Key Features You Should Look For in Card Sleeves

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Card Sleeves

A sound card sleeve is essential to protect your cards. Whether for playing, trading, or a collectible, a sleeve can make all the difference between protecting your collection and damaging it. Many types of sleeves are available, and knowing which is right for you is essential. Here are some of the key features you should look for.

Thickness

The thickness of a playing card sleeve has a lot to do with the feel and durability of the sleeve. Thinner sleeves tend to feel more fragile and have a higher chance of tearing. The sleeve must also fit comfortably into the deck box and shuffle when you need to. Thicker sleeves can be more challenging to shuffle and will take up more space in the deck box. Choosing high-quality card sleeves for sale that won’t split or fall apart is essential. It should also be opaque in the back and have a good seal. Some players even double-sleeve their decks to slow down the curling of their cards when they’re stored in a sleeve. It doesn’t completely prevent this issue but it can make it less noticeable.

Durability

Durability is a significant factor to consider when buying playing card sleeves. The sleeve must stand up to frequent use and harsh conditions. Another essential aspect to look for in a sleeve is the material used. Some brands use glossy materials that get sticky when shuffling cards, which can cause the cards to warp or become damaged. Some players may prefer matte or hyper matte sleeves instead of the more glossy options, which offer a better shuffle feel. These finishes also allow air to circulate the cards, preventing them from sticking together and ensuring they shuffle evenly and smoothly.

Opaqueness

The opaqueness of a playing card sleeve is a crucial feature to look for. It affects how easily you can see through the sleeve and identify the back of a card. Opaqueness is defined as the ability of light to pass through or partially penetrate something, like a transparent window. When the opaqueness of an object is low, it can be challenging to see through, while when it is high, it makes it difficult to understand. Generally speaking, opaqueness is more critical in tournament settings because it prevents players from cheating using marked cards. It also helps to protect the card from being damaged by liquids, dust, or other small particles that can enter a regular top-loading sleeve. Opaqueness is also essential for preventing the fronts of sleeves from becoming dinged up. It can cause marks to show up when shuffling and is one of the easiest ways for players to abuse the transparency of a sleeve to mark cards in their deck.

Color

The color of the playing card sleeve can impact how it will protect your cards. For example, opaque sleeves are ideal for hiding the backs of cards that have already been worn down by play. They can also help you quickly find your cards when you want to pull them out for a draw. Opaque sleeves can be colored or transparent and come in many colors, so you can choose the ones that best fit your deck. The standard card sleeve size is 66 x 91 mm, but it is important to note that some cards may not fit into this size. 

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