Highest quality top loaders
 

Of all the ways to store single cards, my preferred method is the classic combination of a top loader and penny sleeve. I've used these for decades and purchased thousands of them along the way. From the '80s through 2020 or so, I very seldom experienced any issues.

For the past few years, though, I've noticed a problem. Ultra Pro top loaders have frequently been coming out of the pack curved. Seriously, when I look at the side/edge, the top loader resembles a banana. I initially thought it was just a bad batch or two; however, the problem seems to be ongoing. Again, this has been happening for a few years. I wind up tossing most (yes, more than 50%) of my new top loaders straight into the recycling bin. When I open a pack, there might be ten straight top loaders; the rest are curved.

I won't damage my cards by using defective supplies. I've had enough. It's time to find a new brand.

For those of you who still buy new top loaders, I'm looking for recommendations. What brand do you use?

...and yes, I've considered the possibility this was a huge batch of defective top loaders from a few years ago. Maybe there were so many, the defective ones keep making their way through the chain and turning up at shows, card shops, etc. Maybe Ultra Pro fixed the problem and they're making top notch top loaders these days.

It's possible.

Don't know, don't care. I've come to associate the brand with inferior quality.

You can experiment pretty cheaply. Try a pack of Cardboard Gold and a pack of BCW and a pack of CardShellz. You are not going to get a consensus answer here that will be helpful to you.