I've had fiskars mats for years-never had a single problem with any of them. No smell either. They go on sale often at Joann's. That said, I recently bought a large Martelli mat and I really like it. It's much thicker than the fiskars mats. I only bought it because of their 50% off sale and the good reviews of it here. Plus I have their rotary cutters and the blades haven't been great so I thought maybe using their mat would help.

I also have the 24x36 green Olfa mat. Love it, had it for over 2 years now and still going strong.

Try to get a color that does not blend with your favorite color fabric. Jim loves to get me things that are blue, but the blue fabric is tough to see.

I was thinking what boston1954 said. Drove me crazy trying to cut yellow fabric on my yellow mat. Flipped it over to green and it was great. Until I started cutting the green fabric. Geesh! I've always used fiskars and have had no complaints at all. I notice they now have a pink one. I have to have one!

Look one that's self-healing. I have an Alvin and I've been very happy with it.

The last one I purchased I found on school suppliers on line. Many sizes and much less expensive.

Love my "plethora" of Olfa mats! Have a couple June Taylor ones....no go...another oldie one that is white....it's best use is for piling quilts on and using it as a "drawer" to shove them under the bed :D

Alvin is a great quality mat. Very nice to cut on

I've tried them all and Martelli makes the best one, IMHO. Like Gale said, they're thicker and they are very easy to read through any color of fabric.... A little pricier but worth it.

If I could afford, martelli are the best mats. I am not in love with olfa but really hear martellis last longer.