I really like this mat to protect my hardwood floor in my sewing area. The 45 x 53 is a great size when you have to move around a lot. I liked it so much I purchased a second one! The clear mat does not detract from the beauty of hardwood floors and I'm extremely happy with them.
This mat is nominated for 3/8" carpet pile. I use it in a workplace organized in a bedroom with the usual soft wall to wall carpet. I measured the pile using a paper clip -- the technique suggested everywhere where the mats are sold. It was difficult to tell exactly because carpet hairs are uneven and bend easily. I eventually decided that they are 3/8" or less so I ordered this mat. Apparently my measurements were off. I got the mat with the cleats shorter than necessary so it tends to drift slowly over the carpet to one side with the rate of about an inch per day. When you buy the mat to use on a home-style carpet (as opposed to a firm office style) choose cleats longer than it would be required per measurement. Otherwise the mat is good and works very well.
I am using the chair mat on low pile carpet and the chair wheels tend to make indentations in the flexible plastic. My other chair mat that finally wore out didn’t do that.
I like that it is clear which keeps it looking fresh. Now having said that It is not thick enough to where my chair doesn’t sink in and get stuck but maybe that only happens if you are on a hard surface and not carpet and/ or you only weigh 175 lbs or less. I can say that I have had worse where it would sink in almost immediately but this one takes about an hour when sitting in one spot. Hope this helps.
Honestly this mat is pretty terrible. The problem is that the material is too soft so after a few moments your chair’s casters will sink into divots that you’ll have to roll out of when you try to move (yes I’m a fairly normal size person; 6’1” 220)