The Pen Addict Podcast: Episode 436 - Pens Take Precedence

Current status. Image via Melissa Nilsson.

Broken bones have been my Loch Ness monster throughout my life, as in, do they really exist? Well, I found out the hard way last weekend. Sailor may not have found a monster, but they certainly have created one with their recent release schedule. What does it all mean?

Show Notes & Download Links

This episode of The Pen Addict is sponsored by:

Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code PENADDICT at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.

Ooni Pizza Ovens: Bring the world’s best pizza to your own backyard. Use the code THEPENADDICT for 10% off.

King Jim Magflap Clipboard 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 latest book, Out of Water, now available where books are sold!)

The King Jim MagFlap Clipboard is one of the best stationery items I have ever owned and I do not say that lightly. By the time I was in my second week of grad school, and realized that I would be reading a minimum of 500 pages of scholarly articles every week, I knew two things: 1) I could not do that much reading on a screen. 2) I was going to need a way to contain, transport, and highlight a lot of papers all day every day. So I requested one of these. I've named her Maggie and she's my partner in crime. We go everywhere together, even from room-to-room in the house. If you have any need at all for a portable writing surface, I recommend this one.

The clipboard is thin, but very sturdy with no flexibility, so you can hold it at one corner and still write on a firm surface. The clip is very strong and goes the whole width of the top, so the corners of your document are protected and secured. At the bottom, there is a magnetic flap that closes over the bottom edges of the papers, so they do not flip up or fly around, and it keeps the entire page secured. There is another magnetic flap on the back of the clipboard, so when you finish a page, you can flip it up and over the clip, and secure it at the back, so it isn't dangling and it is protected from getting tattered.

The magnets are very strong, so nothing slips or slides around. Watch your fingertips, though, because they are strong enough to pinch a bit. It can also be attached to metal surfaces, like a refrigerator. While the specs say it holds 10-30 sheets, I can attest to it holding much more than that securely with no trouble at all. I know I've carried at least 50 pages at a time in it with no issues, and the clip is still holding strong.

The one thing this clipboard is missing is some kind of pen loop. If it could also securely hold my highlighter, it would be the most perfect thing ever. As it is, it's still very great. I think it would be perfect not just for students, but also artists, office workers, or anyone who has to do a lot of writing on their feet, like nurses or teachers. It isn't cheap at $14.50, but it is totally worth it. I might even need a backup or two, and one for the fridge as well.

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

---

Sailor Compass 1911 Fountain Pen Review

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

The sub-$100 price range can be difficult for a lot of pen manufacturers to succeed in. For some, this is where they excel at offering great value and excellent writing instruments for the price (ever heard of TWSBI?). On the other hand, being able to deliver high-end luxury writing instruments doesn't also make you an expert at delivering lower cost, affordable items that compete well with brands that operate exclusively in that space. That doesn't mean you shouldn't try, though! And that's exactly what Sailor is doing with the Compass 1911 fountain pen line.

The Compass 1911 borrows a familiar shape from the high-end 1911 fountain pen line, but uses more affordable materials in order to hit a much lower price bracket: $50 MSRP. On top of that, the Compass 1911 even comes with two black ink cartridges and (wait for it) a cartridge converter. I've definitely criticized Sailor in the past for not including a cheap converter with their $200+ fountain pens. At that price range, it seems petty to discount it from the hinged box that contains the pen. In the $50 price range, it's a fantastic bonus that I would never expect.

But the value gets better from there since no one really sells goods for the MSRP. As of now, you can find the Sailor Compass 1911 for just under $40 at Goldspot. For that price, is an excellent value for a beginning fountain pen kit. But, how does it perform as a pen? Can Sailor scale down their excellent writing to an ultra affordable, entry-level pen?

Across the lineup, the Compass 1911 feature semi-transparent materials in a variety of fun colors. The trim is silver in every case, and there also aren't any nib choices to make. Every pen comes with a stainless steel medium fine nib. While this is a bold decision, I certainly agree with this being a default option for a nib size. Others won't appreciate it and will look for larger or smaller alternatives, but for most people that don't really know what nib size to use yet, it's a pretty good starting point.

The pen is fairly lightweight, but doesn't feel brittle or delicate. It can definitely withstand some abuse from being thrown in bags and pockets. The screw-on cap posts securely to the back of the pen, and I find it extremely comfortable to write with the cap posted or non-posted. Both lengths are great for writing. In all, the materials used in the body and cap feel great for such an affordable pen. Even the converter seems well-made.

Moving on to the more important part of the pen, the nib is incredibly plain compared to Sailor's more expensive options. Even though it's plain and looks a little cheap, this nib is a solid performer. The MF nib is stiff as a nail and writes smoothly and reliably. It's always such a joy to ink up a pen straight out of the box and find that it writes beautifully without any fuss. The Sailor Compass 1911 is one of these pens, and an excellent first option for those that are curious about the world of fountain pens. I also enjoy that the material used for the feed is transparent as well, which shows off the ink color you've chosen. For my Olive version of the pen, I went with Pilot Iroshizuku Chiku-rin to compliment the light green transparent color of the body. The green feed just makes it even better.

To be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect when I opened this box. I've been disappointed in the past by some of Sailor's sub-$100 offerings, and I thought this might be another lackluster attempt to break into that price range. The Compass 1911 won't disrupt what TWSBI, Pilot, Lamy, Kaweco, or other brands that offer pens in the same price range are already doing, but it is a fantastic offering from the brand that directly translates what kind of quality and dependable writing experience you can expect from their more luxurious offerings. Here's to hoping they continue experimenting in this fun category.

The review unit featured here is the Olive color option, but you can also pick from Clear, Brown, Yellow, Green, Purple, Blue, Pink, and Red. At $40, they're a fantastic deal for a gift or a personal treat.

(Goldspot 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!