Hard mousepads chew through PTFE skates

Yes, harder mousepad surfaces will wear down PTFE skates faster, while ceramic skates handle it much better.

PTFE is a soft polymer. Rub it against a hard surface like glass or a textured hard pad, and it wears down noticeably quicker than on a soft cloth pad. You’ll start seeing shiny spots or uneven glide after a few months of heavy use. Soft cloth is gentle — it’s basically a fabric polishing the PTFE slowly.

Ceramic skates are much harder. They barely wear on any surface, hard or soft. But they’re not a free upgrade: they’re louder, can feel scratchy on some pads, and might even leave micro-scratches on glass or coated hard pads. That’s the trade-off.

If you’re on a hard pad and want to minimize maintenance, ceramic is the way to go. If you prefer soft cloth, stick with PTFE