durability of hardcover and paperback bibles

I'm looking for a particular translation and am not seeing imitation leather editions in the $20 range like I'm used to (ok they were used but mint condition). I have a few options here:

1) I can shell out more money and get the new imitation leather for close to $40

2) I can try out the cheaper hardcover (or even softcover) versions for less than half of that

I will be putting it in a nice sturdy bible cover, where it will stay 24/7 whether I read it at home or take it to church.

I don't think I've ever bought a new hardcover bible, I've only bought cheap used ones when I wanted to get a version of a particular translation for the sake of refering to it every once in a while. Of course they all looked ragged, but that was ok b/c it wasn't a bible I'd use every day. I'm wondering (since this bible will be one I will use on a daily basis) if a hardcover one would hold up as well as an imitation leather--keeping in mind that it will be inside a cover all the time?

Also, the only "paperback" bible I ever remembered was The Way (the Living Bible), which held up quite well, as that paperback had an incredibly strong spine. When bible publishers say "paperback," do they mean sturdy bibles like that? Or are they just the cheap spines that most paperback books come in?

Unfortunately I am forced to buy online; I don't believe there is a Christian book store in our area or else I'd check these all out in a store.

Perhaps I simply need to schedule a trip to a big city and go to a few bookstores? I can do that but honestly at that point, I'd probably be better of saving the gas and food money and buying the $40 bible.

What has your experience been with hardcover and paperback versions of Bibles--that are used as the primary bible?

 

Wait a sec here... you are saying that hard covers are better than imitation leather in terms of durability? Durability is the number one factor here. I always thought that hardcovers were LESS durable than imitation leather. At this point, its doubtful that I'll buy genuine leather...a bit much. I could buy two imitation leather-bound bibles for their price, if not three.

 

The reason I put my main bible in a cover is to protect it and get it to last as long as possible. Yes new leather bibles are attractive, but that's not really the reason for getting them. I'd do this with a hardcover in an instant (much cheaper), except for my concern that hardcovers won't last as long.

I have heard, tho, that its not the cover, but the binding that determines how long a bible will last. Is that true?

 

Has anyone had a hardcover that is smyth sewn? I've heard that those bibles (superior binding) last longer....

 

Went ahead and bought a couple of smyth-sewn imitation leather bibles today.

Thanks everyone for their input.

 

Wasn't going to post this, but since a couple of you asked, I got two ESVs, from Westminster Theological Seminary bookstore. $75 including shipping and tax. Price was either better than amazon, or I couldn't find one of them there... after days of clicking and reading I honestly just don't recall at this point.

Got a giant print bible for my daughter. After printing up verses and having her read, she would always say that she liked reading any time I increased the font size. Poor thing--the bible is about 1/10 of her body weight (no joke--yikes) but I assured her that her cover will have handles on it.

Mine is a large print. Both, as I said above, are smyth-sewn imitation leather (Crossway, the publishers of ESV, call their own brand TruTone. Sure sounds nicer than "imitation leather," dudn't it?).

Both have a few text notes at the bottom which I believe are included in every ESV version. Neither has any notes other than that, although both have a concordance (most likely not exhaustive, but even an abridged one can be helpful).

Already owning the Reformed Study Bible, I can use its notes, as well as the Esword program (featuring Calvin, Gill, and Jonathan Edwards) to get commentary.

I wasn't opposed to getting my daughter a study bible, but I didn't see one that had giant print, as well as 14-pt font for the notes as well. :laugh:

 

This goes along well with what others are saying-- that leather-bound really and truly is the best. Most likely the bibles I get as replacements for these two will in fact be leatherbound, but given that I've gotten 8-9 years from the current imitation leather NKJV that I have, I will be happy to get 8-9 years from these, and then if I still want to go with the ESV at that point in time, I'll put the big bucks into a leather volume. I would have gotten leather for myself, but to put it bluntly (and half jokingly), I needed a new bible, but am a recent ESV convert so I didn't want to lay out big bucks just to change my mind next year.

 

Just re-read your post. Could you give me a decent idea of how long you used that bible at least once a week (as opposed to sitting on your shelf)--has it been used since 1945, or from 1990 till 2000, etc.?

That's pretty impressive!