Help Us Prep for Episode 400

Myke and I are recording Episode 400 of The Pen Addict Podcast next week, and we want to produce a “Start Here” episode. New listeners have asked which episode they should the start with for years, and we have never had the perfect episode to point them to. We want to make Episode 400 that one.

In preparation for next week, we would like your help on what topics to cover. We are treating this as a 101-level stationery conversation, so we will be discussing things like ink differences between ballpoint, rollerball, and gel, fountain pen terminology, paper types and sizes, and other topics along those lines.

We will also be discussing Pen Addict podcast-specific topics, like Kickstarter campaigns that have gone down in history, why I hate fountain pens, and other show stories and lore.

Here is how you can help.

I’ve created a Google Form to collect anything you would like to share. Do you have a favorite episode? Let us know. Is there a 101 topic you found helpful in the past? Tell us so we can include it. Do you have another idea we haven’t thought about? Please share!

Click here to access the no login, anonymous form. And thanks for your help!

Lamy Softcover A5 Notebook Review

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

You'd have to look carefully to notice what brand notebook I'm using in this review. The medium gray cover is almost completely devoid of any branding. But if you turned the notebook over, you'd find a classy Lamy logo debossed into the lower portion of the back cover. The Lamy Softcover A5 Booklets are very familiar while also sporting an unassuming style.

You might pass over this notebook thinking it's just another paperback A5 notebook, but you'd be wrong. The Lamy Softcover notebooks feature their own "Lamy ruling," which is a combination of lines and grids. This isn't the first time we've seen a paper line format like this (Doane Paper comes to mind first), but it's definitely nice to see some variety in the different line formats available in affordable notebooks. The lined ruling lines are a little darker than the dotted grid lines, and I wish all the lines were a little lighter. It's a busy pattern, and it's a little difficult to ignore if you want to do something more free-form. Still, it's a good pattern and provides a lot of structure if need it.

Aside from the unique ruling, the paper in these notebooks is really nice. It's 90g/m², which I think is a great trade-off between light weight and great performance. In my tests, only the thickest, wettest nibs are able to cause ink to show through on the back of the page. I haven't noticed any bleeding or feathering with the variety of inks and pens I've used so far, and I really couldn't be happier with the performance of this paper. It's smooth, but also has a slight tooth that provides a satisfying amount of feedback when writing.

These notebooks are exceptionally plain. There is zero branding and fluff inside the covers. Both inside covers are blank, and the first page of the notebook is exactly that — a ruled page. There's no subject boxes, contact info blocks, or witty, interesting facts printed anywhere. There also aren't any page numbers. This really is a utilitarian notebook.

Even though the covers are a soft paper material, they're coated with some extra protection to stand up to normal use. The exterior of the cover also has a nice tweed tactile feeling like they used actual fibers in the cover material. Not sure if it's real or synthetic, but it feels great in the hand.

The 64 pages of each notebook are held in place with pale yellow stitching. The binding is tight and feels like it will stand up to a lot of use. Even though the stitches are tight, the notebook still easily lays flat when writing, but also has no trouble staying closed when not in use.

The set comes with three identical notebooks and will set you back $15 from Goldspot. Considering the size and the quality of the paper in these notebooks, this is a great deal. Assuming you're interested in the paper ruling, you really can't go wrong with these notebooks.

Pick up a set along with your next order!

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

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Tuesday Toolset, Top 5 Plastic Tip Pens Edition

This list is a peculiar one, and one very near and dear to my heart. Why do I love plastic tip pens (or drawing pens, or felt tip markers, or fineliners - whichever term you like) so much? They make my handwriting look amazing.

That’s one of the two reasons to buy one of these pens. The other is, of course, art. Depending on the model, they can provide features artists need, such as a wide range of point sizes, plenty of color choices, and archival ink properties.

Plastic tip pens aren’t for everybody. Students could use them for marking notes, but they break down too fast for page after page of notes. Same with repeated outdoor work - the tips are easily damaged.

But, if you know how this type of pen can benefit you, it can be the superstar of your arsenal.

Top 5 Plastic Tip Pens

1. Kuretake Zig Cartoonist Mangaka - There will come a point when the lack of color choices will catch up to it, but not here, and not now. (Buy)
2. Sakura Pigma Micron - Seen anywhere and everywhere fineliners are sold. And for good reason. Far more colors and tip sizes than the Kuretake, but not quite on par with performance. (Buy)
3. Staedtler Pigment Liner - Number three on my list, but number one with the artists I follow on Instagram. Especially artists who focus on tiny, detailed drawing. (Buy)
4. Copic Multiliner SP - If it weren’t so damn good I would have taken it off the list during the last price increase. You can buy 4 to 5 of the other pens on this list for every one SP. The standard Multiliner isn’t a good pivot either. (Buy)
5. Paper Mate Flair - I could have gone many different directions in this last spot, but the Flair is a great pen and adds a more utilitarian option to the list. The Ultra Fine Model is great too. (Buy)

(Notes: This is a big category, as seen by solid pens like the Uni Pen, Sharpie Pen, Stabilo 88, and more being left off. )