Best DJ Slipmats

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A slipmat is a friction component, not a damping accessory, and that is the distinction that gets missed. Felt sits between the platter and the record so the platter can keep spinning while you hold the vinyl still, which is what makes back-cueing and scratching possible; the record is meant to slide. If you are looking for something to reduce vibration and grip the record for careful home listening, felt is the wrong material and a cork or rubber platter mat is what you actually want. Thickness and density are the two specs that change feel. The 12 inch mats sold for turntable use cluster around 3 mm, and a high-density 3 mm felt is stiffer, slides more consistently and lasts longer than a thin fluffy mat that packs down within weeks. Thinner and denser generally means faster slip and a tighter response under the hand, which scratch DJs prefer; a plusher mat drags slightly and is more forgiving for simple beatmatching. Anti-static treatment is worth having because felt is exactly the material that generates a charge against vinyl, and that charge is what pulls dust onto the record surface between plays. Buy in pairs if you run two decks, and expect to replace them, since felt compresses and picks up grit that ends up against your record. Printed graphics are a cosmetic choice and do not affect slip, though heavy screen printing can stiffen a small area of the surface.