My first-ever barebones kit keyboard: the Leobog Hi75C Pro

The next keyboard on my journey list is the Leobog Hi75C Pro. It was my first ever barebones kit, and I wanted something that would not cost too much while giving me a proper taste of what building a keyboard could feel like, which was essentially unexplored territory for me!

I remember that this was around the middle of January and very early into my journey, but I was already neck-deep in thock. I was watching YouTube videos, listening to sound tests, reading Reddit posts, and slowly convincing myself that I understood what I was doing. Yes, that sounds about right.

The interesting thing with the journey is how you end up challenging yourself by learning new things. At this point, the new thing that I needed to challenge myself with was something that became a constant reminder of what I would end up wanting to do next.

Barebones kit.

A barebones kit is essentially a partially assembled mechanical keyboard. You usually get the case, PCB, plate, stabilisers, mounting structure, and sometimes a cable or accessories. What you do not usually get are the switches and keycaps, which you need to source yourself.

That can be intimidating, but it is also the whole point. Especially now that I’ve been in the hobby for about half a year, it is simply rare for a pre-built keyboard to include high-quality keycap sets from GMK, as an example.

I did my research and ended up choosing the Leobog Hi75C Pro. I managed to get it for just over £40 during an AliExpress sale, which felt slightly ridiculous considering it had an aluminium case, a compact 75% layout, RGB, tri-mode wireless connectivity, and hot-swap support.

For some reason, I chose the yellow version. This was not the usual Alan. When I get something, I'd go for black or something that looks professional.

At the time, that felt like an odd choice for me. I am a metalhead, both figuratively and in the literal sense, so choosing a bright and cheerful yellow keyboard felt strangely out of character. My feelings for wanting a yellow keyboard overpowered what was my comfort zone! But looking back, that choice foreshadowed one of the biggest reasons I fell in love with this hobby: the openness, variety, and freedom to make something feel like yours.

The keyboard hobby, and especially the community around it, encourages you to enjoy the various combinations that tickle your fancy. This individualistic diversity is baked in to the core of the hobby. Dark desks with bright keyboards. Serious setups with playful keycaps. Deep thock from something that looks like a slab of sunshine.

That is part of the appeal of the hobby. I love it.

The Hi75C Pro made a good first impression, but it wasn't all positive, with the software being quite a letdown. It worked well enough for what I needed, but it was not particularly intuitive. Thankfully, I only needed to use it for initial setup and configuration.

So what were my first impressions?

Honestly, I was a bit lost.

I had the kit, but I did not yet have the parts I needed to finish it. I had some keycaps, but they did not match the look I wanted, or rather, it didn't feel right to pair it with the yellow keyboard. I also did not have spare switches or the right-coloured ones. So I paused, took out a notebook, and wrote down a simple game plan.

That moment was more important than I expected.

I had spent so much time consuming keyboard content that I had almost forgotten to slow down and think about what I actually wanted. Writing things down helped me turn the noise into a plan.

My game plan was simple:

• work out what I could realistically do with the board
• choose keycaps that matched the yellow case
• pick switches that would give me the deep, thocky sound I wanted

I eventually chose TTC Venus switches, which looked and sounded far more premium than I expected.

For keycaps, I saw some really cute MOA-profile "Honey"-themed black-on-white with yellow accents keycaps. It was perfect!

Because I am a parent to two neurodivergent children, my free time is limited. Even after the switches and keycaps arrived, it took another week before I could actually build the keyboard. But when I finally had the time, I slowed down and properly enjoyed the process.

There was no rush. No deadline. No need to optimise every second.

Just a keyboard, a desk, and the small satisfaction of putting something together one switch at a time.

The build was completed.

It's been a few months since then, and before I finish writing this blog, I will be changing both keycaps and switches. For each keyboard in this journey, I will also be rebuilding it in some way. That means swapping out the switches, changing the keycaps, and seeing how much the personality of the board changes.

For the Hi75C Pro, here is what I ended up doing:

The new configuration of the keyboard uses the Wingtree BM11 switches. They're a tactile switch that offers a P-bump experience. It's decently weighted at 50gf with a 56gf bottom-out, and they have this nice colourway reminiscent of Cherry MX2A Petal switches. I was able to source them through Milktooth.com (do check them out). These are my very first Wingtree switches, and I've been made a believer.

Now for the keycaps. This is a topic that I'll be exploring sometime down the line, but in this blog, I'll be using a set of keycaps I purchased alongside the keyboard.

Please take note – I do not support purchasing clone keycaps when the availability of the original is present. When I say availability, this can be through retail or in aftermarket circles.

With that said, these keycaps were purchased during a time before I knew all the intricacies involved with the keycap side of the hobby. There's a lot to it and deserves its own blog post. But for now, this will be one of the last clone keycap sets that I will be using, and only because I bought it alongside the keyboard at the time. 

So what did I learn?

• I fell deeper into the hobby with my first barebones kit.
• I learned that building a keyboard is as much about patience as it is about parts.
• I learned that you can get a surprising amount of keyboard for around £40.
• I learned that bright yellow keyboards are apparently part of my life now. And many other colours (foreshadowing!) in the future.
• I learned that slowing down should be part of my thought process. Sometimes it is the whole point. Especially with the amount of information that we are exposed to on a daily basis.

I still like the Leobog Hi75C Pro. It has a solid build, it is easy to make it sound good, and it remains one of the best bargains I have found since getting into the hobby. Would I buy it again today? No. I have moved on, and the baseline of what I expect in a keyboard has drastically changed. Will I keep it? Yes. Definitely.

This yellow keyboard wasn't just my first barebones kit but also a huge part of the reason why I am enjoying my journey in this hobby at this moment. It was a key step during the early stages, and I appreciate that.

Disclaimer: I received the Wingtree switches from Milktooth but they had no say on the content in this post. I highly recommend you check them out if you're looking to buy some keyboard switches. 

About the Author

Hi there, my name's Alan and I'm the creator of UK Tech Blog (UKTB), a UK-based technology website covering smartphones, gadgets, computing, mechanical keyboards, and the digital world that surrounds us all.

This blog is a place where I share my thoughts and journey through tech. I do this through hands-on reviews, commentary, and practical experiences.

Alongside my passion for tech and photography, I'm also an advocate for autism awareness and accessibility. I draw from personal experience as a parent. I believe technology should be inclusive, useful, and empowering for everyone.

Outside of tech, I enjoy photography, gaming, and music ranging from atmospheric black metal to post-rock.

UKTB was created as a space for my honest opinions, curiosity, and enthusiasm for modern technology without the unnecessary hype.