Debate: Should you buy expensive game organizers or just use ziploc bags?

I spent $40 on a fancy organizer for Terraforming Mars last week and the insert broke on the second use, leaving bits everywhere. My buddy swears by dollar store bags for everything and says I wasted my cash. Are those expensive inserts worth it or is cheap storage the real way to go?

3 comments

3 Comments

cora56216d ago

Have you seen that BoardGameGeek thread where someone tested 3D printed inserts vs baggies over a year? lol. Apparently the expensive ones hold up better if you get a reputable brand, but most of them aren't much sturdier than the cheap stuff. I'd say stick with bags until you find a specific insert everyone swears by for your game.

rowangonzalez15d ago

Oh wow, okay I actually used to be one of those people who swore by inserts for everything. I thought they looked so clean and organized, you know? But honestly, that thread kinda opened my eyes. I mean, I've had a few cheap inserts that just fell apart after a few plays and I always blamed the brand. But now I'm wondering if baggies are just smarter for most games. Idk, maybe it's just me but I feel like I've wasted money on things that didn't really make setup faster either. Might switch over to bags for a while and see if I miss the fancy look.

smith.anna1d ago

Oh man, your "wasted money" line hit me right in the wallet, haha. I've got a shelf full of inserts that I bought thinking they'd be a game changer, and now they're just taking up space (looking at you, Gloomhaven organizer that didn't even fit the tokens right). @cora562's right about checking reviews first, but honestly I've become that person who just throws everything in bags and calls it a day. My friends make fun of me for my baggie system, but at least my setup time is five minutes instead of ten.