HMX Cloud
The HMX Cloud is a light, smooth LY-stem linear on HMX's proven budget housing, factory-lubed and good to go near stock.
How it feels
How it sounds
mutedFull review
Quick Summary
The HMX Cloud is a light, factory-lubed linear built on HMX’s familiar nylon-blend housing with an LY stem, the combination behind a string of the brand’s well-liked budget switches. It is smooth, low-effort, and quiet, aimed at typists who want a refined linear without paying boutique prices or breaking out the lube station. At this price, it is one of the easier recommendations for a stock or near-stock build.
Specs and Feel
The Cloud is a true linear with a clean, uninterrupted downstroke and no hint of bump or click. It actuates at 42g and bottoms out around 50g in the light spring, with a slightly firmer 56g/63.5g option for those who want more resistance. Travel is standard-ish: a 2.0mm pre-travel and a slightly shortened 3.9mm total, which gives it a touch more snap on return than a full 4.0mm switch. The LY stem on the PA12/PA-2 nylon housing is the headline. It runs smooth with very little scratch straight from the bag, and stem wobble is tightly controlled in both axes. Sound is on the muted, poppy side rather than clacky, leaning deeper thanks to the nylon bottom housing.
Tuning
There is little to do here. The factory lube is applied well, so most people will be happy running these stock. If you enjoy the ritual, a light hand-lube on the springs will quiet any faint ping and add a hair of polish, but films are unnecessary given how snug the housing already sits.
Verdict
Buy it. The HMX Cloud delivers the smoothness, consistency, and muted sound profile people chase in pricier linears, at a price that makes filling a full board painless. If you want a heavier or more pronounced switch you will look elsewhere, but for a light, refined, no-fuss linear that is good to go out of the bag, the Cloud is an easy pick.
Frequently asked
How heavy is the HMX Cloud?
It comes in two springs: a light 42g-actuation, 50g-bottom-out variant and a slightly firmer 56g/63.5g version. Both are on the lighter end of linears, so pick the lighter one for fast typing and the heavier for a bit more bottom-out resistance.
Does the HMX Cloud need lube?
No. It ships factory-lubed and feels clean and consistent out of the bag. Only bother hand-lubing if you want to chase a touch more polish on the springs.
What stem and housing does the Cloud use?
An LY-stem on HMX's PA12 nylon top and PA-2 nylon bottom housing, the same smooth, slightly muted recipe behind several of HMX's well-regarded budget linears.
Compare HMX Cloud against another switch
Stack specs, sound profiles, and feel side by side.