Should I choose a silicone mousepad over a natural rubber one?

Yes, silicone beats natural rubber for smell and longevity. Natural rubber has a strong smell that never fully fades and can degrade from heat and hand oils, becoming tacky or crumbly after a year or two. Silicone is almost odorless, doesn’t degrade from UV or sweat, and stays grippy without getting sticky. Go silicone if you’re sensitive to smells or want something that lasts more than a couple of years.