Weezy Rider

Martelli for a couple of years. Have 2 big Olfa mats, kept them for cutting other projects with Exacto knives. Haven't cut through one yet (I mat my own photos and size paper for the Silhouette if need be)

toverly

I would not recommend the grey Fiskars mats. I purchased the rotating on and it was badly damaged from the first use.

CAS49OR

$69.99 for a huge 40"x60" mat! I had not heard of this brand, but it's $30 off here:
http://www.allbrands.com/products/30...ct_description

I have the large white mat from Joann's which is already cracked and has cuts that thread gets cut in -- barely used but I've had it a few years. (not the above Sew Fit brand, mine says doesn't have a brand on it)

Shorebird

I used to use the Olfa mats - but since I found the Martelli mats, I use only those. They are so much easier on my blades, and last so much longer than any other mat..

citruscountyquilter

I also use Olfa green mats. I have had mine for over 10 years and it is still going strong. I try not to cut in the same area repeatedly and I think that helps. I don't use the lines for measuring but rather use a ruler so it is easy to move around the mat. I use the mat a lot and figure when one side gets too bad I'll just flip it over. At the rate it's going the mat may outlive me.

Sewnoma

I don't like those white/translucent mats. They aren't self-healing so they get grooves that just stay there forever.

For any of the self-healing mats, they all last longer if you rehydrate them periodically.

I have an Alvin brand mat that I am really happy with. I bought it on Amazon - its a nice big mat (42x30) and it heals up just as well as an Olfa and only cost around $50. It's too big to fit in my tub for a soaking so I wipe it down with a hot wet washcloth periodically to help keep it hydrated. It's about 2 years old now and other than a spot where I got some paint on it (oops) it looks almost new. LOVE that mat!

It's gridded on both sides; one side is black, the other side is green. I've used both sides but the green is easiest on my eyes. It also has a nice "centering" set of measurements marked, with a zero line near the middle of the mat and numbers counting outwards in both directions from there. Great for trimming down blocks evenly.

lswan

I bought a Martelli when they had their 50% sale. Pricey, but works great and is two sided, yellow and purple for dark/light fabrics.

Judith1005

I have the June Taylor 24 x 24" mat. You have to order them online from JoAnns. I really like them. I use the fronts for initial cuts of fabrics and the back for squaring up blocks. I just replaced the first one I've owned for about the last 10 years. The lines were fading off. This time, I bought 2 because they were a steller price on sale. I had another one. It was bigger. I can't remember the name. It was awful, I couldn't stand the feel of it. And it got grooves really easy. I couldn't wait to get rid of it. I only had that one for about 2 years.

I agree with what everyone else said about your rotory blades. You use a lot less pressure to cut if your blade is sharp.

gale

I splurged on the large Martelli mat and it is nice. Expensive but very thick. Mine came with a paper that said not to roll it up though. It was shipped flat.

adamae

Recently, I got mine at Tuesday Morning and paid $15.00 for it, 23 X17 inches, flexible, sef healing, black grids on one side and white on the other made by American Crafter. So far, I love it, particularly the self healinIg and bendable. I do believe it may be focused on paper crafting but it advertises various mediums including rotary cutting for fabric.
Note: When cutting fleece the lint will remain in the grooves preventing the cut to self heal, so next time I will use an old one for my fleece cutting. BTW...all but my small mats are so used the print is nearly gone and the grooves are like pineapple outers.