Is Ultra Pro or VaultX Better For Your Cards?

[@vegangymleader5125]

Bought a VaultX binder a couple months ago and Ive purchased 3 more since then, absolutely love them! Wish they had Pokémon branding but they do look pretty tactical 😄

[@PokemaniacStephen]

Maybe one day they’ll get some branding but yeah, still a really nice look to them. Glad to hear you’ve had a good experience too with them! Very solid binders

[@huhu8047]

@PokéManiac Stephen which model was the vaultX that you display in your video?

[@PokemaniacStephen]

It was the 9 pocket exotec 😄

[@uptothestarz]

I think ill get one

[@gsabella4]

How are you liking it after some time? Will the side load pockets fit a dragon shielded card?

[@mattv.5652]

I really like the premium binders for set I want to compleate. I use XGuard, VaultX, Card Guard and a few others, really whatever is on sale at the time for around ~$25. But I have found most hold 360 cards which allow for you to combine sets in 1 binder like Astral Radiance/Go, XY Evo/Brilliant Stars, Evo Skies/Celebrations, and Crimson Invasion/Battle Styles, and many others. Just have to be methodical about what your putting together. This has typically left me with about 1-3 blank pages, but thats ok IMO. Aside from that I'll use 3 ring binders for lower tier sets or sets I'm not over intrested in compleating. But I have 1 premium binder to house all the Holo and nicer cards from that set.

[@PokemaniacStephen]

Great advice here. Imma have to look into the XGuard and Card Guard binders. And same, always shooting for that like roughly $25 price point.

[@mattv.5652]

@@PokemaniacStephen I forgot to add, I typically use a nicely opened, empty pack of my favorite pack art to break between the first set and next set.

[@Sam-zt5lt]

It's methodical lol

[@twenty4kk866]

I love Vault X.... I have an old collector (1999-2003) and I just moved all my old sets to the vault x. Bought 5 binders.

[@PokemaniacStephen]

Nice! I bet they’re looking nice in cozy in those new homes 😄

[@Tsuki-dy7sb]

Hey, man! How many slots you have in your VaultX? The zipper don’t smash the cards?

[@PokèMasterKeian]

@@Tsuki-dy7sbThe 9 pocket ones hold 360 cards, 12 pocket ones hold 480 and the 4 page ones hold 140 or 160 I think

[@SuperWeeb87]

Love it! Binders when we started weren’t that great, they have definitely improved

[@PokemaniacStephen]

Agreed, as the hobby has grown thankfully passionate people have kept trying to improve things

[@donnarichardson5887]

Thanks! I Was Just looking for a binder So this is So useful!

[@PokemaniacStephen]

Awesome 😄 I’m glad it was helpful. Been very impressed with the Vault X

[@hazeyjane58]

I agree with everything you say here and have to agree- the vault x zipper!! So satisfying. I wish they had pokemon theming too. Maybe someday! I have several of them now, but my first one was yellow like pikachu. 💛

[@PokemaniacStephen]

Its so smooth! Lol Ooo nice on the yellow. Do you use it for any particular cards or sets?

[@hazeyjane58]

@@PokemaniacStephen I have a dark blue one for my Snorlax cards and my son's cards are in the yellow one, mostly just pokemon he likes like Giratina, Kleavor, Hydrreigon, Buzzwole- he has eclectic taste 😆 ..we have too many binders going right now to list tbh.

[@PokemaniacStephen]

Lol that’s awesome. Sounds like your son has good taste to me! 😆

[@HUB1987]

Anyone find the vault x zip can not do up all the way because of the design of the zip leaves a little open hole at the end??

[@a.khaosnarine9118]

I love how when you have a valid question but it sounds like a negative for Vault X, the fan boys ignore it. Yeah, it's an an issue with some Zipper binders, Vault X and Ultimate Guard included.

[@marcelllazar4930]

What sleeves do you use on your cards that you put into your binder?

[@PokemaniacStephen]

I use the Ultra Pro penny sleeves. Affordable and widely available 😄 I typically buy this 5 pack (affiliate link): amzn.to/496UxiW

[@VERYSALTY]

Best check your cards though, after months-to-years of using Vault X, the binders have been warping my cards since. They blamed Dragon Shields although they’re smaller then the sleeves they said they tested so it doesn’t make sense

[@PokemaniacStephen]

Good call! Always good to run regular maintenance with the cards and binders. Everything ages and production can always have an error

[@SteveNeuge]

Do you have to buy exact sleeves to use the vaultEx binder, or do top-loading penny sleeves work ok?

[@leandrofaria1108]

Penny sleeves work fine

[@oiiimillennial]

Please help, thank you in advance for reading 🙇‍♂ I am a Dad of a 3 year old that has some Anpanman Cards. You can get these cards from playing certain Arcade games across Japan. The whole collection is only 20 cards. Is there a booklet like this I can get for her that will hold her 20 cards? Thanks again for reading 🙏

[@PokemaniacStephen]

Hello! Not sure the size on those cards, but if they’re the same size as the Pokémon cards any of these binders should work. Not sure anyone offers a binder that small though but you can usually go to hobby shops and buy individual card pages to put in a binder

[@royalxlegion]

Just a thought about vaultx you could get a badge to stick on the front so you know what set is in it without always unzipping it. Granted, you have that many cards. I'm just getting back into it, so 1 binder is enough for now.

[@PokemaniacStephen]

Great tip!

[@courtneyrblacker]

What kind of badge? Like a sticker or a pin?

[@zeosludge4598]

you have any recs on top loaded binders

[@DeeAndrew-j1m]

You should review the vault x 12 pocket zip binder🤐

[@ibegyoushuuup]

"Best zipper I've ever used"...... "takes too long to zip up and down" 😂

[@BackroomsVR1535]

I have an ultra pro with a zip so it doesn’t pinch the cards

[@PokemaniacStephen]

Nice! It's important to not have that spine of the binder or the zipper hurting the cards

[@SwanteeSwe]

I can confirm that the strap on Ultra Pro binders will pinch the cards over time. Don't use the strap. Just ordered my first binder and sleeves from Vault X. Excited to see how they are.

[@PokemaniacStephen]

Nice! Hope you enjoy them. The binders have been great to me

[@zikgamers43]

so the binder with a strap will bend the cards overtime?

[@James-4812]

@@zikgamers43 I also have an Ultra pro binder and I was using the strap for a week or so, but then I realised by looking at how much the strap pinches the right side, I stopped using it. It would be okay to use it for short periods of time like if you're travelling but don't use it long term.

[@PopeLeo]

Ultra pro do a very similar product to the vault x one, the premium pro binder. They're quite hard to get though (in the UK at least) I have one and it's great.

[@GoyBenius_0901]

Regarding Ultra Pro and VaultX, Ultra Pro does have officially licensed 12 pocket zip-binders themed to Mewtwo, Pikachu, Arceus and Charizard, and VaultX has unoficial set themed 9 pocket and 12 pocket zip binders for Brilliant Stars, Astral Radience, Lost Origin, Silver Tempest and Scarlet & Violete base, no Crown Zenith, and nothimg before Brilliant Stars though.

[@PokemaniacStephen]

Glad the Vault X “themed” binders are starting to be available in the US too! They look so good

[@gsy971]

have you filled the whole binder? Front and back? How does it hold up? It actually ain't worth it if you can't safely store a complete full binder.

[@PokemaniacStephen]

One of Vault X binders yeah. Sturdy covers, pages lay flat when I store it vertically and horizontally.

[@frixzt]

I love my VaultX binder!

[@Dark_Ghoul956]

Should i get a 9 or 12 pockets? I'm not doing master sets , just storing support trainers , rainbow cards , favorite artwork etc .

[@PokemaniacStephen]

Personally I like the 9 pocket. They store easier in my opinion and are a little easier to handle.

[@Dark_Ghoul956]

@PokeManiacStephen thanks for the help. I definitely getting the vault x 9 pockets binder

[@PokemaniacStephen]

Nice! I hope you enjoy it 😄 they’re really good binders in my opinion and love the color options

[@atomicboomstick2543]

I got a vaultx binder at the start of the year and it was awesome. I got another one 2 weeks ago and it just feels like it was made more cheaply than the older one I have. Both binders are black. Has anyone else noticed this drop in quality?

[@vashthestampede3459]

Yes! I have been buying Vaultx since last year and I can guarantee the quality was very good. However, recently the quality dropped. The sleeves feel lower quality and the cards were hard to slide in. SO I started googling for new binders to buy and came across this video and saw your comment. I can confirm I am having the same issue with these binders

[@atomicboomstick2543]

@@vashthestampede3459 It's so sad. The old one feels like material on the outside but the newer one feels rubberised. Like you notice it immediately and it doesn't feel good to the touch. I can't tell if the plastic that makes up the sleeves were you slide your cards is thicker or thinner than what it used to be but the difference is noticed right away if that makes sense. The zipper seems to be lower quality too and whenever I open the new binder the zipper moves a few teeth on it's own and that NEVER happened with the older one.

[@vashthestampede3459]

@@atomicboomstick2543 Yeah, same issues here. I have been noticing same thing with certain sleeve and toploader products where the quality just dipped. I guess with the whole tcg boom, these companies are cutting corners to make more products. It's the only thing I can think of. For now I'm gonna try out the Ultimate Guard Zipfolio binders. I can't in good faith keep buying those Vault x binders.

[@atomicboomstick2543]

@@vashthestampede3459 I kinda wanna try mintkeeper because they are obviously getting the binders from the same place as vaultx with a different name stamped into them but I guess the quality will still be worse than it was.

[@PokemaniacStephen]

Great insights here. I might need to get a new one myself to compare. But definitely gonna check out the other brands you guys mentioned too!

[@PirateJamm]

I have a few questions 1) is a inner sleeve then placed in the binder okay? Or is a outer sleeve then placed into binder better? 2) I don’t see many 12 pocket x vault binders being used but many 9 pockets. Is there a reason for this? Love the review! :) liked!

[@PokemaniacStephen]

1) yeah I do that with my reverse holos and higher. Gotta keep that holo protected 2) for me I like the look more of 9 card pages. And storage, easier to fit the 9 card size into storage things. But this is just my opinion 😅

[@PirateJamm]

@@PokemaniacStephen thank you for the info! I’m just starting my binder and learning ahah

[@fillrip]

@@PokemaniacStephen and @teamRocketVGC are you guys saying that we shouldn't put cards in the inner slot because the cards can bend when full? I'm looking for binders for storage and that's my biggest worry. I plan on filling them and worries that the cards in the inner most slot will bend when full. Thoughts?

[@massv953]

Never use 3 ring binders, Had some expensive cards damaged from a 3 ring over time, they dont lay flat and cards can warp over time, esp foils

[@PokemaniacStephen]

10000% Sometimes we learn the hard way though 😕 thanks for emphasizing the point!

[@VandalJace]

Dumb question maybe but does the exterior on the VaultX binders allow easy decorating? Was thinking of slapping some stickers on mine when I get it since they don't do any Pokemon theming with their binders.

[@albertovaldes3741]

I think it depends on the quality of the sticker. The Vaultx binder surface is a bit rugged, so there will always be some air going under the sticker.

[@liam.4454]

Would these work for storing Gameboy cartridges?

[@PokemaniacStephen]

While I think they would fit, it might be too tight or awkward of a fit as it would cause pressure points on the pocket seams

[@liam.4454]

Thanks for the reply, subscribed to your channel.. ​@@PokemaniacStephen

[@X2Y_Gaming]

I might get the vaultx binder and the sleeves

[@glacyneyla-tradingcardgames]

Fun fact: In Germany it's cheaper to buy Pro Binders for each set than a big 3-ring album and quality sleeves! 😅 But zip binders are the most expensive ones 🫠

[@PokemaniacStephen]

This is good to know!

[@spyrootur2013]

If Pokemon and Minecraft trading cards are the same size, I'll get a VaultX binder, but if their not I'll have to get a custom binder since I can't find any Minecraft themed binders anywhere

[@PokemaniacStephen]

I’m pretty unfamiliar with the Minecraft cards, but the Vault X binders do have a little bit of extra space with the pokemon cards, so I imagine it could work just fine

[@a.khaosnarine9118]

Buddy, Ultra Pro also make Zip binders and Vault X also make cheaper strap and exo-tec strap binders.

[@TeraNazantia]

I agree the vault x looks like the best binder, but I just can't. I gotta have the cool/flashy graphic binder. I'm so shallow.

[@PokemaniacStephen]

Lol I feel this so much

[@AA7_Editzz]

Hi pokemaniac, big fan of your channel. If you could reply it would mean the world to me. I had a question. If toploaders contain pvc, do they harm my cards like the moonbreon, also what is the best toploader brand. I want to know if my cards are safe for many years to come. I use the vault x exact fit and put them in the standard soft sleeves then put them in vault x rigid toploaders. Should i switch to ultra pro or is vault x good?

[@PokemaniacStephen]

Hey 😄 I think your system should be plenty safe honestly. It is tricky though looking up some details on the different top loaders. Ultra pro does have a long history of card care and storage so I trust them. But also Vault X specifically calls out the type of PVC they use has no plasticizers or stearates, and will not migrate to cards. So overall I think you’re probably good with what you’re doing

[@AA7_Editzz]

@@PokemaniacStephen I now ended up switching to no exact fits and just started using team bags on the toploaders because it felt like the vault x exact fits were bending my cards. Thank you for your response!

[@jimmyjakesullyboy]

I don’t have one but I am looking for a good binder. Thanks for the info

[@PokemaniacStephen]

VaultX does make a good binder! Thanks for watching 😄

[@KeeperOfKale222]

By the look of it the Vault X side-loader sleeves don't have enough room for top-loaders, or am I mistaken?

[@PokemaniacStephen]

These binders are good fits for raw or sleeved cards. Top loader I think either won’t fit or it’ll be very snug. There are top loader binders out there though, but at this time I haven’t tried any. Have you been looking at any?

[@KeeperOfKale222]

@@PokemaniacStephen I’ve been looking at everything out there and I can’t help but feel like each one lacks something I like that the others have. I love how vault has themed binders. I’m actually surprised nobody has made one for card storage that has a waterproof zipper. May be over the top 🤷‍♂️ but I think it would be pretty cool. I feel like premium archival quality binders are on the horizon the older and more valuable these cards get. Makes me want to try and design my own!

[@Thexorcist1085]

They make the themed zipper ones now.

[@PokemaniacStephen]

I’ll have to track some down! Thanks for the heads up 😄

[@Thexorcist1085]

​@@PokemaniacStephen I'm aware those are ultra pro not valut x brand, but they are zippered over strap, just and example.

[@JesseDrops]

This is helpful!

[@pokebronxakaunclerico]

Thumbs up 👍 always great 👍 videos my brother we enjoy watching great info too blesses everyone around the world 🌎

[@PokemaniacStephen]

Thank you man 😄 trying to keep the helpful content coming

[@ryancheng846]

Great review! When I was on Amazon I found a lot of people saying their cards got bent when they let the binder lay flat, and others were saying that you had to break in the binder by repeatedly opening and closing it so this wouldn't happen. Did you encounter any card bending issues? Also do you think the cards will get damaged if you store the binder upright?

[@PokemaniacStephen]

Thank you! And thank you for watching 😄 Yeah sometimes in the 3 ring binders the pages can get a little stuck and lay too high up, causing bending along the inside column of cards. D ring binders help with this issue (versus O ring binders) and I tend to store mine upside down and flat. Tends to get the flattest resting point for the pages. I actually need to look now, if there are any like stiff, supporting pages you can throw in these to help with vertical storage 👀

[@ryancheng846]

@@PokemaniacStephen Oh I see, thanks for the information. Also I forgot to say I was actually talking about people saying the vaultx binder had card bending issues😅

[@PokemaniacStephen]

Ohhh. Yeah the Vault X, I’ve actually been very pleased with those. Haven’t noticed any issues with flat or upright storage so far. The binder has a good shape and keeps things pretty straight from what I see in mine. I have a handful of them now

[@ryancheng846]

@@PokemaniacStephen Ah that’s great to hear, thanks for your help!

[@aidenray611]

is vaultx water proof? cuz my mom wont bye me a binder if its not waterproof oh nevermind lol

[@PokemaniacStephen]

I mean it’s water resistant at least 😅

[@aidenray611]

@@PokemaniacStephen yea lol

[@aidenray611]

@@PokemaniacStephen i didnt watch the whole video my bad lol

[@TEJASN324]

review BCW Z-Folio LX please

[@PokemaniacStephen]

Just bought one! Once it gets here I'll give it a good once over. Stay tuned!

[@karlycreates]

Have you run out of any space yet with bigger expansions? that have more reverse holos and secret / rare cards? I'm debating getting the 3x3 vs the 4x3 portfolios..I've seen some other portfolio flip throughs where they ran out of space and added in individual pages at the back..

[@PokemaniacStephen]

For the way I do my binders, so far everything has been fine. But I put all variations into one slot. So the regular, reverse and holo could all be in one sleeve. If you separate them out, ya I could see you running out of space in one binder

[@Danosauruscrecks]

I just bought my first top loader binder for my base set, jungle set, and fossil set and it fit it all but damn it is a massive boy. I have a few three ring but I want a nice looking dude loader next and I think this is the one I'm going to grab

[@PokemaniacStephen]

Nice! I can only imagine how thicc that thing is lol congrats on that collection though!

[@Danosauruscrecks]

@@PokemaniacStephen it's thiccc

[@weishin]

The pinching is a real thing :( upgraded all of mine to zippers

[@PokemaniacStephen]

Good move! Honestly doing the same right now. It’s kinda terrible seeing how much it can curve the cards

[@Palumm_tv]

There are also Zipper Pro Binder with the Pokemon Brand on it :)

[@PokemaniacStephen]

Imma have to look into those! Thank you 😄

[@aidricmeadows8945]

i have that ultra pro binder

[@PokemaniacStephen]

Nice! Hopefully you are enjoying it, they make good stuff

[@RandomGeekCollections]

I've just started my pokemon 151 journey, so thanks for the tips. I will order a VaultX binder soon

[@PokemaniacStephen]

That's a great set! Glad the video was helpful 😄 Hope you can fill that binder up with everything you're chasing after!

[@Liamkaboom]

3 ring binders damage cards.

[@PokemaniacStephen]

Sadly. And they’re so popular! Thankfully we have some good alternatives out there

[@carsonj4031]

The ones in the video can, but D-ring binders do not because they allow cards to lay flat at all times.

[@yeshanpather3560]

I bought level up binders

[@PokemaniacStephen]

Nice! Those look pretty good. Not sure if I can find them in my area but I’ll keep searching to try them out too 😄 is there a spot you normally buy them from?

[@johnO21]

Vaultx binder it is..

[@PokemaniacStephen]

Really solid binder for the quality and price

[@Nikietare]

First:)

[@PokemaniacStephen]

🥇

[@denys_medvediev_188]

Just got it on Monocashback and I'm feeling like a savvy shopper. Got it for only $5 with a 50% discount. Retail therapy doesn't have to break the bank!