Notebook Review: MOO Hardcover Notebook

November 30, 2016

While many excellent notebooks pass through my hands on a regular basis, you can only use so many, forcing you to make some hard choices if, like me, you have a never-ending (and ever-growing) stockpile/backlog. That said, I think that the new MOO Notebook is going to make the decision on what I'm using next pretty easy.

The Moo Notebook ships in a slipcase, which will look outstanding on your shelf once you're finished filling your notebook.

MOO is a stationery company perhaps best known for their high-end business cards and other business stationery. They recently released their first notebook, and were kind enough to offer me one for review. How do I like it? Well, I've already purchased two more (along with a swanky leather business card holder).

MOO is known for their packaging, and a lot of thought and attention obviously goes into it.

First things first: this is a classy-looking hardcover notebook, starting with the packaging. The notebook that I received came packed in a black gift box, and included a matching slipcover and pencil. The notebook itself is hardbound in charcoal/gray cloth, with lime green highlights on the inside cover to make things interesting. The notebook also came with an embossed MOO pencil! If you're looking for a gift for a notebook lover this holiday season, look no further - the Moo Notebook will impress. NOTE: (Please see my update at the bottom of this post about retail packaging compared with what I received, which is apparently a promotional bundle.)

A few samples of additional MOO stationery ship with the notebook.

The MOO pencil included with my notebook, labeled "Go Forth and Write." A nice touch!

So what about the paper? It's fairly heavy Munken-Kristall (Swedish) ruled paper that is suitable for most pens. None of the pens that I tested bled through, including fine and medium nib fountain pens, though I suspect that if you took a super wet stub or broad nib to this paper you might have a different experience. For the vast majority of people, however, this paper will do just fine. I personally would prefer a narrower ruling (or even graph or dot grid), but I can - and will - use this paper without an issue.

The MOO Notebook features 160 ruled pages of Swedish Munken-Kristall paper. I saw no bleed-through or show-through with any of the various pens and inks that I tested.

A couple design features make the MOO notebook unique from anything else I've seen on the market. The first is the binding. MOO uses a coptic-style binding, with a cover that separates from the spine in order to allow the notebook to lay flat more easily. The second is the inclusion of a seam of blank light green paper in the middle of the notebook that you can use as sketch paper, or even as a divider to break the notebook into different sections.

The MOO Notebook's unique binding and center seam

I worry that recently I've sounded like a bit of a broken record, giving high marks to most of the notebooks I've reviewed. After thinking on it, however, it's because much of what is coming onto the market these days is just that good. I love the fact that the majority of new notebooks that I've had the opportunity to try have been fountain pen-friendly. It finally seems that notebook manufacturers are starting to "get" what stationery enthusiasts are looking for, and realize the extent of the demand out there for nice-looking books with good paper.

Price Point and Where to Buy

You can buy these notebooks directly from MOO online, and you all are lucky! Until December 5, 2016, you can get the MOO notebook for $13.99 (!!??!), which is 30% off the already reasonable retail price of $19.99. I did a double take when I saw that one, then promptly ordered two more. Most of MOO's other goods are on sale as well. It's probably safe to say that you won't find a better quality notebook at the $13.99 price point, provided you like the aesthetics.

Even at the regular price point, given the overall quality of this product, $19.99 is a steal. When I first opened the box and saw the notebook, I would have pegged this as a $30 product, easily. Kudos to MOO for putting this out there at an accessible price. The MOO Hardcover Notebook should do well, and I look forward to seeing whether or not MOO introduces graph or dot-grid versions in the future.

Update

I heard from the folks at MOO, who let me know that the Black Box and Pencil are special promotional packaging for the notebook's launch. Notebooks purchased from the MOO website will include just the hardcover notebook and the slipcover. My apologies for any confusion, but at the MOO Notebook's attractive price point, the packaging issue doesn't change my opinion that this is still an excellent deal and would make a nice holiday gift!

Disclaimer: I received this product from MOO free of charge for review purposes, though I have since purchased additional books using my own funds. I was not otherwise compensated for this review.

Introducing the Pencil Crown, from Elegant Utility

November 29, 2016

Here's something for all you pencil fans out there. Elegant Utility, an Etsy seller based in Long Island, New York, has developed a neat product that adds better balance to uncapped pencils. The product is called the Pencil Crown, and it's a small piece of brass, slightly larger than your typical ferrule + eraser, that slides over the end of the pencil.

The Pencil Crown should fit most untipped pencils fairly easily.

I'm one of those people that ordinarily prefers a pencil with an eraser because I think, in general, they are more comfortable to write with. The weight of the ferrule gives the pencil a more comfortable balance in your hand, and the Pencil Crown makes up for this on a pencil that otherwise lacks an eraser. Technically, you can use the Pencil Crown with any pencil, provided you first remove the ferrule or dipped end, but I think I'll end up using this more for uncapped pencils like the Caran d'Ache Grafik pictured here.

The Pencil Crown gives a nice weight to pencils that I would otherwise find too light.

A huge thank you to Michael at Elegant Utility for sending this Pencil Crown over for review. If this product interests you, please visit the Elegant Utility Etsy store. In addition to the Pencil Crown, Elegant Utility also sells a version of the Pencil Crown with an eraser, the Pencil Pal (best described as their version of the bullet pencil), and the Pencil Companion (a pencil holder/extender), among other unique objects.

Disclaimer: The Pencil Crown was sent to me free of charge by Elegant Utility for review purposes.

Pen Review: Steel and Flint Pen

November 26, 2016

The Steel and Flint Pen has made its way into my top three pen Kickstarter projects (and that’s of all time, not just this year). The design is clean, the pen is compact enough to go everywhere in my pocket, and I've discovered a new daily-writer refill that I’m absolutely crazy about, the Schmidt Easyflow 9000. In short, if you’re a pocket pen aficionado looking for a reliable ballpoint to add to your daily carry, look no further. Go back this pen now.

The Steel and Flint pen posted, in hand. You can certainly use this pen unposted, but given the design, posted seems to be the natural way to go.

Steel and Flint is the brainchild of Mike Hancox, located in the UK. This pen is his first Kickstarter project, and I have to say I’m impressed with both the idea and the execution. The aspects of this pen that have received the most attention are the knurling on the grip and the magnetic, "soft-close" cap. The knurling provides a textured surface for gripping the pen without being too sharp, while the cap works as advertised (see demonstration below). The cap runs nearly the entire length of the pen and fits tightly whether the pen is capped or posted. The pen also has a nice girth and balance: it's compact enough to remain pocketable, but just large enough to hold comfortably when writing for relatively long periods of time. You won't be writing novels with this pen, but it should meet any reasonable pocket pen expectations.

GIF courtesy of Steel and Flint. Check out the soft-close mechanism with the magnetic action!

The Steel and Flint pen comes in three colors: Satin Silver, Champagne Gold, and Basalt Black. My pen is the Champagne Gold, and I was pleasantly surprised at the color. It’s definitely NOT the option I would have chosen myself, but I absolutely love how it turned out. This is why it’s a good thing to have people surprise you from time to time to push your boundaries! I'll also note that this finish holds up well to pocket carry. I've kept this pen in my pocket all week (with keys) and dropped its on its end multiple times, yet there's not a single scratch or dent on it. Not to say that normal wear and tear doesn't add character, but how this pen has held up to rough treatment certainly speaks to the quality of the product.

From left, a visual comparison of the Steel and Flint pen to the Kaweco Brass Sport, the Baron Fig Squire, the Lamy 2000 ballpoint, and the Franklin-Christoph Pocket 20.

At least one Kickstarter commenter has raised the issue of similarity to CW&T’s Pen Type B. While there is some visual similarity, any fair comparison probably ends there. The Steel and Flint pen is much smaller and lighter, is made from a different material (aluminum vs. brass/steel), features a knurled grip, and uses an entirely different refill and closing mechanism. For now, they also sit at drastically different price points ($70 for Steel and Flint vs. $160 for Pen Type B). Honestly, in terms of look and feel, the Steel and Flint pen reminds me more of a cross between the Baron Fig Squire and the Lamy Pico than anything else.

At the end of the day, what sold this pen for me as a good daily writer is the refill. For some reason, I’ve never had the opportunity to use the Schmidt Easyflow 9000 ballpoint refill, and that’s a shame. After using this pen for a few days, I ordered a pack of six, and have since swapped out all my Retro 51 / Schmidt liquid ink rollerball refills for the EasyFlow. It’s that good, reminiscent of the Uniball Jetstream or Pilot Acroball, with a slightly darker line. Unfortunately, I think a lot of pen manufacturers are afraid to go with the EasyFlow refill as the flagship refill because it's not trendy and people consider it "boring." Steel and Flint made a good choice here, but if you absolutely don't like ballpoints the pen will accept any Parker-style refill.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I've been very pleased with my prototype Steel and Flint pen, and I'm glad to see that the project is now 100% funded as of a couple days ago. Congrats to Mike and his team! You get in on the action until December 16, 2016 by going to the project Kickstarter page. Early birds are sold out, but you can still snag a pen for around $70 (depending on the dollar-to-pound exchange rate). I've heard that post-Kickstarter retail will be around $100, which most people agree seems a touch high for an aluminum pocket pen, but I'll reserve judgment until I see the final product. There are some Kickstarter add-on options that you may want to check out as well, including personalized laser engraving and a leather pen sleeve.

If you're still on the fence about whether this pen might work for you, check out Brad's review over at the Pen Addict, Ian's review over at Pens! Paper! Pencils!, and Mike Dudek's review over at the Clicky Post.

Disclaimer: This pen was sent to me free of charge for review purposes. This post may also contain affiliate links to third-party sites.

Notebook Review: Dingbats* Medium A5+ Notebook

November 23, 2016

I continue to be amazed at the sheer number of new stationery brands being brought to my attention on a near-daily basis. A few weeks ago I was asked to review a new notebook from Lebanon, marketed under the name of Dingbats*. Dingbats* (the asterisk is part of the name) launched a Kickstarter project that did not fund, but they still managed to get their notebooks manufactured and have diligently been working to gain visibility in an increasingly crowded notebook/stationery market.

According to their website, Dingbats* notebooks are manufactured by hand in Lebanon. Mohamad, the proprietor, is a descendant of one of the oldest established Lebanese stationery companies, who now looks to carry on his family's business for another generation. This bit of history makes these notebooks unique to me and immediately piqued my interest.

One great feature of the Dingbats* notebook is that it lays completely flat when open.

The Dingbats* notebook features a very soft synthetic leather cover embossed with an animal design, 100gsm cream/ivory paper, and all the other trappings of the modern, "nice bound notebook": inner pocket, elastic closure, and ribbon bookmark. What interests me about these Dingbats* books, and what will likely set them apart in the larger market, are (1) a pen loop; (2) the fact that all 96 sheets are micro-perforated, allowing you to easily remove pages from your notebook for scanning, filing, shredding, etc.; and (3) a reliable lay-flat design. Be aware that these notebooks are slightly larger than your standard A5 (It's labeled A5+), measuring 8.4 x 6.3 inches. I suspect they will not fit an A5 notebook cover, if you are looking for a refill.

The inner pocket on the back cover. Check out the pattern on the end paper!

So how does the Dingbats* notebook write? In short, it's a good notebook that I would characterize as fountain pen friendly and will play nice with most of your other pens and pencils. I really tried to push the paper, pressing down hard with a fairly wet medium nib, and was only able to get the slightest hint of show-through on the other side. There was no noticeable feathering or bleeding.

My only critique of this notebook is that mine has some minor issues with the glue on the binding. Some of the pages were stuck together, so in a couple instances I had to manually separate them in order to get the notebook to lay completely flat. There was a similar issue with my back inside cover, where glue appears to have leaked out from under the inner pocket and caused the heavier stock paper of the end pages to stick together. None of this impacts the functionality of the notebook, of course, and I've noticed similar issues in first-generation products from other brands as well (like the Baron Fig Confidant). I'd expect to see these issues get worked out in the future.

Update: I heard back from Dingbats*, and they confirmed that the glue issue was a problem with a small number of notebooks from their initial batch, that should no longer be in retail channels. In other words, this shouldn't be an issue going forward.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Dingbats* makes a nice leather notebook that I think I'll enjoy using once I finally finish this Leuchtturm 1917 I've had going for a while. The paper is heavy enough stock to use with most pens, and I LOVE the perforated pages. While the book I received had a few hiccups, I'm not a notebook perfectionist (I pretty much destroy them, after all) so this wouldn't stop me from buying/using more Dingbats* notebooks. Honestly, if I didn't already have notebooks coming out my ears, I probably would pick up a couple more to stash away.

Dingbats* notebooks are sold via Amazon. The medium notebook featured in this review sells for $20, which is fairly standard for this type/quality of product. Dingbats* offers other sizes as well, including a much larger "A4+" (11.8 x 8.5), a top-bound "A6+" (4.1 x 6.1), and some "pocket" A6 notebooks (5.5 x 3.5). Please check them out and give them a try.

Disclaimer: Dingbats* sent me this notebook for review purposes, at no charge.

Pen Review: Faber-Castell E-Motion

November 16, 2016

I've developed a thing for German pens, especially those with steel nibs that write as well as gold. It's a sign that the design and manufacturing teams value attention to detail and quality control. Over the past six months, the Otto Hutt Design 06 and the Pelikan M205 Transparent Blue have both made their way into my regular rotation. Now I need to pick up a fountain pen from Faber-Castell.

Faber-Castell's international headquarters is located in Stein, Germany, while Faber-Castell USA is based in Cleveland, Ohio. Most of us in the States know the company for their pencils. Those of us who went to school in the 1980s-1990s might recall the ubiquitous Faber-Castell American pencils (of which I have a massive nostalgia stash). But Faber-Castell also manufactures a line of high-quality fountain pens, as well as a line of more expensive pens (read, $500+) marketed under the name Graf von Faber-Castell. The pen I'm going to review today is the e-motion, from the standard Faber-Castell line, which also includes pens such as the Ambition, the Basic, the Ondoro, and the Loom.

Build/Construction

The Faber-Castell e-motion is not a small pen, but the tapered design makes it feel relatively compact and comfortable to use.

The e-motion has a unique chunky design that some people may resist at first, but it grows on you. Why? Because this pen is extremely comfortable to hold. The wide body and tapered ends allow the pen to sit in your hand quite comfortably. To me, the pen is a touch short to use unposted, though if you have smaller hands I could see how posting this pen might make it feel top-heavy.

The e-motion sports one of the best spring-loaded clips that I've used.

This particular model of the e-motion features chrome trim and a white resin barrel with a guilloche/herringbone pattern etched into it. Other models of the e-motion combine the chrome trim with various woods, and there's even a blacked-out version for all you stealth pen fanatics.

The Nib and Writing Experience

The broad nib on this pen is exceptional - there's really no other way to describe it. However, Faber-Castell's broads (or "bolds" as some people like to call them) are too wide for me. At one point I owned a Faber-Castell Ambition with a broad nib, but ended up passing that pen along to my friend Bob over at My Pen Needs Ink. These nibs are indeed quite broad and very wet, which aren't the best for my handwriting style. When I eventually add a Faber-Castell to my collection, I will need to go with a medium or a fine.

Faber-Castell steel nibs are made by either Bock or JoWo - I've heard conflicting reports. Either way, they are excellent writers.

In terms of smoothness, though, this pen is unmatched, straight out of the box and unmodified. Ink flow, while heavy, has been consistent without any skips or hard starts. I'm often asked why people should be willing to spend the extra money and pay north of $100 for a pen with a steel nib. This is your answer. Every Faber-Castell pen I have tried has been tuned to near-perfection. This pen writes every bit as well as any gold nib I have used, and better than most. While you may spend more up front, you won't have to shell out for nib tuning later (unless, of course, you want to turn the pen into a stub, italic, etc.).

As you might expect, the Faber-Castell broad nib is, well, broad!

A quick note on the ink I used for this review: Anderson pens sent me a bag of samples from the Bookbinders line. Bookbinders is yet another excellent Australian ink brand that has made its way into global retail. The ink featured in this review is the aptly named Eastern Brown Snake. I plan on using these inks more before I write a comprehensive review, but let's say I enjoyed this one!

A close-up of Bookbinder's Eastern Brown Snake

Where to Buy

Thanks to the team at Anderson Pens for loaning me this pen to review. While this particular barrel pattern and color scheme doesn't really do it for me, fortunately Faber-Castell offers a wide variety of different looks, including the E-Motion "Pure Black" edition and Black Pearwood. Pricing on this pen ranges anywhere from $130 for the standard editions to $175 for the Pure Black. That Pure Black is calling my name!

If you'd like to read further on this pen, check out Ian's review over at Pens! Paper! Pencils!, as well as Mary's review at From the Pen Cup.

Disclaimer: The pen featured in this review was provided to me free of charge by Anderson Pens (on loan) for review purposes.

Price Point and Where to Buy

**Update**

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Build/Construction

The Nib and Writing Experience

Where to Buy

Update