Vinyl Question :: Protective Jacket Sleeves - Up or Side Opening?

msg

I'm getting some vinyl care supplies together, and just received my first order from Sleeve City - the Sleeve City Ultimate Outers in standard and oversize sizes - the oversize are perfect for anything gatefold. Nice quality, very clear, heavy at 5mil, though, I feel like they may be a little overkill and that the 3mil would probably be fine as well.
http://www.sleevecityusa.com/12-inch-outer-record-sleeves-s/1880.htm

I'm adding new outer sleeves where I had none, and replacing the crummy ones with the new ones, so my question today is, how do you guys prefer to store your albums in the outer sleeves? With the sleeve upward, or to the side? I can see benefits to each way.

Top Opening
With the opening upward, the album can't slip out, and seems that it may be better protected from dust this way, but the jacket, not necessarily. This also means you have to handle the jacket each time you want to listen to the record, removing it completely from the sleeve. Sometimes it's a pain to get the jacket back into the sleeve, so I would imagine you'll see some corner/edge wear on the jacket. Would seem to offer better protection during flipping for storage in crates.

Side Opening
With the opening to the side, the obvious benefit here is not having to handle the jacket to gain access to the record. Seems like the record could slip out, though, if you have those slickery inner sleeves, or possible see more dust this way, though I imagine valid arguments can be made for top vs side on the dust protection. Seems you could better protect the album by storing the inner sleeve with the opening upward, and then getting the best of both? Ease of record access, but good dust/flip protection?

What do you guys do, and what's your logic behind your choice?
I'd be interested to hear about any other details/tips/tricks, as well.

With my Sleeve City order, I also got samples of a few of their different kinds of inner sleeves. Bunch of different types to choose from, so not sure which way to go with those. After reading @Nightfall's recent post on album damage from plastic, sleeves, I'd have to read up more to see just what exactly these inners are made of.
http://www.sleevecityusa.com/12-inch-inner-record-sleeves-s/1879.htm

voltz

I always had them with the top up as I am clumsy enough to drop it out otherwise.

DaveHo

Top up for me. Better protected from dust that way.

gfong

Top up, less chance of wiping them out.

pumpkinman

I do upward. But the LP is in a MOFI sleeve outside the record jacket and is also upward. I remove the vinyl all by its lonesome self.

Mike Reeter

I guess I'm lazy as I have the outer sleeve opening on the side, with the LP and inner sleeve (opening up) between the cover and the outer sleeve.

I use the MOFI inner sleeves http://www.sleevecityusa.com/Mobile-Fidelity-Master-Sleeves-50-Pack-p/312nmofi.htm they're a little higher in price but well worth it, imho.

miner

Top up and album sleeve open end on spline so I can read the album title.

MrBuhl

I'm a top up guy as well - though for LP's I play often, I do sometimes just leave the inner sleeve and record outside the jacket, (but inside the outer sleeve), so I'm not handling the jacket as often.

hochpt21

I replace all my inners with MOFI as well.

I used to put the MOFI in the jacket with the opening at the top AND put the outer sleeve with the opening at the top. But that got to really be a pain in the ****, so now I have the MOFI inner with the opening at the side and the outer with the opening at the top.

Keeps it more secure so the album doesn't slip out and keeps dust out as there is a barrier to the opening.

cmy330go

Top up on both inner and outer for me.

madmax

Top up. I started with the sides but kept catching the sleeves when sliding them in and out of my storage rack.

anton.chigurh

pumpkinman wrote: »

I do upward. But the LP is in a MOFI sleeve outside the record jacket and is also upward. I remove the vinyl all by its lonesome self.

This is how I do it as well.

slbenz

Top up as well. Benefit of dust protection without the LP accidentally dropping out. I have had that happen to me only once when I had the sleeve opened sideways.

msg

good feedback and tips here, thanks guys. seems like top up is the way to go, and I'll see about this storing outside of the jacket business too.

hochpt21

pumpkinman wrote: »

I do upward. But the LP is in a MOFI sleeve outside the record jacket and is also upward. I remove the vinyl all by its lonesome self.

Well by golly that's a damn good idea. I may give that a try myself

gudnoyez

Up my friend that's how I roll, sometimes the complimentary jackets my favorite vinyl place gives you are longer than the others here's one I had to trim down a bit.

gudnoyez

Oops forgot to insert picture.