General Forum

Hello everyone. I'm sure this has been asked before, but what would you all recommend as being the best binder for storage and protecting your cards. So far, I've only been buying the cheap Pen + Gear binders from Wal-Mart and while the outside seem durable enough, I feel the sheets inside have too much room to move around in and possibly end bending my cards. Any help would be appricated.

If the pages have too much room, either add more sheets or get smaller binders.

I used to like the Ultra Pro binders, but I don't know if they still make binders. I can't find them in regular stores anymore. I mostly use Avery binders now. But a couple of my work accounts use a brand called [In] Place. They seem to be quite durable and long-lasting. I have some binders that are 20+ years old and none of the ones that need replacing are Ultra Pro or Avery ones. I hope this info helps you some.

Trying to categorize my binders to specfic sets or genres, so if I'm not planning to add anymore cards to a binder I'd rather not just waste sheets when I could be using them for more cards someplace else. 1" 3-ring binders are already pretty small too.

Avery binders at walmart durable or heavy Duty versions.

Ultra Pro still makes binders. I get some at my LCS.

I like using Wilson Jones hanging binders. They are a little $ but work well ... 

That's good to know. I used to get them at the big-box stores like Woolworths and KMart. By those store names, it's obvious that this area has become a desert for high-quality card albums. Most of the "sports card albums" I have that need to be replaced were bought at KMart & WalMart when they first showed up around here in the late 80's and mid-90s. I haven't had an LCS around here for many years now (at least 18-20 years). Target and WalMart do not carry them around here and the binders they do put in the card section are mostly useless garbage. I'd stick with Ultra Pro if they were easier to obtain. I went with Avery after trying several other companies and nothing held up like Avery binders do. I'd love to get some more Ultra Pro binders though! Unless I shop online for them, I have to stick with Avery binders that I can get at Target in the school section. I do like what Avery does, even though they aren't specifically made for collecting cards.

I usually buy 4 packs of Avery binders from Amazon, anywhere from 1/2 inch to 4 inch, depending on the set that is going in them.  I've picked up a 3 M.J. Roops on eBay in the last year or so, they are expensive and unfortunately each is a different color combination (one red, one black with gold letters, and one black with white letters).

I'm curious, if a company started making binders like M.J. Roop again, what would people be willing to pay?

If you are using 1" binders and the pages are still loose, then I recommend "Sheet Lifters". Google them if you don't know what they are.

That reminds me, I need to buy more. I bought a huge batch about 5 years ago, my wife and son laughed at me for buying so many, and I ran out over the summer. I just got some more binders, so more sheet lifters are needed.