Choosing the right binder is like buying the right kind of glasses for your eyes. You want them to provide the right support and protection so that your eyesight don't degrade as much as they could have overtime.
Welcome back if you are here after reading my post on 'Top 5 Ways To Store And Protect Your Cards Collection'. Otherwise, hello there!
Thought to do a quick one stop check on the best binder that fit your needs, so you can have a better sense of which to get in light of your top considerations and price points. So take these rankings loosely as I will admit that they are quite biased by my own personal preference (P.S. most of my collection is made up Ultimate Guard and Vault X binders, while my friends tend to have more of a mix).
5. ULTRA PRO
Recommended for its Cost (Basic)
Price: $
Pros
Quality padded exterior with quality stitching
Durable binder with side-loading pockets
Cons
Cards tend to fall out more easily and would require double-sleeving
Its strap-binder tends not to lie as flat, and might close on itself. It also lacks the sturdiness, which might comprise the security of the cards.
Here are the links to the various binder sizes:
(please click the individual links for the available colors)
4. DEX PROTECTION
Recommended for its Value-for-Money and minor Lux
Price: $-$$
Pros
Durable and padded with a thick and high-quality cover
Extra-lined with a velvet interior that provides extra protection
Cons
Chunky, especially once it is filled with cards, which could cause your cards to bend or crease.
Tends to attracts dirt more easily.
Here are the links to the various binder sizes:
(please click the individual links for the available colors)
3. DRAGON SHIELD
Recommended for its Quality and Design Range
Price: $$
Pros
Durable faux leather exterior with thick covers
Acid PVC-free and side-loading pages
Extra space provided so that the pages lie flat when filled with cards
Multiple dragon-illustration designs to choose from
Cons
D-ring binder options not as highly recommended as cards nearest to the D-ring may be damaged if not stored properly. Most also made of cardboard which compromises durability.
Design themes might not match your collection aesthetics
Here are the links to the various binder sizes:
(please click the individual links for the available colors or here to see the binder designs)
2. ULTIMATE GUARD
Recommended for its Durability and Go-To-Brand
Price: $$$
Pros
Sturdy with quality exterior and leathery feel. Personally like the color matching all-around the exterior.
Acid PVC-free with side-loading pockets.
Personally, my preferred interior which lies more snug.
Range of designs to choose from.
Cons
Pages tend not to lie flat when filled, and card slots do seem abit bigger and may double-sleeving to secure the cards.
Realized increasing issues with Quality control, despite coming with a hefty price-tag.
Here are the links to the various binder sizes:
(please click the individual names for your preferred color or here to see the binder designs)
480-Card Strap Closure Basic Red (12 Pocket), Black (12 Pocket), White (12 Pocket), Lime Green (12 Pocket)
480-Card Zip Binder Black (12 Pocket), Petrol Blue (12 Pocket), Red (12 Pocket), Green (12 Pocket), White (12 Pocket)
1. VAULT X
Recommended for its All-Roundedness
Price: $$-$$$
Pros
Padded exterior which doesn't bulge as much when filled. This also allows the pages to lie flatter when opened.
Light-weight feeling with a quality stitching and leathery exterior.
Acid PCV-free with Quality zippers.
Cons
Low variety in color options.
Their straps can get abit tight sometimes, which squishes the cards when closed. Would recommend their zip binders instead.
Here are the links to the various binder sizes:
(please click the individual links for the available colors)