Choosing the right card protectors...how?

[johnstown713]

To me it is definetly the DragonShields.  They are all higher than the cards so the top of my power cards are protected.  Sorry if this was already said but there are so many replies to this thread that I didn't read them all.

[Whippoorwill]

I haven't had much trouble with the different types/brands of sleeves that I've used, but there's 2 types that I would avoid when shopping for sleeves:

Ultra Pro metallic sleeves.  The metallic look on the back wears out after awhile leaving you with marked sleeves that you can't use.

Max Protection Neo (foil) sleeves.  These are the worst sleeves I have ever encountered.  While they look cooler than any other sleeves, they are complete crap.  I bought 2 packs (of 50) yesterday to try them out and within 15 mins of sleeving up my deck and shuffling lightly, the bottom corners and sides started to split and/or get stuck to each other.  It's not a very good sign when you have corners of cards going in between the foiling and the sleeve itself.  So avoid these at all costs.

[Machinus]

I finally got some Gunmetal - they are long, smooth, and definitely stronger than the Ultra Pros. Thanks for the help, guys. Next I have to find a playmat! I always liked the tan MTG playmats with the black art mural, really long mats that people used to fold. Does anyone know if they sell these, and if so, where? Or, what kind of playmat woud you recommend?

[wuaffiliate]

OMG, found them:

http://www.trollandtoad.com/Supplies/1018-483p3n10.html

And they're cheap, too, with over 400(!) in stock. It's hard to tell by the picture, but they are 66mm x 93mm, which means that they are indeed the right ones. Most other sleeves are shorter - around 90mm in length.

These Japanese Gunmetal Sleeves are the best sleeves ever made!

holy shit Peter you found them finally . ill pick some up!

i use pink ultra pros, silver player's choice, silver MAX jap sleeves, and fusion dragon shields and i liek them all. but gunmetal are the best ever made.

[Justinsane]

just a warning, don't buy the satin gold ultra pros.  I had them for a week and they were cool, but then i guess sweat or something ruined the back cover and the cards would stick together. oh well they were cheap.

[Python73]

The new Ultra Pro SATIN sleeves are very nice.  A little more sturdy than the last run of metallics.  Also, the are all cut the same length, which if you have a bunch of metallics you know how much differing length sleeves blows.  [Can we say "blows" here?  ]  

Anyway, the satins are a bit tough to shuffle till you break them in.  But I've been using my T1 deck hard with them for over 40 games now with no rips, and they don't bend like the metallics.

MTC.

S  !

[DavidHernandez]

Whippoorwill and Justinsane make a point that I agree with: UltraPro metalic sleeves wear out quickly.

I recently bought 3 packages of some gold sleeves that had (almost) a "foil" look to them.  

They lasted one day.

In fact, of the 3 packs (which were identically marked), none of the 3 sets matched correctly.  So, some of my sleeves were unusable (unless I wanted to be accused of marking my deck with off-colored sleeves).  In addition, upon shuffling, the corners of the "foil" peeled off.  This ruined the sleeve and further marked the cards in the deck.

After 4 rounds of play, the edges actually wore off.

I'm tempted never to buy any UltraPro product after this.

Dave.

[chosen_one]

Anyone tried the new Ultra Pro Gallery sleeves with the dragon art?

Dragon 1

Dragon 2

Havent't tried them because they're quite expensive but they're quite big unlike the old Ultra Pros.

We don't have Gunmetal and Player's Choice sleeves in our country so I'm still using the awesome new Ultra Pro Raven Black sleeves and the like. It has long sleeves and the textured back for easy shuffling. But I'm curious if these new Ultra Pros are as good as Gunmetal and Player's Choice.

Anyone tried these? Any reviews?

Ultra Pro Satin

Ultra Pro Fantasy

[MysteryOfTime]

I have 100 sleeves of UPs new Dragon sleeves, the one on the second picture. So far so good, they are taller then the older ultra pro, and much more stronger. Not one has ripped on me yet. I have never tried Gunmetal sleeves, I guess I will have to buy a few packs and try them out.

[chosen_one]

I have 100 sleeves of UPs new Dragon sleeves, the one on the second picture. So far so good, they are taller then the older ultra pro, and much more stronger. Not one has ripped on me yet. I have never tried Gunmetal sleeves, I guess I will have to buy a few packs and try them out.

How's the texture of the backs? Are they good for side shuffling? The Raven Black Ultra Pros shuflfle real well..

[Danzig]

I just use regular old Ultra Pro or th Darksteel box sleeves.

[MysteryOfTime]

I have 100 sleeves of UPs new Dragon sleeves, the one on the second picture. So far so good, they are taller then the older ultra pro, and much more stronger. Not one has ripped on me yet. I have never tried Gunmetal sleeves, I guess I will have to buy a few packs and try them out.

How's the texture of the backs? Are they good for side shuffling? The Raven Black Ultra Pros shuflfle real well..

They are stronger then the satin it seems, and the texture is pretty smooth. I have had no problems shuffling them at all. And they do not get very dirty.

[brturn]

Update..

Based on the nearly unanimous support for gunmetal sleves, I bought a few hundred.  I must say they are very nice, they are strong like the Dragon Shields, and tall to protect the card.

I have one issue with them; the 'speckled' gunmetal color is not consistent, in 300 sleves I have 60 which have a very obvious 'seam' in the gunmetal coloring.  Has anyone else seen this issue?  Is it possible to get a refund for the unusable sleeves, or even replacements?

Thanks!
--Bryan

[Jacob Orlove]

Yeah, I've gotten a few with those seams--almost like a crease in the sleeve. That's why they come in sets of 100 and not 75, I guess.