Best Plastic Pieces

Well I don't think better is right term.  The marshall pieces handle the bumps better, have more flex and can make quick turns with ease.  The druekes and ultimates are stiffer, designed for high speed, and digging in when carving turns on the steepest slopes even in icey conditions.  

It all comes down to what kind of player you are, whether or not the "handling" suits you

...and it also matters if there is rack and pinion steering...

Thank you.  With computer and internet Chess being so popular, I feel it important to promote Over The Board play.  Putting tournament standard sets in people’s hands helps.

I heard back from Raphel from Chess House on the inspirational set and it will be months before it is back in stock. 

Tournament sets between the two you asked about. I have both and both are just fine and dandy with me. Price wise I would say not really. Mainly due to the chess store has their Protourney set that is cheaper than both and has a weight of 54oz = 3lbs. 6oz Not as heavy as either set but is cheaper than both. I would recommend the Protourney set if cash is an issue. To me it seems like a Hastings and Marshall set got together and out came the Protourney set.

https://thechessstore.com/protourney-plastic-chess-set-black-camel-pieces-3-75-king/

I  had purchased this "Inspiration" chess set from the Chess Store in 2015 but it was under the name "Park Series" plastic chess set. I bought the ivory and sandal versions both with the black armies. They were labeled @ 40oz. but in real ozs. there were actually 33.54oz for the set respectively. They are a nice playing set. The sandal version is still available at the Chess store. Ivory seem to have been discontinued. A quick look of how the array of the ivory pieces appear. Here's the link if interested in the sandal colored version:

https://thechessstore.com/park-game-series-plastic-chess-set-black-sandal-pieces-3-75-king/

If you go to Amazon and search for "high polymer chess pieces"  You will see sets like the 3 I posted above.  Pretty sweet IMO, but not cheap running about $75.  The 3 sets above are called, Ravilla, Whittier, and Bellvue from top to bottom.  Seems like a good option if you want some nice pieces but also need them to take some abuse and weather without damage.  

I have pieces from multiple materials - wood, plastic, resin, silicone.  The pieces I like best for travel and carrying about are the silicone - light, easy to care for, can be crushed without breaking (the ones I have are weighted).  I also like the "mouse pad" boards to go with them.

Black 2 play the game is draw.

Ra2+

I would not recommend these High Polymer sets. They only weight 2lbs. The plastic sounds cheap and hollow. I got the Bellevue (Zagreb) set and was very disappointed in the set. For me the $75 price tag is way too high for what I got. For what I spent getting the Bellevue set. I could have bought a Sheesham Zagreb set from wholesalechess.com. Yes it is wood but at least you are not getting ripped off from these cheap crappy plastic sets. Whatever you do. Do not get anyone of these High Polymer sets!

https://www.wholesalechess.com/shop/chess-pieces/wood-chess-pieces/zagreb-chess-pieces-3-75-king

What's the best travel tournament board for these high value plastic sets?  I have a roll up white and green board that's ubiquitous.

But I am wondering if there are other travel boards that pair well with an aesthetic square-to-base of pieces ratio.

I am getting back into OTB chess and I will give my current set to my son for his games.  And get a nicer set for me.  :-)

Although he gets the Ply Counter since he still screws up notation.  

Thanks.  That would be an upgrade over my vinyl green and white board that has to be smoothed out before a game.

Actually, the best board for tournament play here in the US is the Chess House FlexPad board.  It is a thin mousepad board and this is the best when in Green.

Yes the Flex Pad boards are nice. I have about 3 of them. Olive Green, Green without notations, Saddle Brown. Also American Chess Equipment has some nice ones as well. I do like the black outline and notations over the Flex Pads. Catches the eyes more.

I agree that the Flexpad boards are excellent.  I prefer the pastel colors, particularly the Skyblue.  This because I feel pastels (the softer hues) are easier on the eyes than the more saturated (i.e., darker hues) colors, when staring at a board for any length of time.  Plus pastels are pleasant.  And they contrast better with the dark pieces.  I know EYEchess (an optometrist), will counter that the traditional saturated green squares are supposed to be easiest on the eyes, but I don't agree.

In the end, though, it is all a matter of personal preference.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZy5JSq816s

https://www.chesshouse.com/collections/club-style-chess-boards/products/flex-pad-club-chess-board?variant=34089250113

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/light-blue-roll-up-board?page=1