmed as Forward and Back for browsing.
The mouse itself moves smoothly on most surfaces. I used the Lift on a fabric desk mat, which it seems tuned for, though you will have to go into the crevices on the bottom of the mouse with a toothpick to clean it. There’s already gunk collecting there from my weeks of use.
Speaking of gunk, since you are cradling this thing all day, get ready for a shadow of hand grease that will appear after weeks of use. Admittedly, I eat at my desk, which probably contributed to the build-up. I also cradle my face when I think, and I wear tinted moisturizer every day, so it seems inevitable. At the very least, I didn’t notice it was happening until I sat down to write this review. Now that I know it’s there, I want to figure out how to get it off.
Logitech has a help page Over cleaning the peripherals, but I still struggled to get some traction on the dirt. I checked with a friend of mine who is reviewing devices, and they also noticed a small movie in their review unit. Part of the problem is that half of the mouse is rubber, so it’s like a bonding agent for skin grease and lotions. I didn’t see much residue on the matte half of the mouse.
smooth movements
The dirt on my Logitech Lift review unit is centered around the parts that hold it the hardest: the thumb and forefinger. Since this is a vertical mouse, this is where you’ll find your movements focused, rather than moving your wrist left and right, as you would with a standard mouse. Instead, it looks like you’re drawing a big picture with a handy tool.
It took me a while to adjust to Logitech elevators. When I first laid my hands on it, I immediately regretted it, because it was a different sensation than I am used to. But after about a week, I started to feel more comfortable with the movements required to operate a mouse like this.
Using the Logitech lever is like moving a stylus on a Wacom tablet. It works best with small, subtle movements, and every small movement of the wrist will translate onto the screen instantly. While I like the Logitech Lift for general browsing and business purposes, I still find myself a bit limited when navigating narrow menu items or adjusting the slider in programs like Adobe Lightroom. I definitely wouldn’t use this mouse for gaming and would instead go back to one of the original carpal tunnel offenders, the wired Logitech G203.
Logitech’s confusing software case
I’ve reviewed many different Logitech extensions in the past. Each time, I get confused about which of the many company apps I should use to get things the way I like. I currently have six Logitech-made apps installed on my Windows machine to control all of my different devices. include Logitech G Hub for their gaming devices, Logitech Capture for my webcams, and Logitech Options Tuning for other Logitech keyboards and mice I’ve tested. Now, I have to round them all using Logie Bolt driver and Logie options + For Logitech Elevator.
In any case, the sheer amount of software is quite baffling. I already installed Logi Bolt when I checked the file Logitech POP keyboardso I didn’t get a prompt to install Logi Options +, an app that is supposed to replace Logitech Options at some point.
I like the look of the Logi Options + program itself, and the program makes it easy to click on the parts of the mouse that I want to customize. The DPI button isn’t programmed between left and right mouse clicks by default, so pressing it won’t affect your cursor speed unless you head into Options + and set it. You can change the pointer speed in increments of 100 dpi, although they list them in percentage points. The maximum upload speed is 4000 dpi. If you want to use it for games, you can.
A good mouse, if it is dirty
Logitech promises up to 24 months of battery life on a single AA battery for lifting. It’s been a month, and I’m still 100% when connected via a USB Bolt receiver. The lift offers Bluetooth connectivity, and you can switch between three different computers or tablets simultaneously.
The Logitech elevator inspired me to move things around my desk, so I wasn’t in pain by the end of the workday. I have since switched to a better keyboard and keycaps and replaced the small desk with a larger standing desk that can be adjusted by the lever. Things are getting better, although there is always room for improvement. And while the Logitech elevator didn’t eliminate my pain, the physical act of moving my arms around the desk to control my computer meant I took the pressure off my battered wrist.
Not everyone will like the Logitech elevator. Reading other reviews, it appears that large hands have a more difficult time adjusting to the lift, its size, and where the buttons fit where the fingers land. But for me, it has been a boon to productivity and convenience in my lifestyle of working from home. And it comes in a color that matches the rest of the things on my desk.
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