HMX Garnet 45g

Quick Summary

The Garnet is an HMX-and-Swagkeys collaboration linear that mixes a polycarbonate top with a Nylon bottom to land a brighter, more present sound than HMX’s all-Nylon switches. At 45g actuation with a full 4.0mm travel, it feels smooth and medium-light with a satisfying clack on bottom-out. It’s a good pick if you want a budget linear with a bit more sonic snap.

Specs and Feel

Garnet actuates at 45g and bottoms out at 50g, a tight 5g gap that makes the stroke feel even and predictable. Pre-travel is 2.0mm and total travel is a full 4.0mm, so you get a longer, more deliberate press than HMX’s short-travel lights. The construction is the interesting part: a POM stem in a polycarbonate top housing and a Nylon PA66 bottom. The PC top is what gives the Garnet its brighter, medium-clacky voice, while the Nylon bottom keeps the bottom-out from getting harsh. The 22mm spring is matched to the 50g bottom weight, and factory lube keeps the downstroke smooth with no notable scratch. Wobble is well managed.

Tuning

It’s good stock: the factory lube and tight housing make it ready to drop in. If you want to push the sound deeper, a heavier hand-lube on the stem would mute some of the PC brightness, but that works against the switch’s character. Leave the housing alone and, at most, swap the spring if you want a different weight. Films aren’t needed here.

Verdict

Buy the Garnet if you want an affordable medium-light linear with a brighter, clackier sound than the usual all-Nylon budget options. Compared to the deeper HMX Hibiscus 42g, the Garnet trades thock for pop thanks to its PC top housing and full-length travel. For a poppy typing board on a budget, it’s an easy yes, just note this was a limited collab, so availability comes and goes.