I officially unveiled my Fancy Pen™ and I’m super thrilled with it. We talk about that, my struggles in updating the Top 5 Pens page, Star Wars Platinum 3776 fountain pens, and if the Sailor Ink Studio lineup is worth it.
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I do love a well-dressed notebook. And I definitely need a sturdy containment center for my notes on the go. A good A5 case is an essential for me--I carry one with me everywhere I go, literally from room to room. As such, I've tried a lot of different types and styles, some of which have worked for me and I've used them till they fell apart, and some of which don't work for me at all. This Coal Creek Bainbridge A5 cover lands somewhere in the middle of that spectrum, leaning toward the great end.
To begin with what I think is its best feature: holy cats, this is well made, from really fine materials. The construction is precise, and the leather is by far the sturdiest I've ever encountered in a notebook cover. I'm pretty sure you could throw this cover over the back of a horse and use it as a saddle.* The layers of leather on the front and back will give any notebook you put inside a lifetime of protection. Maybe several. This thing will probably outlive me. A single layer of leather forms the spine, allowing it to be more flexible and accommodate a variety of notebook inserts. The Coal Creek website has the Bainbridge listed by insert brand, so if you have a specific favorite notebook, you could select the cover by that and be sure to get a proper fit. I'm not certain, however, if there is really any difference between all the A5 size covers--is there actually a difference between the covers for the A5 Leuchtturm and the A5 Rhodia? I'm not sure. I have tried my cover on a wide variety of A5 notebooks, and they've all fit well. In fact, I have three A5 notebooks in there now, plus a few extras.
Coal Creek describes their design aesthetic as minimalist, and this cover does fit that definition. That's not how I use my covers, though. I have maximal things to do, and my cover needs to somehow contain all that chaos. This one does a decent job of that. The intended use is for one A5 notebook to be used, with its back cover inserted into the right-inside folder pocket of the cover. Right now, I have the Midori A5 planner in that spot. There's also a slit in this pocket that will allow an elastic band to come through, so if you're using a notebook with a band closure, it won't block that feature. On the left inside, there's another folder-style pocket, a 1/2 size pocket, and a card slot. That other folder is meant to hold a device or additional papers. Right now, that spot holds the covers of two slim A5 card-cover notebooks (a Midori MD and an Apica monthly schedule book), a Field Notes Dime Novel edition, and about 20 pages of printer paper folded in half. In the 1/2 pocket, I keep important scratch paper notes, and I have about 10 business cards in the card slot. I might be abusing the generous space of this cover a little bit, but it does successfully hold all of these things. The monthly schedule will be phased out at the end of this month, as I transition fully to the 2020 planner, but there's a good chance another notebook will take its place.
I also have a pen in the elastic loop that is positioned so that it sits in the spine of the case. In the online photos, that loop is on the outside edge. I'm not sure why mine is in a different spot, but I prefer it where it is. It doesn't interfere with my layered notebook sandwich, and it keeps my pen safe.
My notebook cover is a lovely chocolate brown, but you can custom order your case from a wide selection of colors, and even choose your stitching color. The pen loop is optional, and there is also an option for a snap closure. They also provide monogramming if you want to personalize your cover further.
Overall, I think this is a very good cover. I've been using it for months and I don't have any legitimate complaints. Because of how I use it, and what I need my covers to do, it's not ideal for my purposes. I need a reliable closure of some kind to help make sure all those extra bits and bobs don't fall out as I run around my library or home. I need room for more pens or accessories. Basically, I need something that is not minimal. The maximal covers, though, tend to clock in at a maximal price, whereas this Coal Creek Bainbridge is quite reasonably priced at $85. I would honestly have expected a price over $100 for something that feels this finished. And a good saddle costs thousands.
*Please don't actually do this.
(Coal Creek Leather provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
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(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)
In a world that's absolutely full the brim with excellent gel ink, hybrid ballpoint, and fountain pens, it can be easy to look over the humble liquid ink rollerball category. This category isn't as full as its relatives, but there are some really strong contenders to take note of.
One I've been using quite a bit lately is the Tombow Zoom 505. I reviewed the standard model a few months ago, and I was impressed with the build quality and writing experience that the Zoom offered. Today is a similar review, but this one is a special Zoom 505 - the META in Hairline Black.
The shape and feel of the META is identical to the standard Zoom 505. That means it's very comfortable in the hand, it looks more premium than it costs, and the included refill is dark and crisp. The additional cost of the META, however, is due to the increase in material quality.
The Tombow Zoom 505 META features an anodized, brushed aluminum body and cap that is paired with a matte black brass section. The section is also covered in a luxurious rubber grip that makes using this pen a delightful thing.
To quickly recap, the META uses the same refill as the standard Tombow Zoom that I wrote about a few months ago. The refill contains a good portion of ink, comes in several sizes, is affordable, and is also available in black and blue. The refill that came with this META is a bit scratchy, but I'm confident that it's a one-off issue. I have a few other refills for the Tombow rollerball pens, and they don't have any issue with being scratchy. What they do all have in common, though, is the dark, crisp lines that they produce on paper. There's not much that's more satisfying than the lush dark lines that a liquid ink rollerball produces, and the META is no slouch. I love writing with this refill. While it's not the ubiquitous Schmidt P8126/7 refill that we all know and love, it's a pretty close second, and much more affordable to boot.
Now, getting into what makes this pen unique to the standard Zoom, the materials and aesthetic of this blacked-out edition is something I really enjoy. The black brushed aluminum is sleek but still professional. It has an unassuming look while also looking unique, which is a hard line to balance. The logo is a dark color as well, adding to the allure of the pen. When you see it on a desk, you're not really sure what it is, but you are certainly tempted to pick it up and use it for a bit.
The clip on the cap is really strong and also features a matte black finish to tie into the rest of the unassuming theme. Even the cone and grip section are blacked out. If you're a fan of that sick blacked-out look, this pen is entirely in your alley. The only non-black thing on this pen is the refill tip.
Uncapping and capping the pen is fairly easy as long as you line it up correctly. Since the grip section is a rubber material, it tends to stick and drag against the inside of the cap if there's too much of an angle. This isn't a big deal once you practice the motion a few times. Securing the cap on the pen produces a nice tactile "slide and bump" when it's in place, and pulling the cap off feels equally smooth. I can tell there's a specially-designed mechanism inside the cap that accepts the grip and cone perfectly, which means there's a good seal around the open refill when the pen is capped. This prevents it from drying out when it isn't being used.
The cap can also post on the back of the pen, but it produces a metal on metal feeling which puts me off. This isn't a big deal, but I can't help but cringe when I feel it, and I have to wonder if repeated use would leave any markings on the back of the pen body after a while.
Overall, writing with this pen is incredibly pleasing. The refill is crisp and dark, and the grip is cushy and comfortable while also providing a firm place for your fingers to rest while you write. The blacked-out aesthetic is definitely a perk with this model, but it doesn't have that cheesy "tactical" look that some all black products try to achieve. This pen is at home in a military-style bug-out bag, but it also looks equally at place in a suite pocket or leather folio.
At $33, the Tombow Zoom 505 META is a bit more expensive than the standard model, but that extra bit of cash is worth it for me. The all-black look is classy and awesome, and the matte aluminum materials are a big bump for the longevity of the barrel over the standard lacquered version. This makes a great gift or daily carry pen!
(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
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, for which I am very grateful.
Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!
