Looking at using a WACOM, any advice?

I'm starting to feel wrist pain on my right hand from using my mouse way too much.
Editing and gaming has taken its toll I believe, and I need to switch to another option that is less intense on my wrist.
I'm working on a 5k iMac and am looking at getting a WACOM to edit with, or alternatively the cheaper option, a new apple touch pad.

Does anyone have any recommendation which model works great with FCPX?
Can I get away with one of the cheaper models that without any of the shortcut buttons, like the Bamboo line?
Or should I go for the Intuous Pro's with the side buttons.

I can see myself using my left hand to quickly select the shortcut keys, if I can assign them in a certain way.
But I probably will still be moving over to the keyboard a lot. Is the better set up to just have a basic WACOM (without buttons) then with my left hand staying with the keyboard?

Whichever you buy, don't get the small size.

I started using the Apple Magic Mouse for similar reasons, but not exactly. I've loved it, my hand/wrist/forearm rarely move much, totally love it. Spend 20 minutes in an Apple store using one in FCPX.

I have an old Wacom, barely used, I'm selling cheap very soon.

I have used it with a Wacom, as well as the magic mouse and the trackpad. With the Wacom, it's similar with the other NLEs in that to get the most out of it, you'll want to do a lot of customization of gestures. There is a handy wheel on the left side that you can use to scroll the timeline or other things. Otherwise, I don't think tablets buy you that much, but some people swear by them. I think you should go with the trackpad first to see if you like it. It requires way less movement.

I use a Wacom Intuos 4 daily. I love it. A good couple years back I was getting pretty serious carpel tunnel and switched to the wacom. It's far more comfortable, natural, and less straining on my wrist than using a mouse. And using it within X is pretty awesome. Scrubbing and selecting video with the pen in the Browser is really intuitive and natural (and fun). Although in saying that when I go to adjust audio I inevitably end up using the mouse for absolute level and key frame precision. I also don't use my buttons on the tablet much, although you can customise the hell outa them, I still rely a lot on the keyboard. I haven't edited with the Apple track pad yet but know someone who does and he loves it. Personal preference and budget I guess.

You can do loads to customise the tablet to the software too. If you Google "Wacom tablet for video editing" you'll see some really handy articles and videos about using it correctly. And just a side note, it works far better in FCPX than in Premiere (for me at least). For some reason PP doesn't like tablets.

To each his own, of course, but I'd take an Apple trackpad over a Magic Mouse or a tablet every time.
Just sayin'. FCP X works great with it. Scrolling or skimming on the large surface of the trackpad is far more precise than in the small curve surface of the MM, for example.

Some people argue a trackpad is worse than a mouse as far as carpal tunnel syndrome is concerned; some argue the opposite. Some people prefer to carry ridiculously small unergonomic mice in their laptop bags and do never even consider using the great trackpad their macbooks already have. Again, to each his own.

I suggest you go to an Apple store if you can and try it out for a while.

I've been in basically the same situation, and back in legacy FCP using a Wacom tablet was superior for me in all respects, over using a mouse. However, in FCPX, usability wasn't the best because of how the skimmer works. When skimming to a specific frame with a tablet and stylus, it is quite likely that the skimmer will move slightly both when clicking and when just lifting the stylus to leave the skimmer at the desired frame. Using a tablet felt at odds with how FCPX is designed.
For this reason I now use an Apple trackpad which works great in FCPX (better than a mouse for me), but ergonomically it is not as good as a tablet.

Been using a Wacom intuos 3 for over a decade now. I'd definitely suggest you get a decent sized one or you will get cramp - but not too large or you'll be wasting movement. I use a wide intuos 3 that's slightly smaller than A4 in sensor size and I find that great - I use two screens too and it's mapped across them fine without it being counterintuitive. If you are doing lots of work in other apps such as motion graphics/photoshop/illustrator/etc. I'd suggest it's definitely worth it in my experience. I have a track pad but I don't use it a lot, though I imagine FCPX is good with it.

This is just my experience - and I accept that it may be my familiarity that makes it work for me.

"Some people argue a trackpad is worse than a mouse as far as carpal tunnel syndrome is concerned; "

According to the doctor treating my wife not to long ago, the Magic Trackpad is physically, mechanically BETER for you. You do NOT use the wrist and forearm muscles involved in corporal tunnel syndrome. I suffered CTS some time ago, and found it helps a great deal. Medically, I'd like to see data showing the magic trackpad isn't good for you in any way.

I have the XP-Pen Deco 3, and I like it a lot! It’s a little less expensive than the entry level Wacom tablets but has more features, and works well with FCPX . The larger size is good to have, and the feeling is much better.

The only thing I’ve noticed is when it’s connecting wirelessly there’s a bit of a lag but when it’s wired it’s great.

Just to resurrect this thread. I've now moved back to a Wacom Intuous Pro. Loving it so far. The main reason is RSI though.

I've spent a lot of time over the years evaluating the various pros and cons of mice, Magic Trackpad and now the Pen.

The bottom line is nothing is perfect. the Magic Mouse is super slick, light and accurate, but your wrist is not supported.  The Magic Trackpad is wonderful with FCP for Gestures and proximity to the keys on a laptop, but it lacks resolution, on accuracy and also you wrist is not supported.

The Wacom rotates your pen hand providing a much better position for your wrist, which is not trying to support it's hinge point. It is super accurate and intuitive to use, however it ties up one hand, making it more difficult to type and use keyboard modifiers.

I'm currently exploring the myriad of settings and on screen features of the Wacom, so please chime in with your favourite mappings.

All people are different too so what suits one person may not work for another.

I've used MagicTrackpad with my desktop Macs for years, never had wrist problems, no need for wrist support with a trackpad. Plus you have gestures you won't get, and even if you did it wouldn't be as easy, with a pen.

But I know folks who swear by tablet/pens and folks who swear by trackballs. Whatever works for you.

I get wrist pain with the Trackpad, because it's the same horizontal palm on desk, or pad problem. My Physiotherapist tells me it's no different than a mouse. It's slightly better, in as much as you aren't grasping anything. Maybe others operate the pad with their forearm raised?
I agree the gestures are outstanding on the pad. It's early days yet, but the Wacom seems to have all the Gestures as a touch surface as well. The only one I can't find is vertical 3 or 4 finger swipe, which takes you to the top or tail of the Timeline. In fact it has more gestures that you would need Better Touch Tool to achieve with the Magic Trackpad.

I'm using an Intuos Pro medium. very happy and no problem with my hand. The mouse was really difficult.
Basically, just use what you are more comfortable with as there is no best formula that applies to all.
Some issues I have with the pen tablet is precision (perhaps it is too old...) so I just use the mouse for those moments.

I find it completely fine here in general.
Been using wacom tablet over the last 6 years there about. It is bloody awesome, works solid, nibs don't wear out and drivers are fine.
I use them in absolute mode (so that the pad area represents your screen so move to the top left of the pad and the cursor jumps there too).
This mode does take time to get use to though but I find it far more accurate and useful and less painful because of less repetition.
The main benefit for me is much less problems with RSI than mice, just going back to a mouse causes me pain after a while now.

I've used a Wacom tablet for many years on many platforms/programs, all the way back to Discreet Logic Fire which got me hooked on a tablet. These days I use a Wacom on my right hand (intuous 4, but I've used several, but for this kind of use you can get by with a basic medium tablet, don't need to buy the most expensive unless you plan on drawing) and a magic track pad on my left next to the keyboard. I'm so used to it at this point it's like breathing. I've had several colleagues experience CTS and have been concerned about it myself. But then, I've never heard of anyone getting it from using a pencil or pen all day. Don't know if that really means anything, but it's worked for me so far.