Bellroy Work Folio A5: A Practical Daily Companion

February 3, 2018

Today I'll take a more in-depth look at a product that I've previously mentioned: the Work Folio A5 from Australian leather goods company Bellroy. There's been a lot of discussion about this product recently, and I wanted to add a bit of a different perspective, coming from someone who has used the Work Folio "in the wild" for a period of time in perhaps a different context than what's already been discussed.

Build and Practicality

I love portfolios. They fit the way I work, which is a combination of being chained to a desk for 4-5 hours a day, with the other 4-5 hours spent moving between out-of-the-office meetings, conferences calls, and court hearings. While I've made a lot of progress in terms of reducing the amount of "junk" paper that I cart around with me, I still need a good notebook to take meeting notes, brainstorm, and record appointments. When I'm traveling, a zippered portfolio provides an easy way to hang onto cards, tickets, receipts and other bits of paper that you tend to accumulate on the road. So when Bellroy reached out and asked whether I'd like to review one of their new Work Folios, I seemed like a natural fit.

The Work Folio features a heavy duty zipper and Bellroy's trademark owl logo.

I first heard about Bellroy through curated online retailer Huckberry, who I've been buying from for years. Four years ago, my wife bought me the Bellroy Hide & Seek wallet for Christmas. Other than softening a bit, the leather still looks pristine, and it's more or less the only wallet I carry on a daily basis and look forward to doing so for years to come. I've since added a Bellroy leather pocket notebook cover as well.

The Work Folio A5 without the notebook inserted.

Bellroy uses high-quality leather that stands up well to heavy daily use. I'm very hard on bags, portfolios, pens, you name it, so ruggedness is important and I'm not afraid to pay money for a product if I think it's going to last me a long time. The Work Folio doesn't disappoint in this regard. Bellroy sent me the tan leather option, which feels thick and substantial, and the zipper seems heavy duty enough to last a very long time. Bellroy goods are backed by a three-year warranty.

The left inside flap has pockets to hold business cards, notecards, post-its, your phone, a pocket notebook, etc. I'm sure you could also use them to hold a power bank, headphones, charging cables, and other small odds and ends if you use your folio… — The left inside flap has pockets to hold business cards, notecards, post-its, your phone, a pocket notebook, etc. I'm sure you could also use them to hold a power bank, headphones, charging cables, and other small odds and ends if you use your folio to hold your tech products when traveling.

Inside, the Work Folio has a slot for a softcover A5 notebook on the right, which seems like the main feature of this piece. While there has been some discussion about hardcover A5 notebooks not fitting properly, the Work Folio A5 strikes me as something you would use instead of a hardback notebook like a Leuchtturm 1917, hardcover Moleskine, or a Baron Fig Confidant. While I was able to squeeze in a Confidant, it did leave the folio pretty bulky and the notebook didn't lay completely flat. If you're looking for a leather cover for your hardback notebook, you have other options.

The Bellroy Work Folio A5, shown here with the Nanami Seven Seas Writer.

Bellroy ships the Work Folio with a slim A5 notebook, and if that's what you use the one I received was serviceable. You can also find plenty of other softcover A5 options. Personally, I prefer a notebook with more paper than what these slim notebooks offer, so I opted for a Midori MD A5 notebook, which works perfectly. The Nanami Paper Seven Seas softcover A5 notebooks also fit well, and I think that when the Midori runs out I will move over to one of the Crossfields that I have in my stash.

Due to the lack of a clip on the Baron Fig Squire (Brass "Key" version shown here), this may not be the most "practical" pairing I can think of but I like the combination of the patina on the brass and the leather portfolio. The pen loop is pretty s… — Due to the lack of a clip on the Baron Fig Squire (Brass "Key" version shown here), this may not be the most "practical" pairing I can think of but I like the combination of the patina on the brass and the leather portfolio. The pen loop is pretty slim, so don't expect that it will hold your fat fountain pens.

In addition to holding the notebook, the Work Folio has a leather pen loop and several pockets to hold cards, your phone, and even an "e-reader or small tablet." This would have to be limited to something like the Kindle Paperwhite or Kindle Fire (or maybe an iPad Mini), but I personally would never think to cart these around in my work portfolio because, well, I don't think they're very practical for professional use, as opposed to a full-size iPad, which requires it's own case anyway. While I may test it out as a tablet case at some point in the future, possibly when I'm traveling and would want to read a Kindle on the plane, my initial thought is that having a tablet in the Work Folio with a notebook would make it too bulky.

I typically stick a pocket notebook under the left flap. Shown here is an A6 Flip/Flop Notebook from Say Nice Things.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The Work Folio A5 is an excellent product from a reputable and established leather goods company that serves my particular needs well. That said, I can't emphasize enough the need to do your research and consider your own personal preferences and requirements before making a purchase, especially at the price point high-quality leather portfolios tend to command. For most people, this would be a substantial investment in a key part of your workflow, not an impulse buy. If you're committed to hardback notebooks, this particular portfolio is probably not the best option for you, but if you enjoy softcover notebooks like the Midori MD, Life A5, or the Nanami Seven Seas series, I would definitely consider what Bellroy has to offer. Cared for properly, this piece should provide you with years of service.

I believe the Work Folio A5 is currently in production, and that what Bellroy sent me is a substantially final prototype. The Folio is available for purchase/pre-order on the Bellroy website for $199 USD, with the site estimating delivery in three weeks. If you are interested in an even larger porfolio that holds an A4 pad, and has even more internal pockets, consider the Work Folio A4, priced at $299 USD.

Disclaimer: Bellroy send me this product free of charge, for review purposes. Many thanks to Bellroy for making this review possible.

Baron Fig Confidant Cover by One Star Leather Goods

November 11, 2017

I’ve more or less settled on the Baron Fig Confidant as my preferred hardbound notebook. The combination of value, size, and paper quality make it an excellent choice for my day-to-day work. That said, I’m pretty rough on my notebooks, and cloth covers like the ones that Baron Fig uses can eventually look pretty grungy, especially if you’re carting them around in a bag full of graphite dust, ink, etc. I’m all for a little Wabi-Sabi here and there, but I don’t go through notebooks that quickly, and I’ve been in the market for an attractive leather cover that would both look great and extend the life of my Confidants.

One-Star-Leather-Baron-Fig-Confidant-Cover

One-Star Leather Goods, run by Keegan Uhl, has been many people’s go-to source for custom handmade leather products for years. Keegan emphasizes durability, craftsmanship, and using top quality materials, offering excellent leather products at a fair price. You may have seen reviews of Keegan’s pen sleeves (particularly for the Kaweco Sport), wallets, and recent collaboration with Nock Co. on a leather Fodderstack. So when Keegan reached out asking if I’d like to review one of the Confidant covers in advance of his “holiday rush,” it really was a no-brainer.

The hand stitching on my Confidant cover is pretty much flawless. Also, the leather is soft to the touch while still feeling sturdy, if that makes sense. None of that "plasticky" feel that you sometimes get with cheaper notebook covers.

This particular notebook cover is entirely handmade in chestnut harness leather from Wickett & Craig. While I generally prefer brown or cordovan leather, the Confidant cover is also available in black. I’ve carried the cover for the past month or so, and while it’s accumulated a few dings and scratches here and there, that’s part of the charm. Leather goods will not stay pristine. Scuffs and scratches add character as your notebook cover takes on that worn, “vintage” look. In order to maximize its life, Keegan recommends that you apply leather balm periodically, which is relatively inexpensive and sold by One Star Leather. (Note: A jar will last you a long time - a little goes a long way.)

Keegan also sent over this gorgeous pen sleeve in red leather. It's become another regular addition to my pen carry.

Those of you who use hardcover planners may want to consider investing in a leather cover to ensure your book makes it through the year intact. Also, if you’re not a Baron Fig user, worry not, because One Star Leather offers many more options for notebooks made by Hobonichi, Leuchtturm, Nanami Paper (Seven Seas), Moleskine, Midori, and more. I chose to review one of the more basic notebook covers, but others are available with card pockets, pen loops, snap closures, etc.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

One-Star Leather makes an exceptionally sturdy and attractive leather notebook cover that will age well and should last a very long time. I look forward to enjoying this one for years to come. You can order One-Star Leather products through the Etsy storefront or directly from the One-Star Leather website. Keegan’s pricing is extremely reasonable. The leather Confidant cover reviewed here costs $75 and comes preloaded with a lined Baron Fig Confidant notebook ($18 value).

Guest appearance by my Ryan Krusac Legend (Cocobolo with Turquoise Inlay)!

Earlier I mentioned the “holiday rush.” Because One-Star Leather is a small operation, you need to provide plenty of lead time if you want to have your product by Christmas. If you are interested in a custom item, be sure to place your order by Thanksgiving.

Disclaimer: I received the product featured in this review free of charge, for review purposes. Many thanks to Keegan and One Star Leather Goods. I’m an Etsy affiliate, so because One-Star Leather’s store is powered by Etsy, all links here are affiliate links.

Introducing the Pencil Crown, from Elegant Utility

November 29, 2016

Here's something for all you pencil fans out there. Elegant Utility, an Etsy seller based in Long Island, New York, has developed a neat product that adds better balance to uncapped pencils. The product is called the Pencil Crown, and it's a small piece of brass, slightly larger than your typical ferrule + eraser, that slides over the end of the pencil.

The Pencil Crown should fit most untipped pencils fairly easily.

I'm one of those people that ordinarily prefers a pencil with an eraser because I think, in general, they are more comfortable to write with. The weight of the ferrule gives the pencil a more comfortable balance in your hand, and the Pencil Crown makes up for this on a pencil that otherwise lacks an eraser. Technically, you can use the Pencil Crown with any pencil, provided you first remove the ferrule or dipped end, but I think I'll end up using this more for uncapped pencils like the Caran d'Ache Grafik pictured here.