I love everything Martelli has. And I have had all of them a number of times as I teach and love Qing. Martelli is better quality hands down if you want accurate really self healing goods that last. Plus their rotary cutters....ahhhh!

A hard surface cutting mat is the best for long life and best for a rotary blade. June Taylor is a hard surface mat. The self healing mat the blade cuts into the mat, thus the self healing part. I think most all the name brand mats are fine, it's a matter of cutting preference. I had a new Olfa and it started peeling. Olfa replaced it but not without being kinda snippy about it. Said I cut in one place too much. It was brand new and it was peeling all over not in one spot. Another guild member had the same problem with her new Olfa mat. Must have been a bad batch. The new one they sent is fine.

Olfa or Martelli would be my choice.

Olfa for me, too. I just replaced my 24 x 36 mat after 11 years of use. They are pretty expensive but using a coupon at Joann's helps. Even though I usually get aggravated when I try to use coupons at Joann's, they do help. There is usually some reason why you can't use the coupon you thought you could use. I had a 50% off, but they were on sale for 40% off so I couldn't use it, and since I had gone out of my way to go by there and get it, grrrrrr. (but I digress) Go for the Olfa.

Probably either the Gingher mat or the Martelli mat. If you've only ever used one thing, how can you compare?

I love my self healing OLFA. I can just wash it, and go over it with my mat smoother. Good as new

I have olfa and june tailor, I like my june tailor. I think it is just a personal preference

I love my martelli mat. I had a friskar's tri-fold for many years and loved the markings on it (orange on grey), but when it broke, I couldn't find another one like it.

I agree the Martelli Mat is the best one around, it is also about double the price of the Olfa. I have one I have had for 8 years and it doesn't even look like it has been used. I also use the Martelli rotary cutter. Don't know if there is a connection but I really like mine.

My first large Olfa mat I used for twelve years....very good value. I have a small Martelli mat I use for classes, but was triple the cost of the Olfa size.