Copag vs. KEM Playing Cards: A Detailed Comparison (1 Viewer)

Isildur1

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Hi everyone,

I’ve had the opportunity to use both Copag and KEM playing cards, and I wanted to share my thoughts on how they compare. Each brand has its strengths, and the right choice really depends on your priorities. Here’s a breakdown of my experience:

1. Durability

  • KEM: Known for their resilience, KEM cards are made from cellulose acetate, which makes them highly resistant to bending and warping. They hold up well under regular use and have an impressive lifespan. However, they can be more sensitive to extreme temperatures and humidity, so proper storage is key.
  • Copag: Made from 100% PVC plastic, Copag cards are also very durable and slightly more forgiving in less-than-ideal conditions. They’re less prone to warping and can be easier to maintain for players who don’t want to fuss over storage conditions.

2. Feel and Shuffle Experience

  • KEM: These cards have a smooth yet slightly "waxy" feel, which some players love for their luxurious handling. However, they may take a little getting used to if you’re accustomed to PVC cards. They shuffle beautifully once broken in.
  • Copag: Copag cards have a more consistent "matte" texture that feels softer in hand and is easier to grip. They shuffle smoothly right out of the box and are very beginner-friendly.

3. Aesthetics and Print Quality

  • KEM: KEM cards often feature sharp, elegant designs with vibrant colors. Their edges and corners are precision-cut, giving them a polished, high-end appearance.
  • Copag: While their print quality is excellent, Copag designs lean more toward functional and straightforward. Their edge detailing isn’t as refined as KEM’s but is still very good for the price.

4. Price and Value

  • KEM: The premium price of KEM cards reflects their high-quality material and long lifespan. They’re a great investment for serious players who value top-tier equipment.
  • Copag: More affordable than KEM but still excellent in terms of quality. They offer fantastic value for casual and semi-serious players who want durable cards without breaking the bank.

5. Maintenance

  • KEM: Require a bit more care, especially in terms of climate control and cleaning. However, they’re easy to wipe down if they get dirty.
  • Copag: Extremely low maintenance and more forgiving if left out or used in a variety of conditions.

Final Thoughts

  • Choose KEM if you’re looking for the ultimate in luxury, feel, and aesthetics and are willing to invest in proper care.
  • Choose Copag if you want a reliable, durable set of cards at a lower price point with minimal maintenance.
Both are exceptional brands that will elevate your games. I’d love to hear your thoughts—do you have a preference, or have you had a different experience with these cards? Let’s discuss!
 
I have both. Copags every day of the week and twice on Sunday when KEMs are 2.5x-3x the cost.

There’s a lot more options than Copags though as well, although they’re the easiest decent plastic cards to get at least in the US.
 
I love Kem. I think they’re heads and shoulders better than anything else on the market. But to me, this statement is suspect:
They’re a great investment for serious players who value top-tier equipment.
KEM costs a full three times as much as Copag - $60 per setup bs $20 per setup. It’s ridiculous. If money isn’t an issue, sure, go ahead and pay 3x more for the best. But as far as I’m concerned, Kem’s recent price increases has made them moot - I’ll never pay 3x to 7x more for consumables, no matter what the quality.
 
There must be a glitch in the matrix…
Coding The Matrix GIF
 
If buying Kems, make sure to get the actual boxed kems with the gold lettering and not the non-boxed silver letter kems with the old packaging... if you're paying double the price you should get the right box.

1000008667.jpg
 
To be honest, while I own Kem's and Copags, I don't use either of them. I tend to reach for Fournier and Desjgn first. Even when Kems were more reasonably priced, they were still well down my llist of card preferences out of the cards in my possession. The current pricing for Kem make me thankful I'm not a fan of them.
 
I have both. I have an old set of Kems that are difficult to play with since they have bowed. The Copaq's are my favorites. Never had an issue with them.
 
I remember railbirding Isildur1 when he was playing the nosebleeds against Ivey, Dwan, etc.

What a time to be alive!
 
Is this a joke that is going over my head or are KEMs not a great investment?
Quite a few of us do not like KEM cards. I think they are terrible for the price. Much rather have many other options. I only hate Faded Spades more than KEMs at games.

But, cards are like chips, everyone has opinions and preferences.
 
Quite a few of us do not like KEM cards. I think they are terrible for the price. Much rather have many other options. I only hate Faded Spades more than KEMs at games.

But, cards are like chips, everyone has opinions and preferences.
Even those of us who love Kem cards think they’re terrible for the price. $60 for two decks? No cards are worth that!
 

3. Aesthetics and Print Quality

  • KEM: KEM cards often feature sharp, elegant designs with vibrant colors. Their edges and corners are precision-cut, giving them a polished, high-end appearance.
  • Copag: While their print quality is excellent, Copag designs lean more toward functional and straightforward. Their edge detailing isn’t as refined as KEM’s but is still very good for the price.

Copags print quality is excellent?? That's a new one. LOL. Their print quality degrades faster than any other card I've used. I've ruled out Copag for quality and Kem for price. There are a plenty of other better choices out there.
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PC160010.JPG
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Copag are decent choice....Best thing about them is that they are avaliable everywhere. If I need deck of jumbo plastic cards in Poland all I need to do is to visit nearest bookshop. Avaliability is a key and most often disregarded feature...

I love KEM and will do in the future but quality / price ratio makes them novelty item.
I do question myself what caused such a raise of price but that remember that their price was about 25-30 USD for the last two decades. Inflation....
I belive they still will be supplying casinos, propobly exlusively in the near future ...

Best advice is find best deal for the $ spent.

Right now I enjoy DalNegros and 2012 WSOP Fourniers (best deal on eBay, advertised as used but absolutly mint condition IMO).
I can also wholeheartedly recommend Trefls, wonderful durability but only limited to poker size jumbo with full bleed backs.
 
Copag are decent choice....Best thing about them is that they are avaliable everywhere. If I need deck of jumbo plastic cards in Poland all I need to do is to visit nearest bookshop. Avaliability is a key and most often disregarded feature...

I love KEM and will do in the future but quality / price ratio makes them novelty item.
I do question myself what caused such a raise of price but that remember that their price was about 25-30 USD for the last two decades. Inflation....
I belive they still will be supplying casinos, propobly exlusively in the near future ...

Best advice is find best deal for the $ spent.

Right now I enjoy DalNegros and 2012 WSOP Fourniers (best deal on eBay, advertised as used but absolutly mint condition IMO).
I can also wholeheartedly recommend Trefls, wonderful durability but only limited to poker size jumbo with full bleed backs.
Plus, since theyre available on Amazon with free shipping abroad, a lot of people worldwide have access to decent (not the best) cards. There are few cards so easily available. KEM, sure, if you're willing to pay the price, but not Faded Spade or Desjgn. Ordering them via eBay or their website is nowhere near as easy, especially when shipping to outside of the US.

Other decent cards available of Amazon are middle-tier Modianos (and Da Vincis) and Bicycle Duraflex (if you're OK with regular index).
 
Will try to make my 6 decks of KEM last as long as possible. Will not buy them at $60. I will switch to Copag when the time comes.
 
Even though Copag seems to dwarf Amazon listings there are other options worth trying. Marion Pro are about the same price as Copag but I find them much better. Then there's Lot Fancy. They're half the price of Copag but actually better cards. There's also Guild. They claim to be Acetate at about half the price of KEM. I've never tried them.

https://www.amazon.com/LotFancy-Pla...ncy+plastic+playing+cards,aps,211&sr=8-1&th=1


https://www.amazon.com/Marion-Roses...efix=marion+pro+playing+cards,aps,202&sr=8-18

https://www.amazon.com/Guild-Arrow-...81&sprefix=guild+playing+cards,aps,210&sr=8-6
 
Hi everyone,

I’ve had the opportunity to use both Copag and KEM playing cards, and I wanted to share my thoughts on how they compare. Each brand has its strengths, and the right choice really depends on your priorities. Here’s a breakdown of my experience:

1. Durability

  • KEM: Known for their resilience, KEM cards are made from cellulose acetate, which makes them highly resistant to bending and warping. They hold up well under regular use and have an impressive lifespan. However, they can be more sensitive to extreme temperatures and humidity, so proper storage is key.
  • Copag: Made from 100% PVC plastic, Copag cards are also very durable and slightly more forgiving in less-than-ideal conditions. They’re less prone to warping and can be easier to maintain for players who don’t want to fuss over storage conditions.

2. Feel and Shuffle Experience

  • KEM: These cards have a smooth yet slightly "waxy" feel, which some players love for their luxurious handling. However, they may take a little getting used to if you’re accustomed to PVC cards. They shuffle beautifully once broken in.
  • Copag: Copag cards have a more consistent "matte" texture that feels softer in hand and is easier to grip. They shuffle smoothly right out of the box and are very beginner-friendly.

3. Aesthetics and Print Quality

  • KEM: KEM cards often feature sharp, elegant designs with vibrant colors. Their edges and corners are precision-cut, giving them a polished, high-end appearance.
  • Copag: While their print quality is excellent, Copag designs lean more toward functional and straightforward. Their edge detailing isn’t as refined as KEM’s but is still very good for the price.

4. Price and Value

  • KEM: The premium price of KEM cards reflects their high-quality material and long lifespan. They’re a great investment for serious players who value top-tier equipment.
  • Copag: More affordable than KEM but still excellent in terms of quality. They offer fantastic value for casual and semi-serious players who want durable cards without breaking the bank.

5. Maintenance

  • KEM: Require a bit more care, especially in terms of climate control and cleaning. However, they’re easy to wipe down if they get dirty.
  • Copag: Extremely low maintenance and more forgiving if left out or used in a variety of conditions.

Final Thoughts

  • Choose KEM if you’re looking for the ultimate in luxury, feel, and aesthetics and are willing to invest in proper care.
  • Choose Copag if you want a reliable, durable set of cards at a lower price point with minimal maintenance.
Both are exceptional brands that will elevate your games. I’d love to hear your thoughts—do you have a preference, or have you had a different experience with these cards? Let’s discuss!
I currently have copags and love them, no complaints
 
I have a Modiano platinum "acetate" deck and a couple decks of the KEM "cellulose acetate".

I brought them out of a cold storage recently. They are not in the same league. The KEM are limp and oil-canned. Pressing the center of the deck will cause it to buckle like an oil can and bend in the opposite direction. The Modiano cards and perfectly strait, about a mm sag if held horizontal. The KEM you could almost read them across the table while face down. KEM feel limpy-wet compared to the Modiano.

They are essentially the same thickness as measured with a caliper, but the KEM feels thin and papery

Maybe the KEM will eventually straighten out after acclimating to the humidity, but whats the point, they behave very similar to paper cards, hence the "cellulose acetate" marketing term. They seem to be a hybrid and you are being mislead by jargon.

You could say that it is my fault for how I stored them, fair enough. However those Modiano are perfection after being in the same conditions. Very impressed.

I can't speak about copags as I have never tried them, though I think I would get some to try, $29 CAD on amazon.
I just caution to verify that your are getting a true acetate card if that is what you are wanting.
KEMs website right now says 100% plastic in huge letters on the front page. Yet they show a box that clearly says cellulose on it. Now cellulose could be considered some type of "bio-plastic" which is fine, but my point is the cards are hydroscopic like paper, they absorb an appreciable amount of moisture.

Since the cards are essentially painted, I assume all the moisture has to escape at the edge of the cards, causing the oil can effect The outside edges are drying and shrinking while there is moisture swelling the middle of the card.
Maybe I will try a food dehydrator or even the microwave to flatten them out lol.
 

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