The 3/4 inch pad is thick enough that my older lab actually stays put on the ride home instead of pacing and whining. The tough-skin cover has taken muddy paws and a spilled water bowl without soaking through, which is more than I can say for the last crate mat I tried.
My pointer was limping after a long hunt weekend, but with this pad in the crate she stretched out and slept the whole drive home without a peep. The waterproof surface wiped clean in seconds after a muddy stop, and my back appreciates how easy it is to lift out.