Keyboards & input · split keyboard
ErgoDox EZ
Ergonomic split keyboard praised for long-term comfort, custom layouts and open firmware. Critics say newer boards beat it and it is often too large.
Summarized from 32 comments.
Ergonomic split keyboard praised for long-term comfort, custom layouts and open firmware. Critics say newer boards beat it and it is often too large.
- recommend
- 17
- criticize
- 13
- months recommended
- 5 of 13
Why people love it
Comfortable for long-term typing · 2
using Ergodox as my only keyboard for over 5 years
Feb 2026 · commentfar more comfortable to type on long-term IMO
Aug 2026 · commentCustomizable layouts with all keys · 2
Started using an Ergodox EZ with a custom map after I shattered one of my wrists in a vehicle crash, have stuck with it since.
Nov 2025 · commentI use all the keys on my ergodox-ez
Feb 2026 · comment
What people warn about
Uncomfortable or hard to adapt to · 4
I never found either of the latter boards particularly comfortable.
Aug 2026 · commentafter a couple weeks things just still felt off
Jul 2026 · commenti couldnt quite get my brain to wrap around it
Nov 2025 · commentToo big for hands or desk · 2
gave me permanent RSI in my thumbs, because it was too big for my hands
Jul 2026 · commentunhappy with how much space it took up on my desk
Feb 2026 · commentMissing a row or function keys · 2
they're missing a row, and no amount of meta layering is going to convince me otherwise
Jul 2026 · commentThe Moonlander and the Ergodox both lack Function keys.
Jul 2026 · commentOutdated next to newer boards · 2
These days, there are so many better options that it's hard to recommend Ergodox
Feb 2026 · commentI don't think the Ergodox offers anything over it.
Feb 2026 · comment
Long-term owners
using Ergodox as my only keyboard for over 5 years
Feb 2026 · comment
What hackers pick instead
- MoErgo Glove80Split, contoured keyboard with a large thumb cluster that people find comfortable and ergonomic, especially with tenting and mounting. Most common caveat: a difficult learning curve.29recommend
- Kinesis AdvantageOwners praise its contoured, split layout for easing wrist and hand strain and keeping typing speed; critics say it is bulky, expensive and hard to travel with.29recommend
- ZSA MoonlanderA programmable ortholinear split keyboard that people praise for easy customization, comfort and solid build; the most common caveat is the lack of function keys.27recommend
- ZSA VoyagerWell built, comfortable split keyboard with integrated training, praised for long coding sessions and easing wrist pain. One critic says it is not very ergonomic.17recommend
- Ultimate Hacking KeyboardPeople recommend it for its split layout, built-in trackpoint and mouse layer, and easy programmability, and report it as reliable.15recommend
Every quote
The 25 most detailed of 32 comments. Each links to the original.
Started using an Ergodox EZ with a custom map after I shattered one of my wrists in a vehicle crash, have stuck with it since.
Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “IDEmacs: A Visual Studio Code clone for Emacs”
These days, there are so many better options that it's hard to recommend Ergodox
Mixed · Feb 2026 · in “A Beginner's Guide to Split Keyboards”
The Moonlander and the Ergodox both lack Function keys.
Mixed · Jul 2026 · in “My Favorite Keyboards”
using Ergodox as my only keyboard for over 5 years
Recommends · Feb 2026 · in “A Beginner's Guide to Split Keyboards”
far more comfortable to type on long-term IMO
Recommends · Aug 2026 · in “Ask HN: What's your daily driver keyboard?”
I use all the keys on my ergodox-ez
Recommends · Feb 2026 · in “A Beginner's Guide to Split Keyboards”
they're missing a row, and no amount of meta layering is going to convince me otherwise
Criticizes · Jul 2026 · in “My Favorite Keyboards”
gave me permanent RSI in my thumbs, because it was too big for my hands
Criticizes · Jul 2026 · in “My Favorite Keyboards”
I never found either of the latter boards particularly comfortable.
Criticizes · Aug 2026 · in “typ.ing”
I don't think the Ergodox offers anything over it.
Criticizes · Feb 2026 · in “A Beginner's Guide to Split Keyboards”
unhappy with how much space it took up on my desk
Criticizes · Feb 2026 · in “A Beginner's Guide to Split Keyboards”
after a couple weeks things just still felt off
Criticizes · Jul 2026 · in “My Favorite Keyboards”
i couldnt quite get my brain to wrap around it
Criticizes · Nov 2025 · in “One Handed Keyboard”
I could never get comfortable on my Ergodox
Criticizes · Jul 2026 · in “My Favorite Keyboards”
I used a friend's ErgoDox a few years ago, and quite liked it, but what holds me back is the Topre switches.
Mixed · Jul 2026 · in “My Favorite Keyboards”
I loved my ergodox, but it made my laptop keyboard difficult to use due to remapped backspace
Recommends · Aug 2026 · in “typ.ing”
Very safe pick since firmware is open source and it can be both self-assembled and bought.
Mixed · Feb 2026 · in “A Beginner's Guide to Split Keyboards”
my Ergodox allows me to juggle my keyboard halves around the desk at different angles
Recommends · Feb 2026 · in “A Beginner's Guide to Split Keyboards”
I finally settled on ErgoDox EZ with Kailh Silver switches.
Recommends · Feb 2026 · in “A Beginner's Guide to Split Keyboards”
It’s been a good way for me to eliminate a lot of pinky use
Recommends · Mar 2026 · in “Typing and Keyboards”
By week 2 I was faster on it than a QWERTY keyboard.
Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “Toucan Wireless Split Keyboard with Touchpad”
failing that, maybe try an ErgoDox EZ or Glove80?
Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “Toucan Wireless Split Keyboard with Touchpad”
settle for Ergodox, Moonlander and other halfway there solutions
Criticizes · Jul 2026 · in “My Favorite Keyboards”
The Ergodox was also too unstable with high tilting for me
Criticizes · Jul 2026 · in “My Favorite Keyboards”
split/tilt wasn't right for my wrists
Criticizes · Jul 2026 · in “My Favorite Keyboards”
Counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, Nov 2025 to Nov 2026. How we count · Report a mistake