Posts filed under Pen Case

Luddite Patchwork Bendy Pen 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 Bluesky. And her latest book, The Atropine Tree, is now available!)

Pens on the go need proper conveyance, so I'm always up for trying out a new pen case. It seems there's no end to the new ways designers will configure a simple pen case, but this Luddite Bendy Pen Case is yet another fun, fresh take on the idea.

This case answers the question no one has ever asked: What if my pen case was like a taco and a pita at the same time? The answer: Awesome, that's what. The square-ish case is lined with five pen pockets, and it folds in half lengthwise and snaps closed over the pens. But also! Each side of the case is a zipper pouch. So much storage!

The case is made from a soft woven Kurashiki canvas, this version in a patchwork of denim colored textures. The stitching is a yellow thread, and the zippers are gold colored YKK zippers. The designers opted for quality at every decision on this one.

The only issue I encountered with this case is that if you put bulky items in the zipper pouches, they interact with the pens in the pen slots. The volume is shared, so your ability to use those zipper pouches is somewhat limited. But for smaller items like a notepad or ink swatch cards, stickers, etc., it's a fantastic way to assemble a small writing kit. The fabric isn't as protective as a more robust case would be, but the two layers of canvas provide enough padding to keep the contents reasonably safe.

The case sells for $35 at Dromgoole’s, where it's available in a variety of colors. That's a great price for the quality of the case. It's been perfect for taking my writing supplies to the November write-ins happening at libraries everywhere this month. I've been attending one or two a week and really enjoying this kit in the process. I could also see this working well for a sketch artist kit, or even a case for knitters or crocheters to store hooks, needles, and notions. It's a great design made very well, so there are endless uses. When November writing is finished, this one is likely headed for my knitting bag.

(This product was purchased at Dromgoole’s at regular price.)

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Posted on November 13, 2025 by Sarah Read and filed under Luddite, Pen Case, Accessories Review.

Hightide Nahe Soft Gadget Pouch 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 Bluesky. And her latest book, The Atropine Tree, is now available!)

These days, we are plagued by a scatter of gadgets. Doodads, thingamaobs, the detritus of modern life, where every device has a charger, an adapter, a widget. And to contain all this madness, we need pouches! Clever ones.

The Hightide Nahe Soft Gadget Pouch in the small size surprised me, because when it arrived, my first thought was "oh no--that's way too small" and then it wasn't. It just looks like it is. Very sneaky.

The pouch is made from a nylon canvas and is available in several colors. All have a black zipper with a single zipper pull that has a rubber grip that fits a hooked finger perfectly. The pouch is triangular in profile, with a wide base. The top is narrower when zipped shut, but it opens wide as a whale's mouth, so it's easy to see inside and access your tools. The opening is reinforced with metal bars to help it keep its shape, and they also act like a roll-cage in your bag, protecting the contents of the pouch from your notebooks and water bottle.

Inside the pouch, there is a soft black lining with a velvety texture. There are mesh slip pockets on the inside of each wall, and the center of the case has a separator that sticks down with Velcro, so it can be removed or adjusted as needed.

The mesh pockets are perfect for small accessories you need to keep track of, and the main compartment is perfect for larger gadgets. It fits a typical phone perfectly, or a smaller digital camera. It's just long enough to fit a handful of gel pens also, though longer pens would not fit. While the case is somewhat reinforced by its structure, it is still a soft case, so not ideal for extremely delicate things. My small digital camera fits on one side of the divider, the flash attachment on the other side, and the memory cards and spare battery go well in the mesh pockets.

The Hightide Nahe Soft Gadget Pouch Small size sells for $32 on Jetpens. The larger size, which can fit a small notebook, sells for $43. I do feel like these are on the pricey side. There are pouches of similar quality with more features that cost less than this one. I do think it's a good pouch, though, and its deceptively large capacity and wide mouth are strong points in its favor.

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Hightide Nahe Soft Gadget Pouch Exterior

Posted on October 9, 2025 by Sarah Read and filed under Hightide, Pen Case.

Esterbrook Cube Pen 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 Bluesky. And her latest book, The Atropine Tree, is now available!)

Your trinkets, gadgets, and doodads have a new ride. This new pouch, The Cube, from Esterbrook is a library of pockets, offering some top-tier organization in a design that looks both fun and classic.

First of all, look at that box. Esterbrook is always good with their packaging, and here, again, they have provided us with another box that's too good to throw away. More than one drawer in my house is organized with repurposed Esterbrook packaging. This one is definitely a keeper.

The butter yellow nylon of the case makes a fantastic impression on first sight. It's such a good color, and the styling is very retro. Maybe it's the windbreaker, track-suit fabric that's taking me back to the early 90s--but I'm happy to go there. The case is also available in blue and dark green, though all have the bright orange interior.

On the front of the pouch, there is a zipper pocket with a soft interior perfect for keeping glasses scratch-free. Behind that is a slip pocket (though the two pockets share volume, so if you put something fragile in one, you wouldn't want to use the other). Below it is a stretchy band that could serve as a handle, or a way to affix the pouch to another bag.

On the back, there are two voluminous pockets with elastic tops. One is nylon and one is mesh. They hold a surprising amount, and are the perfect size for a charger or earbud case.

The main part of the case opens like a clamshell with a smooth zipper. The inside right has divided pen trays for up to six sizeable pens. They are held in place by an elastic band that stretches across the width, threading through the walls of the soft tray.

There is a flap that divides the main compartment in two, and on the side of the flap facing the pens, there is a clear folder pocket perfect for stickers or a small notepad. On the other side of the flap there is a zipper mesh pocket for keeping any loose bits secured.

On the other side of the clamshell opening, there is a mesh pocket and a length of elastic across the width that is sewn into small segments.

The roomy interior also allows for a slim pocket or A6 notebook to be placed on either side of the central flap, or in some of the larger elastic pockets.

Every inch of this case is full of storage. A lot of it is cleverly laid out so that it can all be used, though some pockets interfere with the use of others.

There's so much versatility that it takes a little while to figure out how to use it. Is it a tech pouch? And EDC case? Just for pens and stationery? You could even use it as a makeup or toiletry case, or for other craft supplies. This is one of those cases that might end up in my knitting bag.

I decided to see how much of my daily carry items I could fit inside it. The answer was, most of them! However... When fully packed out, it may not fit in your bag. It gets thick! If you're carrying a good backpack, you'll be fine, but it doesn't fit in an average purse, which makes its use as a daily carry pouch a bit un-useful, for me.

But that does not worry me, because it has a thousand uses other than as a daily carry pouch. It would be perfect as a pen show kit! Bring some pens to show off, leave some spaces empty to fill with new pens. Collect business cards and stickers. Gather paper swatches, and bring a testing notebook. Fill the elastics with ink sample vials. Everything you need in one cube!

Because of the endless possibilities, I've had a lot of fun unpacking and repacking it for different purposes.

One downside to the case is the price, which did shock me a bit when I saw it. The MSRP is $65, though you might find it for less. It's more than I'd expect to pay for a nylon case, but it does have a lot of construction and design to it. I don't think it's extremely overpriced, just a bit more than I was expecting. That being said, if I hadn't been sent one, I'd buy one. I might have to buy one, anyway, because my husband, who typically goes glassy-eyed whenever I start talking about anything pen-related, actually tried to claim this one.

The retro vibe and bright colors certainly won't be for everyone, but I think this is another great accessory from Esterbrook. I'd actually love to see these design elements and materials used in a full-sized bag. Like the Cube as a messenger briefcase, chock full of stationery organization? If you do that, Esterbrook, please call me.

(Disclaimer: Brad bought this case from Florida Fountain Pen at the 2025 Atlanta Pen Show.)

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