How To Properly Use Top Loaders
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By: Oliver Copeland
- Published:
- Last Updated: February 28, 2024
Top loaders, also sometimes called rigid sleeves, are used to protect your cards. But when used improperly, they can actually damage your cards. There is a list of do’s and don’ts when it comes to top loaders, but we’ve made it easy!
Do Penny Sleeves Fit In Top Loaders?
Yes, absolutely they do. In fact, we highly recommend using a sleeve before inserting your cards into top loaders.
Using a soft penny sleeve is going to help keep the card snug when inside the top loader. A raw card without a sleeve is going to move around and this opens the door to damage occurring from any dust or dirt particles that have made their way into the top loader.
Furthermore, some collectors opt to insert their card upside down into the sleeve and then the opposite way into the top loader. This ensures that there is no opening for the card to fall out of. Even if the card were to fall out of the top loader, it would remain sleeved.
When Is It Not Appropriate To Use A Top Loader?
There are some situations where you might not want to use a top loader.
Playing a TCG: If you play with your cards competitively, then top loaders are going to be a bad idea. In theory, you could, but it would be cumbersome and irritating to maneuver your deck/hand.
Trying to save space: Top loaders add a lot of size to a standard card. If you are tight on storage space or if you have a lot of cards to store, top loaders are going to make your cards bigger and heavier.
Consider A Top Loader Binder
One of the main drawbacks of using top loaders for your primary collection is that the storage options are limited. Most collectors resort to using a box, which can be very organized and visually satisfying, but ultimately burdensome.
Top loader binders have recently grown in popularity and make top loaded collections more manageable and fun.
Here are some high-quality top loader binders we recommend:
- Top Deck (Link to Amazon) (Video review by SleeveNoCardBehind)
- Top Deck Mini 2X2 (Link to Amazon)
- X PRO (Link to Amazon)
How To Properly Store Top Loaders
Top loaders are unique in the sense that they have a wide gap between panes. This can result in dirt and dust particles being trapped inside, leading to potentially damaged cards.
When storing your empty top loaders, always store them upside down. This will mitigate the chase of any particles getting inside.
Once you have your cards inserted into the top loaders, you can put the top loaders in a binder or in a box with a lid. If your cards are sleeved (they’d better be!) then this is less of a factor, but it can’t hurt to try.
How To Ship Cards In A Top Loader
One of the biggest drawbacks of top loaders is that they allow cards to shift around inside. This means that shipping poses a particular challenge. The good news is that sleeving the card is pretty much all you need to alleviate this concern.
However, most sellers also use a small piece of painter’s tape to seal off the top, preventing the card from sliding out.
In addition to this, it’s common practice to sandwich the top loader between two pieces of cardboard. This adds protection from punctures, bending forces, and other shipping dangers.
Conclusion
Top loaders are a staple in the trading card community. It’s hard to find a collection without them, and that’s because they’re so useful. Learning how to properly use a top loader is critical to a collector’s toolbelt and the first step to creating an expert collection.
Hi, I'm Oliver. I've been collecting Pokémon cards for 25+ years. I hope you enjoyed your read and learned something. Learn more about me on the About page.
