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Best Toploader for Pokémon Cards

Where To Buy Toploaders for Cards

If you’ve landed on this article, you’re probably looking for a way to protect your most valuable cards just like I did months ago. The good news is I have read through every article on toploaders and tested most of the options on this list so you don’t have to.

Using toploaders for valuable Pokémon cards is really a no-brainer, and anyone into collecting cards should have cards in toploaders to keep them safe, and stop bending that occurs naturally over time.

Without further ado, let’s dive into what toploaders are and why you should consider using them. You can also click the button below to jump straight to the list of the best toploaders for Pokémon cards this year.

Introduction

What Is A Toploader For Cards?

A traditional toploader is kind of like a card sleeve, but made from harder, more rigid plastic. The purpose of a toploader is to prevent cards from bending, being scratched, or being damaged by things like liquid spills and the elements.

Toploaders are relatively cheap, and there are two ways you can go about purchasing toploaders for your collection.

OPTION 1: Quantity

When you purchase toploaders at a higher quantity for the cheapest price, you can easily protect a lot of cards without draining your account. That money should be going towards more Pokémon cards, not sleeves.

The sacrifice made with this option, is that the toploaders are usually thinner and do not do as good of a job protecting the cards from bending. There is also sometimes residual glue left over from cheaper manufacturing practices. This somewhat defeats the purpose if your cards can be damaged when you put them in the toploader

OPTION 2: Quality

When you go for quality, or a well-known brand, you are often in safer hands. At the end of the day, these are your most valuable cards you will be putting into the toploaders, so you want to make sure they won’t damage your cards, or cause wear over time.

What Size Toploader For Pokémon Cards?

The best size toploader for Pokémon cards is 3″ x 4″. Most toploaders come in this size, and offer alternative sizing for larger collectible cards, or sports cards. Standard trading cards are 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches (6.4 cm by 8.9 cm), which includes the Pokémon Trading Card Game cards.

How To Use Toploaders for Pokémon Cards?

To properly use a toploader to keep Pokémon cards safe, first put your card into a regular card sleeve or penny sleeve. This is a critical step many people forget.

Why is this important? Because if you place a “raw” card into a toploader, it will slide around, causing damage to the edges, surface, and back of the card. When the card is first placed in a penny sleeve or other plastic card sleeve, it will stay put inside of the toploader.

This is because you will now have plastic against plastic, which will not slide and instead stick together, keeping your valuable card safe.

What top loaders do you use for Pokémon cards?

The best option we have found is the Toploaders brand of toploader sleeves for Pokemon cards. They are a newcomer on the scene, but make some of the highest quality and rigid toploader card protectors we have found.

Which is better Ultra Pro or BCW?

It’s subjective to determine which is better between Ultra Pro and BCW as it depends on personal preference and the specific needs of the user. Both Ultra Pro and BCW are popular and well-respected brands in the trading card protection market. Ultra Pro is known for offering a wide range of products with good quality and affordability, while BCW is known for its high-quality materials and clear protective sleeves. Ultimately, the best option will depend on the user’s specific requirements, budget, and personal preference.

Ultra Pro tends to win out here. BCW toploaders are simply too thin for our liking.

Are card savers better than toploaders?

Card savers are thin, clear plastic sleeves that tightly fit around a card and protect it from scratches, dust, and moisture. They are a more affordable option and are great for storage and everyday handling of cards.

Toploaders are thicker, hard plastic sleeves that provide extra protection for cards, especially during transport or shipment. They are more durable and provide more protection than card savers but are also more expensive.

Ultimately, the best option will depend on how the cards will be used, stored, and transported, as well as the user’s budget. Both card savers and toploaders can provide adequate protection for trading cards, and it may be a good idea to use both, with card savers for everyday handling and toploaders for transport and shipment.

Since card savers are hard plastic and meant to store valuable cards that do not move very often, a card saver is the better choice for extremely rare cards as long as the card can be sleeved before it is put into the card saver.

Can toploaders damage cards?

Toploaders have been known to damage cards at times. It is important to purchase only high-quality toploaders to avoid scratches or damage to your cards.

Top loaders can potentially damage cards if they are not used correctly. Here are a few ways to minimize the risk of damage:

• Make sure to choose the correct size top loader for the card, as a tight fit is important for protection.
• Handle the card gently when inserting and removing it from the top loader.
• Avoid stacking or stacking heavy items on top of cards in toploaders.
• Store toploaded cards in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and extreme temperature changes.
• Inspect toploaders regularly for any cracks or other signs of wear and replace them if necessary.

By following these guidelines, you can minimize the risk of damage to your cards while using toploaders.

Are toploaders necessary?

Toploaders are necessary for any serious collector. Keeping your cards safe and in good condition ensures that you can enjoy your cards for years to come and keep them in the original condition as when you first opened the pack and pulled your card.

Toploaders are not necessary for protecting trading cards, but they can provide extra protection, especially during transport or shipment. If you want to ensure the condition of your cards remains as good as possible, toploaders can be a good investment.

However, if you are just storing cards for personal use and don’t anticipate any major handling or transport, card savers or other forms of protection may be sufficient. It ultimately depends on your personal preference and the specific needs of your collection.

Conclusion

Toploaders are used to protect trading cards from damage, especially during handling, transport, and shipment. Here are some reasons why toploaders can be a good investment:

Extra protection: Toploaders provide extra protection against scratches, dust, moisture, and other potential sources of damage.

Long-term preservation: By using toploaders, you can help ensure that your cards remain in good condition for years to come.

Increased value: Keeping cards in pristine condition can increase their value, especially for rare or collectible cards.

Convenient handling: Toploaded cards are easier to handle, as they are protected from damage and do not get easily bent or damaged.

Protection during transport: When transporting cards, toploaders provide additional protection against damage from bumps, jostles, and other potential sources of damage.

While toploaders are not necessary for protecting cards, they can be a good investment for those who want to ensure the long-term preservation and value of their card collection.

Want to know even more about keeping your cards safe? Leave a comment below with any questions you have about Pokémon card toploaders.