So I've been thinking of getting a gaming mat, but I don't like the Vinyl ones, they are a little too flimsy for me, even though they DO look GOOD. I want something that has the feel of a mouse pad, so I think neoprene is the material that I probably want to go for.

I'm looking at stuff like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEOPRENE-RUBBER-SHEET-1-16X36-X36-/261393723494?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cdc47b066

I could probably get a white paint pen and paint a starfield on there myself.

Anyone ever tried a neoprene mat? How did it work?

So I've been thinking of getting a gaming mat, but I don't like the Vinyl ones, they are a little too flimsy for me, even though they DO look GOOD. I want something that has the feel of a mouse pad, so I think neoprene is the material that I probably want to go for.

I'm looking at stuff like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEOPRENE-RUBBER-SHEET-1-16X36-X36-/261393723494?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cdc47b066

I could probably get a white paint pen and paint a starfield on there myself.

Anyone ever tried a neoprene mat? How did it work?

One of my play surfaces is a 3' x 3' section of yoga mat--basically textured neoprene--and my ships stay put for anything short of a complete table-flip.

So if it was Yoga Mat, then I'm assuming it's pretty thick. Is transporting it a problem?

So if it was Yoga Mat, then I'm assuming it's pretty thick. Is transporting it a problem?

Uh, that depends on your definition of "problem". I can roll it up, but it's still pretty bulky, so I usually use something else when I'm not playing at home.

http://www.miniaturemarket.com/hcd96669.html#.UuJpZplOk94

here is one already space ready

http://www.miniaturemarket.com/hcd96669.html#.UuJpZplOk94

here is one already space ready

I have this one, and like it a lot better than the vinyl. Always lays flat. Rolls up super easy. Nice feel to it...

I would get that, if it was just a starscape and not a planet and everything else.

Wait for www.gripmat.com to launch their product line. It'll be DA' BOMB!!!

One thing to consider with a "mouse pad" type surface (including the HCD game mat) is that they are typically a smooth fabric surface with a textured neoprene backing. The neoprene makes them lie very flat and is grippy to the table top so that they don't slide around. That part is awesome. The not so awesome part is that the fabric topping is very smooth and has less friction than vinyl mats (such as the GF9 mats) so ships and asteroids are more prone to sliding around and experiencing "space drift". A sheet of neoprene without the fabric top could be interesting.

I keep searching for the "perfect" portable playmat for x-wing and still haven't quite found it. The mat market seems to be littered with near misses. The felt mats are more expensive and seem to have long delays in order times. Yoga mats are cheap but highly and uniformly textured. The HCD mat is pretty slippery. Gripmats aren't available, don't look like they lay totally flat and don't come in a true 3'x3' size. The GF9 mats seem more prone to scratching. For now, I've settled on a GF9 mat mainly due to availability and being somewhat of a compromise on all the categories that I'm looking at when considering a playing surface. Crabbok, if you do decide to try out that sheet of raw neoprene, I'm sure that we would all love to hear a review on it.

I would get that, if it was just a starscape and not a planet and everything else.

http://www.miniaturemarket.com/hcd96669.html#.UuJpZplOk94

here is one already space ready

I have this one, and like it a lot better than the vinyl. Always lays flat. Rolls up super easy. Nice feel to it...

So with this HCD mat, has anyone tried simply flipping it upside down and playing on the rubberized side? That would seem ideal, IMO.

http://www.miniaturemarket.com/hcd96669.html#.UuJpZplOk94

here is one already space ready

I have this one, and like it a lot better than the vinyl. Always lays flat. Rolls up super easy. Nice feel to it...

So with this HCD mat, has anyone tried simply flipping it upside down and playing on the rubberized side? That would seem ideal, IMO.

Haven't tried it, but that should work no problem. I haven't really had any more issues with them sliding on the regular side than anything else though. It's been my experience that if you bump them, then they're gonna move a little no matter what the surface...

Wait for www.gripmat.com to launch their product line. It'll be DA' BOMB!!!

Interesting

Gripmat looks interesting, but the corners are all rounded in their pictures. =(

Wait for www.gripmat.com to launch their product line. It'll be DA' BOMB!!!

I hope so I'm in for 3 at the kickstarter, also the edges the rounded are optional.

I got a felt mat from Hotz and its **** fine I love it so much more than the GF9 mats. And they make them on the go so they are each unique.

Also a major plus point here is they are quite cheep to ship internationally

I really dislike that most mats seem to have planets/galaxies and just too much going on. I'd like a basic star background with maybe an astroid or 2.