8 Best Sleeves for Pokemon Cards (In 2023)

Best Value

Quiver Apollo Card Sleeves

Best for Players

Dragon Shield Matte

Best for Collectors

Vault X Exact Fit

Pokemon cards have been popular for over 25 years and many cards are quite valuable when in great condition whilst others are perfect for battling other trainers in tournaments. No matter whether you’re a collector or a player your precious cards need to be protected. The best way to do this is through Sleeves and Top loaders for Pokemon Cards. This complete Guide will cover the best Pokemon card penny sleeves and slabs to help you keep your cards in perfect condition.

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The Top Pokemon Card Sleeves & Toploaders

The First entry in this list is the Ultra Pro Card Sleeves. Ultra Pro is one of the most established brands in this area with their products always living up to expectations. This penny sleeve set is incredibly cheap at as low as ?. These aren’t the best sleeves by far due to their low price but they will do if you simply want to get an entire collection sleeved at a low price. I wouldn’t also recommend the Ultra Pro Card sleeves for competitive players as their durability isn’t so great when being used in tournaments.

Ultra Pro Card Sleeves

These sleeves are some of the best on the market. They have a great matte feel and are quite premium. Dragon Shield Matte Sleeves are incredibly durable and robust and they do a great job in protecting your cards from all types of scratches and scuffs. I would recommend these sleeves for competitive use as they are easy to use when shuffling your deck. But please make sure to check with the tournament organiser to find out which sleeves are recommended. Also, these sleeves are more expensive so aren’t as great of an option when looking to sleeve a large number of cards.

Dragon Shield Matte Sleeves

If you’re new to Pokemon Cards and are a beginner then these are the best choice for you. These Vault X sleeves are the perfect middle ground. They are reasonably durable enough so they are good enough for collecting and low-level competitive play. These sleeves can be bought in bulk amounts at great prices so you can definitely use these to sleeve entire collections. Overall, the Vault X Exact Fit Card sleeves are a good starting base for beginners looking for an affordable and accessible option.

Vault X Exact Fit Card Sleeves

These sleeves aren’t as popular but In my opinion, they are another very solid option. These Katana Sleeves are very premium and come in a variety of colours. They have a completely opaque back and look great. These sleeves have the best shuffle feel out of any Pokemon card sleeve on the market. However, there have been reports of these sleeves wearing down after a while so I wouldn’t put them as my top pick for competitive use.

Ultimate Guard Katana Sleeves

Next, on this list are Titan Shield Trading Card sleeves. These Pokemon card sleeves have a textured back and are quite thick making them great for protecting cards. Whilst these sleeves are durable and could be used in some tournaments they aren’t so great for shuffling due to their thickness. I like their simple design with the clear and black options so they are a safe choice at a reasonable price.

Titan Shield Trading Card Sleeves

This option is highly recommended by many experts in the Pokemon TCG. They are very versatile, durable, water-resistant, and aesthetically pleasing. They can be used in competitive play and are a great choice for collectors who want peace of mind knowing their cards are well protected. They are a little more pricey but compensate for that with great value and features.

Quiver Apollo Card Sleeves

So this is the first Toploader on this list. A toploader is made of thick plastic that encases a card preventing any scratches, dirt, or bending from damaging your most precious cards. Vault X is basically the industry standard as their top loaders are rigid, reliable, and affordable. Toploaders are often paired with penny sleeves so to get the most protection especially when transporting cards both sleeves and top loaders are recommended.

Vault X Rigid Toploader

The only other Toploader I’d personally recommend is the Ultra Pro Thick Toploader. Once again It’s Ultra Pro and as we previously discussed Ultra Pro is a very trustworthy brand in this industry. So it's not a surprise that the Ultra Pro Toploader is an excellent choice. It’s relatively similar to the Vault X Toploader but It’s a bit smaller. A smaller Toploader means the card is more securely placed inside but also means it can be harder to get the card out.

Ultra Pro Thick Toploader

Frequently Asked Questions

Honestly, the Official Pokemon cards are underwhelming. They’re pretty horrible in terms of durability and protection. They can cause damage to your cards instead of preventing it. The only thing these cards have going for them is their artwork on the back.

Are Official Pokemon Card sleeves good?

Honestly, the Official Pokemon cards are underwhelming. They’re pretty horrible in terms of durability and protection. They can cause damage to your cards instead of preventing it. The only thing these cards have going for them is their artwork on the back.

How to use a Toploader and a Penny Sleeve?

Honestly, the Official Pokemon cards are underwhelming. They’re pretty horrible in terms of durability and protection. They can cause damage to your cards instead of preventing it. The only thing these cards have going for them is their artwork on the back.

Should I double-sleeve my cards?

Conclusion

To conclude, there are many options and ways to protect your precious Pokemon cards whether you're a player or a collector. Everything included on this list is a great option to protect your cards that have been recommended by experts.

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