SERIOUS PROTECTION: Comparing Hard Protectors for Funko Pops
So what about wall-mounting those SERIOUS hard protectors for Funko Pops? You know the ones - they're made of super-thick acrylic and kinda pricey. AND they keep your pops really, really safe!
Ok, well some of them keep your pops really safe.
So how do these hard protectors (also called hard stacks because they ... stack) stack up? <-- see what I did there? With all the time we spend working on ways to make Funko Pop display solutions, we've seen a good amount of these protectors! Either by purchasing the products ourselves, or following social media, or just researching, we have a good amount of data to compare.
Let's do a bit of Funko Pop hard protector comparison. Note that not all of these are exactly in the same class, as some are just acrylic hard protectors and some are the thick acrylic hard protectors. The difference in quality (and acrylic stiffness) is sizable, but so is the price for each.
We've compared the following options for hard protectors for Funko Pops:
- Funko UV Premium Hard Protector
- EcoTek Premium Acrylic Hard Case
- PopShield Armor
- Ultra PRO Premium Display Case
- Vaulted Legendary
We do have display options for each of these -- which is of course why we're looking at them!
FUNKO UV PREMIUM POP! PROTECTOR
It's only $8. Actually right now they're having a sale and it's only $5 each. I mean that's a steal for a hard, stackable protector.
I like mine OK, it has a workable lid and the acrylic seems protective enough for minor scratches or dents. That said, the plastic is fairly thin - I wouldn't expect it to save the box from a fall. The acrylic is slightly hazy as well, so it ruins a bit of the aesthetic of the Funko it's protecting. I also feel like the logo on the top is WAY too big and it kind of ruins it .. but maybe that's just me.
The good:
- Very budget-friendly
- Stackable
- UV protection
- Lightweight
The bad:
- Pretty thin
- Slightly hazy
ECOTEK PREMIUM ACRYLIC HARD CASE
These are the super-accessible and ever-present protection offering for Funko Pops always available over on Amazon. I actually started buying EcoTek soft protectors before I decided there were better options ... but did try an EcoTek hard protector. It was only $11.99 for one, so I picked it up ($17.99 for two).
Since I ordered it from Amazon, it arrived really quickly and I was able to protect one of my pops immediately. They also didn't waste a bunch of packaging on it, which I liked - but it was protected in the Amazon box.
Unfortunately, mine's broken, right on the lid. The pop fell off my desk and the lid broke -- the good news is that the pop wasn't damaged. So does it work? Yes. Will it break? Also yes.
The good:
- Budget-friendly
- Stackable
- Lightweight
The bad:
- Pretty thin - mine's broken
- Slightly hazy
POPSHIELD ARMOR
I can definitely say some good things about the PopShield Armor 4" hard protector:
I have exactly ONE of these, and I have to say that is an amazing protector for those prized Funko Pops. These things are almost 1/8" thick and have magnetically-closing top lids! Plus the acrylic is incredibly clear. These are truly nice protectors. That said, they are $28 for a 2-pack and there doesn't appear to be a way to buy just one on their website (mine was actually from eBay).
One glaring omission from the information available on the website is that these don't have any mention of UV protection - something many of the other protectors in their class do offer. Is this a miss, or is this the only downside of the product?
The good:
- Extremely clear
- Magnetic lid
The bad:
- No UV protection?
- Heavy
ULTRA PRO PREMIUM UV DISPLAY CASE
I only found out recently that Ultra PRO has a Funko hard protector called the Premium Figurine UV Display Case for Funko POP! & Figures.
There aren't many pictures online, but it does appear to be just as thick as the PopShield offering. It also has UV-blocking additives, which are a clear advantage if you want to keep your pop boxes bright and unfaded by the sun. The Ultra PRO hard protector says it has a bevel slide-in lock design - and I'm curious exactly how that works. If it locks, how does it open? The lack of pictures on the website leaves this a bit of a mystery.
Another clear advantage is that it's significantly less expensive than the PopShield, coming in at $9.99 each (vs. $14 each). I don't have one of these, so I don't know how clear they are -- but the pictures even look a bit hazy to me. Correct me if I'm wrong, though.
What I do know, based on a customer who wanted to wall-mount their Ultra PRO hard protectors for their girlfriend, is the sizing of the protector! That means that we at Superhero DIY are able to make floating shelves to fit! So hey, I'm happy.
The good:
- UV protection
- Stackable
- Budget-friendly
The bad:
- Heavy
? - Unsure about:
- Is it a little hazy?
- Sliding bevel-closure sounds iffy if it "locks"
THE VAULTED LEGENDARY
OK, this is a nice protector. Everything about this protector looks absolutely premium-grade, from the presentation to the lines to the functionality. But nothing is more premium than the price: $64.99 for a 2-pack! Must be good, huh? Better be!
The good:
- UV protection
- Super thick
- Magnetic lid closure
- Stackable
- Includes microfiber cloth
The bad:
- It's sooooo expensive
- Heavy
WRAPPING UP
Depending on your budget, you could either kinda protect your Funko Pop collection, or really protect it! There are options for different budgets and different needs, and certainly more options than the best-known options I listed above. I would say that these few are likely the best Funko Pop hard protectors out there.
We've got options to fit each style of hard protector!
So if you're looking to get your well-protected pops displayed, check us out.
Each of our floating shelves for hard protectors is made extra-thick so that it can hold the additional weight of these thick protectors for your Funko collection. Each also includes mounting screws for quick and easy mounting. And whether you want yours in black or white, it's sure to match your display.
Click on the image below to get the floating shelf you need!
Trademarks:
- POP! is a registered trademark of Funko, LLC.
- Vaulted is a registered trademark of Vaulted.
- PopShield is a registered trademark of 7 Bucks a Pop.
- Ultra PRO is a registered trademark of Ultra PRO LLC.
- Superhero DIY is a registered trademark of SuperheroDIY LLC.