Posts filed under Pen Case

King Jim Ittsui 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 Twitter. And check out her first novel, The Bone Weaver’s Orchard, now available where books are sold!)

The neutral, clean canvas and plethora of pockets are what first caught my eye with the King Jim Ittsui Pen Case. I was excited when it arrived. It is sturdy and well-made, with a zipper that opens smoothly and allows the case to lay flat. The magnetic attachable/detachable pen sleeve is a really neat feature--a clever solution for when you need a few more pens (always) or just a more accessible pen (often).

My initial excitement was somewhat stymied when I tried to put the case into use. It has card slots, but I wouldn't want to put my cards next to the strong magnet inside the cover. Small memo pads or sticky notes work, as does a pocket notebook, but they aren't quite the right dimensions to put the case into full use. The pen pocket does hold my cell phone or six pens, but it wouldn't hold anything larger than my ancient iPhone 6 (I know, I know. Analog 4 lyfe).

So, this pretty case sat on my desk for a few weeks while I puzzled over how to use it. In the end, I stuck a Field Notes inside the front cover and filled the pen pocket with my work essentials--a pencil, highlighter, ballpoint, rollerball, and multi-color gel pen. I put a fountain pen in the front pen pouch. It does make a handy grab-all when I'm running around at work, and I have paper for making notes and any tool I might need for any task. But it does mean I'm using fewer than half the pockets available in this case. To me, that means I haven't quite unlocked its potential yet. I can say that if it weren't for the magnet, I'd be using it as a wallet and phone case. It would be perfect for that! But, as it is, I'm not likely to continue using it.

I can, however, see it being useful as a phone/pen/notepad/business card case for a meeting or conference. Then all pockets would be efficiently in use. The case is pretty, and nicely constructed, so I may keep looking for a configuration that works with my needs--and I can still offer my recommendation of it, if you're someone who looks at it and says “Hey, that would be perfect for X.” Also, let me know your ideas!

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

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Posted on May 16, 2019 by Sarah Read and filed under King Jim, Pen Case.

Kamio Japan Paco-Tray Case Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

One of the many side effects of collecting lots of pens, pencils, and other writing instruments is amassing a similar collection of cases to carry everything around. Like writing instruments, cases come in a variety of sizes and shapes to meet specific needs and niches. The latest case I've been carting around falls into the category of "case meets tray," and it's called the Paco-Tray.

I've tried other cases and pen cups that convert into a handy tray when opened, but this is a unique take on the category because it offers up three distinct trays for your writing instruments. On the outside, it looks like any other rectangular pen case complete with tidy zips and a minimal logo tag, but the inside has a couple of surprises that will delight most people.

Before we jump into the inside, let's take a closer look at the outside. The case is made entirely of polyester, which makes it both strong and light. The bright red version I have here has a great texture and looks great under the light. There are several other variants to choose from, so you're sure to find something that suits your personality. The fabric has a soft but tough feel, and the overall construction feels solid. The zips are very smooth and don't make a lot of noise when opening and closing the case. I'd recommend adding some paracord or something else to the zip pulls since they tend to jingle together when the case is closed.

Once you open the case and take a peek inside, you're greeted with the three separate compartments. The middle compartment seems to be lifted up as an offering as you fold the case walls down. It reminds me of the old cantilever tool boxes or tackle boxes that my grandfather had strewn around his basement. The three compartments offer ample room for different pens, pencils, and art supplies. The middle compartment is closed in on all four sides, while the outer compartments have a small slit on the top and bottom to allow everything to compress. I've found that some smaller pens can slide out through the slit if you're opening the case in a hurry. Not a terrible thing, but something to be mindful of when opening the case.

The great thing about the trays is that they make it easy to see all the various things, but it also closes down and zips up into a small overall package. This makes it great for storage and transportation, but also superb for working.

As an added bonus, there are a few magnets in the bottom of the case that snap together to keep the trays open. This is helpful with the amount of objects and weight that the trays can hold, and the magnets add an extra bit of structure and delight that add to the overall design of this nifty little case.

In all, the premise of the case is ingenious, and the execution is nearly flawless. Combine this with the accessible price of just $16 and you've got a solid product offering. I'm sure that almost any Pen Addict reader could find a use for this case — and if not, they probably know someone who would love it, making it a great gift.

The Paco-Tray case is available in ten different colors and styles to suit every taste.

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

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Posted on May 8, 2019 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Kamio, Pen Case.

Kamio Japan Paco-Tray Pen Case Review

I'm eternally delighted by the many ways a simple concept like a pen case can be made new and exciting and clever. The Kamio Japan Paco-Tray Pen Case is all of those things. It appears as a simple rectangular cuboid--not very big, not ornate or fancy--but put into practice, it's a wee genius of a thing.

It's a clamshell-style, nylon canvas case, with the zip opening lengthwise across the front and side edges. It has a double zipper, which is always a plus. When opened, the inside lining blooms like an accordion into three separate trays. Magnets in the spine snap together to hold the case open. When you close it, the dividers hold the contents nested in those trays, so everything stays neat and orderly and is easy to find when you need it. If you overstuff the pockets (lol if), there may be a few things that smoosh out into other compartments, but otherwise it does a great job of keeping things separated. When the case is closed, the magnet in the spine can be used to attach the case to a metal surface, like the front of a desk drawer.

Despite its small size, the case can hold a surprisingly large number of pens. A few dozen easily, plus accessories. It is, alas, too short to hold some wood case pencils at their full length, but once they've been sharpened down a bit, they'd fit, too. The rectangle shape makes it easy to fit in bags alongside books and other pen cases.

One downside is that you can't just open one end of the case and dig out a random pen. Because of that tray lining, the case has to be opened the whole way to get to anything. So, it's great for sitting down to a work station, but not great for quick access.

It is, overall, one of my favorite pen cases that I've reviewed. I love compartments, and I love the way the magnet keeps the case open. It doesn't so much hold your pens as present them to you, like the small treasures they are. At $16 on JetPens, it's also a really good price. If you need more ways to carry your pens (lol if), this is a great tool for the job.

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

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