This was a replacement unit for a mat I bought over a year ago from a different vendor. This mat was significantly thicker than my old "plush" mat and it is also softer. I believe it will last longer and will be very hard crack. The mat comes rolled up in a box. I positioned file boxes at each end and in the middle. The mat flattened overnight. My chair rolls smoothly back and forth with minimal effort. This is a good product and good buy for the money.