I went from a Kinesis Freestyle 2 that I'd used for almost a decade to the Glove 80 with the Glorious Engrammer key layout/functions: ( https://sunaku.github.io/moergo-glove80-keyboard.html#layers ) It took a few weeks to get used to, but now that I've got the muscle memory down it's a blast to use. Having function layers makes so much sense once you get used to them. Why use Control + C and Control + V and the hand cortortion it causes on a daily basis when you can hold down the G letter key and then press j/k to copy/paste. The thumb cluster is quite handy as well, I have one button mapped to a custom script that I run dozens of times a day.
Likes it
My Kinesis Freestyle 2 will always be the greatest ergo keyboard I've ever owned - with cables. I can tilt at 5, 10, 15 degree angles. I can move the two parts differently (and do), and with the risers, I can tilt it 90 degrees - which I'm never doing. The flexibility is perfect for me, so I keep one at home, and one in the office.
Neutral
I went from “regular” keyboard to kinesis freestyle 2 to kinesis advantage 360. The switch to the freestyle 2 was basically seamless. Switching to the advantage 360 was brutal, but I can tell you that i have not only fully recovered my typing speed but have even improved on my historical ability. I used monkeytype.com for a couple years before the jump to the advantage 360 and still to this day, and you can see the deep trough my speed went through while i figured out the ortholinear layout and thumb clusters, and the new all time high records i’ve recently set.
Likes it
I have shoulder issues and use a Kinesis Freestyle 2. It lets me keep my shoulders square while I am typing. I would love to get a keyboard with a trackball, though. Moving from the keyboard to the mouse and back starts to irritate my right shoulder after a while (have had rotator cuff surgery on that one).
Likes it
I bought a moonlander in 2020 after work gave us a work from home credit when we transitioned to remote for Covid. I tried it but couldn’t get into it and it sat collecting dust for years. In 2024 I dove back into splits with a kinesis freestyle 2. I loved it as it felt more natural as it’s a basic keyboard just split. After I got used to that I was able to migrate to the moonlander pretty easily. I just had to spend the time to sent it up properly for programming. Now I own 2, each with the platform addon, which solves many of the issues with tenting as you no longer have to pivot the thumb cluster. It is expensive though. Both keyboards also have shrimp switches to make typing pretty quiet. This combined with a ball mouse have solved my RSI that developed a few years ago entirely.
Likes it
I came from using two Microsoft Natural keyboards at once, as my "split" keyboard. I eventually upgraded to a Kinesis FreeStyle 2. I've tried some ortholinear keyboards but hated hated hated every minute of it. I'm back on the FreeStyle 2 at work and a newer FreeStyle Edge at home.
Likes it
For me, the angle matters, but also the softness of the touch. For this reason I have loved the Kinesis Freestyle 2. I really tried hard for some weeks, and much customization, to like the Kinesis Advantage, which is programmable, but the keys were just too stiff for my hands' comfort. Maybe someday I'll have to try more of the other kinds, that people discuss. Time/$/priorities... Edit: I've tried multiple MS split keyboards but they were also a bit stiff. The nearest other I've liked was a Belkin that I found somehow at work, but I forget which model. (Ps: if someone seriously wants to try my Advantage enough to make it super-easy for me to mail it to them, it's just sitting here in the box...)
Recommends it
Since you are specifically asking about split keyboards: I use a Kinesis Freestyle 2 and have done so at work for years. I use regular keyboards at home. - not really any difficulty in terms of muscle memory remembering how to switch between regular and split keyboard - it did take me some retraining because before using a split keyboard I had actually typed 6 button with right hand instead of left - it does make a notable difference in terms of wrist pain after extended usage Overall, I can recommend it, especially if work is paying for it. I don’t type enough at home to really justify one though as I don’t start getting wrist pain unless I’m at the desk for 6-8 hours.