Looking for Recommendations on Hobby Boxes

krav4747 · 07-02-2025, 10:35 PM

I haven’t bought cards or kept up with the hobby the last few years but I’m in the mood to open some packs.

I’m looking to spend around $400-$500, I enjoy the pack opening experience so I’m not looking to buy just one box/pack for $400 and get 3 cards.

I’d love some recommendations or feedback on what people have enjoyed opening the last say 5 years.

Thanks!

hermanotarjeta · 07-02-2025, 10:40 PM

Bowman jumbo or bowman draft if you are into prospects.

Topps chrome jumbo for rookie logo cards.

Several boxes of heritage or heritage high if you are into retro products.

Archangel1775 · 07-03-2025, 02:37 AM

I'd say stop by your local retailer and grab Series 2 but between Dicks, Walmart and Target in my area, they are sold out of ALL baseball. Bowman 2025 is out there in Mega Box form. I'd say to stick with familiarity, just go with Topps Flagship, maybe HTA.

Bosoxfan5990 · 07-03-2025, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archangel1775

I'd say stop by your local retailer and grab Series 2 but between Dicks, Walmart and Target in my area, they are sold out of ALL baseball. Bowman 2025 is out there in Mega Box form. I'd say to stick with familiarity, just go with Topps Flagship, maybe HTA.

Definitely better off with S1 than S2.

sheetskout · 07-03-2025, 09:09 AM

Flagship S1 or S2.

mfw13 · 07-03-2025, 02:22 PM

If you like HOFers/retired players, Chrome Platinum Anniversary is a lot of fun....

eastbayak · 07-03-2025, 02:31 PM

What's the most important factor(s) of a rip experience for you? Fun? Value? Quality? Potential? Etc.

It's clear that you prefer a longer (vs. shorter) duration rip.

ThoseBackPages · 07-03-2025, 03:39 PM

krav4747 · 07-05-2025, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eastbayak

What's the most important factor(s) of a rip experience for you? Fun? Value? Quality? Potential? Etc.

It's clear that you prefer a longer (vs. shorter) duration rip.

When I got back into collecting from 2011-2014 most of what I bought was Topps Chrome Football. Enjoyed how the cards looked, pulling refractors/numbered cards, autos looked nice, and the 2011 and 2012 products at the time had decent value. I’d buy some other products like Topps Gypsy Queen Baseball, some Bowman, Topps Platinum, etc. I always liked the design of the Topps cards better and the majority of autos being on card compared to Panini, so when Topps lost their license for football I stopped collecting for the most part other than the occasional blaster or mega box from Walmart or Target.

All that to say I’d probably rank the factors you mentioned in this order:
1) Quality/card appearence
2) Value
3) Potential- especially baseball I feel is the most difficult for prospecting

Lonewolf · 07-05-2025, 05:13 PM

Stay away from anything produced under the eye of Fanatics...its overpriced and diluted.

krav4747 · 07-05-2025, 05:26 PM

Appreciate everyone’s feedback. I think I’m going to do a mixture of Topps and Topps Chrome Platinum

jduds · 07-05-2025, 05:29 PM

2024 Heritage High Number is a fun rip and the first thing that came to mind. Stadium Club, Flagship, Chrome, Ginter, and Heritage are decent products with a good number of packs. You could probably snag 3-4 nice boxes of those (depending on the years you select) for your price range, and have a good time ripping.

seanbros55 · 07-05-2025, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lonewolf

Stay away from anything produced under the eye of Fanatics...its overpriced and diluted.

Sadly, this is the correct answer.

Rbradleigh · 07-05-2025, 07:30 PM

2022 Topps Update Jumbo or 2024 Topps Update Jumbo

For $500 Grab 1 jumbo of one of those products & 1 Hobby Box of the other.

Very good rookie class in both of those products.

marl1220 · 07-05-2025, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archangel1775

I'd say stop by your local retailer and grab Series 2 but between Dicks, Walmart and Target in my area, they are sold out of ALL baseball. Bowman 2025 is out there in Mega Box form. I'd say to stick with familiarity, just go with Topps Flagship, maybe HTA.

2025 Topps series two blows hairy moose Wang this year.

sandyfrank · 07-05-2025, 07:45 PM

Ginter is always fun but I am a Ginter fan so probably biased. Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary is good stuff too. You are going to get some nice rookies if you go like the previous suggested jumbo hobby box of 2022 and 2024 Topps Update.

marl1220 · 07-05-2025, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandyfrank

Ginter is always fun but I am a Ginter fan so probably biased. Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary is good stuff too. You are going to get some nice rookies if you go like the previous suggested jumbo hobby box of 2022 and 2024 Topps Update.

Sandy Frank. The director of the great Gamera movie.

StateEx · 07-05-2025, 07:49 PM

Consider spreading the money around. You could get a box of S1, a box of 2022 Update, and a few 2024 Chrome blasters/megas. The reality is you almost certainly won't get anything great, so might as well have some variety.

livfreely · 07-05-2025, 07:57 PM

Heritage is fun, cheap, and plenty of packs for the price to get your ripping fix. Topps chrome is going to be another fun one.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Tom Oates · 07-05-2025, 08:26 PM

Buy the cheapest garbage box you can find to scratch the itch and then buy singles. Why waste $400-$500.

07-02-2025, 10:35 PM	#1
krav4747 Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 746 krav4747	Looking for Recommendations on Hobby Boxes I haven’t bought cards or kept up with the hobby the last few years but I’m in the mood to open some packs. I’m looking to spend around $400-$500, I enjoy the pack opening experience so I’m not looking to buy just one box/pack for $400 and get 3 cards. I’d love some recommendations or feedback on what people have enjoyed opening the last say 5 years. Thanks!

07-03-2025, 02:37 AM	#3
Archangel1775 Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Cali baby! Posts: 21,717	I'd say stop by your local retailer and grab Series 2 but between Dicks, Walmart and Target in my area, they are sold out of ALL baseball. Bowman 2025 is out there in Mega Box form. I'd say to stick with familiarity, just go with Topps Flagship, maybe HTA. __________________ *There are the intangibles that set someone apart from the pack.So the blur isn't your inability to see his greatness, it's merely the inability to measure it.*

07-03-2025, 09:09 AM	#5
sheetskout Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 1,697 brewtowncardboard	Flagship S1 or S2. __________________ "I set records that will never be equaled. In fact, I hope 90% of them don't even get printed." --Bob Uecker Follow me on Twitter: @jordo2323

07-03-2025, 03:39 PM	#8
ThoseBackPages Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Long Island Posts: 89,128 ThoseBackPages	__________________ Pumpers Paradise #YouCryIBuy Four things that we cannot change each others minds about: Politics, Religion, Third Party Grading, and 2021 Bowman's Best Rookie Cards

07-05-2025, 05:13 PM	#10
Lonewolf Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: California Posts: 4,359	Stay away from anything produced under the eye of Fanatics...its overpriced and diluted. __________________ Conforto for LVP!

07-02-2025, 10:40 PM	#2
hermanotarjeta Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 20,763	Bowman jumbo or bowman draft if you are into prospects. Topps chrome jumbo for rookie logo cards. Several boxes of heritage or heritage high if you are into retro products.

07-03-2025, 02:22 PM	#6
mfw13 Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 17,177	If you like HOFers/retired players, Chrome Platinum Anniversary is a lot of fun....

07-03-2025, 02:31 PM	#7
eastbayak Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 15,668 eastbayak	What's the most important factor(s) of a rip experience for you? Fun? Value? Quality? Potential? Etc. It's clear that you prefer a longer (vs. shorter) duration rip.

07-05-2025, 05:26 PM	#11
krav4747 Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 746 krav4747	Appreciate everyone’s feedback. I think I’m going to do a mixture of Topps and Topps Chrome Platinum

07-05-2025, 05:29 PM	#12
jduds Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: Hattiesburg, MS Posts: 3,784 chilaw57	2024 Heritage High Number is a fun rip and the first thing that came to mind. Stadium Club, Flagship, Chrome, Ginter, and Heritage are decent products with a good number of packs. You could probably snag 3-4 nice boxes of those (depending on the years you select) for your price range, and have a good time ripping.

07-05-2025, 07:30 PM	#14
Rbradleigh Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 1,518	2022 Topps Update Jumbo or 2024 Topps Update Jumbo For $500 Grab 1 jumbo of one of those products & 1 Hobby Box of the other. Very good rookie class in both of those products.

07-05-2025, 07:45 PM	#16
sandyfrank Member Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 971	Ginter is always fun but I am a Ginter fan so probably biased. Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary is good stuff too. You are going to get some nice rookies if you go like the previous suggested jumbo hobby box of 2022 and 2024 Topps Update.

07-05-2025, 07:49 PM	#18
StateEx Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Posts: 1,026	Consider spreading the money around. You could get a box of S1, a box of 2022 Update, and a few 2024 Chrome blasters/megas. The reality is you almost certainly won't get anything great, so might as well have some variety.

07-05-2025, 07:57 PM	#19
livfreely Member Join Date: Apr 2025 Posts: 677	Heritage is fun, cheap, and plenty of packs for the price to get your ripping fix. Topps chrome is going to be another fun one. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

07-05-2025, 08:26 PM	#20
Tom Oates Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,950 OATES	Buy the cheapest garbage box you can find to scratch the itch and then buy singles. Why waste $400-$500.