Outer Vinyl Sleeves, is it a good idea?

@bdp24 - if it is the same guy I’m thinking of, he owns an ad agency in Germany, was involved in the whole MoFi debacle a few years ago where everybody was named "Mike"--the In Groove guy who did the expose, this guy, Fremer, and even that OCD Mike guy of Interwebs fame (at the time when there was a flurry of posts about the issue, it was the four "Mikes" which made me laugh). I don’t usually watch web-based talking head stuff--I will resort to YT videos where a manufacturer shows how to do something with one of their products.

Plus, if it is the same fellow, I also thought he got rid of all his new MoFi records that were pulled from DSD "masters" and got into buying up OG pressings, but haven’t followed him. 

@lewm- I use the method but not the product BDP24 describes, and yes, it makes for a thicker package even when using a simple oversized outer jacket without an extra pocket, shown in that photo I posted upthread. 

Since my LPs are all snug in their respective storage racks, I’d have to add about 50% more new storage space if I were to adopt that system, but there is no danger of that ever happening. As most probably know, most purveyors of high quality used LPs do sell you the album cover and sleeved LP as a sandwich inside a polyurethane envelope. I don’t keep them that way.

90% of my 12,000 records have outer sleeves. i just prefer to remove the actual pressing from outside the jacket. so the record sits inside the outer sleeve, but outside the actual original jacket. this allows me to easily navigate my collection in dim light and not fight the process of re-inserting the pressing. and mostly for new records i will keep the original outer jacket if it’s in proper condition. mostly i will add an outer jacket to new 33rpm records where it’s shrink wrap.

the exception is my 45rpm collection.....which is around 1500+ so significant. for those i do place the pressing inside the original jacket. they are almost 100% thicker pressing and two or more per title. so it’s just more practical. of these almost 75% still have the original outer sleeve they came with.

after 30 years my muscle memory for record handling is very dialed in so this is just ’MY WAY’ now. and i am no longer in the acquisition mode so not really even thinking about this stuff any more.

i do think my way is the optimal way for ease of use. but if you don’t have the space then one needs to do what’s best for you.

i do have 600-700 or so ’B’ records (mostly left-overs from an early collection i bought) where mostly they don’t have the outer jacket.

i have a large collection of box sets; most of those have no outer jacket and i don’t worry about it.

yes; it takes more shelf space to use the outer sleeve, but then there is an advantage in finding particular pressings too as the individual pressings don’t stick together. the jackets are not harmed taking them in and out.

@mikelavigne Good enough for me! 

80% of my 12,000 records have outer sleeves

I use these because they are very clear and not too thick.
BIG FUDGE Crystal Clear & HD Polypropylene 3 mil

One thing I have found helpful in freeing up shelf space is to remove duplicate copies of albums. Sometimes these have come from an inherited collection, and sometimes from forgetfulness. Then there are those where I have bought a "spare" or a replacement when a disk has become noisy, and finally there are a few for which I have mono and stereo versions of the same recording. Surplus copies can go on shelves in the basement, and leave more room on the ready-use shelves.