Posts filed under Pen Case

Bellroy Pencil Case Review

I am a fan of Bellroy’s design style and aesthetic. They made their name in the slim wallet market, and over the years branched out into phone and tablet cases, plus related accessories. The Bellroy Pencil Case falls into the latter category, as more and more of us carry a mix of analog and digital tools with us on a daily basis.

The outside of the case is a thick grey canvas which should age well and withstand plenty of wear and tear. The inside is partially coated with I’m not sure what exactly, but it feels like a thin layer of plastic/rubber. Assumedly this is for added structure, durability, and it probably makes the material easier to clean too.

The structure of the case comes into play with the ability to fold the top edges of the case out to form an open tray. This works well if you are planning on staying in one place for a while and need to get in and out of the case frequently.

Each end of the case features sewn in pull loops that are integrated into the case design. Technically, they did a great job integrating the loops. Aesthetically, they look fantastic. Functionally, well, let’s call that a mixed bag.

On the exterior of the case, the loops are perfect. They allow for extra spots to grab and pick up, or hold and pull the zipper open and closed. I imagine they would allow you to clip this case on the inside or outside of a bag, although I haven’t specifically tested that. The loops are certainly strong enough to withstand it.

But, there is a but. From end to end, the case is 9-1/2” long. Since the loops are integrated and take up inside space, they limit the interior opening of the case to around 7”. An unsharpened Blackwing is 8”. You see where I am going with this.

*Unsharpened Blackwing sitting atop the interior pen loop structure*

That’s not to say you can’t fit one, but it takes work. Even after the first sharpen, you have to angle it into the bottom of the case, under the loops, from top left to bottom right, or vice versa. Alternately, you can float them above the loops at the top of the case right under the zipper. This is something you will have to consider with all long pencils.

I agree that is a very specific use case, and an awfully fine nit to pick, but that is the first thing I wanted to know about this case. Otherwise, I think it is excellent. It you are loading it up with gel pens, art markers, erasers, and smaller accessories, I think you will be happy with it, if not thrilled. It is a fun, functional, well-made case that I will get good use out of.

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

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Posted on July 31, 2017 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Bellroy, Pen Case.

The Pen Guardian Pen Case Review

One of the first things that many new pen addicts pursue after they get a taste for fine pens is a way in which to carry those pens securely and in style. The pen case industry is large and varied, but that also means there's room for individual expression. Whether you prefer nylon, hand-sewn cotton, plastics, or high-quality leather, you can find something that fits your style and carry needs.

The Pen Guardian case falls into the leather case genre, but it isn't your average binder or wallet type of case. Aside from one model, the Pen Guardian holds two of your pens inside a luxurious leather inner and outer case. The marketing copy on their website does an excellent job explaining the case, so let's take a look:

All Pen Guardians are individually handcrafted with quality, calfskin leather and made 100% in the USA. Lightweight and beautiful, their unique design includes a two-part system that can be used together or separately. The dual inner well is stitched and glued to provide extra protection. It also features cutouts in the leather that protect your pen clips and provides a PH neutral environment to preserve the beauty of your pens for years to come.When used in the pocket, the lightweight, inner well holds pens in place to prevent damage and keep them upright to reduce the risk of a cap accidentally unscrewing and leaking. The inner well is held in place with the clips from your pens. It stays safe and secure even while bending over. The Pen Guardian's outer case provides an additional layer of protection for pens stored in your briefcase or purse.

In case you didn't catch it, this case is actually two separate pieces. One is an outer pocket with a snap closure flap, and the inside is a two-pen pocket protector style slip. It's a pretty cool system that gives you some unique options compared to other pen cases and carry systems. There are two use cases that I love this case for. One involves packing two pens in the interior slip and then attaching the pens to an inner compartment pocket in my bag. The pens stay put and are protected against any reasonable threats. Once I arrive at my destination, I can unzip the bag, grab a pen, and get to work. Since the other pen is holding the slip in place, I can easily pop my pen back into the slip when I'm done. The only instance where this doesn't work well is if you're using two pens at once, but those are rare times for me. And, even so, you can remove the entire slip and place it on the desk or table where you're working until you're ready to pack up and leave.

This use case is very similar to the heavily suggested use from the Pen Guardian creator: keep two pens in the breast pocket of your shirt or jacket. While that's great for some people, I've never enjoyed having pens in my shirt pocket, and that option is also fairly absent for women. While the design fills a niche purpose, it comes close to being too niche in this case. Luckily, there are endless other places to clip your pens, and you probably already know your favorite spots in any bag, purse, jacket, or other garment/accessory that you own. Nine times out of ten, The Pen Guardian will easily slide into that use case.

The other way I've enjoyed is keeping the inner case inside the outer case and throwing it in my bag for the day. I don't always remove the inner case when I want a pen, but that option is there. Otherwise, it does just fine operating as a more traditional case or binder for a couple of pens.

The leather in the model I have is a soft, pliable leather that is stitched and glued professionally. I don't have any doubts about this case breaking down prematurely. Like the website states, there aren't any chemicals that will react negatively with any of the materials that fountain pens tend to be manufactured from.

Overall, it's a fantastic case that has a couple of neat tricks up its sleeve, it looks great, and it solves a niche purpose.

But, there are a couple of minor "gotchas" that are worth pointing out.

In my testing, this case works really well for "standard sized" pens that have clips. Pens like Kaweco Sports, Kaweco Liliputs, Franklin Christoph pocket models, and other similar pens just disappear into the depths of the inner slip.
The Lamy Safari / AL Star clip works with this case, but it clips on to the case itself, which is against the design of the case. This isn't a major deal at all, but something to be aware of.
It works best if the two pens are within an inch of each other as far as their overall length. For example, a Pilot Custom 823 is a long pen, and should be paired with something similarly long. This won't make the case unusable by any means, but it will mean it can get lopsided sometimes.
The case works best if the end of the pen reaches the bottom of the case. Otherwise, you end up with the clip attaching to the case, which makes it tricky to clip to a pocket, bag, etc. For example, a TWSBI Mini definitely clips to the case below the provided slit. Again, the case is still usable, but there's that minor quirk.
The price is hard to swallow. There are a lot of factors that go into the price of any product, and this one feels a bit unbalanced in that regard if you shop leather goods often.

Ultimately, pens, notebooks, and cases are all highly subjective to the beholder. You know what you like, and you normally have a fairly good idea of whether you'll like something before you purchase it. If The Pen Guardian speaks to you and you can immediately think of how it will fit into your pen routines, it's a no-brainer. If you struggle with that same thought (or the price), though, it's probably not for you. To me, that's what's great about this market. There are enough choices and options to satisfy everyone, and if you don't like one product, you have so many more to choose from.

The Pen Guardian costs $129.99 (at the time of publishing this review) and is available in several colors, including some bright, non-traditional leather colors. And, if you need something that holds twice as many pens, they have you covered there as well with the The Pen Guardian Elite.

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

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Posted on May 31, 2017 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Pen Guardian, Pen Case, Pen Reviews.

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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Posted on May 11, 2017 by Sarah Read and filed under Kokuyo, Pen Case.