I currently only use inner sleeves to protect my cards for collection. I recently got a theme deck for a steal, and am thinking of playing with them casually. I don't have outer sleeves, and currently think they are too expensive and too much hassle to use. If inner sleeves are not enough, I'm just not going to even play.
Help Inner Sleeves and Casual Play.
- Thread starter Jeanne Chen
- Start date
Inner sleeves being...penny sleeves? (those transparent plastic ones that fit just around the card) If so, you certainly don't need outer sleeves, especially since you say you're just gonna play casually, but they do a better job at protecting your cards.
You can buy a pack of Ultra Pro Matte's for like 7 bucks on Amazon. They are great sleeves and a little cheaper than Dragon Skins, which are even better.
Places like Target and Walmart sell deck protectors (it's what those nice card sleeves are called) for about 5 bucks. And you get enough of 'em to sleeve all your cards in your deck (60).
However, I would suggest that you also slip them into penny sleeves for a little extra protection. Sure, deck protectors are fancier than simple penny sleeves, but they can really warp your cards because moisture can get inside the sleeve, and stretch and expand the cards. You'll notice this because the cards will develop a progressively bad and noticeable "bow echo" when picked up. This can be countered by putting the double sleeved cards (penny sleeves first then into deck protectors) into an additional layer of protection; of which being a basic 3-ring binder with the 3x3 card sleeve sheets.
If that seems too much for you, and especially considering you're going to be playing the Pokemon TCG casually; the binder is not necessary for card protection. But yeah, double sleeving your Pokemon cards should help you out, and minimize the amount of damage that outside forces can place on your cards.
Just remember to keep them in a cool, dry place. They're kind of like sugar and flour in a way. They all don't do well when exposed to moisture.
However, I would suggest that you also slip them into penny sleeves for a little extra protection. Sure, deck protectors are fancier than simple penny sleeves, but they can really warp your cards because moisture can get inside the sleeve, and stretch and expand the cards. You'll notice this because the cards will develop a progressively bad and noticeable "bow echo" when picked up. This can be countered by putting the double sleeved cards (penny sleeves first then into deck protectors) into an additional layer of protection; of which being a basic 3-ring binder with the 3x3 card sleeve sheets.
If that seems too much for you, and especially considering you're going to be playing the Pokemon TCG casually; the binder is not necessary for card protection. But yeah, double sleeving your Pokemon cards should help you out, and minimize the amount of damage that outside forces can place on your cards.
Just remember to keep them in a cool, dry place. They're kind of like sugar and flour in a way. They all don't do well when exposed to moisture.
Shuffling will shred your cards without sleeves and penny sleeves won't last much longer. $10 for 100 Dragon Shield sleeves is a good deal when you consider you won't have to spend time focusing on your gear and more time on your game. Plus, you'll have extra sleeves for when they do start to wear out, which will be a while. Totally worth the money.