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.

Adventures in Stationery Travel: What, No Fountain Pens?

I took a short trip this weekend for a family wedding, and while it’s been fun to catch up with everyone at night, several different factors combined to turn this into more of a working vacation for me. I knew this would be the case ahead of time, and planned accordingly, though with a bit of a different strategy: traveling light with only those tools that I knew I would use for the next three days. Posts about what products I personally use in my own life every day are among the most requested, so while I have a short break here before everybody else wakes up, I thought I would walk through my pen case, my notebooks, and other accessories with a few words on why I chose them and how I use them.

Five Writing Instruments: No Fountain Pens

On a trip where I know I’ll have little privacy and will therefore struggle to accomplish any enjoyable personal writing, I’ve given up on bringing multiple fountain pens. At most, I’ll take one, and here I’ve foregone a fountain pen altogether in favor of my two Tom’s Studio Lumos fineliners, which offer me the “fountain pen feel” and some colorful ink without having to worry about the pens leaking or burping ink on the plane. Otherwise, I tend to be a ballpoint-mechanical-pencil-multi-pen guy for work travel, and as I’ve become a more seasoned pen addict, have come to appreciate the simplicity of working with these tools when you just want to get stuff done. The Uni Jetstream 4+1 Multi Pen is a workhorse with its four different .5mm tips plus a mechanical pencil, though I’ve also been carrying this yellow and black Uni Kuru Toga Alpha Gel Switch nearly everywhere I go, simply because that grip is so dang comfortable.

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Pen Cases: One for Pens, One for Styluses

The Rickshaw Bagworks Sinclair Model-R remains a favorite for travel, because you can cram a lot into it. The model shown here is the Vanness Pens / Leigh Reyes collaboration, which makes an excellent travel companion because the inevitable ink and coffee stains simply blend in! As I hinted I might on Instagram, I grabbed one of the small Raymay Patalino cases to carry my Apple Pencil, reMarkable Marker, and the Lamy Safari “Twin Pen” Stylus/Ballpoint combo. I actually love having a dedicated stylus case for when I travel, as it eliminates the inconvenience of fumbling around in your bag for a stylus that refuses to stay magnetically attached to the tablet and ends up at the bottom underneath everything else you’ve packed.

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Introducing the Good Made Better Bibliofile! Though it might look a little complicated, the cords and fasteners are actually fairly easy to use. I’ve been carrying this device on an almost daily basis, and when used in combination with modular cases like the Sinclair Model R and Patalino, really cleans up the inside of your bag.

Notebooks and Paper: Planner, Binder, and E-ink Tablet

My “working duo” of an A5 Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter (with my Hobonichi Cousin and a Midori MD Cotton A5 notebook) and Plotter A5 binder traveled with me, along with my iPad Pro and reMarkable tablet. I plan to write a follow up post containing additional thoughts on tablets and e-ink devices soon - they have their place in my rotation, but they’ve never replaced certain parts of my paper-based workflow. What I really wanted to preview, however, is a new creation from Good Made Better, which I picked up in Chicago. Made from thick felt and elastic cords, the “Bibliofile” book carrier/protector holds your books and notebooks tightly together when they are in your bag - preventing those oh-so-annoying bent covers and pages while making packing a heck of a lot easier - and it can also serve as a portable bookshelf of sorts when you’re on the road. Like the pocket pen I teased, this is another “experimental” prototype product from Good Made Better that I hope takes off and goes mainstream, but for now you can buy it at pen shows.

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Takeaways

I’m trying to pare down what I carry in my bag when I travel. Letting things sit unused, especially after taking the time to pack and lug them through the airport, creates a sense of anxiety and frustration, and I’ve found that I’m happier and more productive when I’m realistic in choosing the best tools for a trip. I’m seriously considering the idea of having a set “stationery travel pouch” that is always packed and ready to go, even if it means purchasing duplicates of a few key items (like mechanical pencils and multi-pens). A few friends have adopted this strategy, and I’m interested whether others have a specific travel setup that they use by default, simply so you don’t have to think too much about packing. Drop a comment or send me a message!

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

Five Fun Discoveries from the First Months of 2024!

I’ve been traveling fairly regularly throughout the past three months, and have picked up a bunch of stuff (and rediscovered others) without enough time to do in-depth reviews, though those may come in the future! I thought it might be fun to briefly talk about five items I’ve been using a lot recently. You may see some of them in the shop in the future, or they might just remain fun stuff in my personal collection if the appeal isn’t as widespread, but if you see something you think is cool that I don’t personally carry, let me know!

1. Jetstream 4+1 Multipen, Karimoku and Bamboo Editions. You already know how much I love the Uniball Jetstream, but lately I’ve really been diving heavily back into the world of multi pens. The Jetstream 4+1 (meaning that it has four slots for pens and one for a mechanical pencil) is chunkier than many other options, but I still find it comfortable. The two shown here were picked up at Kinokuniya in NYC last week, and are Japan-exclusive special releases. Unfortunately I don’t see the Karimoku version listed online in many places, so I suppose it’s an exclusive that retailers are only allowed to sell in brick-and-mortar locations though you may be able to find it on eBay, etc.

2. Uni Kuru-Toga .3mm Mechanical Pencil. While I don’t think the .3mm lead width is going to replace my go-to .5mm at any point in the near future, this .3mm in a muted moss green was another Kinokuniya pickup. I’m quite surprised at how well a .3mm mechanical pencil resists lead breakage, though you do have to pay some attention to writing pressure and paper texture. This pencil is currently loaded with HB-grade lead, and I wonder how much softer (B, 2B) you could actually go before breakage becomes an issue.

3. Lamy Safari Ballpoint Pens. And also the Noto, and the econ, etc. In my opinion, the Lamy M16 ballpoint refill is an excellent standard ballpoint option that doesn’t get nearly enough attention. I’ve rediscovered these as great “shipping pens,” since they’re easy to deploy one-handed when working in the warehouse and writing notes to go with orders. I will add that the current “Pink Cliff” and “Violet Blackberry” ballpoints look really good, even if there has been some criticism for the ballpoint not incorporating the flash of pink and light purple. Personally I prefer the blacked-out, more muted look.

4. Penco Prime Timber 2.0 Lead Holder. I’ve always used leadholders and clutch pencils, but the process of extending the lead can be a bit perilous, since most leadholders have a gravity-driven “drop” system where the lead just slides out, as opposed to a “click-to-extend” mechanical-pencil-style mechanism. Enter the Penco “Prime Timber”, which is not only a touch longer and has a traditional pencil-like feel, but allows you to click to extend the 2.0mm core. If you’re looking for a leadholder to write with, consider this one. The pencil ships with a decent sharpener, or you can opt for the brass M+R lead pointer, which gets a VERY sharp point.

5. “Metacil” Infinity Pencil. These “infinity pencils” with a metal tip made from aluminum alloy have been around for several years, but I’ve never tried one and my prior attempts have been somewhat unsatisfying. On a whim, I picked up a couple of these at Kinokuniya, and apparently they’ve improved the quality to a point where the line is about as legible as a 2H pencil - still very hard and somewhat light, but usable on the right kind of paper. I’ve been keeping one of these in random places where I sometimes need a pencil to mark things up quickly, such as the chair where I do some of my reading and computer work. During my trade show adventures I even saw a version where companies have worked darker graphite into the metal tip, resulting in a pencil tip that may not last forever but still doesn’t require sharpening. I plan to further explore this product category!

A writing sample of both the Penco Prime Timber as well as the Metacil, which is surprisingly legible. I have found that it works best on smoother paper. This is the Blackwing paper in the “Illegal Pads”.

Did you enjoy this post? The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Updated Travel Kit 2024: Packing Pens, Pencils and Notebooks for A Road Trip

I had a request a couple of weeks ago that I write an updated piece about my “travel kit” - namely the bags, pens, and notebooks that I bring with me when I hit the road. Obviously, it depends on the trip - when I travel to pen shows, I tend to bring a a lot of stationery for the sake of stationery. Work trips - or as with the trip I’m taking today, combination work/family trips - are much more difficult because I have to balance practicality with my own preferences. I’ll be on the road for just under a week, traveling in two different contexts, to two different cities, so I’ll need to be much more selective in choosing what to bring with me. As I pack, I thought it might be fun to document what I’m bringing and why:

The Filson Zippered Tote holds an insane amount of gear, and the straps are a perfect length for use as a classic grip bag or for over-shoulder carry. Use it as an overnight bag or a big briefcase.

Bag: Filson Zippered Tote

• What it is: A long-handled tote bag from Filson with a zippered closure and multiple side pockets. Featuring Filson’s heavy duty twill fabric and durable construction, this bag epitomizes the term “workhorse.”

• Why: While I sometimes wish I’d purchased a darker color, this versatile bag pulls double duty as a carry-on and a briefcase, once I arrive at my destination and have to attend meetings. In addition to serving as an exceptional travel companion, it’s a great everyday overflow briefcase for when I need to tote around binders and larger files.

Notebooks: Roterfaden, William Hannah, and a Plotter

• Roterfaden A5 with Three Clips (SO_20 Slim Leather with Suede)

  • What it is: The cover for my Hobonichi Cousin, which is my time-blocking notebook and primary “Work Notebook” for managing my day. This notebook goes with me everywhere. Currently, the Roterfaden cover contains a Hobonichi Cousin; Roterfaden A5 sheet protectors to hold notes, papers, and business cards, and a Midori A5 Softcolor Slim Notebook in blue.

  • Why: I’ve long used Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter covers because of the flexibility. Especially when I’m doing extended travel, I can clip individual notebooks in and out of the protective cover. With this setup, for example, I can add the thicker Hobonichi for a working session, and take it out to create a slimmer notebook profile if I just want to take the A5 Midori notebook to a coffee shop to do some brainstorming.

• William Hannah A5

  • What it is: a disc-bound A5 notebook that’s a powerful organizational tool, provided you have a hole-punch that can be used with the Levenger Circa, Staples Arc, William Hannah or other disc-bound systems. For professional use, I need the flexibility of being able to move around individual pages, and even to remove them for storage/records management purposes.

  • Why: This notebook contains all of my law practice and professional development notes. It’s a work trip, so a bit of a no-brainer that this notebook goes with me on the road. (My Plotter binders contain all of my TGS and personal notes, and may or may not come with me depending on space since it likely wouldn’t get too much use this week.)

Pens and Pencils: Cartridge Fountain Pens, Ballpoints, and Mechanical Pencils

• Fountain Pens on a Work Trip = Keep it simple.

  • Kaweco Art Sport and Gravitas “Dinky”. Cartridge fountain pens tend to travel well, since there’s not much ink in the cartridge and I’ve found that they tend to resist changes in temperature and air pressure quite well. The Kaweco Sport is a versatile pocket/travel option, and I’m testing out this Gravitas “Dinky” pocket fountain pen in “Cupronickel” that Ben was kind enough to give me for review at the LA Pen Show.

  • Pilot Custom 823. Ok, so I want at least one fun nib for journaling and playing around, and here I opted for my Pilot Custom 823 with a Mark Bacas medium blade nib. As I discussed at my California Pen Show seminar, vacuum-filling pens like the Custom 823, TWSBI Vac700R (or Vac Mini!), or Nahvalur Original Plus make great travel pens because they incorporate a shut-off valve that helps prevent major leakage on an airplane or when the pen is jostling around in a bag.

• Two Ballpoints. I always carry two ballpoints, especially for conferences and work trips where I’ll be in meetings and don’t want to have to fiddle with a fountain pen and bad paper. For this week’s trip it’s the Uniball Jetstream Prime in .5mm, and the recently received Lamy Noto, an insanely comfortable triangular pen. Neither of these pens is particularly expensive, making them good candidates for a conference where things can unfortunately “wander off” from time to time.

• Two Mechanical Pencils. When I’m on an airplane, I tend to work with a tablet/stylus or with a mechanical pencil, just to keep things simple and any mess to a minimum. Lately, I’ve really been enjoying the Uni Kuru Toga Alpha Gel Switch, which I first picked up at Kinokuniya in NYC last year and loved it so much that I brought them into the shop and promptly “bought” a yellow and black model for myself. I have two with me this weekend. Again, these are inexpensive writing instruments so they’re perfect for airplane and conference use.

So what’s the deal when I’m traveling? This trip is only a few days so it won’t throw off the blog schedule. Shop Orders placed late this week might take 1-2 extra business days to fulfill, but whenever that happens I always throw something extra in the box like a sticker, ink sample, or extra refill. I’m really looking forward to a couple of days off, and I’m in New Orleans so I plan to visit our friends at Papier Plume!

Scenes from a Trade Show in 2024: It's All About the Paper

This past weekend marked my third trip to NY Now and Shoppe Object, which taken together are the largest stationery trade show in the U.S. A bit of history: These two events are the successors to what was formerly known as the National Stationery Show. I don’t know the full story, but NSS was absorbed into NY Now, and I understand that Shoppe Object began when smaller, more boutique brands became frustrated with the cost of exhibiting at the Javitz Center in NYC. While held as separate events, both take place simultaneously (Sunday-Tuesday), with shuttles running between the different venues.

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Object Index, a Japanese curated brand that seems similar to Mark’s Tokyo, displayed at Shoppe Object.

NY Now and Shoppe Object Are Pure Trade Shows, Not Pen Shows

The “Pen Shows” we typically write about and regularly attend are hybrid events. There’s certainly a convention/trade show aspect, with retailers attending shows to not only meet with their customers, but also to engage directly with distributors and makers. NY Now and Shoppe Object, however, are “trade shows” in the truest sense of the word, meaning that the shows themselves are “to the trade” (retailers, distributors, manufacturers, and press), with the show closed to the general public and on-site sales prohibited. To be honest, it’s a refreshing experience to be able to browse samples of goods without feeling pressured to purchase on the spot. As a retailer, you’re able to have more extended conversations with suppliers about current trends and the products consumers currently gravitate towards.

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The emphasis on analog extended beyond pens. This display featured a huge selection of retro-style Braun alarm clocks.

What’s Driving Growth in the Stationery Industry? Right Now I Don’t Think It’s Fountain Pens.

My main observation from the weekend is that most of the stationery brands have moved to Shoppe Object. NY Now used to be the largest of the two shows, but of the brands I regularly carry, only the largest remain there (i.e. Lamy, Kaweco, Midori, etc.). Smaller makers, and even some of the more well-known manufacturers such as Leuchtturm, have moved, so I spent nearly a full day on Monday exploring Shoppe Object and discovered several new brands that I would consider bringing into the T.G.S. Curated Shop at some point in the future. I also had some excellent conversations with others in the industry about current stationery trends. A few observations from the weekend:

• Fountain pens are a very small segment of the stationery world. Enthusiast-focused pen shows like those held annually in D.C. and San Francisco place much of the focus on fountain pens, but outside of online pen circles, writing instruments that can be used with the full spectrum of paper products - ballpoints, rollerballs, and pencils - get the most attention. This product category continues to grow rapidly. There’s a LOT of attention being paid to pencils and the ballpoint pen, especially low-viscosity ballpoint pens that use a Jetstream-style ink.

• Journals, planners, and paper in general are driving the analog resurgence. Quality paper in practical formats and rulings has driven the growth of our own shop, and based on the volume of new products being developed and introduced, this trend appears global and doesn’t seem ready to slow down. In addition to more innovative takes on journaling, including several new “notebook systems”, I also noticed a focus on other “retro” products such as clipboards (LOTS of clipboards and portfolios) and even analog alarm clocks and, yes, more sandglasses.

• Digital/tech fatigue is a real thing, and it will continue to fuel the market for analog tools. People feel distracted and overwhelmed by alerts, notifications, e-mails, and an entire industry that’s evolved to steal their attention span. Personally, I use paper notebooks at work - and always have - because they force me to work on one thing at a time and offer a respite from constant distraction. Based on what I heard from others in the industry regarding conversations they’ve had with their customers, the sale of “analog” products like planners and paper notebooks continue to soar specifically for this reason. Unsurprisingly, nobody was talking about the Apple face computer this weekend.

Stay tuned for more updates as items I’ve ordered begin to trickle in over the next few months. Even if I didn’t order everything for the shop, there’s plenty I saw that I want to review because I found the product intriguing. I may even return for the Summer market!

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

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And of course, there will be more pens from Anterique Stationers, including miniature versions of their brass ballpoint and new colors of the full-size brass pen.