Long DrawerBoxes(TM) Review - Comic Storage Drawer Boxes

Introduction

For many years, the only kind of readily available comic book storage out there has been the cardboard long box. Almost everyone that had comics had some of these devices to store and protect their comic books. They later introduced the short comic book box, which was great for tight spaces. The problem with these kinds of items comes when you have multiple boxes to find a safe place for them. Stacking can be dangerous, as they are not readily designed to withstand that kind of pressure over time. It also makes it difficult to get to the comics at the bottom of the stack.

A New Alternative

Enter DrawerBoxes (TM). These comic book storage boxes work exactly like the drawers in your cabinet or kitchen would work. A shelf slides out of a housing to reveal the contents inside. This makes stacking the comic boxes not a problem. The comics at the bottom of the stack are just as easy to reach as the ones on the top.

From their website:

“This unique design means that you can gain more storage space per square foot than was previously possible by stacking the boxes higher. It also means you won't have to lift another box again to find a comic.”

For people that have a large area to store their comics, this might not be such a big deal, but for the rest of us, the ability to compact our collection into a small space and have access to all those comics in that collection is what makes this items so appealing. They are also able to withstand that weight even if the drawer is not in its housing. This is a great thing if the collector wants to reorganize or transport the box someplace else without having to worry about the whole system crashing down on itself.

Construction

One of the things that stands out to me with the DrawerBoxes is how sturdy they are. According to their website they use, “…the heaviest board used in any comic storage container and is much stronger than boards advertised as “200 weight” or even “300 weight”. To top it all off, the systems uses a sleeve inside the drawer for added strength. These extra layers make these boxes extremely strong and are able to be stacked up six boxes high. This is perfect for the collector who has a nice wall in their office, living room, or bedroom to be able to put a large collection of comics in such a short space.

There have also been many other features that have been added to make it great for collectors. When you pull out the drawer there is a tab that will stop you from pulling out to far. Granted, a quick jerk will bring the shelf out to its end, but it is great to have that feature to warn you when you are at the danger point.

They have also added four comic dividers for separating your collection. I thought this was a nice touch on many levels. It used what would be wasted cardboard and gave it a purpose. It also shows that the designers had comic collectors in mind. Having these special touches takes the whole concept and design to another level.

My only complaint, and this is a small one, would be with the tabs that slide in at the end of the housing. I found them to be a little annoying to get easily into their slots. After the fifth box, I figured out that if you put slow and even pressure, they went in much easier. A small complaint, but one nonetheless.

Vital Specs

Cost: $9.75 (Be warned that some stores may charge more for the boxes. My local store sells them for almost $13.)
Size: 9" wide, 26" deep, and 13 3/16" tall. (The shorter version is also available.)
Capacity: About 235 Bagged and Boarded Comics

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Super Heavyweight Construction
• Stackable Design
• Maximizes Space
• Quality Design

Cons [ul[

Cost – They are almost twice a normal long box.

The little tabs on the end of the housing. (They have made efforts to change this in their shorter version and are looking to see about applying this to their long box system as well.)

Many comic stores are not yet carrying them. Here’s a list of stores that carry DrawerBoxes.

In Conclusion

In my opinion, DrawerBoxes are the best new comic book storage device out there. With their solid design and extremely durable construction, you can be sure that you collection will be safe in these boxes.

The cons of the systems are few, with the largest being the cost. If you are serious about protecting your collection, however, the cost won’t be that big of a deal. Especially when you think about being able to access all of your collection quite easily. As stated before, if you have a large area and can lay out your long boxes much like a comic shop would, this might not be a big deal, but I, like many collectors, have limited space for my collection. I store them in a closet and had a very difficult time getting to the bottom of the stack when I needed a particular comic. I have since put most of my collection into DrawerBoxes and plan to buy more as needed. They truly are a great item for any comic collector.