Maruman Reccer Memo Pad 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.)

I feel like I need scratch paper every few minutes. At work, every few seconds. I often carry a perforated pocket notebook for this purpose, and the Maruman Reccer Memo Pad has been an excellent companion.

Don't let the word "large" fool you--this is a wee memo pad. It's almost exactly the size of my iphone 6 (the old, smaller one), so it fits nicely in a pants pocket, or in the phone pocket in your bag that no longer fits your phone because your phone is now the size of a small country. It's tall and narrow, so there's plenty of room to write, but it fits comfortably in the palm of your hand.

The cover is textured, flexible plastic. It has the "RECCER" name on it, with a quote that hasn't quite translated clearly: "Have always on hold a reliable records organizer. Records are the wisdom and guides you obtained up to the present time." A bit cryptic, but I think we're on board with the general sentiment. Behind the cover is a blue sheet with some Japanese that I'm afraid I can't read (feel free to drop a translation in the comments, if you're able!). But I suspect that the blue sheet is blotting paper--it has a similar texture. Behind the blue sheet are 50 sheets of 5.5 mm lined 70 gsm paper.

Like many other Japanese papers, including others from Maruman, I can't help but assume my ink is going to bleed straight through. And then I'm always enchanted when it doesn't. Even a zoom nib loaded with black ink barely shows through. Everything I tried, including all my inked fountain pens and a Copic fineliner, behaved well on this paper. It was a little slick for pencils, though.

Every other line on the page is subtly dotted, so if your handwriting is too large for the 5.5 mm spacing, you can easily take up two lines without feeling like you've trespassed into the next space. But it still comfortably accommodates small writing. There are some dot and arrow margin marks, if you feel like taking your memo notes very seriously.

The perforation tore cleanly with no folding or prompting needed. It did take a few pulls to get started, but I've had no torn pages.

The only thing I don't like about this memo pad is the ring binding. I don't prefer ring binding anyway, but I especially don't like it on a pocket notebook. It's not comfortable to carry, it's not good for fabrics, and the rings are doomed to destruction. I don't mind them on a notebook that's meant to stay open on a desk, but this is clearly a carry-around book.

I can't complain too loudly, though. With paper this nice, and at only $2.25, this is a gem. It's a perfect gift for coworkers or pen friends--or anyone who runs through life leaving a trail of small, pertinent papers in their wake.

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

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Posted on February 1, 2018 by Sarah Read and filed under Maruman, Notebook Reviews.

The Pen Addict Podcast: Episode 293 - Cut With a Hammer and Chisel

Myke and I pre-recorded this weeks episode, prior to the launch of the Wancher Dream Pen Kickstarter. We were bullish on the project, and still fell way short in our estimates. It will be fun to revisit this one next week and see exactly where it is at. We also touched on new products from Baron Fig and Karas Kustoms, and dug into my review of the Bellroy Work Folio.

Show Notes and Download Links

This episode of The Pen Addict is sponsored by:

Pen Chalet: Click the ‘podcast’ link at the top of the website and enter the password ‘penaddict’ for this week’s special offer, and to get your code for 10% off.

Blue Apron: A better way to cook. Get $30 off your first delivery and FREE SHIPPING.

Posted on January 31, 2018 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Podcast.

Uni Jetstream Stylus Ballpoint Pen Review

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

Over the years, I've come to really enjoy the Jetstream line of hybrid ballpoint pens. The ink is extremely smooth, the colors are vibrant, and the lines are crisp. When I received a Jetstream with a touchscreen stylus attached to the top, I was intrigued. In my experience, a stylus on a pen is a gimmick. I don't mind it if the stylus stays out of the way, but if it hinders my ability to use the pen in any way, I'll never use it again. Thankfully, the stylus on the Jetstream stays out of the way until you need to use it.

Since this pen uses the same refills found in the Jetstream multi-pens, you can expect the same level of performance and quality. A black 0.7mm refill is included with the pen, but there are a variety of sizes and colors available to guarantee you have a great writing experience.

The bright blue exterior of the model I have is a really great color. There's a slight hint of green in the color under certain light, giving it a hidden depth that you wouldn't expect for a pen in this price range. The cap, clip, and nozzle are all black plastic and are fairly well-made. The nozzle has an excessive number of threads, which means it can take about 10 full turns to unscrew or screw on the tip after replacing the refill. It's not a deal-breaker, but just odd. Another potential problem is the weakness of the clip. It doesn't offer a strong grip when clipping it to things. Luckily, the pen is light and doesn't need a massive amount of grip to stay put. The clip also serves as the mechanism that extends the refill for writing. There's a small notch/button on the opposite side of the barrel to retract the refill. It works, but it's not the best system for a retractable pen because it feels clunky. Still, it works dependably.

On top of the pen where the nock usually sits, there's a black stylus dome. You'll probably recognize this little piece as the same type of stylus tip used on a number of cheap styli. It gets the job done, but it's incredibly squishy and imprecise. For signing an iPad at a coffee shop, it's perfect, but I can't imagine it would be great for technical drawings, coloring books, or other forms of art that iPads and other devices are capable of today. At the end of the day, it's a functional stylus that is convenient in a pinch, but it also stays out of the way when you're not using it. If you intend to use the stylus a lot, you can even pick up a pack of replacements. The sleeve around the stylus unscrews, allowing you to pull the old tip off and replace it with a new one.

All things considered, this pen is exactly what it says it is. It's a known quantity (the Jetstream refill) with a stylus stuck on the end. It's also available in a handful of colors, like the blue featured here, black, silver, and pink gold. At the $6 price point, it's not a bad deal considering the inclusion of a touchscreen stylus. If you like the Jetstream and also need to use a stylus from time to time, this is a perfect match.

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

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