Posts filed under Accessories Review

PLOTTER Grain Leather Pen Case Review

I picked up the PLOTTER Grain Leather Pen Case at the Chicago Pen Show earlier this Spring. Did you know they made pen cases? I didn’t, until I was standing in front of their table in May. So, what’s a person in my situation to do? Buy one, of course!

Yes, it was a spur of the moment decision. I mean, have you handled one of these yet? They are so soft. And the color I chose, this Natural leather, is not available on the website. FOMO much?

I’ve spent ample time with this case since then, primarily on my desk. That is a telling factor, because I don’t think this design is good enough for every day portable carry. Let me break it down.

First off, the positive: this case feels amazing. The leather is thin and soft, while providing enough protection. The finishing around the seams, pocket, zipper, and magnet are perfect. To no ones surprise, it is extremely well made.

Functionality is where this case falls off, and I have an opinion as to why. I use a lot of fountain pens, and this case is not designed for these larger pens. PLOTTER also does not sell any fountain pens, so given that, maybe it is perfectly designed for what they sell. If I was loading this case with two of their ballpoints and two of their mechanical pencils - with some extra leads and erasers in the pocket - maybe I would have had a better time with it.

The fact remains that I use a lot of different pens and pencils, and this case is not a good fit for most of them.

The pen slots are too narrow, and too close together. The flap to cover the pens is too short. Pen clips touch when you roll it closed. When closed, the pens sit on each other awkwardly, giving it that poorly wrapped burrito vibe. And this is before I attempt to put anything into the zip pocket, which only exacerbates the situation.

I want it to be good. For highly-specific setups, it can be. For more random use, especially with fountain pens, it is not good enough.

*A proper setup, with narrower pens and clips turned inward. The zip pouch holds more than you think.*

Will PLOTTER run out version two of this product? I kind of hope not, because I would like to see a complete rework, not an iteration of this one. I don’t think it can get there from here.

If you are interested in carrying your narrower pens and pencils (maybe it is my Spoke Design case?) then I do think you will enjoy it. Even at $85, it is more than fairly priced for what it is, and is available in three different color options - Brown, Gray, and Navy - to boot. Just be very sure it fits your needs before making the purchase.

(I purchased this product from PLOTTER at the 2023 Chicago Pen Show at a discount.)

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Posted on July 24, 2023 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Plotter, Pen Case, Accessories Review.

Esterbrook 2GO Pen Cup 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!)

I'm all over the place this month—in a different city every weekend, and all over the map in between, so my "desk" needs to be on the move with me. Transporting a pleasant variety of pens is an essential part of that portable office, which makes for the perfect opportunity to try out clever new pen case designs.

The new drawstring 2GO Pen Cup from Esterbrook has been my carry for the past week, and it has been wonderful in some ways, and falls a bit short in others.

First of all, to get the obvious out of the way, it's super cute. I love the cotton canvas fabric, the classic stenciling, and the color, which happens to perfectly match my planner cover and purse. It's sturdy and well-made, and feels like it will last a long time, even with regular use. In fact, the fabric feels like it will only get better with use, like a comfy pair of jeans. The leather drawstring gives it a rustic vibe, and the suede interior is very soft. The ribbed knit cuff at the top of the case brings a cosy feel to the leather and canvas.

The case is designed so that you can use it as one big open space, or use the included divider to keep pens separate inside. It's a bit fiddly getting the insert aligned correctly—it keeps wanting to fold on itself—but once the pens are in place, they help it keep its shape. The flexibility of it does allow it to cushion pens of various sizes, so I can put narrow pencils next to beefy fountain pens and the insert will adjust itself accordingly. It also lends the case some structure, so it can stand up like a pen cup, and the top fabric folds down so that the pens are easily visible and accessible.

As far as its shortcomings, the first is exactly that—it's a bit short, so it can't fit taller pencils, and even some pens may not be the best fit. Standard ballpoint or gel pen length works best. I also wasn't able to cinch the top cord shut all the way, due to the thickness of the fabric. So there's always an open gap at the top, wide enough for a pen to slip through if I were to tip it upside down. For me, that means it's not the right case for any of my more delicate pens. But most of my favorite pens are delicate ones, which means I either need to bring them in a second, separate case, or I need to just use a different case altogether, which is ultimately what I did.

Another issue is that this case retails for $59.95, which surprised me a bit. That seems quite high. Yes, the materials are very nice and the construction and design are well done, but oof. That's a very high-end price, and as much as I like it, I'm not sure I'd pay that much for it. I've paid that much for cases before, but there was usually a clear reason why it cost so much--like small-batch handmade pieces in exclusive materials.

While this case didn't work for my daily carry, it still makes a good case for keeping on the desk at home. And it would be a great choice for when I'm bringing a handful of gel pens or fineliners to a friend's house so we can decorate planners together. While it has a few negatives, overall I do think it's a nice case, and I'll enjoy using it.

(Brad purchased this case from Dromgoole’s at the 2023 Atlanta Pen Show.)

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Posted on May 18, 2023 by Sarah Read and filed under Esterbrook, Pen Case, Accessories Review.

Kirby 30th Anniversary Kaima Japan 2 Pocket Clear File Folder Review

Kirby is the most popular...person?...in my house, if you ask my eight-year-old. Anything with Kirby on it is the best thing ever. To test that theory, I decided to give this Kirby 30th Anniversary folder a try. It was tricky, because I had to keep it hidden. Once spotted, it would be claimed by the tiny Kirby fan.

The folder is made of clear and pink die-cut plastic. It has a bubbly-edged flap that folds over on the right side, which fastens with Velcro, so your papers are extra secure inside. The front of the folder and the closure flap are covered in adorable portraits of our hero, Kirby, in various of his cute guises. In the center is a yellow star that marks the celebration of Kirby's 30th anniversary. He's looking good for his age.

The edges of the plastic sheets are stamp-melted together, creating secure seams that feel sturdy even when the folder is stuffed with papers. It can hold A4 or letter sized paper. The folder is very floppy when empty, but the flap gives it extra structure, and it does very well at keeping papers nice in transport. It does not work well as a writing surface, however, as sturdier folders might do.

The back shows three more Kirbys celebrating the rescue of some treasure with the motto "Pink Puffy Power!"

Have I felt silly carrying my papers to and from work in this Kirby folder? A little. But considering my usual everyday folder is a Howl's Moving Castle one (also from JetPens), I don't have much room to talk. Ultimately, this folder works very well, and it looks cute while doing it. The closure flap makes a surprising difference, adding both security and structure. It's enough to justify the steep price for the folder, which is $7.75. I'm sure the Nintendo brand is driving that price up a bit, but if you ask my eight-year-old, no amount is too much to pay for Kirby stuff.

Epilogue:

After I had the chance to try it for a while, I casually left it on the couch to be discovered. It was immediately added to Tiny Kirby Fan's backpack and now serves the purpose of carrying song sheets for music class (young one's favorite subject). It did get a small bend in it after rigorous use. I would suggest, if you intend to treat the folder as a first grader does, that you put a pencil board in one pocket to give it a little extra armor. I don't fault the folder, in this case. They've yet to invent a folder that can withstand a grade school backpack.

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

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