Turntable Mats: Rubber, Felt or Cork.

@noromance .

Many thanks.

Have added it to my wish upgrade list.

So atmasphere, the obvious question for us non-scientists.  What material(s) have the same, or very similar, hardness as a typical vinyl LP?

From your comments that would be the place to start when considering mats.

What material(s) have the same, or very similar, hardness as a typical vinyl LP?

To my mind the obvious place to start would be similar to Noromance and myself have already done.
An album, be it a vinyl 10" or a shellac 78 as a mat.
Well worth a trial IMHO.

Many years ago when I was trying different mats on an old Rotel RP 850 I concluded that the best mat was another LP!  Are there vinyl mats out there?

There are acrylic mats for sure, not sure if any thing made that is same composition as a modern vinyl record though.
Bar another vinyl record of course.