Durock Alpaca V2 vs Kinetic Labs Salmon
The Durock Alpaca V2 and the Kinetic Labs Salmon are often cross-shopped. The main differences: stock they sound different: smooth, muted clack versus smooth salmon linear; the Kinetic Labs Salmon costs less per switch ($0.55 versus $0.56).
- Cheaper per switchKinetic Labs Salmon$0.55 versus $0.56
Choose the Durock Alpaca V2 if
- you want a switch popular for enthusiast custom builds.
- you want a switch popular for lube and film projects.
Choose the Kinetic Labs Salmon if
- you want a switch popular for JWK linears.
- you want a switch popular for customs.
- you want to spend less per switch.
Durock Alpaca V2 vs Kinetic Labs Salmon, spec by spec
| Durock Alpaca V2 | Kinetic Labs Salmon | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Linear | Linear |
| Compatibility | Standard MX sockets | Standard MX sockets |
| Actuation force | n/a | 63.5g |
| Bottom-out force | 62g | n/a |
| Pre-travel | 2 mm | n/a |
| Total travel | 4 mm | 4 mm |
| Stem | POM | POM |
| Top housing | PC | PC |
| Bottom housing | nylon | nylon |
| Spring | 62g gold-plated, bottom-out weighted | 63.5g |
| Factory lube | light | light |
| Pins | 5-pin | 5-pin |
| Price / switch | $0.56 | $0.55 (stronger spec) |
| Sound profile | smooth, muted clack | smooth salmon linear |
| Released | 2020 | 2021 |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ; a check marks the objectively stronger spec (price, battery, modability). Feel and preference rows never get a check. Fields marked n/a are unpublished by the maker; we list only verifiable numbers.
Where they sit among all 227 switches we track
94% of the 198 switches tracked here actuate lighter than the Kinetic Labs Salmon.
57% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Durock Alpaca V2; 57% of the 224 switches tracked here have shorter total travel than the Kinetic Labs Salmon.
81% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Durock Alpaca V2; 70% of the 193 switches tracked here cost less per switch than the Kinetic Labs Salmon.
Where to buy the Durock Alpaca V2
No verified retailer link right now. Check the maker or your usual switch retailers.
Where to buy the Kinetic Labs Salmon
No verified retailer link right now. Check the maker or your usual switch retailers.
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