Hey guys!
Just signed up today (thank God there are more people like me, I thought I was the only weirdo who cared about card feel and what chips we use)!
We play using Jumbo Index Plastics (and while we have a dealer I am usually stuck shuffling the second deck).
I live in a tropical climate so resistance to warping is a big deal for me. I find that cards with individual boxes survive better than the dual packs you get with Kem, Copag and Modiano etc.
My favorite cards are -
1. Modiano Platinums - I know there is a semi ban on this forum but these have the best feel for me bar none. I have Kems and Copags but no Desjns yet. The biggest weakness is price and the tendency to fade fast. Easy to shuffle and gentle on the hands.
2. Dal Negro Freedom X - Can't find them anymore but they are near perfect in feel, slightly slipperier than Modiano PAs. I don't dare use these too much so I have no feedback as to durability. Also very nice to shuffle.
3. Bullets - No reviews anywhere on this site. This seems to be a german brand or at least tries to look that way. Great feel and bright colors and card fonts. Durability wise it outlasted my Modiano PAs but not that much, but given that it is significantly cheaper I call it a win. It is a little stiffer than the 2 cards above so it can give you a bit of chafed hands by the end of the evening. No warping but maybe thats because each deck has its own paper box.
4. Copag EPOCs - If they were standard faced cards and jumbo indexed these would be at the top of my list. These cards have the most paper-like feel I have ever used. No feedback on durability yet but it is totally resistant to warping.
5. Bicycle Duraflex - These are the ones you usually see on
Amazon. Again, I would rate these higher than the Bullets if it had a jumbo index. Feels great due to the finish and while stiff, it shuffles well. And if you don't get a jumbo index, then you at least get the Bicycle design we all grew up with. Oh, I ordered the jumbo indexed ones that Fournier made and are usually sold in Europe from
eBay and they are a far cry. Nice design but the cards are so thick they are a pain to shuffle.
I have a couple of Ice sets coming soon. Funny, I haven't seen any reviews on these as well.
Cheers, all!