The clarity is clear to see from day one: just take a look at the difference between this old sleeve on the right, and the new VSS sleeve on the left: CPP is also said not to turn cloudy over time, is very hard to crease, and has some stretch forgiveness. According to Mike, CPP has many advantages, including higher tear and impact resistance, better cold-temperature performance and moisture transmission properties than standard sleeves. In the case of PVC outer sleeves, long term storage under the wrong conditions can lead to severe damage through chemical reactions that cloud the record surface.Īt VSS, Mike settled on using cast polypropylene (CPP) for all his record sleeves. Many standard polyethylene sleeves do not necessarily use the highest grade of material in the manufacturing process, which can lead to impurities that may cause damage. According to Mike at VSS, all of their sleeves are made from US and Canadian materials, which enables him to have greater certainty and control over quality.Īs regular readers will know, the quality of material used to store your vinyl records (both with outer and inner sleeves) matters greatly. Over time, outer sleeves tend to cloud up, leaving the record protected, but less appealing to the eye. One of the issues with many traditional outer sleeves is clarity. Secondly, use the second pocket (now located at the top) to slide your record in and out. Advertisements How does it work?įirstly, slide the record artwork into the resealable pocket (from the bottom), remove the plastic film, and seal up the jacket. A VSS dual-pocket sleeve offers a more elegant solution. To counter this problem, some collectors will buy two outer record sleeves-sliding one inside the other-allowing you to store the artwork in one and the record in the other. Traditional single pocket sleeves are great at protecting records, but they also make the record harder to access. Why do this, you might ask?Ĭollecting records is as much about enjoying the artwork as it is about listening to great music. This dual compartment design enables you to store and seel artwork from the outside world while retaining easy access to the record from a second pocket. On first glance, the VSS sleeves look like a regular outer record sleeve with a resealable top, but on closer inspection, you’ll notice the second pocket. Advertisements Thinking Outside the Sleeve Keen to try them out, we were lucky enough to receive some samples from Mike for review purposes. By incorporating 100% North American materials, and by introducing an innovative dual pocket design, Mike set out to improve on the status quo of record sleeves. But what if they could be improved?Įnter Mike Sarazin, the man behind Canadian-based startup, Vinyl Storage Solutions (VSS). For a long time, we’ve recommended polyethylene inner sleeves, and polypropylene outer sleeves as the best way to protect and store your vinyl records. The humble vinyl record sleeve: a simple, but essential accessory for any record collector.
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