Large portable writable re-usable surfaces

[VLSmooth]

... usable for gaming!

I found two main varieties, starting with the cheap one

• GameMastery Flip-Mat (product info, $12.99)
  * 24" x 30"
  * accepts all types of markers (I'm skeptical though)
  * they have pre-printed variants, which are constraining yet possibly convenient
• Chessex Role Playing Play Mat
  * 34" x 48" (amazon $39.97)
  * There are smaller/cheaper sizes and other variants, just follow the links
  * Does not explicitly say it's writable, however the "Better Together" Link combines the mat with markers

Not sure how to differentiate between the two without buying both, since I didn't spend much time researching, and there doesn't seem to be that much info for such a niche product. I'm definitely interested though, and thought people here might be as well.

More links (ie. how I found the above)

• Dry-erase vs. Wet-erase Maps and Battlemats
• Tabletop Projection
  Ideally reverse projection similar to Microsoft Surface would be great for this.

I e-mailed this to some people and I'm posting a version here for more visibility / potential input (time to link it!)

[quantus]

Ability to draw rooms with Wet or Permanent Markers, use Dry Erase for detail and spontaneous information during the game. One swipe with a Eraser & Flip-Mat™ is ready to run the encounter again.

Sounds kinda like the plastic used for overheads although I'm not sure you can erase permanent marker off of them. I think this would work for dry erase vs wet erase on overheads. If you want the 1" grids, you could laser print them on.

[VLSmooth]

Chessex's website confirms their battlemat write-status:

Using water-soluble overhead-projection pens (NOT dry erase, grease pencil, or permanent markers), you can write on the vinyl and remove later with water when the drawing is no longer needed.

Incidentally, the Amazon price and Chessex direct prices seem to match at a glance.

[VLSmooth]

Also, given the mats, I like the idea of using coins to represent objects, especially since erasing seems annoying on the Chessex mats at least.

[Peijen]

Why don't you buy one and I will give you a nice item?