Vinyl vs. Mousepad Board

Hey everyone,

I am looking into getting my first floppy board for travel and tournament play.  I am going with the boards available on wholesale chess, and trying to decide between a mousepad or vinyl board.  Anyone with some pros and cons that could help me decide which is the right pick for me?

The last time I owned a vinyl board (about 20 years ago) I found that they creased/crumpled horribly. Maybe better storage would have helped but I can't think that there is anything worse than a vinyl board.

I would never buy a mousepad board. They're big, bulky, and can't be rolled up well -- simply a nightmare for portability. Maybe if you had a special carrying case designed to accomdate their awkward size it could help, but I can't imagine anything worse than a mousepad board.

I also don't like how the mousepad boards feel squishy when you put a piece on them. I much prefer the solid feel of a vinyl board on a hard tale surface.

Roll up your vinyl board and put it in any one of the dozens of carrying cases for chess sets and you won't worry a minute about damage to the board.

I'm also a vinyl board guy.  Love the way the pieces slide from square to square.  I find the mousepad boards stick to the pieces a little bit, making it harder to accurately push your pawns under time duress.  Never fold your vinyl board, but roll it up in your carrying case, and you'll get good mileage out of it.

Some facts:

1. People that prefer vinyl chessboards have a higher incidence of heart attack, stroke, and mental illness (including depression and suicide) than peope who use mousepad boards.

2. When Moses came down from the Mount and saw the faithless worshipping the Golden Calf... quite a few of them were playing blitz on slippery creased vinyl boards with analog timers.

3. Sir Isaac Newton said, "If I have seen further than others, it is because I stood on the shoulders of giants (who themselves stood on uncreased, no slip, mousepad boards)."

4. When I went to the park to play blitz with some guys from the neighborhood everything was fine until I offered to use my set, with the vinyl board (and analog timer) ... oh the humiliation

5. I bought a mousepad board (and a digital clock) and they talk to me again.

So should we ask our doctor about mousepad boards now?

Where can I see a mousepad board ?!! 

Thanks

Mouse pad boards are great! They always lie flat. I don't know why someone said they were not portable?! To me there is no comparison. I don't  like playing "on hills" like with the vinyl boards sometimes.

Cheap vinyl boards are just junky equipment, but don't judge all vinyl boards on the bad one, or poorly cared for ones.

I have an excellent rollup that lays flat after being in its tube for years.

I also have a folding vinyl board that is excellent equipment, though it is less portable than the rollup.

The cloth covering of the mousepad boards can discolor and stain while the vinyl can just be wiped off. Something to consider. Also, pieces don't slide on mousepad boards. If you are an inveterate slider, like me, beware.

I really like vinyl. I haven't had any problems with durability or laying flat. They are simple, cheap, portable, and classic.

I like the flatness and solidity of the mousepad.  I think they are a piece of cake to store (my bag is pretty ordinary and the board fits fine in it).  The only thing about the mousepad board I don't like is that the pieces don't slide easily on it - not a big deal, but worth mentioning.

As a side note, I roll my mouse pad around my chronos for added protection from bumps and dings.

I never had an issue using vinyls. We have about 30 of them sitting in a box.

Thanks a lot for all the feedback everyone, I really appreciate it.  Does anyone happen to have experience with the vinyl boards sold at Wholesale Chess website?  If they are high quality I may go with one for the stain resistance, but the mousepad board really intrigues me.

The WSC vinyl boards are top notch, IMO.  I have a few of them.  For the record, I also prefer mousepad.  They're rock solid.

I have always used a vinyl chess board. Recently added a mousepad board with another order and have to admit I really dislike it. Too thick and sticky feeling, both on top and how it grips the table surface. My favorite vinyl board is the TCS boards sold by the Chess Store, nice weight, always lay flat.

Hate vinyl boards.  Mousepad all the way.  If you think the pieces stick to it too much, try either pieces with no felt (think mouse on a mousepad--slide great), or, what I did, used a silicone board for awhile.  After using one of those, even felted pieces feel like air hockey on a mousepad board!

If you do choose vinyl just carry it in one of those chess set bags and make sure to always roll it with the squares facing outwards to keep it flat.

I have cloth backed vinyl chess boards & no problems with them laying flat. Just don't get the all vinyl ones as they are junk!

I have vinyl, mousepad, and silicone.  The printing is sharpest on the vinyl and pieces do move smoothest on its' surface.  Still a pain to have to carefully roll up.  Silicone is best if you want a no care product although it does feel a little funny and costs more.  They all work fine but call me old school for preferring a folding wooden board.  OMG I just realized this thread is 3 years old...