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How to Choose the Best Leather Binder

March 30, 2015

How to Choose the Best Leather Binder

Everybody loves a good 3-ring binder. The best binder offers everything you need in one location — security for your important papers, storage for other essentials and a style and color to suit your company. The right 3-ring leather binder provides all that and more.

But how do you find the best 3-ring binders on the market? There are many binder options to take into account when making your selection. Read on to see what makes for the best 3-ring binder you can buy, including the type of leather, ring size, style and more.

The Best Binder Material

Plastic and vinyl binders abound, but if you're looking for an executive 3-ring binder, you want a leather cover. Nothing else provides the look and feel you want in a portfolio.

But all leather is not made equal. High-quality binders are made of soft, full-grain leather. English Bridle leather is a great example. It's vegetable-tanned and "hot stuffed" with natural oils and extracts. Over time, this creates a warm, rich patina, which lends a distinctive look to your leather-bound 3-ring binder.

A suede interior lining adds a nice finishing touch to luxury binders, bringing the look and feel of your leather portfolio together in one stylish package.

Leather also creates the most durable binders, offering natural water protection for your important paperwork.

Ring Size & Style

The best binder will provide the right amount of space for the paper you need to store. The amount of storage is directly related to the size and style of ring. A ½-inch circle ring will accommodate 100 to 125 pages, while a 3-inch circle can handle 460 to 625 pages.

Slant-style D rings will hold up to 25% more pages than the same size of circle ring. D rings offer the added advantage of allowing your pages to lay completely flat.

If you're looking for extra durability, you'll want to consider hinged binders. Metal piano hinges are sturdy and stand up to heavy-duty use.

Leather Binder Options for Storage

A good 3-ring leather binder does more than just bind paper. It also provides useful storage for other items. A front and back pocket for full-size documents is a plus, as are smaller slots for business cards and important notes. The best 3-ring binders provide a convenient location for all the paperwork you need to carry. Don't forget a loop to keep your pen in place, a feature you'll appreciate whenever you need to do some writing.

Small 3-Ring Leather Binders for Portability

If you'll be using your binder on the go, you'll want to look for a slim profile, which makes your portfolio easier to carry. A zippered closure can add extra security to ensure papers stay secure as you travel from one place to another. If you don't need to carry a whole lot of paperwork, small 3-ring binders may offer the enhanced portability you need.

Various Usage Options

How you use your binder has a direct impact on your selection process. A 3-ring leather binder sets the right tone for any presentation. If document storage is your main goal, a sturdy D-ring binder with piano hinges would be the way to go.

If organization or project management is a major concern, you'll want to consider options like card systems that can expand your binder's functionality.

While many people default to a full-size portfolio that fits 8-½-by-11-inch pages, small 3-ring binders can be the perfect option for taking notes. The 8-½-by-5-½-inch sheet size is convenient without being bulky. The junior-size binders are also a great choice for performing speeches or ceremonies.

Whatever size you select, you'll want a binder that's specifically designed to fully cover page separators and sheet protectors when closed.

High-End Leather Binders for Style

The best binder presents the right look for your company. Seek out custom options, including a range of colors, to craft the binder that best represents your organization. Personalized touches like embossed logos, company names or artwork can provide a complete, professional appearance for luxury, high-end binders.

Buy Your 3-Ring Leather Binder from McKinley Leather

If you want the best binder, trust McKinley Leather. We are the leader in leather 3-ring binders, portfolios and padfolios. We offer a full range of sizes, from ½-inch rings to 3-inch rings, in circle or slanted D-ring styles, with your choice of full-size or junior-size.

We also offer piano-hinged binders for extra durability, as well as slim-profile and zippered options.

Our great array of colors includes tan, black, cognac, brown and burgundy, and we provide free, personalized services like embossed names or initials in the lower right corner of the front cover. A broader array of custom personalization, such as logos and artwork, is also available for an additional fee.

Order your leather 3-ring binder today.

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