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To choose heavy linear switches, first decide where you want more resistance: at the start of a press, when the key registers, or near the bottom of travel. Then compare specifications for that same force point and try a small step from your current baseline. A headline weight alone cannot answer the question: CHERRY labels MX2A Black at 60 cN operating force, while Wooting's L60 spring is labeled 60 gf end force. Those describe different points in a press. (CHERRY specifications, Wooting spring specifications)
This guide is for keyboard owners choosing a factory linear sample or considering the documented Wooting spring option for Lekker Tikken Medium. Recommendations combine manufacturer specifications with force-curve principles; they are not hands-on test results.
Quick takeaways
- Match the force label and unit before comparing numbers.
- Choose a sample that changes the part of the press you actually want to change.
- Confirm exact compatibility, then compare against your baseline under consistent conditions.
On this page: Define heavier · Compare force labels · Understand force curves · Choose a sample · Check compatibility · Use the worksheet · FAQs
What do you want heavy linear switches to change?
Starting force describes resistance at the beginning of stem movement. Operating force describes resistance at the switching point. End force describes resistance at the end of travel when the manufacturer defines it that way; Wooting expressly identifies its spring-pack end force as bottom-out force. A force curve places these individual values in the context of the full press and release. (Force-curve guide, Wooting definitions)
Before shopping, finish this sentence: “I want my next sample to feel more resistant when…” Your answer gives the comparison a purpose.
- You first press the key: prioritize a documented starting-force comparison.
- The key registers: look for a clearly labeled operating-force specification.
- You approach the bottom: prioritize a documented end-force comparison.
Keep those goals separate in your notes. You might prefer a firmer beginning without wanting a much firmer finish, or the reverse. Treat that as a preference to investigate through samples rather than assuming that the largest number will suit you.
Compare force labels before comparing numbers
The table below preserves each manufacturer's labels. Blank comparisons are intentional: an operating-force value does not supply a missing start or end value, and a spring-pack rating is not an independently measured curve for a modified switch.
| Product or spring option | Published start force | Published operating force | Published end force |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHERRY MX2A Black | Not compared here | 60 cN | Not compared here |
| Wooting Lekker Tikken Medium | 42 gf | Not specified here | 54 gf |
| Wooting L60 spring | 40 gf | Not specified here | 60 gf |
| Wooting L70 spring | 50 gf | Not specified here | 70 gf |
| Wooting L80 spring | 60 gf | Not specified here | 80 gf |
| Wooting L100 spring | 80 gf | Not specified here | 100 gf |
Specification reference date: October 15, 2026. Values are manufacturer specifications, not measurements made for this guide.
Why “60” does not establish equivalence
CHERRY's 60 cN figure is an operating-force specification. Wooting's L60 designation corresponds to a 60 gf end force, paired with a 40 gf start force. Comparing those headline numbers would mix both the force point and the unit. (CHERRY, Wooting)
The independent guide by Benjamin Rudzinski at ThereminGoat's Switches explains that gf means gram-force and cN means centinewtons. They are different force units, even though their numerical scales are close. Keep the original units in your notes; converting units would still leave the operating-versus-end distinction unresolved. (Unit explanation)
A listing that says only “60 g” therefore needs clarification. Ask which force point it describes and whether it refers to the complete switch or its spring. Leave it out of a numerical comparison until that information is available.
What a force curve can tell you
A force curve relates resistance to stem displacement, or how far the stem has moved. Its downstroke describes pressing the stem inward; its upstroke describes releasing it toward its resting position. Reading both helps explain why one weight rating cannot describe the entire movement. (ThereminGoat's force-curve guide)
The spring contributes to that curve, but traditional contact switches also have contact leaves that interact with the stem. Rudzinski explains how those interactions influence resistance during travel. This is why replacing a spring does not, by itself, establish the force curve or feel of a different factory switch. (Component explanation)
When consulting a curve, check the units, identify the press and release traces, and locate the part of travel relevant to your goal. A larger force reading after the stem meets the bottom housing also needs care: the guide explains that machine readings rise sharply once further stem travel is blocked. An undefined “final force” field should not automatically become a comparable bottom-out rating. (Bottom-out explanation)
Curves have limits. The guide specifically rejects using noisy lines to diagnose scratchiness or lubrication quality. Use curves to understand resistance through travel, then record your own impressions separately. This guide does not rank the candidates using matched measured curves. (Interpretation limits)
Choose the next sample from your baseline
Use the published Wooting options as a sample ladder rather than a universal definition of heavy. If your documented baseline is L60, L70 is the next listed option here: its published start/end pair changes from 40/60 gf to 50/70 gf. From L70, L80 changes the pair to 60/80 gf. L100 is a larger listed step from L80, reaching 80/100 gf. (Wooting spring specifications)
The editorial recommendation is to try the next suitable step before choosing a larger jump. This gives you a focused comparison against something familiar. It does not establish an ideal weight or predict which option you will prefer.
Worked example: Tikken Medium to a heavier sample
Tikken Medium's factory specification is 42 gf start and 54 gf end. The L60 spring-pack specification is 40 gf start and 60 gf end. On the published labels, that option raises the end figure while lowering the start figure—so calling it simply “heavier” would hide a meaningful tradeoff. (Tikken specifications, Spring-pack specifications)
If your goal is a higher published value at both points, L70's 50/70 gf pair is a candidate to sample. If your goal concerns only the finish, L60 may still be a relevant comparison. These are reasons to select samples, not measured predictions for the resulting modified switch. Keep the factory Tikken configuration as your reference while evaluating the change.
If your current switch has only an operating-force specification, pause the numerical ladder. Establish a baseline sample and seek comparable labels before treating another product's end-force rating as a defined increase.
Choose between a factory switch and a documented spring change
Factory sample: CHERRY MX2A Black
CHERRY documents MX2A Black as linear with no click, a 60 cN operating force, 2 mm pre-travel, and 4 mm total travel. It offers a factory switch to evaluate if those specifications address your selection goal. Its operating-force figure does not establish a bottom-out comparison with Wooting's spring options. (Official CHERRY product page)
Before obtaining a sample, confirm the exact variant and your keyboard's support for it. Use your intended board for the eventual decision, and follow its manufacturer's replacement instructions.
Documented modification: Lekker Tikken Medium
Wooting lists Tikken Medium as a linear Hall-effect switch with 4 mm travel and a 22 mm nonmagnetic steel spring. Its product page explicitly confirms compatibility with Wooting Spring Packs and specifies a keyboard with Hall sensors as a minimum requirement. The spring-pack page says a switch opener is required. (Tikken product page, Spring-pack tool requirement)
That named compatibility supports this particular spring-selection example. Confirm your exact keyboard and obtain the relevant manufacturer instructions before opening anything. Ordinary MX contact switches, optical switches, and other Hall-effect models require their own compatibility confirmation; a shared category or weight label is insufficient approval.
Compare samples with a repeatable worksheet
Start with your existing configuration and one candidate. Use the same keycap, the intended keyboard, the same key position where practical, and similar tasks. For a Hall-effect comparison, keep the relevant keyboard settings unchanged so that your notes address a consistent setup.
Write the desired change before trying the candidate. Then repeat an ordinary task you care about, such as composing a paragraph or using your usual game controls, and return to the baseline. Treat the following worksheet as a personal comparison method, not a laboratory measurement.
| Record this | Baseline notes | Candidate notes |
|---|---|---|
| Exact switch and spring configuration | Identify the factory setup or installed spring | Identify the candidate setup |
| Published force labels and units | Copy start, operating, and end values separately | Copy the same fields; mark unknowns |
| Initial resistance | Describe the beginning of the press | Describe the change you notice |
| Resistance near the bottom | Record whether you like the finish | Record whether you prefer this finish |
| Release impression | Describe what you notice while releasing | Describe any perceived difference |
| Task and settings | Record the task, key position, and settings | Keep these consistent |
| Comfort and unintended inputs | Record personal observations | Record observations without assuming a cause |
| Decision | State what you want to improve | Keep, reject, or compare again—and why |
After the comparison, ask whether the candidate improved the specific part of the press you identified. If the beginning feels right but the finish does not, record both observations rather than giving the whole switch a single “heavier is better” verdict. If the change is uncomfortable, stop the comparison instead of treating discomfort as a requirement to adapt.
Before ordering more, verify the exact configuration, quantity, seller, current price, availability, and applicable return terms. The official product pages are useful starting points; this guide does not identify a current purchase offer or promise that a small sample package is available.
Frequently asked questions
Is 70 gf too heavy for a linear switch?
A 70 gf label alone does not answer that question. In Wooting's L70 spring specifications, 70 gf is the end force and 50 gf is the start force. Compare those labels with your baseline, then decide through a sample whether you prefer the added resistance. (Wooting specifications)
Is CHERRY's 60 cN operating force equivalent to L60?
The labels describe different force points. CHERRY MX2A Black specifies 60 cN operating force, while Wooting's L60 spring specifies 40 gf start and 60 gf end force. Neither the shared number nor the similar unit scales establish an equivalent feel. (CHERRY, Wooting)
Can I use Wooting springs in any magnetic switch?
Compatibility needs confirmation for the exact switch. Wooting explicitly lists its spring packs as compatible with Lekker Tikken Medium, which requires a Hall-sensor keyboard. That documentation does not establish compatibility with every magnetic switch. Check the switch and keyboard manufacturers' instructions before selecting a modification route. (Tikken compatibility)
Choose the smallest useful comparison
For heavy linear switches, choose your next sample by the force point you want to change. Preserve the manufacturer's labels, compare against a known baseline, and use a documented compatible configuration. Your next step is to complete the worksheet's baseline column and select one candidate that addresses your stated preference.
