I'm used to the rubber, waffle fry type rug pad and I was prepared to buy one for a rug I bought for the living room. I needed something that would keep the rug in place and also to prevent any rubbing/scratching on my new hardwood floors. Sometimes rugs can have a rough texture on the bottom. Anyway, I saw this rug pad and thought it was one of those pads you get for moving furniture, weird. I read the reviews which were good so I thought I'd give it a try. I really like it. I thought it was strange at first being so thick, the rug doesn't sit flat on the floor like it would with the rubber pad. The thickness of the rug pad elevates the rug just a little. At first it was odd but then I walked on it and realized why people like it so much, it provides another soft layer to my rug! Since we have hardwood floors everywhere, it's nice to have cozy flooring in the living room where we hang out. This may not work for all rugs and probably not recommended for maybe a dining room, but anywhere else I'd say it's a better option over the rubber rug pads.