Long-Pole Switches Guide: What Makes Them Clacky and Which to Pick
Introduction
When you read about switch sound, you run into two terms: "long pole" and "rail bottom-out." Both describe how the stem bottoms out, and both explain why linears that look alike on paper can sound so different.
This guide separates the two designs and introduces ten switches that KeyLab DB lists as long-pole or rail bottom-out, based on retailer descriptions or the stem material field. Specs are KeyLab DB listings as of October 2026.
The short answer
| If you want... | Try |
|---|---|
| A light linear with a distinct bottom-out sound | HMX Grey (37g) / KTT Mint (43g) |
| A standard-to-heavy staple | Gateron Oil King (55g) / Durock Sea Glass (45g) |
| A sandy feel without a sharp bottom-out | Rail bottom-out: HMX Rain (42g) / Snow Crash (50g) / Waves (48g) |
| A tactile with a clacky sound | Wingtree Yuying Light (45g) |
| A heavy tactile with a firm bump and bottom-out | Kailh Hako Clear (55g) |
Long pole vs. rail bottom-out
Long pole
A switch stem has a central post, or "pole," on its underside. A long-pole stem makes that post longer so that, on bottom-out, the central pole strikes the bottom of the housing instead of the side rails a standard stem hits.
The result tends to be a more pronounced bottom-out sound. Enthusiast forums and reviews describe it as an exaggerated, thocky pitch to some, and as sharp to others, so it comes down to taste. In KeyLab DB's descriptions, the HMX Grey and Wingtree Yuying Light are called clacky, and the Gateron Oil King's long-pole design is noted for avoiding interference with Cherry-profile keycaps.
Long pole does not always mean shorter travel. As the table below shows, the ten switches here have total travel of 3.4 to 4.0 mm, and several sit at the full 4.0 mm.
Rail bottom-out
Rail bottom-out (RBO) switches bottom out on the stem rails. The retailer description for the HMX Snow Crash says this avoids the loud, clacky bottom-out of traditional HMX switches. The HMX Rain is described by its retailer as having a uniform, scratchy feel throughout, which suits anyone who does not want a sharp bottom-out.
So the two designs pull in nearly opposite directions: long pole emphasizes the bottom-out sound, RBO tones it down. Neither is better; it is a matter of taste.
Ten switches compared
KeyLab DB listings as of October 2026. Force is actuation / bottom-out; travel is pre-travel / total travel. "—" means not listed.
| Model | Type | Design | Force | Travel | Lubed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMX Rain Rail Bottom-out | Linear | RBO | 42g / 50g | 2.0 / 4.0mm | Yes |
| Keebscapeco x HMX Snow Crash | Linear | RBO | 50g / 58g | 2.0 / 4.0mm | Yes |
| Unikeys x Bsun Waves | Linear | RBO | 48g / 55g | 2.0 / 4.0mm | Yes |
| Gateron Oil King | Linear | Long pole | 55g / 65g | 2.0 / 4.0mm | Yes |
| HMX Grey | Linear | Long pole | 37g / 45g | 2.0 / 3.7mm | Yes |
| KTT Mint | Linear | Long pole | 43g / 53g | 1.0 / 4.0mm | Yes |
| Durock Sea Glass | Linear | Long pole | 45g / 62g | 2.0 / 3.8mm | Yes |
| TTC Speed Silver V2 | Linear | Long pole | 45g / — | 1.08 / 3.4mm | Yes |
| Wingtree Yuying Light | Tactile | Long pole | 45g / 58g | 2.4 / 3.7mm | Yes |
| Kailh Hako Clear | Tactile | Long pole | 55g / 79g | 1.95 / 3.6mm | No |
Rail bottom-out: a sandy feel
The HMX Rain Rail Bottom-out is a five-pin linear with a rail bottom-out structure. Its retailer says matte guide rails and updated stem-mold parts give it a uniform sandy texture, and describes it as the rail bottom-out version of the HMX Azalea. See Featured Switch: HMX Rain for a closer look, and the HMX switches guide for the wider lineup.
The Keebscapeco x HMX Snow Crash is described by its retailer as the first rail bottom-out HMX switch. Because it bottoms out on the stem rails, it avoids the loud, clacky bottom-out of traditional HMX switches. At 50g actuation it is a little heavier than the Rain.
The Unikeys x Bsun Waves is described by its retailer as one of BSUN's few rail bottom-out full-travel switches. It uses a Y3X stem and has 4.0 mm of total travel.
Long-pole linears, light to heavy
HMX
The HMX Grey is a linear whose retailer highlights a long-pole POM stem with a flat tip. Paired with a carbon-fiber-blend sound chamber, it is said to aim for a tight, crispy, clacky sound. Actuation is a light 37g.
KTT
The KTT Mint is another linear whose retailer calls out a long-pole stem. Actuation is 43g, and its 4.0 mm total travel is on the long side for a long-pole switch. A good fit if you want a light, long-travel option.
Gateron
The Gateron Oil King is a heavy 55g linear with a long-pole stem. Its retailer says the long-pole design avoids interference with Cherry-profile keycaps and north-facing LEDs.
Durock
The Durock Sea Glass is a linear whose stem material is listed in KeyLab DB as "P3 Long Pole." Actuation is 45g, bottom-out 62g, and total travel 3.8 mm.
The TTC Speed Silver V2 is a linear listed with a POM "Extended Long Pole Design" stem. Actuation is 45g and total travel is 3.4 mm, the shortest of these ten. Its bottom-out force is not listed in KeyLab DB.
Long-pole tactiles
WingTree
The Wingtree Yuying Light is a tactile whose retailer says the long-pole stem creates an overall clacky sound profile. Actuation is 45g, and its pre-travel of 2.4 mm puts the bump fairly deep.
Kailh
The Kailh Hako Clear is a plate-mount tactile designed by Input Club. Its retailer lists 55g actuation, a heavier bottom-out, and a long-pole stem. Its 79g bottom-out force is the highest of these ten, and KeyLab DB lists it as not factory lubed.
How to choose
Settle force and travel first, and the field narrows quickly.
- Force: light is HMX Grey (37g) or KTT Mint (43g); standard is HMX Rain (42g) or Durock Sea Glass (45g); heavy is Gateron Oil King (55g) or Kailh Hako Clear (55g).
- Travel: 4.0 mm total for Oil King, KTT Mint, Rain, Snow Crash and Waves; 3.4 to 3.8 mm for HMX Grey, Sea Glass, TTC Speed Silver V2, Yuying Light and Hako Clear.
- Housing: materials vary (nylon on the Oil King, PC on the KTT Mint's top, PA66 on the HMX Rain and others), and even among long-pole switches the sound differs. Check retailer descriptions and reviews for the sound character.
- Lubing: nine of the ten are factory lubed and ready to use. The Kailh Hako Clear is listed as not lubed.
If quiet matters most, look at six recommended silent linear switches instead of long-pole designs.
Pairing with a thocky keyboard
Long pole emphasizes the bottom-out sound, so the keyboard's construction shapes the result as much as the switch. For a lower, deeper tone, consider pairing with a gasket-mounted board or one with sound-dampening foam. See thocky-sounding keyboards for picks by budget.
Explore more
References
FAQ
- Are long-pole switches quiet?
- The design is not aimed at quiet typing. Reviewers say long-pole stems tend to give a distinct, more pronounced bottom-out sound. If quiet matters most, a silent linear is a better fit.
- Do long-pole stems shorten the travel?
- Not necessarily. In KeyLab DB, the ten switches here have total travel of 3.4 to 4.0 mm, and both the Gateron Oil King and KTT Mint are listed at 4.0 mm.
- How is long-pole different from rail bottom-out?
- On a long-pole stem the central pole hits the bottom of the housing. On a rail bottom-out stem the rails take the bottom-out. The retailer description for the HMX Snow Crash says this avoids the loud, clacky bottom-out of traditional HMX switches.
- Are the switches in this guide factory lubed?
- In KeyLab DB, nine of the ten are factory lubed. The exception is the Kailh Hako Clear.
