Absolutely loved the review. I am on the exact same page as you with being concerned about long term storage but still being able to view them when I want to frequently. I love the idea of top loaders but would rather them be displayed in a binder. all of my master sets (base all the way to neos) are in standard zip binders but I am experiencing slight warping. The top loaders within a binder will be the end game honestly. I will take size and weight all day to be able to preserve these for my entirety and to hand off to my kids!
Thank you so much, so glad you liked it! So lovely that you're thinking of passing your cards down to your kids too 🙂, feel these Gemloader binders will really make them seem like an heirloom!
It looks great. I need a couple of these since I may move all my top wrestling cards into this. I've had a couple issues where some good ones got bent since I store them in binders. I have since then kept them in binders but made sure each binder was not super stuffed which caused the issue last time. And the better ones go towards the middle of the stack of sleeves to prevent any good ones from getting messed up like before (it was the first two pages on a stuffed one). So yeah that was my bad but I've done things to make sure it doesn't happen but buying some of these would really do me well it seems.
I’ve always been a big advocate of the 12 pocket Vault X zip binders because of the viewing space. However, after the heatwave we had in the summer (a few weeks of continuous temperatures over 25 degrees), I actually noticed the heat had affected the binder and even a few of the cards inside! So I’ve been looking for a new alternative that offers that extra layer of protection and I think this is it! I’ve got Base Set - Neo Destiny 100% complete and to have the peace of mind that they’re going to be well preserved for the years to come, this looks like it’s worth the money in my opinion. Good review!
Oh no!!! I hope they're doing okay after that! I know exactly what you mean though, like just wanting that peace of mind that they're going to be fine for years and years is amazing. Definitely worth buying for those vintage sets for sure!
@@daveandluz Fortunately they're ok now! Had to leave them under weight for some time. Just thinking though, with only 216 spaces per binder, it would cost a lot to put all those sets in these binders!
Phew!!! So glad they're okay now!!! Yes indeed, that is the only downside to these binders really is the capacity. However, what we've started doing for modern sets is just taking the cards we reeealy want kept safe, like the Secret Rates etc, and putting them in one Gemloader. You could for example just put all the holos from those WOTC sets together in one Gemloader, as they're the ones most susceptible to warping (and the most expensive!!) and then use regular Vault X ones for the rest of the set to save some money 🙂
Wow it is my first time seeing a binder for top loaders!!!! That looks so HENCH! Loved the part where you try to fit the binder on the shelf....it is too THICCCCCC 😂😂😂 Another awesome video you guys!!!🤩
Great video! Preparing to secure my childhood collection for the first time and this convinced me to go for toploaders + toploader binder. Didn't know they had binders for these, and it seems to be safer from issues like spine bulging which can damage cards in most binders. (so I hear)
Sorry for the noob question, but when storing sleeved cards in toploaders, does the type of sleeve matter for long-term storage? Planning to use "Ultra Pro Standard Deck Protector Sleeves" as they are called on 401 Games. They are basically one step up from penny sleeves, not "pro matte" or "eclipse" or anything fancy like that. Also not double sleeving as I heard perfect fits can damage cards over time. (I wouldn't know personally)
Yes and no, we always recommend going for a reputable brand (no random eBay or Amazon "brands") so you can trust when they say things like "acid free" that they mean it - Ultra Pro are definitely one of the most trustworthy TCG accessory company's around! But other than that it's pretty much personal preference on the style and thickness of the sleeves, those ones you've chosen sound great!
Absolutely! There are a couple of companies with similar products coming out later in the year, and Ultra Pro are bringing out a range of loose pages for 3 ring binders supposedly soon too - will be a hard push to match the quality of the Gemloader binder, but we're excited to see what the competition brings 😊
@@daveandluz Thank you!! I'm thinking of getting two of these folders! One for my Pokemon base set and one for Yu gi oh Base set (LOB) just needed to make sure I could fit them in my storage! , Really couldn't decide on what brand to go for do you think this is the best in terms of protection and overall quality?
Hiya! When it's full if you open the binder all the way there is some amount of the bowing you see in most binders. However, because the cards are in Toploaders the ones closest to the spine don't bend nearly as much, if at all, due to the added rigidity.
Do you think there's any added stress issues long term with these binders that could be added to the cards and toploaders? One thing I absolutely hate is dealing with bent/curved/warped top loaders even out of the box. Im trying to pull the trigger on this product because I've currently gotten back into collecting Pokemon cards and I don't like storing my top loaded cards loose in my closet so this would be perfect for me.
Hiya! In our opinion I wouldn't think it would add any additional stress, there's plenty of room in the pockets around the cards to not be too tight and they lay nice and flat against each other when the binder is closed. That being said, we haven't really had any issues with warped toploaders though!
@@daveandluz thanks for the quick response, I appreciate it. I was just wondering if you've seen any odd changes to the toploaders. I feel comfortable enough to buy this product from your vids. Thanks for reviewing this product in the first place. Besides grading I really like the protection it gives to your cards. Thanks!
Do you ever have any issues taking cards out and putting them back in? I feel like I have to bend them ever so slightly to do so, and I'm thinking I might just go back to using a photo album as it's a bit looser
Hello Dave and Luz, thank you very much for the video! Can you let me know if double-sleeved (I use KMC Perfect Fit + Dragon Shielf Matte) Pokemon cards would fit in the pockets of this binder without being too loose and falling out? Cheers!
Hiya! Glad you enjoyed it! I think because the pockets are designed for 3"x4" toploaders they may be a little loose, I don't think they'd fall out because if the side loading design. I think a smaller binder designed for sleeved cards may be a better fit for what you need, but these Gemloader ones are great if you want to store cards in Toploaders 🙂
@@daveandluz Cheers! I've been looking into a lot of binders and am pretty worried about spine bulging, so I thought the Gemloader might be a good alternative. I might just have to switch over to top loaders.
Ah yes! Sadly we haven't come across a binder yet that gets around that problem, however, it's probably worth saying that although there is some amount of spine bulging with the Gemloader too, because the cards are in Toploaders they don't really bend, or at least it's very minimal, thanks to the stiffness of the Toploaders themselves. We've got our modern sets in standard size, zippered binders, but the vintage sets either are, or will be, in a Gemloader with the cards in Toploaders for that extra peace of mind!
Hey guys, me again. Wondering what is your favorite brand(s) of toploaders, if any? I am most familiar with UP, but that may be because of their accessibility in the market. Specifically, any favorite toploader(s) regarding your Gemloader binder? Clarity is probably what I'm most wondering about. Thanks
Hiya! We've tried quite a few from various and honestly the ones actually from Gemloader are our favourites! They're pretty much on par with UltraPro in terms of clarity, but, they are made REALLY well. They don't have a lot of the manufacturing defects many of the cheaper toploaders have and have rounded corners too which makes loading them into the Gemloader binders super easy.
Hi! Because these are in toploaders which are quite rigid this isn't really an issue. It's very common to see binders these days where pages load on both sides and it isn't an issue in any reputable brand one 🙂
No, any binders from reputable brands (Vault X, Mintkeeper, Showdex, Ultra Guard, Dragon Shield etc) are all designed to ensure the cards stay as flat as possible and that they don't get bent, even when both sides are loaded up 🙂
I think it could work! Only thing I'd be concerned about is size, given a lot of card savers are bigger than toploaders, although slim/smaller ones are out there :)
Hiya! I'm afraid we haven't really looked into backpacks for them, the sizes of the binder are on the Gemloader website though, so can probably find one to fit based on that 🙂
hi i have the same gemloader binder 9 pocket but im really worried that my cards are gonna get damged are the cards in the binder when ur using toploaders in the binder save for many years or wil the pockets break love ur vids bye [:
Thanks for the helpful insights. Do you think that having the binder vertically (like a book on a bookshelf) would work just as well to protect the cards? I'm asking because I literally have no drawer that's even close to the size of this thing :D
I know your pain 😅, great binders... HECKIN CHONKERS. We have them all like a book on a book shelf, with the spine facing out - this has caused zero problems (other than some slight rearranging of said bookshelf to fit them haha)!
@@daveandluz thank you so much for getting back to me so quickly. One more thing: I have had issues in the past with cards curling due to humidity or heat, or both ( I think you guys mentioned a similar issue in one of your videos). When cards are double sleeved (perfect fit sleeve + outer sleeve) and in toploaders, that should prevent curling, right?
@@daveandluz because since it happened to me, I stored all my cards in a Pelican case, which is just really sad because you never get to look at the cards without having to awkwardly take them out. Therefore I think this binder might be the best solution for me
@@fabian1590 oh no! 😩 That sucks so much!! But yes indeed, we had a similar issue where over time cards were curling, partly humidity and partly the 3 ring binders (Ew!) we had some of the cards in. We don't live in a super humid place, but I've got no worries about our cards curling in the toploaders and Gemloaders at all 😊.
Can you still put 3“x4“ 35pt premium toploaders in there or can only regular size toploaders go in there? because I only have the premium top loaders here. In the video you also put the premium toploaders in, it still works somehow. I don't want to have to buy the normal ones.
£47?! I ordered one for pre order from mint keeper as they are producing their own ones too for £23 and it comes with a pack of toploaders or semi rigids.
@@daveandluz mine should arrive within the next 5 days, hoping it was worth the wait as it was delayed da few times. Originally was meant to release on the 3rd July
Hiya! It works a bit better with the standard ones as it's not quite as tight for getting them in/out. But, we've loaded one of ours up with the premium ones (after buying them accidentally 😅) and it's been fine overall, just makes the pockets a little tight 😊
@@winkawak top loaders are a bit inconsistent and can be lose and the card can move easily dinging the edges especially in transit I would recommend card savers for transporting and binders for storage but its all personal preference if you have never had a problem don't worry about it
Hello again :) i have received my binders and i am just amazed. Quick question, how are you removing toploaders from the binder? I am thinking of working with sticky notes because i am struggling a little bit to bring them out.
Hiya! So glad you like them as much as we do! That's a really great idea with the sticky notes, let us know how it works out 😊 - we tend to just manipulate the page a little to make getting them in and out the pockets a little easier 🙂
@@daveandluz i have tried it with 38x51mm notes and it works very good. Put them so behind the toploader that it peeks out a little and then fold it up. Now you can easily pull the toploaders in and out without damaging the binder. Try it.
