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.