Folding cloth mousepads beat hard ones for travel.

Yes, the folding cloth one is better. Hard pads are too fragile for luggage. Even if you roll them carefully, weight from clothes and shoes can crack or permanently warp them. I have seen it happen.

Cloth pads with a crease-resistant interior (usually a thin rubber or silicone layer) fold flat and bounce back. No cracking, no weird curves. They also slide into a laptop sleeve or backpack pocket easier than any cylinder.

The only downside: hard pads feel more consistent for gaming or precise mouse movements. But for casual travel use, the convenience of cloth outweighs that. If you are a competitive gamer on the road, buy a rigid pad and carry it in a dedicated tube in your carry-on, not checked luggage.

Don’t risk a cracked mousepad halfway into a trip.