Kokuyo Soft Ring Notebook Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter.)

If you get me started on the subject of notebooks, it won't be long before I start railing against ring binding. I hate it. It warps and bends! It doesn't slide into bags or lay nicely along other books! It snags on things and scratches them! It's uncomfortable to rest your hand or arm on them! If you tear a page out, it creates doom confetti that is exactly the opposite of celebratory. They're awful.

But not this one. This one? The Kokuyo Soft Ring Notebook does none of those things. The rings are smooth, solid, squishy plastic that squeeze to fit along other books. They are fully sealed so they don't snag. They spring right back into shape and are soft against your arm or hand. Do you remember jelly shoes? These rings are like jelly shoes for your notebook. The pages are perfectly perforated so that they tear out easily, but only when you want them to.

I love it when things are both simple and clever in a way that changes how I use my tools. And this totally does that. It might be witchcraft. Consider me enchanted.

And bound by all that cleverness, there is Kokuyo's incredible paper. It's smooth and sturdy, the graph is useful but unobtrusive. It takes every pen or pencil I throw at it--even where I blobbed ink on with a scratchy glass dip pen. It barely shows through and doesn't bleed at all. It shows sheen. And it even stands up to my toddler, who--true to his genetics--loves nothing more than to "cutter" with every single one of mommy's Sarasas. There are 80 sheets, making this an excellent notebook for school or work.

The cover is clear, flexible plastic with a silvery sheet behind it. The back is firm cardstock. The grid measures 5mm, and it is also available in 6mm rule and blank.

I think these are going to become a go-to for me. Having the convenience of ring binding without any of the ick is like a gift from the stationery gods.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Kokuyo Jibun Techo Biz Diary 2018 Giveaway

Image via JetPens

The new year means a new planner for many, and I have one of the most popular planners of the season in the Kokuyo Jibun Techo. Even though we are a few days into 2018 it’s never too late to start a planner. I’m embracing one myself this year, and being open to using it for things other than strict planning. It feels great so far.

Read the details below, enter away, and get ready for a great 2018! (P.S. I’ve added Twitter follows and Instagram visits (no retweets or reposts) as additional ways to enter. We’ll see how it goes.)

Kokuyo Jibun Techo Biz Diary 2018 Giveaway

Kokuyo Neo Critz Pencil Case Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter.)

The Kokuyo Neo Critz is a cleverly designed nylon case great for taking a fistful of pens or pencils on the go. It works well in bags and converts to a pen cup, so you can perch it on your worktop of choice and have easy access to all of your tools.

The case is made of lightweight nylon fabric with a foam core that adds a bit of padding to protect the contents. The bottom half of the case has extra reinforcement so that it remains sturdy when acting as a pencil/pen cup. There is one main compartment that holds a good twelve to fifteen pens or pencils, and a smaller pocket that can hold an eraser, lead box, and sharpener. The case zips shut along the top and side. The zipper works from either end--so you can access the pens by just opening the top of the case if it is tucked in a bag. To fully open the case, unzip from the bottom. When zipped, it has a teardrop-shaped profile that is slim enough that it fits well along other items without being too bulky.

To convert it to a pen or pencil cup, unzip it from the bottom and fold back the softer upper half of the case. It's a clever, convenient design. I think it would work very well for colored pencils, journaling supplies, or for urban or nature sketchers who need their tools handy in a variety of locales. The thing I've actually found it to be most handy for is knitting and crochet supplies. The wee pocket is great for holding stitch markers and small notions, and the main compartment holds plenty of hooks and double-pointed needles. It's slim enough that it doesn't take up too much space on the table, but still gives you fast access to your tools.

All of Kokuyo's cases focus on efficient, convenient design. Their styles address a multitude of needs, but I think this one is the most promising for carrying a larger number of pens or pencils. It would even work well for fountain pens, with its easily-identifiable top and padded sides--but of course the pens would be touching, which might be a deal-breaker for some.

There are lots of fun colors to choose from, and they're a decent price. I have a feeling my eldest kiddo is after this, so I may have to grab another.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, which I am very grateful for.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!