Best sleeves to use? (Double Sleeving)
Gear forum
Posted on Feb. 24, 2020, 12:18 p.m. by alex277
Hello! I am getting back into mtg after not playing for a while, and was wanting to know what kind of sleeves would be ideal to go with. I have never double sleeved before, but I'm wanting to get a decent amount of foil cards and I've heard that double sleeving helps reduce curling significantly, so that sounds like the route to go for me. I'm just not sure which to go with, I've always used Ultra Pro but have heard KMC and Dragon Shield are better, and wanted to get some opinions. I'd prefer to get the same brand of inner sleeves and outer sleeves if possible. Also worth noting that I dislike matte fronts of sleeves, as I feel like the cloudy look just takes away from the foil look of a card, but I do prefer that matte back as they shuffle much better. The last thing worth noting is that I don't prefer sleeves that are much taller than the card itself, with Ultra Pro sleeves they are just tall enough to cover the top of the card but not go far above it, I've seen other sleeves that are several millimeters above the top of the card and I just think it looks a bit silly personally. Any suggestions would be much appreciated, thank you! :)
I recomment Katana ;) the Price is little bit highter but, i dont wanna miss this Sleeves <3.
February 24, 2020 1:10 p.m. Edited.
Vimozahr do regular KMC sleeves have that extra space on the top? Because the way that I shuffle it gives me issues as well. I've heard a lot of people recommend the KMC inner sleeves but what are the regular outer sleeves they offer like? It sounds like with the extra space at the top on the dragon shields they may not be for me. Also does Katana make inner sleeves? I'm not familiar with that brand actually!
February 24, 2020 1:13 p.m.
LordBlackblade says... #5
I personally use KMC Perfect Fits as my inner sleeve, and Dragon Shield Mattes as my outer sleeve.
I've basically always used Perfect Fits for my inner sleeves, and have never had an issue. Outer sleeves in general have more variety in my opinion. I appreciate the durability of Dragon Shield, but I know many who swear by the feel of Katanas.
When I first started (many years ago now), I used a lot of Ultra Pro products, but I personally feel that the quality just isn't there any more.
February 24, 2020 1:21 p.m.
Innersleeves had no Space. i mean here the Regular Sleeves from Dragonshild. OFC Ultimate Guard makes his own Innersleeves. But i test many combinations, i think for Katana the best innersleeves are smoky or non smoky Perfect Fits from Dragonshild, they are extremely easy to insert into the katana sleeves. KCM is also nice, innersleeve but more for Dragonshild Sleeves.
Ultimate Guard Katana Sleeves:
https://ultimateguard.com/en/ideal-fit/katana-sleeves-standard-size
Ultimate Guard Inner-Sleeves:
https://ultimateguard.com/en/precise-fit-sleeves/precise-fit-sleeves-standard-size
KMC Innersleeves:
https://www.amazon.de/KMC-KMC0273-perfect-H%C3%BCllen-Sammelkarten/dp/B0007N7PB2
No Exp. with Regular KMC Sleeves
I use this with UG Katana:
https://www.dragonshield.com/product/smoke-perfect-fit-toploader-100-standard
February 24, 2020 1:27 p.m.
I have only double sleeved with matt dragon shield and matt KMC sleeves with their corresponding perfect fits.
Between those two I would recommend KMC hands down.... Dragon shield is just way too difficult to properly double sleeve in my opinion... I cant tell you how much time I put into double sleeping a deck with dragon shields only to notice that the inner sleeve would slip up a bit and uncover a little of the bottom of a card....KMC has always been way easier and hassle free to double sleeve my decks and the Matt backed sleeves have been great for shuffling/prevent sticking.
February 24, 2020 1:37 p.m.
Vimozahr so question, I've kind of ruled out dragon shield because they have that extra space at the top, so it seems to be between KMC and Katana. I know you don't have experience with KMC outer sleeves, but with the Katana ones they don't have any extra space at the top? And they have the clear front and matte back? Only other question I have is if the Katana inner sleeves work well with the Katana outer sleeves. Thanks again for your help!
February 24, 2020 1:41 p.m.
Icbrgr so using KMC inners and outers has been very good? Do the KMC outer sleeves have that gap above the top of the card like dragon shields do? Thanks for the suggestion as I was heavily considering KMC, so just want to confirm that they are good for double sleeving with their inners and outers :)
February 24, 2020 1:46 p.m.
https://ibb.co/jhLG1n9
Orange Sleeve Dragon Shild, Green Katana Both KMC Innersleeve
Both had little bit Space but DS had more. Katanas are thick/stable on Top
February 24, 2020 1:52 p.m. Edited.
Deadpoo111 says... #12
I have and always will recommend Dragon shields. They last forever, and the inner sleeves protect all 4 sides of your cards. You talked about how you don't like the space above the cards but I think that's the trade off for pretty much the best protection on the market.
February 24, 2020 8:39 p.m.
(As far as Dragon shield vs KMC is concerned) From what I hear from various pools of people DRAGON SHIELDS are supposed to be the more durable product... I just personally have a very hard time properly double sleeping them.... the Professor/tolarian community college YouTube channel has a very good demonstrations of showing this issue.
KMC may not be as durable/bombproof however I have the absolute confidence that my cards are properly sleeved and will definitely handle my kitchen table/FNM gameplay.
For both dragon and KMC I dont think either of them have significant extra room or gap that your talking about when double sleeved.
February 24, 2020 11:47 p.m.
I use KMC perfect fits for my internal sleeves and am quite happy with them now for I think like 4+ years.
Outer sleeves: I started with KMC and was happy until about 2 years ago there quality dropped off and I switched to the Ultra Pro Eclipse Sleeves and have loved the change over. I do have some new Dragon Shield that I use for limited as they are the best sleeves you can get single sleeved and they do fit the double sleeved as well but they do have extra space if I remember right.
I have heard the Katana are good but I'm not going to toss my old sleeves to change over even if better as the Eclipse are still outstanding.
I recommend that you check out Tolarian Community College on YouTube. A few years ago he posted this: Ultra Pro Eclipse VS Dragon Shield
His videos are great for checking out products before you buy.
Vimozahr says... #2
Its a personal Choice, because every Player shuffel his Deck with his own Hands, Stuffel-style. I love UG Katana Sleeves with Dragonshild Innersleeves (smoky). Dragonshild + KMC Innsersleeves are also good for many Players. UltraPro had just 1 Sleeve Product what i think is good (Eclipse Sleeves + KMC, but more for Casualplay). Generell UP Sleeves stick together like a Stone after Weeks, it feels bad when suffeling.
Katana Sleeve shuffeln feel very smooth for me, a long Time. Dragonshild Sleeves had a little bit more space on Top (its a Problem for me, because Sleeves tear/kink by my shuffeling-Style (And yes, i try to sleeve upside down). Katanas had no space there, thas perfekt for me.
February 24, 2020 1:01 p.m.