Posts filed under Pen Case

Hightide Nahe Soft Gadget Pouch 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 Bluesky. And her latest book, The Atropine Tree, is now available!)

These days, we are plagued by a scatter of gadgets. Doodads, thingamaobs, the detritus of modern life, where every device has a charger, an adapter, a widget. And to contain all this madness, we need pouches! Clever ones.

The Hightide Nahe Soft Gadget Pouch in the small size surprised me, because when it arrived, my first thought was "oh no--that's way too small" and then it wasn't. It just looks like it is. Very sneaky.

The pouch is made from a nylon canvas and is available in several colors. All have a black zipper with a single zipper pull that has a rubber grip that fits a hooked finger perfectly. The pouch is triangular in profile, with a wide base. The top is narrower when zipped shut, but it opens wide as a whale's mouth, so it's easy to see inside and access your tools. The opening is reinforced with metal bars to help it keep its shape, and they also act like a roll-cage in your bag, protecting the contents of the pouch from your notebooks and water bottle.

Inside the pouch, there is a soft black lining with a velvety texture. There are mesh slip pockets on the inside of each wall, and the center of the case has a separator that sticks down with Velcro, so it can be removed or adjusted as needed.

The mesh pockets are perfect for small accessories you need to keep track of, and the main compartment is perfect for larger gadgets. It fits a typical phone perfectly, or a smaller digital camera. It's just long enough to fit a handful of gel pens also, though longer pens would not fit. While the case is somewhat reinforced by its structure, it is still a soft case, so not ideal for extremely delicate things. My small digital camera fits on one side of the divider, the flash attachment on the other side, and the memory cards and spare battery go well in the mesh pockets.

The Hightide Nahe Soft Gadget Pouch Small size sells for $32 on Jetpens. The larger size, which can fit a small notebook, sells for $43. I do feel like these are on the pricey side. There are pouches of similar quality with more features that cost less than this one. I do think it's a good pouch, though, and its deceptively large capacity and wide mouth are strong points in its favor.

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Hightide Nahe Soft Gadget Pouch Exterior

Posted on October 9, 2025 by Sarah Read and filed under Hightide, Pen Case.

Esterbrook Cube Pen Case 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 Bluesky. And her latest book, The Atropine Tree, is now available!)

Your trinkets, gadgets, and doodads have a new ride. This new pouch, The Cube, from Esterbrook is a library of pockets, offering some top-tier organization in a design that looks both fun and classic.

First of all, look at that box. Esterbrook is always good with their packaging, and here, again, they have provided us with another box that's too good to throw away. More than one drawer in my house is organized with repurposed Esterbrook packaging. This one is definitely a keeper.

The butter yellow nylon of the case makes a fantastic impression on first sight. It's such a good color, and the styling is very retro. Maybe it's the windbreaker, track-suit fabric that's taking me back to the early 90s--but I'm happy to go there. The case is also available in blue and dark green, though all have the bright orange interior.

On the front of the pouch, there is a zipper pocket with a soft interior perfect for keeping glasses scratch-free. Behind that is a slip pocket (though the two pockets share volume, so if you put something fragile in one, you wouldn't want to use the other). Below it is a stretchy band that could serve as a handle, or a way to affix the pouch to another bag.

On the back, there are two voluminous pockets with elastic tops. One is nylon and one is mesh. They hold a surprising amount, and are the perfect size for a charger or earbud case.

The main part of the case opens like a clamshell with a smooth zipper. The inside right has divided pen trays for up to six sizeable pens. They are held in place by an elastic band that stretches across the width, threading through the walls of the soft tray.

There is a flap that divides the main compartment in two, and on the side of the flap facing the pens, there is a clear folder pocket perfect for stickers or a small notepad. On the other side of the flap there is a zipper mesh pocket for keeping any loose bits secured.

On the other side of the clamshell opening, there is a mesh pocket and a length of elastic across the width that is sewn into small segments.

The roomy interior also allows for a slim pocket or A6 notebook to be placed on either side of the central flap, or in some of the larger elastic pockets.

Every inch of this case is full of storage. A lot of it is cleverly laid out so that it can all be used, though some pockets interfere with the use of others.

There's so much versatility that it takes a little while to figure out how to use it. Is it a tech pouch? And EDC case? Just for pens and stationery? You could even use it as a makeup or toiletry case, or for other craft supplies. This is one of those cases that might end up in my knitting bag.

I decided to see how much of my daily carry items I could fit inside it. The answer was, most of them! However... When fully packed out, it may not fit in your bag. It gets thick! If you're carrying a good backpack, you'll be fine, but it doesn't fit in an average purse, which makes its use as a daily carry pouch a bit un-useful, for me.

But that does not worry me, because it has a thousand uses other than as a daily carry pouch. It would be perfect as a pen show kit! Bring some pens to show off, leave some spaces empty to fill with new pens. Collect business cards and stickers. Gather paper swatches, and bring a testing notebook. Fill the elastics with ink sample vials. Everything you need in one cube!

Because of the endless possibilities, I've had a lot of fun unpacking and repacking it for different purposes.

One downside to the case is the price, which did shock me a bit when I saw it. The MSRP is $65, though you might find it for less. It's more than I'd expect to pay for a nylon case, but it does have a lot of construction and design to it. I don't think it's extremely overpriced, just a bit more than I was expecting. That being said, if I hadn't been sent one, I'd buy one. I might have to buy one, anyway, because my husband, who typically goes glassy-eyed whenever I start talking about anything pen-related, actually tried to claim this one.

The retro vibe and bright colors certainly won't be for everyone, but I think this is another great accessory from Esterbrook. I'd actually love to see these design elements and materials used in a full-sized bag. Like the Cube as a messenger briefcase, chock full of stationery organization? If you do that, Esterbrook, please call me.

(Disclaimer: Brad bought this case from Florida Fountain Pen at the 2025 Atlanta Pen Show.)

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Posted on July 10, 2025 by Sarah Read and filed under Esterbrook, Pen Case, Accessories Review.

SHEdesigns Velvet-Lined Pen Sleeve 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 Bluesky. And her latest book, The Atropine Tree, is now available!)

Want to keep your pens AND your heart cozy and warm? Then you need to check out SHEdesigns Nepal—a women's empowerment business devoted to enriching the lives of women through the crafting of beautiful local textile goods.

The business began with an effort to sew sanitary products for girls who were missing school at an alarming rate due to menstruation. The pads allowed them to remain in school, resulting in higher test scores and better overall education outcomes. With the success of this effort, more women were employed to create even more products, from placemats to bags to pen cases. The company now employs ten women who are able to support their families and find independence.

But they aren't just a good cause! They're good at what they do!

All the products they offer are made from high quality traditional Nepali dhaka fabrics. These densely woven, colorful patterns are made using a traditional process mastered thousands of years ago by the indigenous Limbu people of eastern Nepal. It is a fine woven cotton fabric characterized by intricate geometric shapes in a broad range of natural colors.

SHEdesigns Velvet-Lined Pen Sleeve Fabric

The original cotton-producing plant that supplied dhaka artisans with the fiber they used to produce what was once the finest and most expensive fabric in the world (follow me down an amazing textile rabbit hole with this article from the BBC,) has since gone extinct. While the fiber is gone, the wisdom of its weavers has carried on, and while the emperors of the world are no longer wearing dhaka muslin, my pens are getting the royal treatment.

The SHEdesigns pen sleeves are available in 4-pen or 6-pen varieties and in six gorgeous fabric options. The pre-order for the sleeves is limited, due to the limited quantities of the woven fabric, and it is only open for a while longer. Sleeves will be made to order and ship at the end of August.

The pen roll shown here is the six-pen design. It has soft cotton outer fabric with a plush red velvet lining. The central flap folds down to cover the tops of the pens so there's no risk of scratches. The case rolls easily and is secured by a red cord with a decorative bead on the end. Each of the pen pockets is sewn 1.5" wide and accommodates even thicker fountain pens. The pockets are deep enough to cover a pen up to 6" long.

The stitching is well done, with no loose threads or crooked seams. It was clearly made with care and pride, and holding it, you can't help but feel a connection to its maker.

As a fiber artist myself, I have an inherent love of handmade textiles and fabric goods, and there's nothing better than a well-crafted item with an inspiring story behind it. Frankly, I'm a bit envious of my pens' new threads, so I'll be visiting the SHEdesigns site for some accoutrements of my own. And as a bonus, with every order you place, you can add on a donated sanitary pad kit for women and girls in Nepal. You can make a difference AND spoil yourself at the same time. And your pens will feel spoiled, too.

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

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!