Do hybrid mousepads wear out faster than other types?

Yes — the coating is the weak link. A pure cloth pad just gets dirty and frays, but a hybrid pad’s slick surface burns through in six to twelve months, leaving a shiny, worn-down patch that feels slower. Hard pads last forever unless damaged, and cloth pads lose glide gradually over years. If you replace pads yearly, hybrids are fine; otherwise, go pure hard or cloth.