There are not many options out there for card sleeves for unconventionally sized cards. I was looking to purchase sleeves for the game Coup, and while UltraPro’s sleeves generally are not the greatest quality, these sleeves were the only ones readily available for me. Some of the best standard sized card sleeves on the market are made by Arcane Tinmen under the brand Dragon Shield. Somewhat recently, Arcane Tinmen started making board game sleeves. I figured they would likely be the best sleeves out there, so I ordered a pack of their extra large non glare sleeves from America, as well as buying a pack of UltraPro’s Special Sized sleeves to use while I waited for the Arcane Tinmen sleeves to arrive.
The quality of the UltraPro sleeves is pretty standard for UltraPro, but definitely usable. By far, the biggest issues I have with them is a lack of availability in a matted option, and the inclusion of the annoying trademark hologram found on most UltraPro sleeves (although on these sleeves the hologram is semi-transparent, which whilst not as good as omitting it entirely, is at least a step up to the typical opaque hologram).
I certainly anticipated that the Arcane Tinmen sleeves would be far superior in quality, especially given how good quality their Dragon Shield sleeves are, but I was absolutely shocked to find most of the sleeves covered with wrinkles, curling issues, and other defects, as well as how thin and flimsy the plastic is. Just in the act of sleeving about a dozen cards I found a couple of sleeves had somehow become completely defaced with scratches and markings.
In way of brands I am familiar with, and that in my research have found to be recommended, whilst the UltraPro sleeves are far from amazing, comparatively, they are in my opinion likely to be the best currently available. I would love to see Arcane Tinmen try again at making sleeves of this size with the quality of Dragon Shields, or perhaps even KMC offering something in the same st...
