Board game sleeves protect cards from unfortunate spills, snack dust, and other miscellaneous wear. They also help players avoid marking cards – which can hurt the game’s balance.
Sleeves come in many different styles and sizes. Generally, a card’s size will be written on its box, and most sleeves will fit.
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Durability
While not all players sleeve their cards, those who do find that they protect them from dust and sweaty hands. They also prevent further surface damage from riffle shuffling and other handling techniques that can cause scratching or marking. Sleeves are easy to find and come in a variety of thicknesses. They are usually labelled with a card size, but some companies use different measurements. Ensure you get sleeves that are the correct size for your game.
Thicker sleeves add bulk to a deck of cards and may make it more difficult to fit them back into the original box. They are also more expensive than their thinner counterparts. Some sleeves are even designed with specific games in mind. They are often less costly than art sleeves and may feature official artwork from a particular game. You can also find sleeves with a more durable texture, which makes them less prone to tearing.
Convenience
Board game sleeves add a premium feel to the cards and box. This makes the player treat their cards with more care and respect, which goes a long way in preserving the value and longevity of a deck or collection of games. Sleeves also protect against oily fingerprints, water damage and bent corners. These things can quickly devalue cards or make them less enjoyable.
Players can choose from a variety of sizes and thicknesses of card sleeves. Most brands of cards have a size label on their packaging, and the card sizes will usually match up with sleeves from different manufacturers. Thicker sleeves are a bit more expensive but offer superior protection and can double a deck’s size. They are often recommended for high-end games with a significant investment in card backs, rarer/more expensive card sets or social deduction games that feature many cards.
Security
Some collector cards require special sleeves for protection. These sleeves are thicker and sturdier than the standard board game sleeves and can withstand more abuse, like frequent shuffling. These sleeves can be a good investment for players who submit their cards for grading, have rare and valuable cards, or want to keep their games in pristine condition.
Sleeves also protect the game boxes from friction, which can rub the ink off the box edges or rip off corner pieces. Sleeves also prevent dust and lint from settling in the box, which can cause damage. Another benefit of sleeping is that it can help to differentiate different games from each other. This helps ensure everything is clear when it comes time to play. This is especially important for games with similar components. Sleeves are available in a variety of colors for easy identification.
Appearance
For those who enjoy the look and feel of well-loved cards, sleeving can add extra protection to their precious cards. It can also be a way to help keep the cards of certain games in good condition (especially those where card backs are particularly detailed or expensive) and prevent the edges from being worn away from repeated shuffling and handling by players.
Sleeves come in a variety of styles and thicknesses to suit different preferences. Some gamers prefer crystal clear glossy sleeves that easily identify card sizes. Others choose matte sleeves with a slightly frosted front finish and a more textured back. The advantage of matte is that they are less prone to sticking, which can affect shuffling and pulling cards from the decks. A sleeve’s thickness is usually measured in microns; anything less than 60 microns is considered light. The thicker the sleeve, the more durable it is likely to be.
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