Which Notebook System to Choose: Roterfaden, Lochby, and Traveler's Shown Together

My 2025 Techo Kaigi: A Mostly Fond Farewell to Hobonichi

October 23, 2024

As is natural in October, when planners go on sale for the coming year, I've been reviewing my current notebook setup and thinking about what I liked, what I disliked, and most importantly, how I can adjust my setup to better meet my needs in 2025. "Techo Kaigi" is a Japanese expression that refers to the figurative meeting you hold with yourself to address these issues. So, you can say I’ve been in back-to-back meetings with myself since October 1 trying to figure these things out!

I had chosen 2024 for an experiment of sorts: I would purchase three different styles of the popular Hobonichi planners: the Hobonichi Cousin A5 (Day-to-a-Page); Hobonichi Weeks Mega ("tall skinny" format week-to-a-page with room for notes); and a standard Hobonichi A6 (Day-to-a-page, to be used as a journal). While I didn't expect to reliably write in each of these on a daily basis, with the possible exception of the Cousin, I did manage to use each planner consistently for stretches of time, giving me a sense of what format and layout I liked best. After a full year with Hobonichi, I don’t think I’ll be making any permanent additions or substitutions to my usual carry. Here’s why:

My 2024 Techo Setup: Roterfaden, Hobonichi Weeks, Hobonichi Techo — My 2024 carry: Hobonichi A5 Cousin in my Roterfaden A5; Hobonichi Weeks in an aftermarket leather wallet/case; and a Hobonichi A6, which served as my journal and eventually went into it’s own leather cover.

What Can I Rule Out Immediately? The Classic A6 Hobonichi Techo

This decision isn't so much a reflection on the Hobonichi itself, but rather a realization that the A6 size doesn't work for me as either a planner or journal. A6 is a "between" size for me, meaning that it doesn't offer me enough space to fully flesh out my thoughts on a day, yet at the same time leaves too much white space if I simply want to micro-journal, jot a few thoughts down and/or habit track. I enjoy having a longer-form journal, but I have a lifetime supply of very nice standard A5 notebooks and composition books (including some gorgeous examples I've collected from Choosing Keeping and other shops) that I look forward to using.

Two Choosing Keeping Notebooks Purchased in London.

Daily Work Planner/notebook: I need more flexibility Than the HobonicHi Cousin Offers

Of the three planners I purchased for 2024, I used the Hobonichi Cousin A5 the most - everyday in fact. I loved having the full day on one page, with the time stamped left-hand column used for time-blocking alongside plenty of space to take notes. The downside? This thing is BIG. Even if I had opted for the Hobonichi Cousin Avec (which is the A5 Cousin broken into two 6 month segments), I still would find myself carrying around a hefty notebook filled with used pages that can't be disposed of or reorganized easily.

For 2025 I plan to return to a ring or disc-based system using either my William Hannah A5 or Plotter A5 binders. If I can find a compatible refill that features a day-to-a-page layout, I will go with Plotter, since I love the minimalist aesthetic and don't plan to carry more than a week or two of pages at a time. The benefit to me of both the Plotter and William Hannah systems is the ability to easily discard or archive pages that I don't need anymore, while also being able to insert blank pages if I need more space or want to keep additional papers and notes organized chronologically by day. If you have a recommendation for a day-to-a-page Plotter-compatible refill, please let me know! I’m looking.

That said, if you don't need this sort of page-level or daily flexibility, and don't mind carrying around a larger book, the Hobonichi Cousin is an incredibly versatile planner with at least three different calendar layouts (monthly, weekly, day-to-a-page) that offer planning, journaling, and habit-tracking functionality. The Cousin can definitely be your one-stop-shop, especially if you're comfortable keeping your work and personal life in a single book. I 100% recommend it as an excellent product, but it sadly doesn’t meet my exact needs.

Traveler's Notebook Standard vs. Hobonichi Weeks — The Standard Size Traveler’s Notebook is just a bit taller and wider than the weeks, while not sacrificing the tall/skinny format I love so much.

I'm Really Torn on the Hobonichi Weeks, But I'm Moving Back to a Traveler's Notebook

I loved the Hobonichi Weeks, but I'm probably still moving on. Why? I've been using this smaller notebook to track certain things such as exercise, reading, household tasks, and other random notes and observations that I want to keep organized in a "dated" format but separate from my work life. While I love the week-on-two pages layout, which is similar to the Traveler's Company "Weekly + Memo" format, I need just a touch more space as I found myself coming up short at times in the Hobonichi Weeks. As a result, I'll probably be returning to a Standard-size Traveler's Notebook, especially since that will give me the ability to add on additional notebooks and accessories (like pouches) to streamline my carry. I've already set aside a 2025 Weekly+Memo refill set for myself. You can read more on my previous Traveler’s Notebook setups here, and I’ve missed them badly during the past year.

Traveler's Company 2025 Weekly + Memo Refill with Layout Illustration — The Weekly+Memo Format works extremely well for me as a personal planner/logbook. I’ve never used a dated Traveler’s refill before - this year will be the first.

Summary: How Do I Envision My 2025 Daily Carry?

I have multiple occupations and many different personal interests, so my exact "daily carry" changes, depending on what I'm doing. On a typical day, however, my briefcase or backpack will likely hold three main items: the work planner/notebook (whatever it ends up being), a personal Traveler's Notebook, and a Roterfaden binder containing individual notebooks that house anything from my personal journal to scratch notebooks to project-specific refills. If you've been following this site over the years, you've probably noticed that the overall nature of my setup hasn't changed much: I usually go with three modular notebooks or binders, though I have played around with different formats and brands. For 2024, I hadn't used Hobonichi in a few years, and wanted to revisit the brand on a broader level to see if I should incorporate one of the many formats into my hybrid system. Overall, even though I don't plan on making any long-term changes, I did enjoy the experiment!

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. If you enjoy our pen and stationery-related content, please consider supporting us by shopping directly or pledging. Many thanks for reading!

Do I Really Hate Rollerballs? Revisiting This Question for the Umpteenth Time

October 16, 2024

The rollerball and I have shared a fraught relationship over the years. Yes, I’ve tried. I really want to love what many describe as the most “elegant” writing instrument short of a fountain pen. I know they’re supposed to be smoother. I know they’re the “professional” choice. I know the ink is permanent. But for nearly twenty-plus years I haven’t been able to find one that truly works for me. Lately I’ve been trying a bit harder.

What prompted me to revisit rollerballs? I still get weekly questions about them, for one thing, and it’s hard for me to recommend specific items if I’m not familiar with the product category. But beyond that is a general sense that I’m missing something. I regularly have customers who bulk order rollerball refills - there are pen people out there who really love their rollerballs - so I figured I should do a deeper dive.

Five Different Rollerball Writing Samples — Five different writing samples, from the top: Caran d’Ache 849 Rollerball Fine in Blue; Montblanc Medium St. Exupery limited edition rollerball refill; Pilot G2 gel refill, for comparison; Schneider Topball 580 fine; and Baron Fig/Schmidt P8127. Note the new “Hex” Baron Fig Squire at the bottom, which Baron Fig was kind enough to send me to test out!

Reasons Why People Love Rollerball Pens

Dark, Permanent Lines. As I remarked in my recent writeup of the Lamy AL-Star Rollerball, there’s something deeply satisfying about a pen that lays down a dark, bold line, especially when you’re brainstorming on a legal pad or a giant desk blotter. Since the majority of rollerball refills only come in black or dark blue (and less commonly red and green), you’re sure to get a dark line, and the ink is almost always permanent.
The Smoothness Factor. If you ask rollerball enthusiasts why they love their pen so much, many - if not most - will tell you that it’s because the writing experience is so smooth. Rollerball cartridges contain liquid ink, and most companies use relatively wide tip sizes (.7mm-1.0mm) to guarantee a wet, “smooth” writing experience that seems to glide across the page, especially compared to an oil-based ballpoint.
Ubiquity and Convenience. Rollerballs are popular, having assumed the mantle of the “executive” pen of choice over the fountain pen during the 1990s. You can typically find rollerball refills in any big-box store, even for higher-end brands like Montblanc, and it’s quite easy to change the cartridge. (Which you may have to do often - see below.)
Versatility: Both Capped and Capless Options are Available. Over the past 20 years, rollerball technology has improved to the point where there are very good capless refills that allow for a retractable design. Pens such as the Retro 51 Tornado, the Baron Fig Squire, and the Caran d’Ache 849 Rollerball all use capless refills and twist or click mechanisms.

Rollerball Writing Samples on MD Paper Reverse Side — Even on relatively thick Midori MD Paper, you still see the Montblanc and Schmidt refills come through the paper a bit.

Why Rollerball Pens Haven’t Necessarily Worked for Me

Temperamental Refills. My biggest problem with rollerballs has been that the refills are expensive and don’t last very long. Costing anywhere from $8-10, you would expect to get at least a month or more of writing, yet I regularly come across rollerball refills that dry up and clog long before they actually run dry. I’ve even had refills that don’t write out of the box. If this happens I always contact my retailer/distributor and request a replacement, or I return them to the store.
Feathering and Bleedthrough. Whether you are writing with a rollerball or a fountain pen, any ink that’s a combination of “wet” and “permanent” will have a tendency to bleed and feather on most papers. Rollerballs can be even worse than fountain pens because the ink is being applied with a sharp tip, which presses the ink into the paper fibers and makes bleedthrough and feathering even more likely. You can, however, find drier rollerball refills to minimize this tendency, and I’ll discuss a few of my preferred options below.
Lack of Color Options, Namely Blue-Black. Nine times out of 10, I’ll choose a blue-black ink over standard black or standard blue. It turns out that blue-black rollerball refills are hard to come by, and you’ll typically have to seek out third-party “aftermarket” options by companies like Monteverde. That said, I’m more likely to choose a rollerball or fineliner over a fountain pen when I want to write with plain black ink, since it’s typically quite dark.
I Personally Prefer Fineliners. Most capped rollerball pens are also compatible with fineliner cartridges, and since I genuinely love how fineliners write, I will typically opt for one over a rollerball. Lately I’ve enjoyed refillable fineliners, since I can use my fountain pen inks without worrying about expensive and finicky cartridges. I’m also playing around with a Kakimori “inkball” pen that I was sent as a promotional tester, which also allows you to use fountain pen ink in a rollerball-style tip.

Two Sunderland mk1 machined pens, one with a Montblanc rollerball refill (right), and another with a Pilot G2 gel refill (left).

So What’s the Verdict? For Me, a Rollerball Depends Entirely on the Refill

Namely, a drier refill. As much as I may try to “accept it”, I hate feathering and bleedthrough. I think it looks sloppy on paper, and defeats any of the so-called elegance inherent in writing with a nice pen. For this reason, I strongly favor drier rollerball refills that don’t lay a thick line of ink down on the page. My three favorites are:

Caran d’Ache 849 Parker-Style Rollerball Cartridge. While I have no proof, I suspect that there is gel pen technology incorporated into this refill, because it behaves quite differently from most other rollerball cartridges I’ve tried. The ink does not bleed or feather on most papers, and the versatile Parker-style cartridge fits a wide variety of different pens. There’s even a finer tip available. (Disclaimer: We sell these refills, and quite a lot of them.)
Schneider Topball 850 Refill. This has long been my “stick” rollerball cartridge of choice for capped pens. It writes a clean, precise line, and fits most European rollerball pens, though you may have to modify the length with tape or a spacer.
Montblanc Rollerball Refills. Expensive, yes. Short lifespan? You bet. BUT, they’re also well-behaved and feature a relatively wide color selection (including limited editions). Despite being a finicky refill that tends to dry out faster than I would like, Montblanc rollerball cartridges look super nice on the page. Because they are threaded and screw into the pen, there is zero tip wiggle.

I’ve gradually come to accept that a rollerball will never be my everyday carry pen of choice, but I feel like I have a solid stable of refill options I can turn to if I like the design of a specific pen and want to pick one up. It’s also worth remembering that many gel ink cartridges can be hacked to fit rollerball pens, and many smaller manufacturers (like Sunderland Machine Works) are making pens specifically designed to fit both rollerball cartridges and gel refills like the Pilot G2.

What’s your favorite rollerball cartridge? I’m thinking of exploring more Japanese options, such as the Ohto Ceramic series, in the near future, as I’ve heard these tend to favor finer lines and may work better for my style of writing. Stay tuned!

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. If you enjoy our content please give us a follow and consider supporting us by shopping with us directly or pledging via Patreon. Many thanks!

Revised London Travel Kit — What ended up as my "London Carry," from left: Hobonichi Weeks with cover by Galen Leather; Roterfaden A5 Slim "Traveler's Style/Personal Sized" Cover; Plotter Mini 5. Pens on top include: Pilot Custom 823 Fountain Pen, Traveler's Company Brass Ballpoint; Sunderland mk1 TGS Special Edition, and Anterique Brass Ballpoint.

Travel Interlude, Day One! T.G.S. YouTube Channel Updates

October 5, 2024

I’ve tried to do more video content this year, and my current trip will hopefully offer more opportunities to film in unique stationery-related locales of interest. I will be chronicling my adventures this week on the T.G.S. Instagram account, and eventually on the T.G.S. YouTube Channel. (I’d love to do more YouTube and upload longer videos in real time, but I have no idea how well my internet connection will hold up here and suspect it is too slow.) In the meantime, continuing the tradition of posting recaps of some favorite content when I’m on the road, check out a handful of my favorite YouTube videos from the past year!

Travel Prep 2024, Part II: Choosing Pens for Travel

September 28, 2024

Continuing my mini-series of posts relating to upcoming travel, I thought I’d post my pen “packing list” for next week’s trip to London. You’ll notice a trend: I’m going for low-maintenance writing instruments focusing on ease-of-use, and plan to travel with everything in a single Rickshaw Sinclair Model R. Per my post from Wednesday, paper/notebook carry for this trip will consist of my Traveler’s Notebook and Hobonichi Weeks, and I should have plenty of room to bring stuff home!

Rickshaw Sinclair Model R Vanness Model — What's going with me? My Rickshaw x Leigh Reyes Vanness Pens Exclusive!

Traveler’s Company Ballpoint Pen or Anterique Mini/Brass Mini Ballpoint. I have a certain category of pens that I consider my “reading” pens, which I can easily clip to the front cover of a book - especially when I’m on the beach or on an airplane. These pens aren’t intended for long writing sessions; rather, I use them for underlining, annotating, and other marginalia. I’ll probably bring at least two with me.
Anterique Brass Ballpoint Pen. These full-size low-viscosity ballpoints have a nice weight to them as well as an excellent .5mm refill that writes well on all types of paper, and which is quite convenient for travel. Some of you have asked recently about refill compatibility for these pens: While the stock refill is excellent, you can also use Bic-style “butterfly” refills, though you may need to adjust the length. For example, I have the pen shown here equipped with a slightly trimmed-down Ohto Needle-Tip refill.
T.G.S. x. Sunderland Machine Works mk1. You didn’t think I was going to leave this one off the list, did you? While you can read more about why I love the Sunderland mk1 in the full review, It’s durability, ability to post, and comfortable grip has long made this pen a go-to travel companion, as well as an excellent everyday writer that is easy to use in meetings.
Tom’s Studio Lumos Write Fineliner. One of the reasons I love these refillable fineliners is that they give me a way to use my fountain pen ink without having to worry about spills, leaks, or carrying refills. The Lumos pens refill using a cotton wick system, and the “Write” version comes equipped with firmer fineliner tips intended for writing, though you can always opt for the Lumos Pro and Lumos Pro Duo pens, which include a full set of 11 tips to choose from. I can’t emphasize how convenient these are. I’ve only had to refill my own pens once in about 6 months, since fineliners are much more efficient with their ink consumption than fountain pens.
Vacuum Filler Fountain Pen. I’m going to list a general category here in slot number five. I will bring one fountain pen with me on the trip, and it will be a vacuum filler (probably my Pilot Custom 823), which should easily last me a week even if I were writing exclusively with this one pen every day. Vacuum fillers also have the shutoff valve that you can close to prevent ink from leaking into the cap on the airplane.

Anterique Brass Mini as a Beach Pen — I took an Anterique brass mini pen on my last beach trip, and it's portability served me well.

Still 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.

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.

Traveler's Notebook and Hobonichi Weeks — Left, my Traveler's Notebook (last year's L.E.), and a Hobonichi Weeks in a Galen Leather cover.

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

September 25, 2024

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.

Hobonichi Weeks and Traveler's Standard Comparison size — 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.

Hobonichi Weeks Layout Week on Two Pages — 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.

Hobonichi Planner A6 Format — 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.

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.