Buying sleeves? Best sleeves for me.
Gear forum
Posted on July 8, 2015, 1:10 p.m. by IcyLightning
I'm sure that this has been posted in the past asking which sleeves are the best for cards etc., but I decided to start a new post to see what everyone suggests specifically for me.
Up until now I've been using the Ultra-Pro Profit transparent sleeves because they're cheap and I like how close they fit the card, but I noticed while sleeving some cards the other day that my cards have a slight bend to them when they go into the new sleeve. Older decks that have the same sleeves didn't have this bend but obviously this set off some red flags for me and I decided to look into it a bit. I ended up on youtube watching:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bu1h0gtu2U
by Tolarian Community College (which is an amusing while simultaneously very helpful channel). According to the video, Ultra Pro sleeves suck.
So I'm in the market for new sleeves and looking for advice. Are Dragonshields really worth it, especially if I don't end up having to buy more in a few years time to replace the ones I have? Or would Ultra Pros serve me just as well since I only play casually and am typically pretty good with my cards? Something else?
NoPantsParade says... #4
I've been buying Dragonshields for two years now and have had no problems with any of them breaking.
July 8, 2015 1:27 p.m.
The Professor turned me onto KMC hypermat sleeves. The textured backs make the cards not slip, they have no dumb shiny logo covering your card on em either and only 2 out of 750+ have split on me over a 1 & 1/2 year period.
I found my old Yugioh cards last week still in their Ultra-Pro sleeves and deck box, pulled some of the cards out and they were severely curled so Ultra Pro can shove it; KMC is the shit.
July 8, 2015 1:29 p.m.
Programmer_112 says... #8
I've only used UltraPro and Dragonshield in the past, so I don't have very much experience here, but in my experience, Dragonshields are much better. While my UltraPros ripped even when I was careful, my Dragonshields have been able to stand up to even my crappy shuffling for ~3 months without showing any signs of abuse. Definitely recommended.
July 8, 2015 1:44 p.m.
TheGodofNight says... #9
A lot of it comes down to how well you want to protect a deck. I tend to use Ultra Pro sleeves for drafting because they are cheap and plentiful. So if I tear a sleeve during a draft and I don't have a spare, I can probably find more behind the counter at my LGS, and probably in the same color.
With EDH, I like Dragonshields because they give you the right amount of sleeves for the deck. Since I don't play a ton of EDH, they don't get as much wear and tear on them and they last much longer. After time though, I notice that they get a bit sticky. Not a critical issue, but they do need to be wiped off.
Now as a predominantly modern player, I double sleeve all of my modern decks that are worth money. I have a few tinker builds that are less than $100 that I don't care about as much. Anything above that though gets double sleeves in KMC Hyper Mattes and perfect fits. Since I tend to play a lot of modern, I can say for certain that these sleeves hold up extremely well and work phenomenally. You don't get many extra sleeves (5 for a 60 card deck and 15 card sideboard) but it's rare that I have to use the extra sleeves.
If its a deck that you want to protect, then go with the KMC Hyper Matte sleeves. If it's an EDH deck, go with the Dragonshields. If you are just drafting, then don't break the bank an go with Ultra Pros. If you are playing standard, well, gauge the value of the deck, and make your call from there. I hope this info helps. Good luck and happy sleeving!
July 8, 2015 1:50 p.m.
ThisIsBullshit says... #10
I've had dragonshields for about six months now, and they're stupendous in terms of durability. I haven't had a single one rip on me, and I got extras in the box I ordered, so I tried to rip one with my hands. Lo and behold, I couldn't break it (but maybe that's because I'm a wimp).
However, I have two issues with them. One is that they get dirty if you so much as look at them sideways. I'd definitely recommend playmat use with these. They also stick together like you wouldn't believe (but maybe that's just cuz mine are somewhat dirty).
TL;DR: Dragonshields are pretty great but get dirty extremely easily, use a playmat with them.
I haven't tried KMC outer sleeves, but I use their perfect fit inner sleeves and they are the bomb, and I've heard nothing but good about KMC Hyper Mattes.
July 8, 2015 1:53 p.m.
Matte dragonshield's don't get dirty in the way the old ones did. They are fantastic.
July 8, 2015 1:56 p.m.
IcyLightning says... #12
So much feedback! I don't use a playmat right now and don't plan on using one pretty much ever, so if Dragonshields really do get dirty quick I may go with KMC's, but to start I'll probably buy a pack of both just to try them out and see what I like.
Also, how important is double sleeving when just playing casually?
July 8, 2015 2:16 p.m.
ThisIsBullshit says... #13
Double sleeving isn't that important unless you're playing with expensive cards. It's mostly personal choice.
July 8, 2015 2:22 p.m.
KMC sleeves are beautiful. I have absolutely no complaints at all. Get them double-sleeved and you'll never have so much as a mark on any of your cards for the rest of the time they're in the sleeves.
July 8, 2015 2:23 p.m.
PepsiAddicted says... #15
if you dont play really expensive stuff theres no point in double sleeving. perfect-sizes into dragonshields if you really wanna do it. i only did it for my main edh deck, everything else is just in dragonshields.
but get a playmat, theres always that one dude who drops his bottle on the table and a mat will give u extra seconds. saved me a few times.
July 8, 2015 2:23 p.m.
UpsetYoMama says... #16
Define playing "casually." After all, EDH is casual, but decks can cost hundreds. If you're playing with $10+ cards, then I would consider double-sleeving. Otherwise if someone spills a coke on your deck you're not going to be happy. As someone who double-sleeved a lot recently, just know it does increases the thickness of the deck, so you may not be able to fit your deck in a traditional deck box if you have a sideboard as well.
I've tried lots of sleeves, and now only buy two types:
1) Dragon Shield (regular)2) KMC Hypermat
1) I use Dragon Shield on EDH decks, partly because they are very durable and party because they come in packs of 100 (I would have to buy more KMC hypermats and pay more to sleeve EDH decks with them). It is worth noting that I play with these decks less often, as well. I've never had a Dragon Shield sleeve split, although they can get dents from fingernails / shuffling from time to time.
2) I use KMC Hypermats on competitive decks I use, such as modern and standard. I used to use Dragon Shield sleeves with these, but Dragon Shield sleeves picked up more dirt over time (at least in my experience) and are a bit harder to shuffle sometimes.
So basically, I haven't found anything better than KMC Hypermat for Magic Cards.
Note: I always use a playmat. If you don't have one, it's a good $20 or so investment.
Note: Do not buy Ultra Pro for the most part, especially the Magic series (with Magic art on them). The back will start peeling off in no time, and they can easily get dents or rip/split.
July 8, 2015 2:26 p.m.
HolyFalcon says... #17
Do not get regular Dragon Shields. GET MATTE. They're so much better, they're not sticky, don't get dirty, and have a great shuffle feel.
July 8, 2015 2:33 p.m.
IcyLightning says... #18
Casual as in my average deck budget is $30 and I only play with my friends in a mostly controlled environment, So aside from dust on a table or gasp a spilled drink, its a non stressful environment for cards
July 8, 2015 2:34 p.m.
HolyFalcon says... #19
By matte I mean Matte Dragon Shields, not KMC Hyper Mattes. I cannot say I like KMC because I did buy some and some perfect fits to sleeve my deck, and by the end of the night I had like 6 split sleeves.
July 8, 2015 2:38 p.m.
I cannot say anything about dragon shield matte, but I do want to try them out. however, I have some dragon shields (the glossy kind) that are a year old now. even after heavy use, the only one I ever split was when I was showing my friend how little they split. Even then, it was difficult to actually tear them. Dragon shields appear to be made out of some magical plastic that is about as strong as steel. The only problem I have is that if anything gets on to the glossy ones, they become a brick of cards that cannot shuffle. I hear the matte version fixes this, but I haven't held any matte ones yet.
July 8, 2015 4:15 p.m.
quesobueno123 says... #21
Dragon Shields or Kmc Hyper Mattes are the way to go!
July 8, 2015 4:24 p.m.
IcyLightning says... #22
Thanks for all the suggestions, definitely going to try both Dragonshield Mattes and KMC mattes to see which I prefer
July 8, 2015 4:49 p.m.
Grantley91 says... #24
Just because so many people who seem to be pretty knowledgeable already commented on this, I have a question of my own (not to hijack the thread, even though I'm pretty sure its finished); when you double sleeve, do you put them both the same way, or use the perfect fit upside down? Seems like having them both go opposite directions makes more sense.
July 8, 2015 5:24 p.m.
ThisIsBullshit says... #25
I put the perfect fits on upside down. Not sure why you'd do it the other way.
July 8, 2015 5:37 p.m.
Grantley91 says... #27
Okay, I just wanted to make sure. It seemed more sensible but I'm a newb when it comes to fancy expensive sleeves so I didn't wanna mess it up or something. Thanks!
July 8, 2015 5:48 p.m.
asasinater13 says... #28
dragon shield are best for commander decks if you're looking for budget, just because they come by the 100 with a few extra in case of breaking, usually around 103 to 104 total. for standard sized decks KMC hyper-mattes have a more well-liked shuffle feel and are of equal or better quality, while selling by 80-packs. both will last you a very long time and will protect your cards well, while offering double sleeving.
when double sleeving, put the perfect fits upside down, then the regular sleeve on normally. sleeving this way creates a usually air-tight seal, when done correctly cards are basically water proof.
July 8, 2015 6:16 p.m.
Whatever sleeves you end up buying, do not buy them from an LGS - the markup is absurd. You can buy cases of KMC Hyper Mattes online, and I'd assume you can do the same for Dragonshields, but idk.
I bought a case of Hyper Mattes and they came out to 50% of what they would have cost had I bought them from a store. I understand the markup, the store has to make money, but I'd rather not pay $10-12 for a pack of sleeves.
July 21, 2015 1:13 p.m.
HolyFalcon says... #30
Yeah, but you ordered more than 1 at a time. 10 packs for 100$ is not the same rate of 1 pack for 12$, but not everyone has 100$ for sleeves.
July 21, 2015 1:21 p.m.
ComradeJim270 says... #31
I recently started switching over to Dragonshields and the difference in quality is quite noticeable. While I'm very careful with my cards and have never split my Ultra-Pros they do feel cheap and get worn quickly. The Dragonshields feel vastly more durable.
But even without the splitting problem some players have, the Dragonshields shuffle much more smoothly and have a more snug fit for better protection. They are just easier to handle and I find that this improves my gameplay experience. I use the matte sleeves but that's personal preference.
I'd say they're worth the extra money; it's not really that much.
July 21, 2015 1:56 p.m.
Magicrafter I actually split the case with Gspot to bring down the price. I'm sure it's not too hard to find a bunch of people that want cheaper sleeves to split the cost with.
July 21, 2015 2:19 p.m.
IcyLightning says... #33
I actually bought some KMC sleeves from my LGS for $7... but if you can get them cheaper then that please point me to that site.
July 21, 2015 2:49 p.m.
IcyLightning:
I picked mine up from http://www.potomacdist.com/kmc-standard-size-deck-protector-sleeves/
You can pick them up in a group of 10 or 30 packs of Hyper Mattes, and the price per pack is fairly similar (though obviously it's cheaper to get the full case). Shipping is also free for a case of sleeves, which is great. From the looks of things they also sell DGS Matte wholesale as well:
http://www.potomacdist.com/dragon-shield-deck-protectors/
For the Dragonshields it prices out to around $7 per box.
July 21, 2015 3:58 p.m. Edited.
kfournier1 says... #36
I also am a huge fan of Dragon Shields. I bought 100 ultra pro sleeves (matte black) for my second edh deck. After a few games I went and bought dragon shields for it as well because they were ripping.
August 3, 2015 8:10 p.m.
I can only recommend to double sleeve cards. The feel is better (imho) and your cards do not get damaged. With nothing but outer sleeves there is always dirt that gets into the sleeve and ruins your near mint cards... Also I prefer to use a playmat to protect the sleeves because dragon shields can get sticky. With kmc you'll probably never have a problem (use them on all my edh decks and they are perfect). Ultra pros will break before they can even get sticky.
August 7, 2015 8:38 a.m.
ComradeJim270 says... #38
Having recently started double-sleeving, I can second AlexoBn on it. If you have the money, anyway; I've only done it for my most valuable deck so far. But the difference in shuffling ability and feel is very noticeable. Not to mention the protection.
Still don't know what the hell people are doing to split all their Ultra Pros, but I know it happens a lot. I've seen it. It happens to mine if I let anyone else shuffle them, I think I just have the world's lamest superpower of never splitting them.
You get what you pay for.
alpinefroggy says... #2
Id say good sleeves for decks you want to keep in good shape are a must. Exspensive sleeves are not cheap but why skimp on the cost for something that is not going to protect your cards. The best inner sleeves are kmc perfect fits. No company comes close to this product and its quality. Steer clear of the other brands.
Dragon shields and kmc hypers I like the best. Positively indestructable. They arent cheap but the have the protection and durability you want. Using the same sleeves a lot though will make them become dirty though. This is the one issue I have with dragonshield. kmcs are better but the same set I have had for a year and half still have some dirt on them.
July 8, 2015 1:18 p.m.