I have always used 4 pocket binders but was wondering if I should make a switch to 9 pocket. It obviously holds more cards but does anyone have any other benefits for using them. I'd imagine quality wise the number of pockets wouldnt matter as much as the brand.
Also, does any have experience with using the binders with the cloth backing vs the binders with pockets with no backing (so that two cards inserted back to back will touch)? I like the binders with the cloth backing because it keeps the cards separate but the cloth doesnt seem to durable and I could see if potentially tearing from inserting sleeved cards in and out.
Thanks in advance for any incite you guys can lend.
If you're using them for storage, 9 pocket binders are awesome as you can hold way more cards in a single binder.
If you're using them for trade, 9 pocket binders are great if you have a lot of cards you are looking to trade away, you can keep them all in one place.
Size is the biggest issue. While you can certainly have more cards in one binder, they're harder to transport and take up more space when you store them. Also, binders are an easy thing to steal. One large collection in a single binder is much easier to swipe than the same collection in several smaller binders.
Ultimately, it comes down to how you plan on using them.
There's some people who swear by those side-loading cloth backed binder pages. Personally, I've been using generic toploading plastic 9 pocket pages for 15 years (and I have used those 4 pocket binders, but like you said, they don't hold much). I have not once had a card fall out of a pocket because I inverted it. There's a lot of money in the binder, so I'm very careful about how I treat it. Also, I put my money cards in individual sleeves so having cloth doesn't really matter at all. And I am the type of person to stuff more than a handful of identical cards into the same pocket, and I guess if you did that a few hundred times, the cards would start to show wear, but really, I only do it to put the card in when I get it, and when I take it out to trade it, so it's pretty much a non-factor.
I personally do not like hauling a lot of cards around so I prefer the small 2x2 binders and only keep stuff in there I think I may actually move. Side loading style is just a personal preference.
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“Your body is not a temple, it's an amusement park. Enjoy the ride.”
― Anthony Bourdain, Kitchen Confidential
I will always firmly stand by the belief that Magic is a game first and a collectable second.
4v9 is definitely a consideration on how you want to trade, as people have previously mentioned. For Magic, I'm personally a fan of the 9 pockets; there's more playable cards and you're able to show multiples a lot easier, plus people seem to be a bit more realistic on values. For games like Yugioh, I always used to use a 4 pocket for the $30+ stuff and the 9 pocket for the rest (You'd lead with the 9 pocket, then if they had anything expensive you really wanted, give them the 4 pocket afterwards). If you have a lot of stuff in varying prices, the 4/9 approach could work; it's really just about narrowing down the cards your trading partner can see based on what you're interested in from them.
Typically the higher quality binders come with the cloth backing pages, so I'd tend to believe there's some benefit to them. I'm not entirely sure what, but I haven't really experienced any tearing in the past. I'd definitely sleeve up any cards you put in binders with them, though, just so you don't catch a corner on something.
When it comes to sideloading vs toploaders, I'd HIGHLY recommend sideloaders. Back in my Yugioh days, I just had the 9 pocket bound portfolios with the anime girls on the front or whatever. They worked pretty well, but every few events I'd find a handful of cards in the bottom loose in my bag, sometimes in okay condition, sometimes not. I switched over to sideloaders and haven't had any issues like that. The point about thieves stealing individual cards is also worth mentioning (as others have) as it's significantly harder to take cards out quickly and inconspicuously.
I agree with most of what's been said here, but would add:
Be careful with the cloth backing sheets, as some of them are not acid-free (which means the cloth backing could damage the back of your cards). Me and my brother use a cloth-backed 2x2 binder, but sleeve each card before putting it in the binder. This not only protects the card as much as possible, but it also makes them fit very snugly to prevent both theft and accidentally falling out of the binder.
Also, does any have experience with using the binders with the cloth backing vs the binders with pockets with no backing (so that two cards inserted back to back will touch)? I like the binders with the cloth backing because it keeps the cards separate but the cloth doesnt seem to durable and I could see if potentially tearing from inserting sleeved cards in and out.
Thanks in advance for any incite you guys can lend.
If you're using them for storage, 9 pocket binders are awesome as you can hold way more cards in a single binder.
If you're using them for trade, 9 pocket binders are great if you have a lot of cards you are looking to trade away, you can keep them all in one place.
Size is the biggest issue. While you can certainly have more cards in one binder, they're harder to transport and take up more space when you store them. Also, binders are an easy thing to steal. One large collection in a single binder is much easier to swipe than the same collection in several smaller binders.
Ultimately, it comes down to how you plan on using them.
― Anthony Bourdain, Kitchen Confidential
I will always firmly stand by the belief that Magic is a game first and a collectable second.
Typically the higher quality binders come with the cloth backing pages, so I'd tend to believe there's some benefit to them. I'm not entirely sure what, but I haven't really experienced any tearing in the past. I'd definitely sleeve up any cards you put in binders with them, though, just so you don't catch a corner on something.
When it comes to sideloading vs toploaders, I'd HIGHLY recommend sideloaders. Back in my Yugioh days, I just had the 9 pocket bound portfolios with the anime girls on the front or whatever. They worked pretty well, but every few events I'd find a handful of cards in the bottom loose in my bag, sometimes in okay condition, sometimes not. I switched over to sideloaders and haven't had any issues like that. The point about thieves stealing individual cards is also worth mentioning (as others have) as it's significantly harder to take cards out quickly and inconspicuously.
Be careful with the cloth backing sheets, as some of them are not acid-free (which means the cloth backing could damage the back of your cards). Me and my brother use a cloth-backed 2x2 binder, but sleeve each card before putting it in the binder. This not only protects the card as much as possible, but it also makes them fit very snugly to prevent both theft and accidentally falling out of the binder.
Modern: GW Hatebears/midrange, WGU Knightfall/evolution midrange stuff
Standard: nope
Legacy: W Death & Taxes
EDH (not Commander!): W Avacyn, Angel of Hope, GR Ruric Thar, the Unbowed, WGB Anafenza, the Foremost, WU Hanna, Ship's Navigator