ES Robbins Extra High Pile Chair Mat, Rectangle with Lip, 36"x48" Beveled Edge

We have a fairly plush carpet, and we looked at four or five different types of chair mats before settling on this one. This mat was the best price to value of all the mats we looked at, and this is a thick, well constructed chair mat. The prices for these mats are all over the map depending on where you look, and Amazon has the best deal from our research. For example, you can get this same mat at Home Depot for $95 + tax if you want - which is 50% more!! Now, if Amazon raises the price, and you are reading this at a later date then your assessment of whether the price to value still holds up may change!*Shipping* - we bought two of these 36x48 mats, and for the first one shipped there were no issues - it was shipped in a massive box and it WAS NOT ROLLED UP as another reviewer experienced. However, for the second mat we received - it WAS SHIPPED ROLLED UP - but it seems to be OK due to the short duration / distance it had to travel rolled up. (we have an Amazon Fullfillment center locally).The mat that was shipped rolled up had clear packing tape around to keep it bound, and the box it arrived in was a fraction of the size of the box for the first mat of similar size we received. After tearing off the clear tape, it was more of a challenge to get it flattened out and in position as it wanted to roll back up ;-), but we put weights on it over night to flatten. The GOOD NEWS is that the mat seems fine, there is not damage due to the rolling. I think it will be fine. We have an Amazon Fullfullment Center in town, and I think the short ride and one day delivery minimized time to do any real damage.The other mat that was NOT rolled up for delivery was folded / bent over gently and in a big enough box to make the bend a non-issue. The first mat went down easily and immediately was put to use. Interesting how one mat arrives not rolled, and the next one is. Clearly not a consistent process to package these mats for delivery!*Quality of mat* - like I already mentioned, we looked at a few locally first before settling on this. I used a caliper to measure thickness of the different mats, then did a bend test, made my own subjective assessment of cosmetic appearance, clarity, etc. This mat was the thickest and best made of the ones I looked at from Staples, Office max and a local supply store. Staples had a lesser spec'd version of this mat at a higher price, so obviously we choose this one!The main thing we like about this mat - it stays in place, and does not slip / walk around!! Plus, even when I roll around on the mat at 205 lbs, there is only a small depression. Other mats I have used in the past used to sag greatly under the weight, and my chair would get "stuck in a rut" from the deep depressions caused by the mat being too thin. For my wife and kids who are much lighter, it is a non-issue. These are simply well made mats.... of course they still have to pass the test of time, we have only owned them a short time!We have since purchased a third ES Robbins Performance mat of a larger size as we really like the quality, thickness and overall usability of these mats! We would recommend them to anyone looking... they are not cheap, but they are good!Five stars so far! If anything changes, I will update the review at a later date!****NOTE: The ES Robbins Polycarbonate chair mats sold here on Amazon (the mats reviewed here are vinyl, and are much different) that are advertised for 1/2" carpets and above - be aware that if your carpet thickness PLUS your pad underneath are greater than 1/2" (most are) the polycarbonate one is not right for you. Polycarbonate mats are great for *thin* carpets with a pad (like the commercial ones found in lobbies, etc), or up to 1/2" carpets / rugs with no pad, and for hard floors. But for carpets of any thickness over a pad that totals > 1/2" - they are NOT ideal! Read this to reinforce this point:[...]To summarize what is at the link :-) : "Although polycarbonate mats boast greater rigidity there is one downside, however, of this chair mat material over vinyl. Polycarbonate desk mats do not flex or dimple like traditional PVC and therefore keep their shape making rolling easier. PVC mats are slightly more pliable. The issue arises most notably on thicker pile, plush carpet. This type of carpet compresses more so when weight is applied and, whereas a vinyl chair mat will flex to mold itself to the compressed carpet, the polycarbonate will remain rigid and, if enough pressure is applied the mat can crack since it is not designed to flex. Thus, it is recommended that polycarbonate mats be used on hard surface and lower pile carpets."This information on polycarbonate mats comes from one of the premier mat suppliers in the country. The polycarbonates are fine mats, don't get me wrong, but only for the right application.Thanks for reading!

Like so many others have noted, if it ships to you rolled, it'll be a struggle to get it flattened. Once it is flattened, it seems very sturdy and resistant to chair dents on mid-depth carpet.

This claims to be for extra high pile. My office carpet is at best high pile and this is getting divits where my chair sits.I have another on a shorter carpetand this looks to be extremely good quality there

Thick and heavy, beveled edge is nice. Only minor divots form when I sit still for >5 minutes on my 5 caster office chair. I weigh 185 and the deformation goes away quickly.A note on unpacking and setting up quickly. I used the handheld shower head/hose and cranked up the hot water to warm the rolled plastic mat that arrived when it was about 55 degrees F outside. It took about 10 minutes for the plastic to become supple enough to lay out mostly flat on the carpet. I put an area rug on it for about 30 minutes, then took it off to allow the plastic to cool before moving it under my desk. This no doubt is much faster than the hair dryer idea they suggest.

So as countless other reviews pointed out, this is ridiculously stiff. Mine came rolled up, and of course I was unable to unroll it alone. I took what another reviewer suggested and put it in a hot bath for several minutes to loosen up. After soaking for 5 minutes, I did a quick towel off and rolled it out on the carpet to let it set. That seemed to do the trick; total elapsed time since receiving it was 20 minutes, 10 of which were spent trying to pry it open, 5 reading reviews to see what others did, 5 minutes soaking it, and then just rolling it out.

This thing was a beast to get unrolled. It was incredibly stiff. It took two people to get it unrolled and even then it would curl back up as soon as we let go of it. I ended up having to unroll it and stand on it while we placed about 160 lbs worth of stuff on top of it just to keepIt from rolling up. After it sat for about a day it’s mostly flattened out except for the back 5 inches or so which have held a little hump.

I purchased this mat in hopes that wouldn’t move around the carpet. I was disappointed that the mat for some reason moves on its own to the right. Therefore, it needs constant care to keep it under your chair. It is quite heavy duty and the nubs are unique but they don’t keep it from walking around on your carpet.

I actually ordered this by mistake , I thought it was a thick polycarbonate carpet protector. but realized it was vinyl, but due to the thickness I decided to unroll it and give it a try. I got it to replace a polycarbonate one I have had for more than 6 years that finally started to crack. I followed the instructions and after 3 days I put it in place at my desk. Now I only weigh 200lbs and my chair has the wide rollers on it , so IMO it should not flex as much as it did, and after getting up off my chair the edges were still not laying down on the carpet creating a tripping hazard. My carpet is only 3/4"thick close weave pile carpet, so I had to cover it in cardboard on both sides to be able to return it. Then I tried to order the same brand that I was replacing but that on is no longer available ,so I got another polycarbonate one thats a little thinner than my original one (thinner than the vinyl one too) but it is working great now for more than 3 weeks ( I couldn't afford the thicker polycarbonate one, the price was more than triple what I paid 6 yrs ago from another company)

Matt is very heavy and looks great. Does not work on thick carpets- Chair sinks in to matt.Don't purchase this as it is too soft for deep pile.