Workhorse Pens: Considerations and Pitfalls of High-Capacity Pocket Fountain Pens

January 14, 2023

The Gentleman Stationer, both the blog and the shop, focuses heavily on practical pen carry, meaning pens that are not just fun to use, but can assist you in getting your work done out there in the real world. I write an ongoing series on what I call “Workhorse Pens,” and I’ve long wanted to do a separate piece on high-capacity pocket pens, which I affectionately refer to as “pocket ink tanks.” While you don’t have to carry these pens in your actual pocket, and many will prefer to carry them in a pen case, bag, or clipped to a planner, the focus is the same: compact, sturdy pens with a large ink capacity that are meant to be used on the go and which will stand up to relatively rough handling.

I’d love to see more pocket pen special releases. Opus 88 does a great job with that. TWSBI used to release semi-regular special editions of the Diamond Mini, but that’s slowed in recent years.

The term “ink tank” is pen-speak referring to a pen with a very large ink capacity, usually with a vacuum or eyedropper filling system. While I enjoy these fountain pens, and they certainly have their advantages, high-ink-capacity pens present their own set of considerations and challenges that you should be aware of before investing in one. That said, I love the ability to ink up a single pen to take on a trip or a long, all-day out-of-office writing session and not have to worry about refilling. I also know that I’m not the only one who becomes easily distracted if I have too many options with me - if I want to focus on getting real work done, I typically like to take 1-2 pens with me and use those exclusively. Ink capacity then becomes a legitimate issue, since I can easily write through 1-2 full converters of ink in a busy work day depending on what I’m doing.

From left: TWSBI Vac Mini; TWSBI Diamond Mini; and Opus 88 Pocket Mini. All three are about the same size.

Considerations When Pocket Carrying: You’ve Been Warned

Relative Fragility and the “Mess” Factor. Put simply, you’re carrying around a plastic tube filled with up to 4ml of liquid that stains (read: “completely destroys”) if the tube breaks. While I’ve never had a pocket fountain pen crack or leak in my pocket, it can happen, and for that reason I wouldn’t recommend carrying these pens in the same pocket or compartment with metal objects such as keys, heavy knives, etc. that could crack or damage the barrel.
You Can’t Avoid the Laws of Physics. If you carry a pen on your person, and especially in your pocket, body heat will raise the temperature of the ink and cause it to expand. Combine this with motion, external temperature changes, etc., and you will inevitably get some ink burping onto the nib and possibly into the cap of the fountain pen. This will be worse in pens you have “eyedroppered” yourself using o-rings or silicon grease, since there is no shutoff valve to keep ink from flowing from the main reservoir (the barrel of the pen) into the cap. Which leads me to….
Consider a Pen with a Shutoff Valve. Personally, the only non-cartridge converter fountain pens that I truly “pocket carry” (i.e., in my actual pants pocket) are vacuum-fillers or japanese-style eyedroppers. Each of these filling systems incorporates a shutoff valve that seals the ink reservoir off from the nib unit, reducing the risk of “inkcident”. If you want to write for an extended period of time, you simply open the shutoff valve slightly to allow the ink to flow continuously. For typical on-the-go pocket pen use, however, such as short lists or notes, you rarely have to do this, as the feed holds enough ink for 1-2 pages of writing at a time.

My Favorite Pocket “Ink Tank” Options

Given the considerations discussed above, what reasonable options exist for a high-ink-capacity, pocketable fountain pen that’s relatively low-maintenance? I alternate a few through my semi-regular rotation.

TWSBI Vac Mini (Top Choice). Because it uses TWSBI’s vacuum-filler system, complete with a shutoff valve, the Vac Mini is my favorite high-capacity pocket fountain pen. It’s relatively easy to fill, holds a lot of ink, and features TWSBI’s reliable stainless steel nibs. The Vac Mini is compact capped, yet it also posts by allowing you to thread the cap onto the barrel. You can read my full review of the Vac Mini here.
Opus 88 Pocket Mini. Those who find the design of the TWSBI Vac Mini or Diamond Mini too understated for their taste might want to check out the Opus 88 Pocket Mini fountain pen, which Opus 88 releases in several different patterns including annual holiday editions. Like most other Opus 88 fountain pens, the Pocket Mini features the Japanese-style eyedropper filling system, so it’s a bit trickier/messier to fill than either of the TWSBIs, but it does feature a safety valve. The main drawback with this pen is that it can be difficult to post - an important factor if you find these pens too short to use unposted. To post the pen with the valve open (as you would need to do to write more than a page), you have to unscrew the blind-cap ever-so-slightly. If you open it too far, there’s no place for the cap to grip the barrel and it will fall off. I will try to have a full stand-alone review of this pen at some point in the future.
TWSBI Diamond Mini. The TWSBI Diamond Mini is similar to the Vac Mini in that it’s a smaller version of one of TWSBI’s standard pens - in this case the TWSBI 580. Like the Vac Mini, the Diamond Mini also posts via a threaded cap/barrel connection. The difference between the two pens is filling system: the Diamond Mini features the Diamond 580’s piston-filler, and while it doesn’t have a shutoff valve, a piston typically works better for pocket carry than a standard eyedropper. (I’m not sure of the technical reasons behind this; I’m speaking solely from personal experience.) I do wish that TWSBI would start releasing both the Vac Mini and Diamond Mini in more special edition colors. You can read my full review of the TWSBI Diamond Mini here.

Three pocket pens, three different nib units, though they all write well, and for the most part, write relatively similar to one another.

Takeaways and Final Thoughts

Personally, given the logistics of carrying around a full 2-4ml vial of ink in my pocket, I’m cautious about what fountain pens I choose to pocket carry. I generally limit myself to sturdier pens such as the three featured here, and opt for pens with shut-off valves like the TWSBI Vac Mini and the Opus 88 Pocket Mini if it’s warm outside or I’m going to be especially active. The TWSBI Diamond Mini is a perfectly functional choice as well. With any of these, you get “all day” (or “all week”) writing capability if you’re looking to work outside your house or office, and all three can be purchase for well under $100, representing good value. As a bonus, all three feature interchangeable nib units specific to these pens, so you can purchase different nib sizes or swap in specialty ground nibs to change up your writing experience. You can’t really go wrong with any of the three options, it comes down to personal preference.

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of TWSBI products, including the two pens featured here. While we also sell select Opus 88 pens, we do not currently stock the Pocket Mini, and instead would refer you to our friends at Vanness Pens. This post does not contain paid affiliate links or paid advertising.

I’m looking forward to supporting more local independent makers near me, such as Pens by Pasquale (Nicholas Pasquale) and Happy Cactus Studios.

Best Wishes for 2023: Reflections on 2022 and Where the Community Goes From Here

January 11, 2023

Last year around this time I wrote a piece that, looking back 12 months later, sounded more frustrated than I probably intended. That said, after a difficult 2021, in which everyone - companies and community members alike - were trying to navigate the world post pandemic and just keep their businesses afloat, I felt like we needed a reset. Did 2022 accomplish that? What should we expect from 2023? Let’s check in and take a look.

Goal One: I’m Enjoying Pen-Based Social Media Again

Setting aside Twitter (which I’ve never used as a primary T.G.S. social media channel other than to announce blog posts) pen-related social media seemed to be a more positive experience in 2022. I spend most of my T.G.S. social media time on Instagram, and over the past year my feed has seemed much more focused on promoting independent makers, smaller retail outlets, and creators. Part of this is intentional, in terms of the accounts I’ve decided to follow and how I’ve narrowed what I view on my feed, but another major factor is the overall community emphasis on smaller businesses and independent creators (more on that below).

Goal TWO: A Proliferation of Independent Retailers and Makers

If I had to remark on one trend that seemed to absolutely explode in 2022, it was the emergence of dozens of new independent makers and small retailers. A big part of this was likely the decision by many to go full-time (or at least go public) with their stay-at-home projects from the pandemic years, resulting in a wealth of new penmakers, ink brands, and curated retail shops offering a range of choice that previously has not been available. Reading through the year-end blog recaps summarizing favorite acquisitions, I’ve realized that there are so many independent makers that I haven’t yet experienced. I’ve also been fortunate enough to make the acquaintance of multiple penmakers in my own town, many of whom have been turning for years at a very high level of quality and are only now discovering the online pen community and bringing their creations to a wider audience.

Goal Three: Less Hoarding

Personally, I acquired much less in 2022, and what I did purchase for my personal collection/use was done in more intentional way, after first considering how I would use it and the role it would play in my collection/everyday rotation. My ink accumulation is WAY down after a series of sales, and I’m in the process of reducing my pen accumulation by half. In general, I’ve noticed less online discussion about ink and special edition hoarding, though there are still frustrating accounts of people snapping up pens such as the coveted Bungubox Fujiyama Blue Pilot 823 and immediately trying to flip it on eBay for 3x the price. Don’t be that person. Please.

I’m looking forward to adding many new independent brands to the Curated Shop in 2023.

I’m Not Changing My Wishes for 2023 at All

I delayed writing this follow-up for a week (we are almost halfway through January), because I couldn’t think of anything new to add to my list. I finally decided to go ahead and post this because that may very well be the point: I’m content with the direction in which things are moving and would like to see this trend continue. While I’m always excited for pen show season, I absolutely cannot wait for the upcoming year. So many people are doing shows, and at the moment I plan to be at the 2023 Baltimore Pen Show as well as the Arkansas Pen Show, with more dates to be determined in the near future. Stay tuned!

I’m hoping that the overwhelming majority of the pens added to my collection in 2023 are like these!

Journaling in 2023: Use It or Lose It

January 4, 2023

There’s one final New Year’s goal that I haven’t yet started on: Picking a personal daily journal and making time for at least 30 minutes of personal writing every day. This should be easy, right? It’s not as though I suffer from a lack of options around here, with dozens of different notebooks awaiting review, not to mention a retail store where I can “shop” pretty much any time. Regardless, I still struggle with putting pen to paper and actually getting words on the page, and I’ve found myself in a journaling rut for several months now.

How I Plan to Kickstart a Journaling Habit in 2023

When I look to add a good habit (or break a bad one), my main technique is to set an arbitrary goal for myself and start stringing as many successful days together as possible. For example, while I was planning out this post last night, I looked around and grabbed the first five half-finished or just-started notebooks and journals that I could find sitting on or near my desk.

The five notebooks off my shelves, from bottom: Write Notepads Classic Hardcover Notebook, Paper Mind Passepied Notebook (which I’m extremely excited to use since I love this paper), a Letts of London hardcover I was sent for review, a Write Notepads Paper Notebook/Journal, and my Theme System Journal. The last two are half-full and what I plan to finish first.

“At least 30 minutes a day until these five notebooks are full.” Until then, no new notebook purchases for me. It sounds trite, but these sort of mental games keep me on track. What I’ve found more difficult is actually snagging 30 minutes a day to write. I still have a full-time day-job, which for the time being has to take priority over anything else and occupies the overwhelming majority of my time. T.G.S. is my “morning project,” which I work on during the quiet hours before anyone else is awake in the house. When I get home at night, I spend time with my family, eat dinner, and read, often too tired to do much of anything else other than possibly pack a few orders before going to bed. It’s not particularly difficult to find time to jot a few lines in my Midori 5-Year Journal, but I enjoy writing, and I’d like to do more.

Midori 5-Year Journal 2023 — Savor the small victories: So far I’ve only screwed up the date on two of my three 2023 5-year journal entries!

So how do I work in a bit of journaling? The obvious answer is to do my daily personal writing during my lunch break - and to actually take a lunch break - as opposed to continuing to work, surf the internet, browse social media, or whatever other bad habits I’ve fallen into. Taking a brief 15-30 minutes to write a few “morning” pages, process what I’ve been reading in my commonplace book, or simply reflect on whatever’s going on in my life is certainly a healthier way to decompress, if only briefly, and break up the work day.

Journaling technique is a topic that I plan to explore further in 2023, both personally and here on the blog. Do you have any favorite journaling techniques that you’d like to share, or tips and tricks for making time to write? If so I’d love to hear about them. Feel free to share them via the “Contact” link above or in the comments.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. Check out yesterday’s post for more details about what Patreon membership entails! This post does not contain third-party advertising or affiliate links.

The William Hannah A5 Planner in a Weekly Layout

My Personal Notebooks and Planners to Enter 2023

December 31, 2022

I use the week between Christmas and New Year’s as a “catch up and close out” week, where in addition to cleaning out my office and starting to take down all the holiday decorations, I also revisit my notebooks and planners. During this process, I look at what worked for me, what didn’t, and adjust accordingly based on how things worked out for me during the prior year. Without further ado, here’s The Gentleman Stationer’s 2023 notebook and planner lineup!

Plotter A5 and Plotter Mini-5. (You can probably figure out which is which.)

“Everyday” Notebooks

By “Everyday Notebooks,” I mean notebooks that stay with me at all times, either at my desk or in my bag. In terms of what I physically carry around with me, the first four on this list pretty much go everywhere, with the Midori 5-year journal living full-time on my desk at home but seeing daily use.

William Hannah UK A5 Ring-bound Notebook. I’ve teased this one but haven’t reviewed it yet, since I only started using it around November. To start, I plan to use the William Hannah as my “work planner” and general-purpose notebook for my day job, since I like their undated calendar refills that come in both weekly and monthly formats. Since the paper is excellent and comes in a versatile array of layouts (including a theme-style journal format), this notebook’s role may expand once I buy some dividers and other accessories.
Plotter A5. My Plotter A5 contains most of my T.G.S.-related notes and drafts that I’m working on at the moment. In terms of paper and accessories, in this notebook I use the Plotter refills (which contain excellent paper), as well as Midori MD Cotton A5 paper from the standard writing pad that I’ve hole-punched. I archive notes that I’m not currently using in an older Filofax A5 binder, since Plotter refills are not proprietary and fit most standard 6-ring binder layouts.
Plotter Mini-5. What can I say, I operate in extremes. My largest and smallest Plotters are the two that I use the most. My Mini-5 contains a wallet/card insert, so the Plotter pulls double duty as my wallet and pocket notebook. The Plotter Mini-5 has been surprisingly polarizing, with people labeling it “overpriced” and “too small to use.” Honestly, I mostly write this up to clickbait/social media trolling and people missing the point of the product. Yes, the Plotter Mini-5 is an upscale leather pocket notebook, but it still starts at less than $100 for the cover - last I checked, comparable to many Field Notes custom leather covers - and while it’s small, it’s a pocket notebook. You’re not supposed to be writing a novel in it. The fact that it doubles as a wallet and allows me to consolidate my daily carry is a huge plus. I guess I just don’t see how spending $100-150 on something that pulls double/triple duty as a wallet, pen holder, and leather notebook is overly expensive….
Traveler’s Notebook Standard Size. My standard-size Traveler’s Notebook will likely become my long-form journal and repository for morning pages and random scribblings. I also use the PVC pouch, sticky-note holder, and kraft folder accessories to hold things such as clips, stickies, Book Darts, receipts, and washi tape.
Midori 5-Year Journal. The layout on the Midori multi-year journals features 365 pages, one for every day of the year, divided into five boxes, allowing you to write just a few lines on each day and reflect back on the prior years. (Three and ten-year versions are also available.) While the idea of keeping a journal for five years might seem intimidating, when you only have a few lines to write the momentum takes over.

Note: You’re going to see the Plotter system featured heavily in this post. To read more about Plotter and how it works, check out this prior article.

From left, Plotter Narrow, Plotter Bible (5th Anniversary Cover), and Nanami Paper Cafe Note (B6 Slim)

Notebooks Used Less Frequently, But still regularly

Most of these notebooks don’t travel with me unless I’m working on the specific project to which they’re dedicated. They have a narrower focus, or are used more as archives/binders to hold notes for future reference. However, they still get used on a weekly basis.

Plotter Bible-Size. I’ve been using my Plotter 5th Anniversary Bible-size notebook as my commonplace book, and I love having the ability to organize and reorganize by topic and move pages around - my main complaint about my prior commonplace book setup. (I need to revisit my commonplace book articles soon.)
Plotter Narrow. I love making lists. Practically speaking, I should probably do it electronically, particularly for lists I want to keep long-term like books to read, products to review, etc., but I’ve always done it by hand and there’s something incredibly soothing about it. When I’m recapping my monthly finances I also like to do the math manually, as again, there’s a methodical aspect to it that I find relaxing. All of these lists live in the Plotter Narrow, whose paper format perfectly fits these projects.

Levenger Circa Notebooks and Filofax Spiral Notebooks. If I take notes on A4 or letter-size writing pads, I typically either shred them, scan them to my computer at work for secure archiving, or file them away in project-specific notebooks or binders. The Levenger Circa and Filofax notebooks have long been my binders/notebooks of choice for this type of storage. I have 4-5 of them in use at any given time. I highly recommend investing in a hole punch (which will also work well enough with the William Hannah notebooks). The Circa is a classic disc-bound system, while the Filofax uses a spiral binding that works the same way by allowing you to move pages around.
Lochby Field Journal. My Field Journal holds a Nanami Paper Seven Seas Writer that contains drafts of longer-term writing projects I’ve been working on. I don’t use the notebook every day, but the sturdy Field Journal works very well for when I want to dedicate a day to working on one of my creative or “fun” projects and I can just take it with me and go.
Nanami Paper Cafe Note. My traditional pen show/pen club meetup notebook that I use to test pens and play with inks. I also use it as a scratch pad and for writing samples in connection with T.G.S. reviews. The B6 Slim size is excellent for travel.

Disc-bound notebook systems like the Levenger Circa are great ways to store large volumes of paper notes.

I use a lot of different notebooks - more than most people, even in this community - but they all have a specific purpose and they all get used. I’ve found that I focus much better when I compartmentalize different projects, whether that be my day job, the blog, personal writing done for fun, etc. The physical shift from one notebook to another helps me concentrate on the specific task at hand. For years I’ve been meaning to write more about my workflow and notetaking strategies, and I only now feel comfortable starting that process, maybe as a continuation of the “Notebook Systems” series. Stay tuned!

This post does not contain affiliate links or paid advertising. The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely via purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. Don’t miss our annual year-end inventory reduction and clearance - take 10% off shop orders through 11:59pm on January 1, 2023 using the code “LOYAL10” at checkout!

Read More, Write More, and Drink More Coffee. My ideal 2023 in a nutshell.

Intentions for 2023: Personal Reflections and Goals Looking Forward

December 28, 2022

Last year I kicked off the New Year with a post titled “Five Intentions for 2022: What I Want to See from Myself,” where I took five not-quite-resolutions and discussed how I wanted to change things up over the coming year, both personally and for The Gentleman Stationer. As with most “New Years Resolutions,” I forgot about the specifics of these intentions after a few months, which is exactly why I left them as a rather vague set of “guiding principles” as opposed to specific, concrete goals. As we stare down 2023 (seriously!?!), I’m going to spend today’s post checking in, recapping my progress on the intentions from 2022, and talking about my general themes for 2023. In short, I plan to continue with most of these same goals, adding in a couple of new ones that are more tweaks as opposed to new “resolutions.”

Revisiting Goals from 2022

Write More Fulfilling Content. For 2022, I wanted to move T.G.S. away from being a pure “product review” site, and publish more pieces that help people discover the appropriate tools that they can use to get “real work” done in their life, whether that be personal writing or journaling, creative work, or planning. There’s a tension in stationery between acquisition for use and acquisition for its own sake, and between finding a good pen that you can use everyday and spending endless amounts of time and money searching for the “perfect” pen, ink, notebook, etc. The latter can be fun, and while there’s nothing wrong with collecting and exploring all of the various stationery rabbit holes as a hobby, it’s easy to lose sight of why many of us got started in the first place. Of the five 2022 intentions, I’m most happy with how this one turned out: I wrote more series and “editorial”-style pieces in 2022 than I ever have before. Given the traffic, comments, and reader reactions to these particular articles, I plan to keep them as a major part of T.G.S.

Travel More and Reconnect Post-Pandemic: It’s Finally Over! (Or Is It?). While 2021 was marked by fits and starts in terms of trying to get the pen show circuit going again, 2022 plowed ahead, with most shows occurring as scheduled and seeing relatively robust attendance. I attended five pen shows: Baltimore, Atlanta, Chicago, Washington D.C., and San Francisco, and had positive experiences at most of them. I think the biggest takeaway is that, like me, many people are looking at these post-pandemic pen shows as opportunities to connect with other users and members of the community, and not solely as two or three-day shopping binges. If the shows respond with more thoughtful alternative offerings such as additional courses and workshops along the lines of what was available in San Francisco, I believe they will continue to grow. I plan to attend several shows in 2023, though I’m still finalizing specifics as I work through my family calendar. I’ll update shortly!

Minimize/Stash Reduction. I’ve sold off a LOT of pens over the past year, and while I’ve added some, acquisitions have been more intentional. For the first time in however many years, I’ve not had to add a new pen case for storage purposes, have actually sold off some pen cases, and have slots open in those that remain. (I know, unheard of, right?!) I plan to continue this trend, with Patreon members seeing the first round of reductions via a “Gently Used” sale coming at them this weekend in advance of the New Year.

Growing a Sense of Community around TGS. I’m consolidating the last two points from my 2022 Intentions because they’re related. Despite the inconveniences of not being able to travel much in 2020 and 2021, one positive aspect of the Pandemic, at least for me, was getting comfortable maintaining connections via e-mail, social media, and, yes, even Zoom, and I feel that I’ve stayed in better touch with friends and colleagues between those occasions I get to see them in person. I’ve truly enjoyed getting to know many of you through Patreon, and hope to grow that community online and participate more in-person at shows as things continue to normalize.

Small Batch and Independent Acquisitions from 2022 — In terms of new acquisitions, I’d definitely be happy to see 2023 limited to a handful of custom/small batch pens.

Are There Any New Intentions for 2023?

Not necessarily. The four topics discussed above remain a pretty good barometer of where things stand and the direction I want to take things. However, I’m probably going to add two complementary, more concrete personal goals to the list.

Set Better Boundaries Between “Work” and “Play”. I’m not talking about the day-job here, I’m talking about T.G.S. While I’ve operated the site as a formal business for tax purposes, etc. for a few years now, every so often I’ve had to take a step back and make sure that the business aspects of T.G.S. don’t take over what I enjoy about stationery. Honestly, I even briefly considered giving it up entirely around mid-year, but quickly discovered that I could never do that. It’s a fundamental part of who I am, and the work I’ve done here and the community I’ve grown are a far more personally fulfilling contribution to the world than most of what I’ve accomplished on in my day job. Still, I need to remember to read and write for my own enjoyment and personal growth, not just for the site, in order to maintain personal balance. I may write more on how I intend to do that as the year goes on.

Further Limiting New Acquisitions for my Personal Collection. I’ve never had a “hard cap” on the number of pens in my collection, but maybe it’s time to set a more concrete restriction on how I accumulate stuff. Does that mean purchasing pens only at shows, or restricting personal purchases this year to unique pieces from independent makers? Maybe. Honestly, I already have pretty much one of every “mainstream pen” out there due to more than a decade of collecting, and running the site/shop gives me the opportunity to sample and test new releases without having to add yet more pens to my personal collection. It’s a situation that’s somewhat unique to me, but it’s been nice to start drawing boundaries around what’s a “TGS Pen” purely for review and testing, and what pens form part of my core personal collection. In terms of pens I’ve purchased for review, I need to be better about reviewing them and promptly selling them off or giving them away. Not all of them can stick around, as there’s a limit to how many pens one can actually use in a year, even if you’re rotating frequently.

So, as with last year, these are my personal reflections and goals. I’ll continue the year-end review/New Year’s planning content for the next week, reflecting on how I think the community is involving, what I’d like to see more or less of, and of course, planning my stationery kit for 2023!

Setting Up Your Own 2023 Analogue Tool Kit? Take Advantage of Our Year-End Promotion

As you prepare for the new year, including setting up your notebooks and planners and other analogue work tools, take advantage of a 10% discount on most items from the T.G.S. Curated Shop using the coupon code “LOYAL10” at checkout. See yesterday’s post for full details, including any exclusions, though most of the 2022 Top Sellers are discount-eligible.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program, and does not utilize advertising or third-party affiliate links.