Scratch Map

To help you find the scratch map that is perfect for you, We will highlight the features that are important to consumers so you can be 100% happy with the scratch map of your choice.

What Is  Scratch Map?

It is a world map having a top layer of gold foil or any other scratch-able material. This top layer can be easily scratched. And once scratched it will reveal a whole new colorful world map. So the idea is to differentiate revealed countries from un-scratched ones by colors.

Once a traveler has visited a country, he will simply scratch that country revealing a colored map underneath making that particular country different from the rest of the world. This is quite helpful for travelers since they can easily see from the map where they have been and where they still want to go. For instance, if a traveler has been to France, Italy, Brazil and China. He will scratch these four countries on his map while all the other countries of the world will remain covered with golf foil.

Uses Of Scratch Map

Scratch map is a very useful thing. It is however, not mandatory for the travelers to use it. Anyone can use. It is a best learning tool too. You can give it to your child and tell her to scratch off the countries after learning them. You can also give it yo your friends and family as gifts.

How We Selected Scratch Maps

Traveling is a passion and a lifestyle for many people, and keeping track of those travels is a major goal for most of them. This is why scratch map make such a great gift and investment for those who love to travel.

With these scratch map, you get the whole world laid out in front of you with a sort of metallic covering. Whenever you travel to any country, you get to scratch off that particular area on your map at home. This would create an updated rendering of the places you’ve been, inspiring you to travel more. It’s also an excellent conversation piece among family and friends.

How a Scratch Map Works?

It’s really simple, just scratch off the places you’ve been and reveal a fantastic world of color! Still inconvenienced? No need to worry! It means that you just have to simply grab a coin and start scratching off all the destination’s, you have been lucky enough to visit. And this will create your own personal record of potential travels making them ever lasting.

Advantages Of Using Scratch Map

Here is a list of few major benefits of using this wonderful world map.

• It is of great help for travelers. They can easily keep record of the countries that are next on the list. There is no need to maintain diaries and usual world maps in order to keep track of the places.
• It can also be used as a learning tool for kids. Give it to your child today and I am sure within a couple of months, she would have learned all the countries of the world with their locations.
• You can use scratch map special editions that are country maps where you can scratch cities and other famous places. So if you are not a tourist or traveler you can still use it. Just buy a scratch map special edition of your home country and start tracking the cities and places where you have been.
• It is a great gift. You can send it to your family and friends as a gift on their special days. No need to buy it rather go to an online store that sells scratch maps, order one and send it as a gift to the address of your loved one.

Scratch Map Buyers Guide

There are several factors to consider when purchasing a scratch map so that you get the best value for your money. It’s a hassle to return such items, especially when they might have some sentimental value attached to them.

You wouldn’t want to use your travel map a few times and have it disintegrating before your next journey. Plus, you would want to be able to use it for its intended purpose. Hence, you should definitely consider these factors before you make a choice:

Uniqueness

People travel for all kinds of reasons. They may go to different places for business, adventure, entertainment, the scenery, the arts, or even to partake in world cuisines. As a reflection of this, you may want your particular scratch map to reflect your main interests for traveling. You may also simply want something different to adorn your walls.

There are several options you may have within these scratch map, including ones that glow in the dark, a map showing gourmet food in place of countries, or a scratch-off globe in place of a two-dimensional hanging.

Accessories

Along with just scratching and revealing an entire country when you visit it, you may also want to keep track of the more specific places. This is where some nice pins and stickers would come in handy. With the right accessories, you can make your trips all the more memorable. Simply stick a pin or sticker on a particular city to identify the memories associated with it. Some scratch map come with the needed emotional stickers, memory stickers, and pins that you need for this project.

Other useful accessories include an official scratcher, one that’s been tested not to damage the map it comes with. Scratching with the wrong tool could destroy the map underneath, which would be a great shame. Some maps may include a scratcher in their package, along with a compass, a magnifying glass, and other tools necessary for accurate map-scratching.

Available Sizes and Weights

Since the scratch map are designed for display, they should ideally not have non-standard sizes. This could make framing a hassle and even more expensive than it usually is.

Additionally, the weight of the scratch map shouldn’t be too much or too little. If the map is too light, it may have more of a tendency to bend, crack, or tear. And If it’s too heavy, with the scratch material and lamination combined, it may not be suitable for traveling purposes.

You just want it for framing, a heavy map may be more suitable, but it shouldn’t be too heavy to hang up on any kind of wall.

Smell

For some scratch map, the smell of the scratch material and even the laminating material may be just too much to bear. This becomes quite difficult when the owner or receiver of the map has allergies or pets that can’t stand such a smell. Hence, be sure to find out if there’s any airing that needs to be done before you place an order for any scratch map.

Scratch Material

The scratch material for a scratch map should have specific features. It has to be strong enough to stick to the map for a long time. This could be difficult since the map is probably laminated. Such slippery surfaces usually don’t give a lot of traction to any paint or attached material.

Plus, the scratch material has to be loose enough to get scraped away with a coin or guitar pick. It should not be difficult to take off or else the areas revealed may be uneven and inaccurate. Plus, too heavy a scratching could ruin even the lamination beneath.

Cost

A scratch map usually has several accessories, laminations, glossy color printing, and other features. Hence, it may not be the cheapest thing you purchase for your travels. It’s ultimately a luxury item, which makes the higher price understandable.

Still, there’s quite a wide price range for such maps, especially if you’re willing to compromise on certain features. For instance, a map that comes with all the accessories for documenting your travels would obviously be more expensive than just a single map that comes on its own.

Quality of paper

Other factors that could drive up the price for a scratch map is the paper used, the thickness of the lamination, the sturdiness of the tube packaging, and the quality of the materials in general. With most of these items, you usually get what you pay for. It’s well worth paying a little extra in order to get a durable map that would last until all the countries have been revealed.

Conclusion

While there’s a lot of choice between the best scratch map on the market, your final choice should depend on your personal preferences. For instance, if you mostly want to travel within the United States, you should be on the lookout for a map with all the states clearly marked inside and out.

These scratch map are usually chosen for their aesthetic value and high quality. Make sure you read the online reviews first and get one that is highly durable as well as pleasing to the eye. Keep a list of what you require with you and get the map that ticks the most boxes. A bit of effort now would hopefully result in a lifetime display of your travels!