I have 2 of these (bought 1 & later got 1 in a suprise bag) & a mini version (Advent Calendar gift) as well as an Earth Mat. These work well & are great value for money, however, I still use my Earth Mat more. The main reason being the loose fibres that come off the surface & edges of these mats irritate my skin.
I've a condition that causes skin hypersensitivity, I can't wear wool-rich fabrics or crochet with them, but I've never had any issues working with wool for needle felting before so was really surprised when I had a flare-up. I mainly do 2D landscapes & haven't had any problems except when using structural core felt & the eco mats, so I think it's the loose, shorter/fine fibres that cause the irritation. If I do use these, I make sure to fully cover the mats & my skin but can only work on them for a short time.
But just because they don't work for me doesn't mean they won't be perfect for you! I'm just giving a heads-up to any other felters that may have similar skin irritability issues (& possibly asthmatics) that, in my opinion, these do "shed" & a cover (I've got a felt one, could use cotton?) would probably be something to consider using.
