Portland-Leather-Small-Medium-Journal-Calepino

Notebook Review: Portland Leather Goods Journals and Notebooks

November 12, 2016

If there's one thing I can never have too many of, it's nicely bound notebooks and leather notebook covers. Even if it's impossible for me to use them all myself, if I see a nice one, I pick it up regardless of the time of year, because notebooks make excellent holiday gifts and hardly ever go unappreciated. When the folks at Portland Leather Goods reached out and asked if I'd like to review some of their Triple Wrap and Snap leather journals, I jumped at the chance. They were generous enough to send over three different samples of various models, and they're all exceptionally well made.

Specs and Construction

Portland Leather Goods journals are handmade in Portland, Oregon from full grain cow leather. The covers have been nicely finished; they aren't roughly cut like a lot of cheaper options out there. At the same time, the leather is not over-finished. It has a rugged and rustic look that I like, leaving some marks such as small scratches, blemishes, freckles, and brands. This isn't a notebook that you should be afraid to get scuffed or dirty or toss in your bag unprotected. It's going to look even better as it shows its age. Portland Leather appreciates having a lot of character in the leather, reminiscent of a good leather travel bag or a pair of leather work boots.

As I mentioned, Portland Leather Goods sent me three products: two medium journals in both the "Triple Wrap" and "Snap" styles, as well as a small notebook/wallet that has two credit/business card slots. All three turned out absolutely gorgeous. My personal favorite is the "Snap" style, and I've gotten the most use out of the smaller notebook, which could easily double as a travel wallet. While the Triple Wrap journal is attractive and well made, I open and close my notebooks a lot through the day, and the leather strap that holds the journal closed ends up being just a touch too fussy for regular use. That said, it would make a great travel journal or sketchbook, for more leisurely writing or drawing sessions where quick deployment isn't an issue.

From left, the medium Snap journal with the "Golden Mean" brand, the small Snap journal, and the Triple Wrap journal with the "Tree of Life" brand.

You can also choose from a wide variety of custom brands for your notebooks. I chose my three favorites: the "Tree of Life," "Golden Mean," and "Stormtrooper" options. The marks are fire branded into the leather, so yes, they're there to stay. All three are very well-defined and look very nice on the journals - understated and not overly ostentatious.

I love the "Tree of Life" brand.

An up-close shot of the "Golden Mean" brand.

The medium-sized Triple Wrap journal open. The refill on the medium journal is held in by an elastic cord, similar to the Midori Traveler's Notebook.

Fountain-Pen Friendly Paper

Portland Leather Goods markets its products as journals, not journal/notebook covers, so each notebook comes with a lined or blank notebook insert. They haven't cut corners here - this is quality paper. These notebooks are made from heavy stock that handles most ink fairly well, and the Kraft paper cover and stitched binding should hold up well. The notebooks contain 44 sheets (88 pages front and back), and you can purchase refills directly from Portland Leather Goods in their online shop.

I've not had any issues with fine or medium fountain pens bleeding or feathering on the Portland Leather Goods Paper.

My one quibble is that the ruling on the lined version is a touch wide for my taste. While a plain/blank notebook is available, Portland Leather Goods does not offer a graph or dot-grid option, which is my preferred paper stock. That said, I was able to test out the small and medium notebooks with some other refill options I had lying around. Here's what works:

The "Small" journals are compatible with a Field Notes-size pocket notebook or smaller.
The "Medium" journals will work with a Large Doane Paper Utility Notebook (5*7), which is probably what I will end up using for everyday purposes since I love Doane's grid paper. The medium-sized Baron Fig Vanguard is just slightly too large to fit.

The small Snap Journal fits Field Notes-sized pocket notebooks (see the Calepino peeking out).

Takeaways

I'm impressed. Portland Leather Goods makes excellent leather journals at a reasonable price. It all comes down to whether the style fits your personal preference. Many thanks to the folks at Portland Leather for sending over these gorgeous notebooks and journals to try.

You can purchase directly from Portland Leather on their website. Pricing is extremely reasonable given the quality of the craftsmanship. The small journal starts at $28, the medium at $38, and a large (9*6) at $48.

Disclaimer: I was sent these products free of charge for review purposes. I was not otherwise compensated for this review. All views expressed herein are my own.

The Uniball Vision Elite threatens to take a spot in my list of Best Disposable Pens for Everyday Use.

Liquid Ink Rollerballs CAN Be Functional: Uniball Vision Elite

November 9, 2016

When I was in school I loved liquid ink pens. My absolute favorite was the Pilot V7 or V5, but my parents always tried to buy the Uniball Vision, which I always found to be an inferior pen because it had the tendency to bleed all over the place. As a result, until recently I stayed away from the Uniball Vision Elite, a different pen that has received rave reviews, and deservedly so.

The Uniball Vision Elite uses similar liquid-ink rollerball technology, only this time Uniball has managed to create a pen that dries quickly and doesn't bleed or feather like the regular Vision. And the colors - the colors on these things really pop. I tested out an 8-pack, which contained one of each of the following colors: blue, black, purple, red, green, orange, blue-black, and red. There's also a "BLX" pack that includes colors such as blue-black, red-black, green-black, etc. Those are next on the list for me to pick up.

A writing sample of the various colors, done on the Slice Planner dot-grid paper.

The Vision Elites are now sitting in the pen holder on my desk at work, and they've been getting a lot of use color-coding the clockface in my Slice Planner. (If you don't have a clue what I'm talking about, please read the review. It will make more sense, I promise!) The pens have worked exceptionally well on the Slice Planner paper, and also have held up on ordinary recycled office paper. That said, I tested the Vision Elite in the "micro" point, so your mileage may vary if you prefer the medium or bold tip size, which may increase feathering as they apply more ink to the paper.

Where to Buy / Thanks to Office Mall!

The great thing about the Uniball Vision Elite is that these pens can be found pretty much anywhere, in big box stores or online. They aren't particularly cheap (anywhere from $12-20 for a pack of 8, depending on where you buy), but they offer one of the smoothest and most reliable writing experiences on the "mainstream" stationery market.

These particular pens were sent to me by Office Mall, an online retailer of office supplies that stocks everything from pens, pencils, and paper to typewriter ribbons to break room supplies. If you are stocking stationery for a business, visit Office Mall to take advantage of the ability to order lots of different stationery supplies in large quantities. Office Mall also stocks quirky, one-off products that I haven't been able to find anywhere else, like these:

Office Mall also sells these awesome pencil-shaped Ticonderoga erasers.

NYC Stationery Tour 2016

November 5, 2016

I don't have a review or anything for you all this weekend, but if you've been following along on Instagram, you'll know I've been posting some photos of my trip to New York City, including the various - and all too brief - stationery shopping stops I've made around town. Today is my "free day," so I'll have more time to explore. Stay tuned. I should have some good stuff to show off later this week.

Kinokuniya Bookstore has the full array of Midori Travelers Notebooks and refills.

And, of course, I stopped by C.W. Pencil Enterprise on the Lower East Side.  This is an older picture. Unfortunately I couldn't take a new one because their outside storefront is under construction. — And, of course, I stopped by C.W. Pencil Enterprise on the Lower East Side. This is an older picture. Unfortunately I couldn't take a new one because their outside storefront is under construction.

A view of the Freedom Tower from outside my hotel in Battery Park City

For further reading, please check out my Top 5 Stationery Stores in New York City post from last year. If I run across anything new, I will be updating this list in the coming weeks.

The Diplomat Aero (left) compared against the Esteem (right)

Pen Review: Diplomat Esteem

November 2, 2016

While I'm on a Diplomat kick, I figured that in addition to the higher-end Diplomat Aero, I would go ahead and post a quick review of one of Diplomat's mid-tier offerings, the Esteem. The Esteem isn't stocked by many retailers in the United States, probably because it sits in the difficult $50-$75 price range. Though there aren't many pens at that price point for it to compete with, I'm not sure that the Esteem presents a compelling enough offering to warrant purchasing this pen over, say, an imported Pilot Custom Heritage 92, a Platinum 3776, or even a TWSBI 580.

The Diplomat Lineup

Before I get into the Esteem itself, it may be helpful to explain Diplomat's lineup a bit, especially since this is a brand few are familiar with (at least in the States). Diplomat's high-end pens are the Excellence and the Aero, both of which have gold-nib options. The mid-tier options include the Balance, the Esteem, the Optimist, and the Traveller. There isn't really an "entry-level" diplomat pen that you see regularly priced below $50, though occasionally you can find the Esteem on sale. Curiously, Diplomat seems to have done very little to promote its various models other than the Aero, or to differentiate between its other offerings.

Build/Construction

The Esteem is a lighter - and, yes, cheaper feeling - pen than the Aero.

As befits it's lower price point, the construction on the Diplomat Esteem feels less sturdy than the build on the Aero. A few things make me waffle a bit when deciding whether or not I like this pen: First of all, while the barrel is metal (either anodized brass or aluminum?), the grip section is plastic. This pen reminds me somewhat of the Retro 51 fountain pen, at a slightly higher price point.

The clip on the Esteem also isn't as solid as the clip on the Aero; it's made from folded over steel.

Diplomat has done a nice job with the end-cap and finial on the Esteem. The back of the pen features a plain stainless end-cap, which helps the cap post nicely. The finial on the cap contains a "jewel" with Diplomat's propeller logo.

Diplomat's "Propeller" Logo is incorporated into the design on most of their pens. Here, it's featured on the cap finial of the Esteem.

Nib and Writing Experience

While my experience with the Diplomat Esteem's nib wasn't quite as good as my experience with the Diplomat Aero, the fine nib on my Diplomat Esteem is still pretty darn good, if a touch dry. As I've noticed with JoWo nibs in the past, there's not much difference in terms of line width between the fine and the medium. If I had to make a recommendation, I would go with the medium, which is a much smoother writer. The nib on my Aero is one of the smoothest-writing pens in my collection.

The Esteem shares the same stainless steel nib as the Aero, but the plastic section...I'm not really a fan.

Takeaways/Where to Buy

It's probably unfair for me to compare this pen to the Aero, because I like the former pen so much, and - to be frank - the Aero is intended to be a nicer, and more expensive, pen. That said, I personally would probably recommend saving a bit more money and holding out for the Aero rather than purchasing the Esteem. However, if you dislike the Aero's design, or prefer a pen with a more classic design, the Esteem may end up being a better entry point into the Diplomat brand.

The Diplomat Esteem is a bit harder to find at retail that the Diplomat Aero, which has become one of Diplomat's premium "flagship" pens. As with the Aero, the MSRP on this pen is too high, at $95. Street price tends to be in the $50-75, which is more reasonable, and Amazon again has the best prices on Diplomat pens. Occasionally, you will find the Diplomat Esteem on Massdrop at a discount, typically in the sub-$50 range.

Disclaimer: Massdrop provided me with this pen through their affiliate/referral program at no charge.

Pen Review: Diplomat Aero

October 29, 2016

The biggest surprise from my 2016 D.C. Pen Show Haul was one of the lesser-known pens that I picked up: the Diplomat Aero. Diplomat is not as well-known in the States as other major German brands like Pelikan, Montblanc, Lamy, and Faber-Castell but they are building a small and loyal following, moreso than other smaller German manufacturers such as Otto Hutt and Cleo-Skribent. Let's just say there's a reason that they've been around since 1922. I've had the opportunity to write with multiple pens in Diplomat's lineup, and have been uniformly impressed, especially with the quality of the nibs. Along with the Otto Hutt Design 06, the Diplomat Aero has recently been one of my daily workhorses.

Unique Design and Quality Build

The "ribbed" design of the Diplomat Aero is its most distinctive visual feature.

The Aero sports one of the most unique fountain pen designs out there right now. (Well, there might be designs that are more "unique," but I'm referring to designs that are both unique and don't destroy the functionality of the pen.) It's inspired by the "Zeppelin" airships of the 1920s-1930s. The Company's "propeller" logo is painted on the top of the cap - more on that below. Overall, I enjoy the design. At first glance, some might consider this pen a little weird looking and even ostentatious, but in real life the design ends up being fairly understated, especially in the matte-black/gunmetal color scheme.

I enjoy using this pen posted more than unposted. The Aero is manufactured from relatively lightweight aluminum, so the fact that the pen is metal doesn't really affect the overall balance or make it awkward to use.

The Aero's aluminum construction gives it some heft, but this is a well-designed and well-balanced pen. Personally, I think this pen has better balance posted rather than unposted, but that's my preference with most pens as long as they aren't too long. The slip cap fits tightly, with no wiggle or play. It also posts firmly on the tapered end. The anodized section is grippy, slightly tapered, and makes the Aero a comfortable pen to use for long periods of time.

Those who don't like to post their pens will still be able to use the Aero just fine.

The clip has what I consider to be the optimal level of tension. It's not so loose that it feels flimsy, but it's not so tight that it won't easily clip to a shirt pocket. The matte black anodization on the clip makes it slide even easier.

I was able to easily scrape the Diplomat "propeller" logo off the top of the cap using a fingernail. Fortunately I like the look of the unadorned cap better.

The one issue I have with this pen has to do with the finish. Not necessarily the anodized coating that's applied to the metal body, clip, and section - which has held up very well - but with the painted Diplomat logo on the top of the cap. Mine started to flake off almost immediately, and I finally got so fed up with it that I took my fingernail to it and was able to completely remove it in less than 10 seconds. Honestly, this isn't a big deal for me because I like the plain black cap better than adorned version, but at this price point Diplomat needs to either fix this issue by actually etching the logo into the anodized coating or remove it from the top of the cap entirely. Flaking paint makes an otherwise excellent pen look cheap.

An Extremely Smooth JoWo Nib

As fun as the design is, the nib is what makes this pen a joy to use. My Aero sports a very smooth and very wet JoWo medium. This nib might be slightly wider than optimal for my style of writing, but for a stainless steel nib, it's been tuned perfectly. I met the Diplomat distributor at the D.C. Pen show, who told me that Diplomat has employees in the JoWo factory who personally test and tune all Diplomat nibs before they leave. I tend to believe this, because of the two Diplomat pens I own - the Aero and the lower-priced Diplomat Esteem - both write much better than stock JoWo nibs that I've purchased from other sources. These nibs clearly have been tuned.

Diplomat uses a standard cartridge/converter filling system. Nothing too exciting here.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I like this pen and don't regret adding it to my rotation. While the flaking paint issue is annoying, the nib is outstanding and I love the design and the matte black color scheme. (If it's all-black or red, I'll typically buy it.)

Diplomat is popping up in multiple online retailers as the brand gains popularity. MSRP on the Diplomat Aero is $195, with some dealers selling for around $160, which is what I paid purchasing from the distributor directly at the D.C. Pen Show. While I really enjoy the pen, $160 is high, and $195 prohibitively expensive, especially compared to a similarly priced pen like the Otto Hutt 06 that didn't have the annoying flaking paint issue.

Fortunately, you can usually find the Aero on Amazon at a more reasonable price (though the actual price changes regularly). Massdrop deals on this pen also pop up from time to time. In addition to the matte black model featured in this review, the Aero comes in a silver version and a very attractive brown. (Honestly, I eventually may pick up a brown version for myself. The color looks that good.)