Travel Prep 2024, Part I: Choosing Notebooks for a Long Trip, Plus a Hobonichi Update

Next month, my family and I will be taking our first significant international trip since before our daughter was born (11 years ago!). While I spent a significant amount of time outside of the United States when I was younger, I’m looking forward to visiting - and revisiting - certain cities now that I have a keener interest in all things pen and paper, as well as more free time and financial ability to explore than I did when I was a broke student. Now let’s get down to the first fun part of planning any trip: What pens and paper do I plan to bring with me?

Traveling with Stationery: A Stripped-Down Travel Kit

I’ve dramatically changed my approach to travel stationery over the years. Whereas I used to regularly fly with three or four different notebooks - sometimes using them all, sometimes not - I’ve moved towards a much leaner setup, especially on personal trips. For this upcoming week, I plan to bring two notebooks: (1) a multi-refill cover such as a Traveler’s Notebook or Roterfaden A5; and (2) my Hobonichi Weeks. The multi-refill “modular” cover allows me to carry different rulings and paper types in a single “book”, and I may even leave one of the slots open since I know I’ll be picking up some new items at stores I plan to visit. More on that below. The smaller Weeks will serve as a trip planner/journal that I can easily carry around town, especially with a Moterm cover I have that includes slots for cards, passes, etc.

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I love the idea of having these two relatively compact notebooks be my travel carry for the week. We'll see if it actually happens.

Which cover I choose will really just depend on need. The advantage of the Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter binder is that I can carry full-sized notebooks. If work is busy enough to where I will have to travel with my current work planner (the A5 Hobonichi Cousin), then I will likely bring one of my two A5 Roterfadens to fit the Cousin along with a couple of slimmer A5 notebooks. Otherwise, I would prefer to bring a Standard-sized Traveler’s Notebook, since the narrow size is more compact and fits easily into a shoulder bag.

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The Weeks layout is perfect for planning a week in an "at a glance" format, especially when managing a travel schedule.

I also plan to bring my Hobonichi Weeks, as I’m already using the week-to-two-pages layout for planning tours, meals, and visits with friends. This upcoming trip is looking fairly busy, so I want to be sure that we’re not overscheduled on specific days and we leave plenty of “open time” for exploring. I love the compact size of this hardcover notebook, and I have plenty of blank pages left in the “Mega” version that I want to use up before the end of the year, perhaps as a travel journal?

A Note on Hobonichi Planners

I know that “Hobonichi Season” has kicked off and a few people have asked me for recommendations. This year I picked up three sizes: the A5 Cousin (as a work planner/time-blocking journal), an A6 Hobonichi (as a personal journal), and the Weeks (as a compact “capture” book that I used to habit-track, record exercise, reading, etc.). I don’t normally use three Hobonichis, and I intended this year to be a grand experiment to compare three popular sizes and expand my general frame of reference. I’ve therefore not used them all consistently, but I have been writing in one book or the other at any given time for most of the year. For 2025, I believe I will likely retire the A6 version, and possibly the Cousin. While I enjoy the paper and the aesthetics, I just don’t believe that how I personally tend to plan and write justifies the expense and bulk of the day-to-a-page books, especially where I have such a large stash of other journals and notebooks at home that would serve me just as well.

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I've used it on and off for several years, but I don't feel that I really benefit from the Hobonichi's structure for standard journaling, in the sense that I don't require a full dated page.

I’m more on the fence about the Hobonichi Weeks. I do like having a record of how I spend each day during the week, with space for general notes on what I’ve been thinking about and doing, as well as tracking habits and disciplines I’m trying to cultivate. I’ve come to realize that any sort of reflection, for me, doesn’t need to be recorded at length on a daily basis, and if I do need to expend more than a few lines, I’d rather write in a more open-format journal than in a dated “planner” where I end up with lots of blank space. The decision I’ll be making is whether to pick up another Weeks or go back to the Traveler’s Notebook Weekly + Memo 019 insert, which I’ve used extensively in the past.

Looking for Recommendations: London and the U.K.

I’m currently planning to be in London, U.K. in early October (but, alas, not for the London Autumn Pen Show). If you have any recommendations for shops I can visit or only-in-the-UK stationery brands I should explore, please drop a comment or send me a message! I’m currently planning to visit Choosing Keeping and Present and Correct, but would love to keep a full day (or two) of exploration on the calendar.

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Updated Shop Hours for the Coming Weeks

This week is Pelikan Hubs, so the shop will be opening slightly earlier on Friday (9/27) at 12pm and closing slightly earlier at 5:30pm so that I can make it to the Nashville Pelikan Hub by 6 to set up. I may also have extended hours on Sunday (9/29), since the physical shop will be temporarily closed to the public for the following two weekends due to the aforementioned international travel. Online orders will continue to ship while I am away. Please keep checking this page for updated opening hours and our public schedule.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

My Personal Ranking of the 2024 Lamy Safaris and AL-Stars

This year, Lamy released not one, but two rounds of special edition Safari and AL-Star pens. Because 2024 marked my first full year as a Lamy retailer carrying all of the special editions (plus now with a dedicated space to have them all easily accessible for comparison), I thought it might be fun to take a look at all of the fountain pens together and discuss my favorites from what seems like an especially busy year for Lamy.

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From left: Pink Cliff, Violet Blackberry, Piña Colada, and Cherry Blossom

Ranking My Favorite 2024 Lamy Safaris

The 2024 Lamy Safari releases kicked off with “Pink Cliff” and “Violet Blackberry” back in February. Featuring dark navy and violet barrels paired with pink and purple grip sections, these two pens marked something of a departure from the recent trend of more traditional releases. While I found the contrast refreshing, I’m sure it wasn’t for everyone. The more recent “Piña Colada” and “Cherry Blossom” hit stores in June, and once again featured two-toned pens but with a completely different look. I’d rank them as follows, in terms of personal preference:

1. Piña Colada. I love yellow pens, feel the color is drastically underutilized across the pen industry, and let it be known that I will buy any Safari with a yellow clip.

2. Pink Cliff. A blue-grey matte barrel offset with an eye-searing pink section? Somehow it works. The matte texture lifts this one over Violet Blackberry for me.

3. Violet Blackberry. Two different shades of purple makes for a great looking Safari, but if given the choice, I’m always going with matte texture over gloss.

4. Cherry Blossom. A really nice looking pink pen, and I definitely dig the red clip, but this shade of cherry blossom pink isn’t really my thing aesthetically. The new “Autumn Pink” AL-Star, on the other hand….

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Four AL-Star fountain pens from left: Fiery, Aquatic, Autumn Pink, and Sage Green.

Ranking My Favorite 2024 Lamy AL-Stars

1. Sage Green. This one’s simply beautiful. I love the transparent green section and the tone of the barrel goes well with the black clip and nib. There’s not much more to say here other than this pen looks really good.

2. Aquatic. Same as above. While the fountain pen is shown here for demonstrative purposes, I’ve been using the .5mm Aquatic AL-Star mechanical pencil, as I’ve tried to explore different formats of popular models that I’d previously only used as fountain pens.

3. Autumn Pink. I have a thing for muted pastel shades, and while the Sage Green is definitely my favorite, Autumn Pink is a somewhat unique take on a color (pink) that’s hard to pull off. I expect both of these particular AL-Star pens to do well.

4. Fiery. What? This is T.G.S. and the red pen with the black clip comes in last place? First of all, it’s really not last place since this was a darn good batch of AL-Stars. For me it comes down to the red being slightly too pink for my personal preference, and the muted pink of “Autumn Pink” being slightly more interesting to look at. But again, these are all great looking pens.

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The two winners, at least for me.

So What Are My Personal 2024 Favorites overall?

If I had to pick two pens from the 2024 releases, I would choose the Piña Colada Safari and the Sage Green AL-Star. I definitely felt a bit of a disconnect between the Pink Cliff/Violet Blackberry and Piña Colada/Cherry Blossom Safari releases - there really wasn’t a consistent theme other than all four pens feature contrasting sections and barrels - but at the end of the day the yellow on the Piña Colada pushed it over the top. Sage Green takes first place out of the AL-Star releases, as I really love this color. (Tom’s Studio uses a similar “Sage” aluminum in both their fountain pens and the Lumos series.) I had a more difficult time choosing, however, as I enjoyed most of this year’s AL-Star colors.

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Takeaways and Where to Buy

Every year I look forward to Lamy’s announcement of their special editions, and while I’m probably on “Team Safari” in terms of which pen shape/model I prefer to use on a regular basis, it’s close, and this time the AL-Star won the design battle. After years of different blue tones and very light neutral colors, Lamy built on the success of Lilac and Petrol and took the AL-Star in a different direction with brighter shades that work well in brushed aluminum. The matching clear sections and black trim look sharp, and I’ll likely choose one of each color to keep in a different format (i.e., a Sage Green fountain pen, Aquatic mechanical pencil, Fiery rollerball, and Autumn Pink ballpoint). Viewing the Fiery and Aquatic releases alongside Sage and Autumn Pink also makes me consider them differently, as I personally think they look better as part of a four-pen set than as a somewhat staid red/blue release.

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We have all of the Lamy Safaris and AL-Star’s in stock at our shop, along with curated selections from Lamy’s regular lineup. I was also pleased to see that Lamy decided to release a mechanical pencil in both the Sage Green and Autumn Pink this time around. You can check them out online or in person, as our physical store will be open this weekend!

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges from the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Vacation Recap: Traveling with Stationery, Greatest Hits

Since my goal for this long weekend is to enjoy a couple of days off, I’m bringing back the tradition of recap-style posts for vacation weeks. Today, I’ve chosen five of my favorite T.G.S. posts relating to travel stationery, ranging from questions about flying with fountain pens to posts about what I travel with and use when I’m on the road. Enjoy!

1. Your Questions Answered: Flying with Fountain Pens. Air travel with fountain pens can be tricky, and my preferred way to avoid air-travel inksplosions is to carry a pen that features some sort of shut-off valve to minimize ink leaking out the section. In addition to the pens featured in this particular post, I’d add the bulkfiller-style pens discussed earlier this week.

2. Updated Travel Kit 2024: Packing Pens, Pencils, and Notebooks for a Road Trip. Over the years I’ve adapted my stationery “travel kit” to reflect different needs and preferences, mainly adding more mechanical pencils and low viscosity ballpoints, which are often simply easier options when working on airplanes and in travel lounges and conference rooms.

3. Travel Chronicles: Actually Traveling with a Traveler’s Notebook. Lots of people ask me about my preferred setup for a Standard-size Traveler’s Notebook, and since we’re taking a pretty significant international family trip in about 6 weeks (on which I plan to bring a Traveler’s Notebook as my primary journal), it’s a topic I’ve been thinking more about.

4. 2023 Travelogue: What I Consider When Visiting Pen Stores and Shopping at Smaller Retailers in General. Whenever I land in a new town (or a favorite city I haven’t visited in a while), I try to visit all the local pen shops and pick up any special or exclusive editions you can’t find elsewhere. I do the same with independent bookstores.

5. An Overlooked Gem? The Traveler’s Company Brass Ballpoint Pen. Whenever I get the chance, I try to push the Traveler’s Company Brass Ballpoint pen, which is one of my preferred vacation pens due to its compact size and the ability to clip it to the front of a book. (Though it may be rivaled by these little Anterique ballpoints, shown above.)

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges from the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Should You Buy a "Bulkfiller"? Checking in on one of the Internet's Most Talked About Filling Systems

I’ve avoided writing about the “Conid craze” that took over the pen community during the Pandemic years. While I have nothing against these pens - I currently own a Conid Bulkfiller Kingsize that I regularly use, and previously reviewed the Bulkfiller Minimalistica - the prices these pens were commanding on the secondary market (in the multiple thousands of dollars) struck me as extreme. Today, it’s died down a bit as Conid has resumed limited production, and more companies are releasing pens with a version of the “Conid filling system”, which Conid calls the “Bulkfiller” but which has alternately been described as a syringe filler, or “pump piston” (Kyuseido’s term). While I might eventually write longer form reviews of all of these specific pens, each of which offer a slightly different take on the technology, I wanted to start with my general thoughts on the filling system itself, including what I view as its advantages and disadvantages, as well as alternatives that some might find less finicky.

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The Conid Bulkfiller Kingsize with the plunger rod engaged and extended, ready to fill.

How Does a Syringe Filling System Work?

I prefer describing this filling system as a “syringe filler” because I find it a more intuitive description of how these pens work. (Yes, I know these are distinct from various vintage filling mechanisms marketed as “syringe fillers.” This article is about the modern category of pens, and I may be using my own terminology here.) These pens use a plunger, much like a vacuum-filling pen, but while a typical vacuum-filler takes advantage of a vacuum in the barrel created when the user depresses the plunger past a certain point, a syringe-filler fills on the upstroke (like a syringe). The filling mechanism is somewhat complex, with a more involved filling process compared to most other fountain pens:

• You start by unscrewing the blind cap, which disengages the plunger rod just as you would with a vacuum-filler.

• You then pull the rod all the way back, and thread or hook the seal into the plunger head, which sits at the back of the barrel. This will allow you to push the newly assembled “plunger” all the way forward and prepare to take up ink.

• Dip the nib/section of the pen into the ink bottle, and then slowly draw back on the plunger (like a syringe), which should allow you to fill the barrel to near 100% capacity. At the top of the filling stroke, you unscrew the rod to disengage the plunger rod from the seal and slide it back into position at the top of the section.

Check out this YouTube video from Doodlebud, which is an excellent demonstration of how the Conid version of this filling system works.

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Freshly inked with 3 Oysters Doldam, a great blue-grey!

What I View as the Advantages of This Filling System

As I mentioned, this type of filling system is more complex, necessitating a more involved process to fill your fountain pen. So why should you bother, apart from the inherent “cool factor” of having such an overengineered mechanism on an already overengineered category of writing instruments?

• Ink Capacity. These pens hold an insane amount of ink (anywhere from 2-4ml, depending on the model). For those obsessed with maximizing ink capacity and using the full barrel as an ink reservoir, syringe fillers and eyedroppers are your best options. If you don’t change ink often, and want to refill as infrequently as possible while not messing around with inherently messy eyedroppers, you definitely want to consider this filling system.

• Ease of Cleaning. Because you can force a large volume of water through the pen using the high-capacity filling mechanism, these pens are easier to clean than vacuum-fillers, standard piston fillers, eyedroppers, and honestly pretty much any other pen. My Conid Kingsize demonstrator will flush clean in as little as one or two cycles.

• Travel-Friendliness. When the blind cap is fully secured and the plunger rod completely screwed down, it creates a seal between the main ink reservoir (the barrel) and the primary writing reservoir in the section, which will help prevent burping and leaks during air travel and temperature fluctuations. So not only do you have a pen that will hold an extraordinary amount of ink for an extended trip, but you have the same safeguards against “inksplosions” as a vacuum-filler or Japanese-style eyedropper system. On all of these pens, you will need to open the valve to allow ink to flow freely for a more extended writing session.

• Ink Flow. With the valve open, you can get pretty heavy inkflow due to the volume of ink in the barrel. If you enjoy wet writers, or have a broader nib or ebonite feed that uses a lot of ink, you may love this pen. That said, as I’ll discuss further below, the ink doesn’t always flow seamlessly between the two reservoirs. You sometimes have to shake/tap the pen to force additional ink from the barrel into the section, which can cause significant variations in the level of ink flowing through the nib and feed that leads to the pen writing an inconsistent line.

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The Kyusedio Kakari and Conid Bulkfiller Kingsize, both inked but not “full”. (I’ve been writing with both for a couple of weeks and look at all the ink that’s still in the pen!

The Disadvantages

• Price. Conid ran into production issues over the past several years, leading to a scarcity which pushed demand far in excess of what the company can produce, with prices increasing accordingly. Currently, a Bulkfiller Kingsize starts at $900 for the pen, which I don’t believe includes the cost of the nib, shipping, and applicable taxes and customs duties. That is, if you can get one direct from Penworld, as these are sold in limited batches that often sell out in minutes, and secondary market prices have been astronomic at times. The Kyuseido Kakari is slightly less expensive for a 14k gold nib version. Companies such as Asvine and PenBBS make lower-cost versions of this filling system in the $50-60 dollar range, which feature steel nibs, so I would likely recommend starting here simply to see if you like the mechanism and design before acquiring a more expensive option.

• Yes, the Mechanism Can Be Finicky. Because there are so many moving parts, more can go wrong. The most widespread problems I hear about with these pens, across brands, is the piston/plunger head “sticking” at the top of the barrel, and/or the plunger rod becoming stuck and not disengaging from the plunger. While these issues are more common in the lower-cost pens, I’ve had the issue occasionally arise with my Conids and Kyuseido pens as well. Thankfully, I’ve always been able to figure out a fix myself, because shipping pens internationally for a repair is not a simple (or inexpensive) proposition.

• Inconsistent Inkflow. I’ve found the ink flow on my bulkfiller/syringe-filler fountain pens to be less consistent than with my vacuum-fillers and Japanese-style eyedroppers. On nearly every pen I have used with this style of filling system, the ink has a tendency to stick at the top of the first reservoir, which requires you to shake or tap the pen to get additional ink to flow from the barrel. I assume this is due to surface tension, but it’s somewhat frustrating on pens at this price point that someone hasn’t figured out how to fix the issue. Does it keep me from using these pens? No. But I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t annoying. Honestly, the issue was so bad on my original Minimalistica that I ended up parting with the pen. It’s somewhat better on my new Bulkfiller Kingsize and Kyuseido Kakari, but still a factor.

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An approximation of what can happen with the ink “sticking” at the top of the reservoir and not flowing down. I tried to recreate the issue here for photography purposes, but it tends to happen spontaneously as you’re writing, requiring you to tap or shake the pen to get ink flowing again.

Closing THoughts, Alternatives for a Similar Experience, and a note on fomo

Are these cool pens, that feature a lot of clever engineering that’s enjoyable to use every day? Absolutely. Would I buy my pens again? Absolutely. Do I feel like the hype on these pens is somewhat excessive and that people should carefully consider their options before making such an expensive purchase? Also yes. As I noted in my original review of the Conid Minimalistica nearly a decade ago, these are “pen geek” pens, and I don’t recommend them to everyone, especially beginners. Be prepared to tinker a bit, and if you’re newer to fountain pens, I’d recommend trying one in person or experimenting with the lower cost options from PenBBS (Model 355) or Asvine before spending a lot of money. Honestly, try a Japanese-style eyedropper to see whether you even like a pen that holds this much ink. If you’re a serial ink-changer, you may find that you prefer cartridge-converter.

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As you can see, because they hold so much ink, they tend to be larger pens. Shown here alongside a Montblanc 146 (far left) and Waterman Exception (far right).

The observations I make in this post apply across brands and models using this filling system, so there’s no “knock” intended on any particular pen. I enjoy using both my Conid Bulkfiller and Kyuseido Kakari, both are well-made, quality pens, and they are both going with me on vacation tomorrow. As a pen enthusiast and longtime fountain pen user, I love having examples of all the creativity and craftsmanship that goes into designing these pens.

So why have I been so conscious about emphasizing the “downsides” in addition to the positives? Because I’ve noticed a significant amount of social media-generated FOMO associated with these pens, which can be dangerous with such an expensive, often sight-unseen purchase. I don’t subscribe to the mentality I’ve seen in certain forums that acquiring one of these pens should automatically be everyone’s “grail,” and I cringe when I read about relative fountain pen newbies paying thousands for secondary market Conids before ever using one. As is the case with nearly any pen or filling system, these pens aren’t for everyone, and for ever person I know who considers their bulkfiller/syringe-filler a “grail pen,” I know someone else who finds these pens finicky and frustrating to use. To that end, if you want to use one of these pens to see if they’re for you, you’re always welcome to try mine. Pen show after-hours gatherings are great venues, as are local pen clubs, and since we now have a Gentleman Stationer physical store, just stop by! (Permanent hours will be posted next week.)

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S Patreon Program.

Ask TGS: What's the Best Pen for a Planner? Slimmer Pen Options for Pen Loops

It’s August, which means that the annual “back to school and back to work” season has started for many. You know what else that means? Planner time! I’ve noticed two distinct times of the year when people tend to invest in a new planner or notebook system. The first is during the November-January holiday season, just before the new year, and the second is in August and September, when the summer vacation comes to a close and many people return to work and/or school. In addition to general inquiries about the best planner or notebook system that might fit their specific needs, I receive a lot of questions about pens and pencils that “fit” planners. Usually this means they are looking for a slimmer pen (or multi pen or mechanical pencil) that will fit the often narrow “pen loops” or “pen slots” built into notebook covers. Since I’m already thinking about planners and notebook systems given the classes I taught at the D.C. Pen Show earlier this month, the upcoming planner and techo-heavy San Francisco Pen Show, and my participation in the Chicago Planner Conference this November, I figured this is a good time to update my previous planner pen recommendations.

1. Current Favorite Planner Pen Recommendation: Tom’s Studio Lumos Refillable Fineliner. Many people love fineliners and brush pens for their planners and notebook systems, and the Tom’s Studio Lumos allows you to refill this style of pen with your favorite fountain pen inks. The Lumos comes in three different format options: the Lumos Pro has a single tip, the Lumos Pro Duo allows you to have two different colors and/or tip styles in the same pen, and the Lumos Mini works well with smaller pocket-sized options. The slim format fits easily into most pen loops, notably the Plotter system. Read more on how the Lumos pens work here.

2. Fountain Pen Recommendation: Pilot Capless Decimo. The slimmer version of the Pilot Vanishing Point is an excellent option for planners and notebook systems, especially when paired with an extra-fine nib for writing in tighter spaces. I will also note that for many, the slimmer Decimo body also solves the “clip placement” issue that people sometimes have with the larger Vanishing Point. Read our full review of the Pilot Decimo here (and no, I’m not selling my Harvest Yellow!)

3. Multi Pen Recommendation No. 1 (Needle-tip Gel Pen): Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto. The Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto is a versatile tool perfect for those who enjoy color-coding their planners and/or notebooks, as you can hold up to four of the Coleto needle-tip gel refills in a single pen body (and even a pencil and eraser insert). The Coleto can also be a relatively inexpensive option for those who enjoy lots of colors - I sometimes carry up to three of these in my bag at any given time. I reviewed the Coleto quite a while ago and likely need to update my thoughts on what continues to be an excellent multi pen.

4. Multi Pen Recommendation No. 2 (Flexible Option): Lamy 2000 Multi Pen. I say “flexible” because Lamy’s 2000 multi pen is marketed as the “Four-Color Ballpoint,” yet because it uses universal D1 refills, you can transform it into a gel pen, a gel+ballpoint+highlighter, or - as I do - an upscale Jetstream multi pen. You can read my full write up on this pen here and why it’s been a fixture in my rotation for nearly a decade.

5. Ballpoint Pen Recommendation: Uni Jetstream Prime or Anterique Ballpoint. Many people prefer a simple black ballpoint pen for work. It’s reliable, professional, and most importantly, not distracting. For something like this, I will usually recommend a low-viscosity ballpoint that’s a hybrid between traditional ballpoint and gel ink, meaning that the pen will dry fast, and will neither smear, feather, or bleed-through thinner planner papers. Both the Uni Jetstream Prime and any of the Anterique pens feature a traditional slim “ballpoint pen profile” that slides easily into a planner and fits nearly all notebook pen slots.

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Do you have a favorite planner pen? If so, please write in or drop a comment. These are just the five that I’ve relied on recently, and there are dozens of popular options that would also include the entire Fisher Space Pen lineup, the Lamy CP1 fountain pen, the Traveler’s Company Brass Pens, Baux Pens, the Zebra Sarasa Grand, and more.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.