Elite Trainer Boxes come with 65 card sleeves, so why not use them? Well, some members of the community passionately argue that they cause damage to your cards. In this post, we take an unbiased deep dive into ETB sleeves and see if we can cause damage.
Do ETB Sleeves Damage Cards?
The hypothesis
ETB sleeves damage cards due to their poor quality. The infrequent sizes of sleeves sometimes result in slight under-fitment, causing edge wear and sometimes surface scratches upon the card.
Theory
The theory that ETB sleeves damage cards likely stems from the tightness of the sleeves themselves. Upon inserting the card, there is a small but noticeable resistance from the sleeve. This requires more force from the user to achieve a full insertion of the card.
As a side note, improper handling of the sleeve can result in damage as well. If holding the card with your right hand, the left index finger and thumb should be gently squeezing the edges of the sleeve. This opens the sleeve, allowing for the card’s edges not to catch, and applies pressure to the card itself.
An improper handling technique is to hold the sleeve by the face and reverse with your index finger and thumb. This is incorrect as it applies force to the face of the cards, leading to potential scratches as the card moves.
If proper technique is being used, can an ETB sleeve still cause damage to cards?
Having in my possession dozens of unopened ETB sleeves, I decided to test this myself. For reference, the sleeves I’m using are all from 2021-present. The ETB sleeves changed in 2021 and seemingly went through a redesign. The new sleeves have a matte finish, nicer quality, and generally good reception from the community.
Trial 1
For the first trial, I simply inspected a card before and after a single insertion/removal into a fresh ETB sleeve and recorded any changes I saw.
Multiple photos and a close inspection under the camera microscope show no damage had occurred.
Trial 2
For the second trial, I simply got a non-holo card and inserted it into the ETB sleeve, removed it, and repeated this process about a thousand times (I lost count).
As you can see, damage occurred to the card at the bottom edge where the heat seam of the sleeve becomes tight and adds resistance. This was first evident from the outline formed within the sleeve. You can see the small chips and dust from the edge of the card gathering at the bottom.
No surface scratches occurred, and the side and upper edges of the card remained undamaged.
Notable Observations
- ETB sleeves will damage a card over multiple insertions/removals.
- One insertion seems to be safe for the card.
- Each set of sleeves varies in fitment. Some are tight, some are loose.
- The tight sleeves loosen up after a few hundred insertion/removal of cards.
- The maximum tightness occurs at the bottom of the sleeve.
- ETB sleeves saw great improvements in 2021, and many players are happy with the change.
Our proposed solution
Use inner sleeves.
Double-sleeving is the practice of using two sleeves: inner and outer. Insert your card into a perfect-fit (also known as pro-fit or slim-fit) and then insert it into a standard-sized sleeve. You may choose to inverse the first sleeve (by inserting the card upside down) to seal off all four edges once inserted into the outer sleeve.
Even though I found the damage ETB sleeves cause to be negligible at best, there is no harm in using inner sleeves to be extra safe.
Should You Use ETB Sleeves?
The question still remains: Should you use ETB sleeves? Well, we say: sure. They are included in Elite Trainer Boxes, which are one of the hottest TCG products on the market, so you’ll probably collect a few stacks over the years.
There’s no reason to let good sleeves go to waste. If you choose not to use them, feel free to gift them to a friend or to level up a trade with someone.
The matte finish of an ETB sleeve is for shuffling your deck. A clear finish results in sticking and makes the cards a little more cumbersome to handle, so we recently observed a switch to the matte finish. From this perspective, ETB sleeves are a good choice for competitive play.
Are ETB Sleeves Acid/PVC Free?
Merchandise constructed with Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) or acidic substances inherently suffers from a gradual degradation process that damages trading cards. PVC is imbued with plasticizing agents which, over an extended period, initiate a breakdown process.
This gradual decomposition releases gases, prompting the deterioration of the cards stored within. Consequently, this deleterious process compromises not only the integrity of the printed details on the cards but also the overall structure of the card itself. Moreover, the plastic material starts to exhibit a noticeable yellow hue and creates an oily texture as time advances.
Unfortunately, nowhere on any packaging do the words “PVC free” ever appear. No mention of acid-free material comes up either.
However, on pokemoncenter.com, the information for the card sleeves does in fact specify that they are made of polypropylene. This is the material that most card sleeves are made from and is completely safe to use.
Other Sleeves We Recommend
If you still choose not to use ETB sleeves, then we have some recommendations.
- Dragon Shield (Link to Amazon)
- Dragon Shield Resealable (Link to Amazon)
- Ultra Pro (Link to Amazon)
- Ultra Pro Pro Fit (Link to Amazon)
Final Thoughts
We don’t think that ETB sleeves are a bad choice, especially with their unique designs and matte finish. However, damage can occur. It is unlikely, and as we mentioned, the sleeves vary in size, but most trainers are going to remain weary. A simple inner sleeve should solve the issue, but at that point, you might as well just purchase the sleeves you prefer.
