Hobonichi Planner: Thoughts After One Year

January 4, 2017

Back in May, I offered my initial thoughts after spending five months with the Hobonichi Planner. For those of you unfamiliar with the Hobonichi, a quick recap; it's a bound notebook with dated pages that's sold and marketed as a planner, and many people use it for that purpose. Unlike most "planners," however, the Hobonichi uses the amazing fountain-pen friendly Tomoe River paper, and its pages aren't set up in such a way that precludes you from using the book as something other than a planner, such as a journal, commonplace book, life log, etc.

When I ordered my first Hobonichi in December 2015, I intended to use it as a journal, and for the most part that's what I've done, using it to jot down quotes, thoughts, accomplishments, significant events in my life - you get the idea. Using the Hobonichi's "single-page-per-day" format for journaling is a lot less intimidating than starting a journal in a blank book. It doesn't look "out of place" to fill up only a quarter of a page, and there were many uneventful days where I couldn't muster more than a few lines. I even allowed myself to miss some days entirely, though it didn't happen very often. When I did miss a day or left a page mostly blank, sometimes I'd come back and use the empty space (on that awesome paper) to jot down thoughts on a potential blog post, test an ink, etc.

So What's New?

Honestly, my first year with the Hobonichi was an experiment, and now that I know I that I like the Hobonichi format and have a use for this product, I've spent some more time thinking about how I'd like to use the book differently to maximize both my enjoyment and the utility. A few ideas that I plan to try out:

A planner for certain things. I'm going to continue to use the Hobonichi as a journal (or as much of a "journal" as I keep), but I also want to try to use it as more of a planner for certain specific things, such as the blog/website. (I tried this for a bit last year and liked it, but fell off the wagon about halfway through.) Another great feature of the Hobonichi is that it's basically three planners in one. The day-per-page section makes up the bulk of the pages, but the front of the book also contains a traditional month-on-two-pages section and a column-style layout with four months on two pages. The latter looks like it would be perfect for a blog editorial calendar. (See pictures of the various layouts below.)
More specificity. I also want to be a bit more active in writing things down. I spent some time over the holidays reading back through last year's entries, and was pleasantly surprised at how much fun it was to recall small details that I had completely forgotten about: the name of a restaurant where we had dinner on vacation, something hysterically funny my daughter said, little things, seemingly insignificant at the time, that would otherwise be lost if I hadn't taken 30 seconds to jot them down.
Lists. I like making comprehensive lists but I'm really bad at maintaining them over the long-term. It's been a goal of mine for a while to keep good running lists of books I've read and want to read, music I want to listen to, pens I've tried, various "wish lists," etc. The problem is that I start them in several different places and don't update them. At least some of these are going into the Hobonichi, which has 12 blank dot-grid pages at the back.

The common thread running through all of these "goals" is that most of them require that I carry the Hobonichi with me, if not all the time, certainly more than last year when it lived on my desk at home. Good thing it's extremely portable! I also invested in a canvas and plastic cover, so there's less concern about this small journal getting smashed up in a bag.

Where to Buy the Hobonichi Planner

If you're interested in getting the Hobonichi Planner into your hands as quickly as possible, Amazon is your best bet due to the Prime shipping eligibility. The official Hobonichi Covers are a bit hard to come by, so you may have to order them directly from Japan, but you can find third-party versions on Amazon, including some from Galen Leather (whose products I've reviewed before). Jetpens also stocks both the Hobonichi and the cover but they are currently out of stock.

At some point I'd like to try Hobonichi products other than the A6 planner. There is a larger A5 size Hobonichi "Cousin," as well as a smaller "Hobonichi Weeks" version that is slim enough to slip into a jacket pocket. If you like the A6 size and layout but want a slimmer book, the original Techo is also sold in two volumes, called the "Hobonichi Avec."

A final note: The naming conventions of the various Hobonichi products can be somewhat confusing at first. The "Hobonichi Planner," which is what I own and what is pictured above, is the English-language version of the "Hobonichi Techo," the original A6 planner from Japan. To my knowledge, the Hobonichi Planner is the only English-language Hobonichi - all others are in Japanese - but that doesn't stop many non-Japanese speakers from using the Japanese versions. YMMV depending on how you want to use the book, so be warned before you order anything other than the English-language planner.

Disclaimer: I purchased the product featured in this review with my own funds, for my own use. This post contains affiliate links.

My "Top Nine" Instagram Photos from 2016. Follow me on Instagram at @gentlemanstationer.

The Gentleman Stationer 2016 Year-End Review

December 31, 2016

Another year rolls to a close, and here at The Gentleman Stationer I'm about to celebrate this blog's third full year! I have a lot of exciting stuff planned for the coming weeks and months, but today I wanted to take a brief moment to recap what's been an eventful year (in stationery and other "analog-related" topics - I don't get into that other stuff). After some consideration, I've organized this piece into several different sections: (1) my five best purchases of 2016, (2) the most intriguing/innovative products that hit the market in 2016, (3) most popular posts from 2016; and (4) some personal reflections and goals for 2017.

Top 5 Pen Purchases of 2016

My pen acquisitions slowed significantly in 2016. After a somewhat crazy 2015, I sold off a large chunk of my collection - mostly pens that I wasn't using very much - and for the most part invested in a smaller number of higher-end pens. I've found myself using and enjoying what I have much more than before, and I'll continue this collecting "strategy" in 2017. Here are my five favorite purchases from 2016, based on nothing other than my own enjoyment and opinion.

Lamy 2000 4-Color Ballpoint Multi Pen. I've only owned it for a month or so, but I haven't put it down since. I enjoy multifunction pens for their convenience, and since so much of the daily writing that I do is notetaking for my day job, having both ballpoint and gel pens (and even highlighters!) in a single pen body is awesome.
Pilot Custom 823. The pen that everybody waits too long to buy. This pen has a massive ink capacity and a sweet nib. It's become one of my most-recommended pens, especially for people who write a lot and are looking for a single "daily driver" workhorse.
Pilot Myu. I have Thomas to "blame" for my acquisition of not one, but two, Pilot Myus this year. The Myu was Pilot's integrated nib pen from the 1970s that people are clamoring for Pilot to bring back. Look for a review/write-up soon. (Link via Clickypost)
Pelikan M800 Burnt Orange. Like the Custom 823, I held off on purchasing a Pelikan M800 for a while, mainly because I didn't find a version that spoke to me. At this year's Atlanta Pen Show, I came across the Special Edition Burnt Orange M800, which hooked me. The review has been in the works for a while, since I want to do the pen justice, but it's coming. (Note: These pens are now starting to sell out as we move into a new special edition cycle. Act quick if you want one.) (Link via Pelikan's Perch)
Sailor 1911 Black Luster. An absolutely beautiful Sailor that is up there with the Imperial Black Edition as a possible best-of-all-time pen for me. Yes, it has a metal section, but the pen is well-balanced, and the ion-plated coating on the section avoids many of the slipperiness problems that plague other metal pens.

My Favorite New Products from 2016

The analog resurgence led to what, at times, seemed like near-daily releases of new pen, paper, and ink-related products in 2016. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to try out many of them. These stood out to me.

Steel and Flint Pen. I love everything about this Kickstarter pen, from the light weight to the knurled grip to the Schmidt Easyflow refill. Following a successfully funded Kickstarter campaign, it will be interesting to see what Steel and Flint does next.
BigiDesign Ti Arto. Somebody finally did it: a universal refill pen that lives up to the hype. If you're an EDC aficionado or someone who likes to have only one pen, this may actually be the last pen you ever need.
Moo Hardcover Notebook. One of the most beautifully designed notebooks I've seen. I have this book waiting in the wings as the "next up".
Slice Planner. An interesting undated planner/notebook that borrows heavily from the Chronodex system. If you buy into this type of planning/time logging, I highly recommend that you check this notebook out once the company finishes Kickstarter fulfillment. It may not be for everybody, but the Slice Planner was one of those products that met an immediate need in my workflow.
Write Notepads Pocket Notebook Subscription Service. On the other end of the spectrum, here's something that I didn't need at all, but ended up giving me endless amounts of enjoyment. I like what Write Notepads is doing with their limited edition pocket notebook series, and can't wait to see the upcoming Winter quarterly edition.

Most Popular Posts from 2016

This quick list is based solely on the amount of traffic these posts received, and nothing more. It's interesting to see what my readers are interested in, and we definitely share an affinity for Pilot and other Japanese brands.

Five Best Fountain Pen Inks for Everyday Writing. I still stand by all of these ink recommendations. I haven't used Skrip Red or Diamine Oxblood in a while, though. A good reminder to break these out!
Pilot Custom 823 Review. Already linked to above, but people are (rightfully) interested in this pen.
Pilot Iroshizuku Tsuki-Yo Review. A beautiful dark teal Iroshizuku ink that often gets overlooked in favor of Shin-Kai and Kon-Peki.
Pilot Custom Heritage 92 Review. An excellent pen that saw heavy use this year. I say this all the time, but I wish Pilot would introduce the blue, orange, and smoke demonstrators into the US market.
Platinum 3776 Review. I use Platinum's Ultra Extra-Fine nib much more than I thought I would for everyday notetaking. Following a tuning by Mike Masuyama, this nib is remarkably smooth for how fine a line it writes. As for the 3776 itself, the understated design probably causes it to fly under most people's radar, but the nibs on these pens are exceptional writers.

Personal Reflections and Goals

A few things that I want to talk about don't really fall into any of the previous categories. Here are some quick reflections on my own past year in pens and where I think I'm headed in 2017.

I bought a lot less ink this year. Not due to lack of interest, but because there is SO MUCH new ink being released. It's almost intimidating - I've basically given up trying to keep up with and review all of these new brands and colors. I also realized that because I already own so much ink, I probably have a close approximation of any shade I could possibly be looking for, so other than super unique colors that grab my attention, there's really no incentive for me to keep loading up on ink.
I plan to move even more into "analog" and away from "digital" in other areas of my life. Chalk this up to recency bias, but I finished David Sax's The Revenge of Analog last night and found it quite inspiring. My life could definitely benefit from incorporating some of the benefits and enjoyment I find in pens and paper into other areas of interest, such as photography, reading, music, watches, etc. I'll definitely write more on this topic in the future.
I plan to scale back on pen acquisitions even further. I'll probably continue buying fewer pens, and worrying less about spending money on those pens I really, really want. Interestingly, I purchased much more expensive pens this past year, but spent less money overall on this pen hobby.
I want to enjoy new aspects of the pen/stationery hobby. This year I dabbled in things like wax seal stamps (thanks to Kustom Haus), and I'd like to give both journaling and regular letter writing another shot. The trick will be finding out how to work them into an already jam-packed day.
Use more notebooks. An annual promise to myself, but I did better this year (especially with pocket notebooks) and want to keep things rolling forward. I really, really need to burn through my backlog of A5 journal-style notebooks.

Finally, thanks to all of you who read this blog and make it fun to write. I've enjoyed corresponding with many of you by e-mail, letter, and social media, and meeting many of you in person at pen shows. The pen and stationery community is a great one, and I'm proud to be a member and contributor!

Kaweco Classic Sport Refresh: New Colors!

December 28, 2016

I can't believe that I've being writing this blog for going on three years without ever having properly reviewed the Kaweco Classic Sport. It's not as bad as it sounds - I've reviewed many variations on Kaweco's popular pocket pen, including the aluminum AL Sport, the aluminum/carbon fiber AC Sport, and the Brass Sport, not to mention countless other Kaweco pens. The classic Sport, however, is considered Kaweco's flagship, and probably the pen that first comes to mind when I'm asked for a recommendation on a pocket fountain pen.

All Kaweco Sports - and all Kaweco pens in general - feature the Kaweco cap jewel with the company's logo.

The Kaweco Classic Sport isn't fancy - it's a plastic, cartridge-only fountain pen with a steel nib that retails for around $25. The low price point and general ease of use makes the Sport a great fountain pen for beginners, and even experienced fountain pen enthusiasts like myself regularly rely on the sport as an everyday carry-type pocket pen. The wide range of colors also makes the pens fun to collect, and Kaweco typically updates the line annually and collaborates with retailers around the world on special editions.

The Kaweco Classic Sports in Macchiato and Red (which has a bit of an orange tint to it, though perhaps not quite as pronounced as in these pictures).

The two pens pictured here are colors that were introduced in 2016: red (always a personal favorite) and a mocha-color "macchiato" version. The macchiato pen is from the "Skyline" series, which features more muted colors with silver trim.

Kaweco Macchiato Sport with both broad and medium nib writing samples. Inks are Kaweco Ruby Red (a personal favorite) and Kaweco Smokey Grey (a new color this year).

Side Note: Kaweco does make converters for the Sport, but you're probably better off refilling your cartridges with a syringe if you want to use bottled ink. Cartridges hold more ink than a Kaweco Sport converter, and they're much less temperamental.

Takeaways/Where to Buy

I've been using Kaweco pens for years, and I always have some version of the Sport in my collection. They see regular use as pocket pens, and the Kaweco steel medium nib remains a favorite for everyday writing. As of 2023, The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of Kaweco, including the Classic and Skyline Sport pens featured here.

Disclaimer: Kaweco sent me these two pens free of charge for review purposes.

Pen Review: Uniball Jetstream Multi Pen

December 21, 2016

I've been on a bit of a multifunction pen kick recently, picking up a handful of multi pens as part of a larger project I'm working on comparing the different options currently available on the market. A good multi pen has become an integral part of my daily carry and my workflow, giving me access to different ink types and colors - and sometimes a mechanical pencil - in one pen body. As I've said before, the downside to multi pens in general is that the refills can run out quickly, increasing the long-term cost of your "efficient" purchase. The Uniball Jetstream multi pen, which I'll review today, is probably one of the more cost-effective options of the "higher-end" multi pen bodies.

Four colors of ink + a .5mm mechanical pencil.

Uniball's Jetstream pens are famous for their smooth, quick-drying hybrid ballpoint ink that doesn't smear, and Jetstream multi pen refills are no different. The model that I purchased features a .5mm mechanical pencil, plus four different ink colors: black, blue, red, and green. With the exception of the green, the inks all lay on dark and smooth. (Like many green ballpoint inks, I found the Jetstream green be a bit skippy and somewhat temperamental.)

As you can see, most of the colors write a nice, solid line, with the exception of the finicky green.

The one potential drawback for some people might be the size of the pen. I'd characterize the Jetstream multi pen as moderately large, and since it's a five-unit pen, this thing has some girth. Despite the bit of bulk, it's very comfortable to use due to good ergonomics and a light weight. I also found the soft grip section very comfortable.

.5mm vs .7mm

There is something of a debate with respect to .5mm vs .7mm in the Jetstream line. Many people don't like the .5mm and find it writes too thin and scratchy of a line. I've personally had nothing but good experiences with the .5mm, but the .7mm is excellent as well, so if you're on the fence I would go with the wider tip size. You can always swap the refills out later.

Takeaways/Where to Buy

I'm really enjoying the Jetstream multi pen, especially at work where I need a fine point for annotation and I sometimes have to deal with copy paper so thin that it's impossible to use with fountain pens. The ability to switch between different color inks on the fly, knowing that all of them will write reasonably well on nearly all paper, removes yet another thing from the "worry list" in the midst of a hectic workday.

In addition to the excellent writing experience it offers, the Uniball Jetstream is probably the most reasonably priced of the good multi pens out there on the market. Right now, you can find both the .5mm version and the .7mm version on the market in various iterations, including several special editions that Uni has been releasing such as the “Bamboo” version that we stock in our own shop. Individual color refills are also available separately. Note that the refills for this particular multi pen are proprietary, so you are limited to the four colors Uniball offers and won't be able to swap in refills from another brand (unless, of course, you figure out a way to hack the pen.)

For those of you who already use a multi pen that accepts D1 refills (like the Lamy 2000 4-color ballpoint), Jetpens also carries a Uniball Jetstream D1 refill, which is more expensive but makes for a nice writing experience.

Disclaimer: I purchased the pen featured in this review with my own funds for my personal collection.

Pen Review: Montegrappa Passione

December 17, 2016

You can probably guess how quickly I jumped at the chance to review this pen, the Montegrappa Passione. I've never owned a Montegrappa - prior to receiving this pen I'd never even written with one - so I had no idea what to expect. I came away impressed and looking to learn more about the brand.

Though their edgier, super-expensive limited editions like the "Pirates" and "Memory" pens tend to grab the most press, Montegrappa's more classic designs have developed a following among fountain pen fans. In recent years, the company has introduced the Fortuna series (in countless variants), as well as pens such as the Parola and the Ducale. All of these pens are vintage-inspired and good examples of what could be considered classic Italian pen design. The celluloid and sterling silver Passione is the latest entry into the Montegrappa lineup, and it's both visually stunning and an excellent writer.

Build

The Passione has all the hallmarks of a high-dollar pen that's worth what you pay for it: a sterling silver section and trim, celluloid, an 18k gold nib with an ebonite feed, and an understated design that is easily characterized as "timeless" rather than "trendy." Yes, this pen does have a metal section, which might rule it out for some people, but the the heft of the silver balances the lightweight celluloid nicely. It's an extremely well-balanced pen to write with, though I opted to use this pen unposted. Posted, I found the Passione a bit long and top-heavy, probably due to the sterling silver trim on the cap.

The "1912" finial on the cap ended up being one of my favorite features of this pen. Also, check out the red enamel inlay on the clip.

I'm always happy to see modern pen companies use celluloid, which is one of my favorite pen materials of all time and gives pens a vintage feel. This particular celluloid, which Montegrappa calls "Cinnamon," to me resembles red and black swirled ebonite. It's a very pretty material, and at some point I'd like to see the other Passione options in person: the pen is also available in Mediterranean Blue, Orange, and Zebra. Each celluloid has a different pattern. Zebra looks particularly stunning - you can check it out in Matt's review over at the Pen Habit.

The Passione sports a cartridge-converter filling system. While some people might balk at the lack of a piston filler at this price point, I honestly don't mind, and have come to prefer cartridge-converter pens overall due to the ease of cleaning, especially since I change inks often.

A close-up of the Passione Cinnamon celluloid, with Montegrappa's roller-clip and engraved cap band.

Montegrappa Passione in Presentation Box

Nib and Writing Experience

The Passione is a great writer, period. Montegrappa uses relatively stiff 18k nibs - I'd compare the nib on this particular pen to an Aurora Optima nib, or maybe a Sailor. The Passione also features an ebonite feed, which can be heat-set to the nib to ensure steady ink flow. I'd characterize this nib as extremely smooth, moderately wet, and size-wise on the narrower side of medium. While the pen probably performs best on fountain-pen friendly paper, paired with a drier ink I wouldn't hesitate to carry this pen to work and use it as a daily driver.

Takeaways

If you're looking for a celluloid pen with an excellent nib, the Montegrappa Passione should be on your list of pens to try. It's an expensive pen, but it's made with expensive materials, and Montegrappa didn't cut any corners on the workmanship. In my opinion, you get what you pay for here. Whether the design appeals to you, of course, is always an issue of personal preference.

Time spent with the Passione has definitely increased my interest in Montegrappa as a brand. I've already placed an order for the Montegrappa Fortuna in white with ruthenium trim (the "stormtrooper" aesthetic), and I'm anxious to see how Montegrappa's steel nibs compare to their gold. While I'm not sure that I'll be picking up a Passione in the immediate future, it's not because I dislike the pen. Rather, I'm saving my money for one of Montegrappa's Flagship Extra 1930s in the Bamboo Black. (And I'll probably be saving for a while.)

Where to Buy

Montegrappa recently lowered the MSRP on the Passione to $795, with most retailers now listing the pen for just over $700. Nibs.com currently has all four colors of the Passione in stock and priced at $716. In case you're unfamiliar with the company, Nibs.com is owned and operated by master nibworker John Mottishaw, one of the best in the business. Every pen sold is set up and tuned to the purchaser's preference, and you even have the option of requesting a custom nib modification at checkout (for a supplemental charge). I've purchased pens from Nibs.com before and have always found their service to be top notch. They've also recently redesigned their website, making it much easier to navigate.

Disclaimer: Kenro Industries (Montegrappa's U.S. Distributor) loaned me this pen for review purposes. Though I contemplated keeping it and absconding to a remote island, I ultimately decided that I should send it back so Cary doesn't get in trouble.