I have had this shikibuton for almost 3 years. In that time there is no signs of use, there are no damages, even after hanging it outside and beating it with a broom stick biweekly.Anyone who says that the material does not last, clearly doesn't know how to care for their shikibuton.There also is no smell to it. The people who are complaining about the smell are on crack or something. I sniffed this thing as thought I were trying to snort crack or like a dog sniffs booty holes... never did I smell anything, and my scent is so sensitive that I can smell things the average person can't. I sleep great every night and never have had any complaints. So far I have tested 3 other shikibuton that have better ratings than this one here on Amazon, but so far, none have been as comfy as this one has, and I have returned all of them. I never sleep right on a shikibuton. I always have a blanket laid out on top of it.As an athlete of 10 years, and one who was dumb in his teenage years and hurt his lower back, since sleeping on this for the past 3 years all my back pain has been gone. I have a bit of a broad shoulder length and still can comfortably sleep on my side without a pillow. I can comfortably sleep in any position. I sleep on my back, stomach, and both sides without any problems.I'm one of those who spends 2-3 weeks on Amazon looking for the right product so I won't have to return it. I spent 3 weeks on this one and to this day, I would pay $200 for this one if I had to buy a second one, but I'm pretty sure this one will last me at least 5 more years... or until I get a girlfriend and would have to get a bigger one... hopefully within these next 2 years ?Other shikibuton I've tested have foam and polyester inners, this one is cotton. I would not recommend foam or polyester inners because half way through your sleep, you'll be much closer to the ground than you would with cotton. The cotton also stays thicccc and fluffy all night long. If you're on the heavier side, perhaps a 4 inch would be best for you, or if you're just coming from an Americanized overly thicccccc mattress. The only downside or upside (depending how you view this) is after hanging it outside, you'll notice it is thinner towards the center and thicker on the edges because the cotton shifts a bit. It is not very much of a difference though, and after a few nights, everything from the edges will shift back to it's natural position and the thickness will be all evened out.