Okay, guys, quick question: Which battlemats are better: the thick "mousepad" mats or the thinner latex mats? Or is there no real difference? I'm asking, as I have a two-sided latex map and, having some spare money, I wonder if I should upgrade it to a mousepad mat. The latex mat got somewhat wrinkly / wavey due to me keeping it in a cupboard... Are mousepad mats more resilient to wrinkling? Do they provide better cushion for the miniatures? Help me out, please :)
Mousepad mats are just awesome, they lie completely flat, they're incredibly resistant to wrinkles (I keep mine rolled in a tube but my old club kept theirs folded with no issues), they're very durable, and they cushion the miniatures so they won't chip if knocked over. I'm completely sold on Mousepad mats being the very best option, in case you couldn't tell!
I am completely in the mousepad camp with colbrook. As for where to buy; I really love the designs from deep cut studio. If you live in the states, like me, shipping cost is a heck of a gut punch. FLG has also got nice designs and is in the states, so shipping is better. And if Micro Art Studio ever releases the red veil mat, I’ll buy it without a second’s hesitation.
Thanks, guys! Based on your advice, I decided to go and upgrade my latex mat. It was a two-sided map from Playmaty.pl and it looked really good - the only problem was with the thin material. So, taking the advantage of a Black Friday deal these guys offer, I bought the (one-sided) mousepad versions of the latex mat. So, two mats - but it's Black Friday, so it was cheaper than usual. I also ordered some protective tubes this time around, so that the mat won't get damaged this time around...
I have 2 neoprene (mousepad/wetsuit fabric) mats. One by Frontline gaming, one by Gamemateu. Both are urban, both show the resilience to creases. Got them both on sale for about half price.