I’ve been typing on a standard keyboard for most of my life, whether for coding, writing, or just everyday computer use. But after decades of dealing with wrist strain, tight shoulders, and the general discomfort that creeps in after long sessions at the keyboard, I finally decided to try something different: a fully split ergonomic keyboard.

And honestly? I’m never going back.

What is a Full Split Keyboard?

A full split keyboard is exactly what it sounds like: instead of one solid slab of keys, it’s divided into two completely separate halves. Each half can be positioned independently to better match the natural angle of your arms and shoulders.

It may look strange at first, somewhere between "alien tech" and "cyberpunk chic", but the benefits are real.

What I’ve Noticed Since Switching

1. Better Posture, Instantly

The most immediate change was how my arms and shoulders felt. With the keyboard halves positioned at shoulder-width, I no longer have to hunch inward or bring my hands unnaturally close together. It’s subtle but powerful, my body feels more relaxed, and I’m sitting straighter without trying.

2. Wrist Pain? Gone.

I didn’t realize how much tension I was holding in my wrists until it stopped hurting. With the ability to angle the keyboard halves and even tent them slightly (raising the inside edges), my wrists are in a more neutral position. No more awkward pronation or ulnar deviation, just comfortable typing.

3. It Slowed Me Down… and That’s Good

At first, yes, my typing speed took a hit. Muscle memory had to adapt to the new layout. But this forced me to type more mindfully. And weirdly, that felt kind of great, less hammering away, more deliberate thought. After a week or so, I was back up to speed anyway.

4. It Feels Like My Setup Finally Fits Me

This was a surprising one. A full split keyboard makes your desk feel more yours. I can place my mouse or trackpad in the center, keep both hands at rest where they naturally want to fall, and adjust things to fit me, not some one-size-fits-all desk layout.

Who Should Try One?

If you:

Spend hours typing each day,
Have ever dealt with wrist, shoulder, or neck discomfort,
Are into optimizing your workspace for health and comfort,

…you owe it to yourself to try one. There’s a bit of a learning curve, sure, but once you get used to it, going back feels cramped and uncomfortable.

My Experience

Switching to a fully split keyboard wasn’t just a hardware change, it was a full-on typing reset. The first few days were humbling. Even though I’ve typed for years, suddenly my fingers felt lost. Muscle memory didn’t apply the same way when the keys were spaced differently and angled apart.

To speed up the transition, I used keybr.com, a surprisingly effective typing trainer with a unique approach. Unlike traditional drills, it uses smart algorithms to adapt to your current skill level. It repeats a loop like this:

It generates a set of words tailored to your current typing accuracy and speed.
You type them, trying to minimize mistakes.
It records detailed stats on your performance, down to timing for individual keys, and uses that to build your next lesson.

I committed to about 30 minutes a day on keybr.com for a week. In parallel, I forced myself to use the new keyboard for as many tasks as possible, even when it was slower or frustrating. At the start, I had to keep a second keyboard on hand just to type passwords. Those sequences live deep in muscle memory, and I couldn’t reliably get them right with the new layout.

But after two weeks, I was typing passwords without thinking. I’d adjusted to the key positions, punctuation felt natural again, and the layout started to disappear under my hands, in the best possible way.

Now? It’s the best typing experience I’ve ever had. Comfortable, responsive, and effortless. I feel like my keyboard works with me, not against me.

Final Thoughts

I didn’t switch to a split keyboard because I wanted something fancy. I switched because I was tired of feeling physically wrecked by the end of the day. It’s a small change that’s made a surprisingly big difference.

If you're curious, I'd recommend starting with something like the MoErgo Glove80, just make sure it’s truly split, not just curved.

Your wrists will thank you.

Ergonomic keyboards