I was looking for a roll-up leather chessboard as a more refined alternative to vinyl boards. I already own a mousepad board, which I bought during the pandemic. It is not bad, but it’s a bit too large, exceeding the standard 2.25-inch square tournament size by a good margin. Plus although mousepad material is an improvement over vinyl, it still feels and looks somewhat cheap.
Does a leather chessboard improve my game? Not at all. But chess is the most beautiful game, and part of the enjoyment is playing on and perhaps even collecting beautiful chessboards and chess pieces.
Advantages of a Leather Chessboard
A high-quality leather chessboard offers several advantages over other roll-up options such as vinyl, silicone, and mousepad boards:
- Aesthetics. A leather chessboard looks significantly better than other roll-up options. It is elegant enough to leave out as a display set with high-end chess pieces, fitting seamlessly into any living room or study.
- Perfect Lay-Flat Design. Like vinyl, it rolls up for portability but lays completely flat when unrolled, avoiding curling issues.
- Durability. With minimal care, a leather chessboard lasts a very long time.
Are There Any Disadvantages?
Only minor ones:
- You would not want to eat fast food or spill drinks on it. While it is easy to clean, it is not as washable as a vinyl board.
- Leather chessboards are more expensive than vinyl or mousepad alternatives. However, I got an excellent deal from ChessBaron, paying only $99 CAD, shipped to my door. A high-quality Flexpad board from a U.S. retailer costs about $50 shipped to Canada. To me, the leather chessboard is easily worth twice that price.
- If you’re vegan, this isn’t going to work for you.
Finding the Right Leather Chessboard
Leather chessboards are not common. Many of the options I found (even expensive ones) looked cheap, failed to lay flat due to thin material, or had a weird scroll design where there are tying strings attached to the board as you play.
After extensive research, I purchased my leather chessboard from ChessBaron. For transparency, I have no affiliation with them beyond being a satisfied first-time customer.
Choosing Between ChessBaron’s Black and White and Brown and Tan boards
ChessBaron offers two leather chessboards:
- Black and white 2.25″ Square Mat (B2300)
- Brown and tan 2.25″ Square Mat (B1300)
I struggled to choose between them. My plastic quadruple-weighted chess pieces would match the black and white chessboard better, but the brown and tan chessboard looked stunning.
Key Differences
- The black and white is slightly thicker and more rigid.
- The black and white chessboard has better contrast.
- The brown and tan chessboard allows for smooth piece sliding, while the black and white chessboard does not due to the type of leather used.
- The black and white chessboard features a subtle embossed ChessBaron logo on a white square, while the brown and tan leather chessboard has a more noticeable logo.
- The brown and tan leather chessboard has a classier appearance, but both are beautiful.
- The black and white one was only available with backgammon in the back, but this is dependent on stock availability as they carry both versions in both colors, generally speaking.
- The brown and tan board has slightly more noticeable coordinates.
In the end, I chose the black and white leather chessboard, mainly because it paired better with my existing pieces.
Leather Chessboard Sets and Customization
I purchased only the board, but ChessBaron also offers leather chessboard sets that include a carrying case and double-weighted chess pieces. However, I did not like the default 3-inch king pieces included in their set. While they are adequate for the 2.25-inch squares, my existing 4 1/8″-inch king pieces fit better. Plus, I already had a bag to carry my board, pieces, and clock.
That said, a great feature of ChessBaron is their willingness to customize sets, allowing customers to upgrade to better chess pieces by paying the price difference.
I was not initially familiar with ChessBaron, but after researching them and seeing mostly positive reviews, I decided to reach out and give it a shot. The UK-based owner responded quickly via WhatsApp, answering my questions and sending additional pictures to help me choose the right color (I struggled to choose).
Once I placed my order, the board shipped within a day and arrived in Canada within a week via courier. The fast shipping and overall buying experience left a strong positive impression.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for a leather chessboard that is elegant, durable, and functional, ChessBaron offers two great options at a reasonable price. While they cost more than vinyl or mousepad alternatives, they provide great looks and longevity. Double thumbs up from me.