Hard mousepads eat PTFE skates faster.

Yes, more porous (cloth) pads are much gentler on PTFE skates. You can go longer between replacements.

Non-porous hard pads (glass, plastic, metal) have a smooth but abrasive surface that grinds down PTFE quickly. On those, you might need new skates every 3–6 months of regular use. Cloth pads (porous fabric) are softer—the fibers actually cushion the skates, so they wear slowly. On a good cloth pad, skates can last a year or more, sometimes two.

The key is friction. Hard pads offer less inherent friction, so the sliding motion hones the PTFE away. Cloth pads have more friction from the weave, but it’s a softer resistance that doesn’t