HMX Valerian 48g Tactile

Quick Summary

The HMX Valerian is a smooth mid-weight tactile designed by Mori, built around a full-POM top housing and a thickened nylon bottom. It pairs a 48g actuation with a moderate bump and a slightly shortened travel, and the POM-heavy construction gives it a rounded, refined character. If you want a tactile that feels polished out of the box and skews toward a deeper sound, the Valerian is a comfortable daily option.

Specs and Feel

This is a genuine tactile with a 48g actuation, a 55g bottom-out, 2.0mm of pre-travel and a slightly trimmed 3.4mm total travel, so the stroke feels controlled and a touch quicker than full MX length. The POM stem running in a POM top housing is the key to its feel. POM-on-POM is inherently slick, and the factory lube (thin 205g0 on the stem, dry film on the spring and leaf) builds on that for a smooth, low-scratch stroke. The thickened N1 nylon bottom housing deepens and rounds the sound rather than brightening it, so bottom-outs land fuller than on a PC-housed tactile. The 22mm KOS single-stage spring keeps the return crisp, and stem wobble is well controlled. It shares a top-housing mold with the Cosmic Purple and Yogurt V2.

Tuning

Little is required. The POM top and factory lube already deliver a smooth, resolved stroke, so most builders can run these stock. To push the sound deeper still, thicker keycaps and case foam help; a spring swap is the only meaningful feel change. Films aren’t necessary given the snug housing.

Verdict

Buy the Valerian if you want a smooth, mid-weight tactile with a rounded, slightly deeper voice and a refined stock feel. It sits a little lighter and shorter than the HMX Ice Lotus, the more nimble of the two mid-weight HMX tactiles. Skip it if you want a sharp, loud, early bump. For that, the HMX Retro J is the louder, punchier pick.