Broken Arrow vs Copag Elite (1 Viewer)

[SkyBlue]

I am looking to buy some new cards. I’m interested to hear people’s experience with copag elite and broken arrow cards. Which do you prefer?

 

[KHarp1]

There at several threads pertaining to various card brands, and their strengths and weaknesses, that you'll likely find using the search function, but, I'll try and given a brief take: I'm not a fan of Copag. That goes back 15 years when I had a couple of decks that we used a few times, got put back in their case and in a drawer. A few years pass and I open them up to find blank cards, no ink on them, at all, on the pip side. Others have complained about the same thing, in the past, as well as often times a foul oder from the cards.

The Broken Arrow are thicker and stiffer than Copag, so your personal preference comes into play. I have many decks of the BA Professional series, and, they're a big hit with most players, however, they have issues as well. My experience has been that the edge of the cards are a rougher cut than most, and, they can become irritating on the palms when dealing all night. Could just me me, but, I don't notice that on the other 20-30 different brands that I use. They're priced extremely well, and, for the money are hard to beat.

There are other brands of cards that represent good value, as well, Marion Pro comes to mind. I've been using them for a couple of months and, so far, I'd have to rate them about the best card for the money. However, another member pointed out that they suffer from pips that require considerably more card to be exposed before you can fully read what you have. To some that's a deal breaker. I don't have a problem with that, so, they represent great value, for me.

Dive down the rabbit hole and buy 5-10 different set ups to find out what works best for you. You can always sell the ones you don't like in the marketplace.

 

[SkyBlue]

There at several threads pertaining to various card brands, and their strengths and weaknesses, that you'll likely find using the search function, but, I'll try and given a brief take: I'm not a fan of Copag. That goes back 15 years when I had a couple of decks that we used a few times, got put back in their case and in a drawer. A few years pass and I open them up to find blank cards, no ink on them, at all, on the pip side. Others have complained about the same thing, in the past, as well as often times a foul oder from the cards.

The Broken Arrow are thicker and stiffer than Copag, so your personal preference comes into play. I have many decks of the BA Professional series, and, they're a big hit with most players, however, they have issues as well. My experience has been that the edge of the cards are a rougher cut than most, and, they can become irritating on the palms when dealing all night. Could just me me, but, I don't notice that on the other 20-30 different brands that I use. They're priced extremely well, and, for the money are hard to beat.

There are other brands of cards that represent good value, as well, Marion Pro comes to mind. I've been using them for a couple of months and, so far, I'd have to rate them about the best card for the money. However, another member pointed out that they suffer from pips that require considerably more card to be exposed before you can fully read what you have. To some that's a deal breaker. I don't have a problem with that, so, they represent great value, for me.

Dive down the rabbit hole and buy 5-10 different set ups to find out what works best for you. You can always sell the ones you don't like in the marketplace.

Thank you for the information!

 

[allforcharity]

I have had zero problems with Copag Elites. Smell is a matter of individual sensitivity - I sense nothing. No fading.

 

[Snarespectre]

My two cents - both are just fine. The Broken Arrow Professionals are my favorite card to shuffle and play with, bar none (and I’ve tried 12-15 different brands). However they have the dark red security ink, which I hate.

Copag Elites do have a smell to them, but I don’t hate it like a lot of people seem to. They have an added bonus of the fact you can get replacement cards mailed to you for free if one gets damaged. However at the price point, Broken Arrow still wins here because you can just buy extra decks to use as backup cards.

While I think there are better options than Copag Elite for the price point, I think they’re just fine. I truly don’t understand all the Copag hate. They’re the Nickelback of plastic cards - well known and well liked, but somewhee along the way it became trendy to hate them, so people jump on the bandwagon even if it’s unjustified.

 

[Colquhoun]

I truly don’t understand all the Copag hate. They’re the Nickelback of plastic cards - well known and well liked, but somewhee along the way it became trendy to hate them, so people jump on the bandwagon even if it’s unjustified.

It's not trendy to hate them. The burnt plastic smell that gives me headache whenever I open the box is why I hate them.

 

[Jers28]

I have had zero problems with Copag Elites. Smell is a matter of individual sensitivity - I sense nothing. No fading.

I’m with ya. Been playing Copags for a decade and never had an issue with fading. They smell like acetate, but I have no experience with any acetate cards that don’t smell.

 

[KHarp1]

It's not trendy to hate them. The burnt plastic smell that gives me headache whenever I open the box is why I hate them.

Same with the disappearing ink, it wasn't something I heard about and decided to hate on Copag. I used them for a few years, so it's not like I didn't give them a chance. I'm simply relaying my past experiences. Seems like, mostly, the disappearing ink has been corrected, but once bitten. Too many other good cards out there. Broken Arrow are definitely among the most popular at a couple of the games I regularly play at, but, if I'm dealing all night they wouldn't be my first choice.

 

[Labrat]

My group likes the Copag Elites. It's all subjective. I don't have Broken Arrows yet, but I have 5 setups on the way.

 

[Jers28]

My group likes the Copag Elites. It's all subjective. I don't have Broken Arrows yet, but I have 5 setups on the way.

I’ve never played Broken Arrow’s myself. I am looking forward to broadening my horizons a bit, but I confess that the look of the Copags makes it very tough for me to want to put them down. The Neoteric line, as well as the Elites just speak to me. I’m sure much like everything else card related, you either love them or hate them, I love em. The brighter and less “classic” the look on cards, the more I like em. I’m was also the kid who wore neon pink motocross attire back in my teenage racing years, so what can I say. I like em’ loud!

 

[Snarespectre]

It's not trendy to hate them. The burnt plastic smell that gives me headache whenever I open the box is why I hate them.

You can hate Copag for a specific reason and it can be trendy to hate them. The two aren't mutually exclusive, and I wasn't trying to imply that the opinion of everyone who hates Copag is unjustified.

If I got a headache every time I played with or opened up Copags, I'd probably dislike them, too.

 

[Phyffe]

I am currently using a couple of decks in my current rotation.

They are NOT just rebranded versions of the ordinary Copags. They have better feel and slightly better thickness. I made an initial review of these earlier you can probably just search for.

Comparing them with the basic Broken Arrows I would say they feel better and have a more pleasing back design. I have not tried the Broken Arrow Pros yet so I cannot compare them.

Copag Elites, specially when bought in bulk are IMHO good value even with its recent price increase.