I have been using the cricut standard mat for 9 years now,  and it works great. The only thing that I don't like, it at first it is so sticky that it isn't paper friendly. It takes some patience removing the paper  but because I do use it all the time,  it doesn't take very long to get it not as sticky, but it does work great for me. Also, when I say I use it all the time, I use basically everyday and I don't even know how many times I use it everyday. There is no way I could keep a tally. Ever since I got the explore air 2, I really get full use of my mat. I'm sorry that the other people on here have had unfortunate experiences with the standard grip mat, but I have never had any major issues with the mat. I also label the front side of the clear protective sheet that comes over it, and also put the same side down on the mat when I'm finished using it. I use my rubber brayer to really make it stick, and no air bubbles are left in it when i put on there by hand.