New Product: Say Nice Things Notebooks and Journals

January 18, 2017

As much as I love pens, I have long had a soft spot for good notebooks, especially where a lot of thought has plainly gone into design and manufacturing. The past two years have seen the release of some great new products, and these books from a UK-based company called Say Nice Things are no exception.

The "Cadence" Notebook from Say Nice Things.

Andy from Say Nice Things sent me two hardcover books, a "Curtis" A5 Journal, and a "Cadence" A5 Notebook, and I'm impressed with both. The covers are made from what the company calls a "soft Peltouch" material (it feels like vinyl) with a screenprint pattern. The "Curtis" features a dark glossy polka dot pattern with a blue highlight in the bottom left-hand corner, while the "Cadence" features a bicycle pattern with a white highlight. The covers feel very durable, lay flat, and close snugly with a tight elastic band.

The "Curtis" A5 Journal from Say Nice Things.

The layout of these notebooks makes them somewhat unique. The journal is a larger book, with 192 pages of 90gsm paper, split into six 32-page sections with an index and tabs for easy navigation. Four of the sections contain lined paper, one contains a combination of blank and graph pages for "sketching and colouring," and the last contains an undated 12-month calendar "for forward planning."

The notebook is noticeably slimmer, reminiscent of a Quo Vadis Habana, with 128 pages of the same 90gsm paper, but broken into three "sections" of 95 lined pages, 16 plain pages, and 17 reticle grid pages. I like that Say Nice Things has included different sections within their notebooks: the concept reminds me of the five-subject notebooks that I used to use in school, updated for today's popular bound hardback format. These are very attractive, understated notebooks, and I can see myself easily using both in a professional setting.

I'm impressed with the paper quality, though there was some disparity between how the white paper in the Cadence notebook and the gray paper in the Curtis journal handled fountain pen ink. I tested the paper in the Cadence with every fountain pen I have inked up at the moment - including a very wet Visconti Homo Sapiens Dark Ages - and did not experience any bleed-through or feathering. It's absorbent paper - not glossy - but it handled the fine and medium nibs I threw at it extremely well. On the other hand, the Curtis's gray paper did ok with fine nibs, but I can definitely see how you might experience show-through and some bleed-through with very wet broad (or even medium) fountain pen nibs. Other types of pens and pencils should be fine. Overall, I would say that the paper quality on both notebooks is very good, and I could easily use both on a daily basis.

Where to Buy

You can order from Say Nice Things directly via their website. The company just launched a month or so ago, but they already have a wide range of notebooks and journals for sale, including some colorful options. They are competitively priced, with the 128-page A5 notebook coming in at £12.50 ($15.40 US), and the larger 192-page journal priced at £25 ($30.81 US).

Disclaimer: Say Nice Things sent me these notebooks free of charge for review purposes.

The Revenge of Analog

January 14, 2017

You've probably heard me talk before about David Sax's wildly popular new book, The Revenge of Analog: Real Things and Why They Matter, which explores the modern resurgence in "analog" technologies and what the author believes to be the reasons for it. While I'm hesitant to tell anyone that they should read any book, I'm pretty confident that anyone who's a regular reader of a blog like this one would find Revenge of Analog worth their while.

Sax divides the book into two sections: "The Revenge of Analog Things," and "The Revenge of Analog Ideas." The first talks about the recent resurgence of products previously considered "obsolete": vinyl records, paper, film, and board games. The second takes a broader look at the role of analog in society, specifically with regard to print media, retail space, our work and school lives, and even summer camp. The book confirms what many readers of this blog probably already know: the "purely digital life" can feel pretty empty, even pointless, and making an effort to reemphasize analog can breathe some life back into it.

The reason our increasingly digital world can be so profoundly unsatisfying is because it can't replace what analog offers: a tactile experience that engages with all our senses, not just "ones and zeros" stored on a hard drive and viewed through a screen. How many of you remember forming a strong emotional attachment to your physical music collection (whether vinyl records, CDs, or tapes)? Now how many of you feel the same about your Apple Music or Spotify library, or even all those songs you have scanned into iTunes? The same goes for pens. I have pens that I carried through middle and high school, some of which were given to me by friends and family (including a couple people who are no longer with us). Those things were a part of my life for many years, and I can still use them today and recapture some of those memories, unlike the dozen or so now-obsolete computers that I used during that same period.

“Surrounded by digital, we now crave experiences that are more tactile and human-centric. We want to interact with goods and services with all our senses, and many of us are willing to pay a premium to do so, even if it is more cumbersome and costly than its digital equivalent.”

— The Revenge of Analog

If you're still on the fence about the book, or if you've already read it and want to dive a little deeper, I highly recommend listening to Harry Marks' interview with David Sax on his podcast Covered. During the interview, Sax made a point that resonated with me: much of the analog resurgence is about people giving themselves permission to dive back in. For years, many people - myself included - actually felt guilty about continuing to rely heavily on analog products when the world supposedly was becoming all digital (Why are all those records and CD's still taking up so much room? Why are you killing so many trees still writing on paper, in a notebook?) Once "the establishment" began acknowledging the actual benefits of analog, more and more people realized that they weren't alone out there in feeling that, at least for certain things, analog works better than the "newer" digital alternative. In the news, the narrative has now shifted from predominantly analog companies (i.e., Borders and Kodak) shutting down or severely curtailing their operations, to the current reality of thriving independent book and stationery stores. As Sax put it, "[p]eople don't want to invest in a dying idea, even if they love it, but they will readily pour money into something that seems to be growing, especially if it is against the general trend."

I don't think the current analog resurgence is a "fad" or "hipster fetishism," as many (especially in the tech community) would have their prospective customers believe. Its benefits are real. Most of us understand with respect to working and writing with pen, pencil, and paper, but this book encourages you to take it further and go out and buy an instant film camera, or rediscover records by picking up an inexpensive turntable. Personally, I've retired my Apple Watch and have gone completely analog with my wrist-wear. I've also got Fuji Instax pictures tacked to my workspaces at home and in the office.

And at the end of the day, digital vs. analog shouldn't be an "all-or-nothing" proposition. There's room for both. Those of you who subscribe to my Digital Divide newsletter have heard me discuss how embracing digital simply works better for certain things. Somewhat ironically, the internet has actually contributed to keeping analog alive and fueling its growing resurgence, by giving analog enthusiasts a venue in which to form thriving online communities, and retailers of analog goods a new way to connect with consumers, many of whom have no brick-and-mortar options in the town where they live.

Revenge of Analog has sold incredibly well - so well, in fact, that it initially sold out upon release. If you live near a brick and mortar bookseller, whether it's independent or a Barnes & Noble, you may still be able to find it there, and I highly recommend that you pick up a copy. [Update: Now that it’s been a few years, The Revenge of Analog is readily available, including at used bookstores.]

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

Parker-Sonnet-Great-Expectations-Subtle-Big-Red

Pen Review: Parker Sonnet Great Expectations Edition

January 11, 2017

Parker recently announced that they would revamp their entire pen lineup, including not only their lower-priced IM and Urban line, but their flagship Duofold and Sonnet lines as well. The Sonnet "Great Expectations" special editions would be discontinued. Since I'd been eyeing the "Subtle Big Red" model, I jumped before they disappeared from stores. While I enjoy this pen - it's beautiful and a nice writer - Parker's current pricing structure makes this Sonnet difficult to recommend, unless you're a red pen nut (like me) or you can find one on clearance or at a discount.

The red brushed metal cap band is my favorite aspect of this pen. It's a simple design, but the pen really pops.

The name "Subtle Big Red" is an allusion to Parker's traditional "Big Red" hard rubber Duofold from the 1920s, which has become iconic in the world of fountain pens. Parker seems to be going all-in on the nostalgia - their updated lineup features a "Big Red" Duofold tribute. This version of the Sonnet, however, offers a more modern take on the classic, sporting a polished black metal body and cap with a brushed red cap band. The "Big Red" aspect is indeed quite "subtle" and understated, and in my opinion makes the pen quite attractive. This pen does have a metal section, but it's finished with a matte coating that makes it very easy to grip. No slipping and sliding here.

The clip, section band, and nib are a darker nickel color, which blends nicely with the black and red color scheme.

Writing Experience

My writing experience with this pen was fine overall, but still a bit of a mixed bag in some respects. As with other Sonnets that have passed through my hands, this fine nib had a slight baby's bottom straight out of the box, leading to a few hard starts and skips. The issue wasn't severe, and eased up after a few days of writing on rougher paper as the nib smoothed out and the tines loosened up a bit. While this sort of issue isn't uncommon with modern pens, and can be fairly simple to fix, Parker's aggressive pricing of this pen towards the luxury end of the spectrum raised my expectations (pun intended) and I found it annoying.

One difference I noticed from other Sonnets I have owned: the nib slit is not cut all the way to the keyhole, which reduces the springiness that 1980s and 1990s-vintage Sonnets were known for. As a result, this nib is firm, and a relatively dry writ… — One difference I noticed from other Sonnets I have owned: the nib slit is not cut all the way to the keyhole, which reduces the springiness that 1980s and 1990s-vintage Sonnets were known for. As a result, this nib is firm, and a relatively dry writer.

In terms of comfort, I really like the Sonnet as a daily writer. I used this pen at work for a full week and enjoyed it. The size and shape is close to that of a classic Vacumatic Major, my favorite vintage Parker and perhaps my favorite vintage pen overall. The pen sits well in the hand, though unposted the Sonnet feels a touch too light. The friction-fit cap posts easily.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Parker's Great Expectations line of Sonnets surprised a lot of people with it's adventurous (for Parker) design, showcasing what appears to be a desire to move away from the same general look that Parker has had since the 1990s. Overall, I'd say that I'm happy with the purchase. The design of the Subtle Big Red spoke to me, and since the pen was a special edition I wanted to be sure that I grabbed one before they went away forever. I bought the pen expecting that I might have to do some nib tweaking.

That said, in terms of recommending that other people buy this pen, it really depends on how much the design of this special edition pen speaks to you. As I hinted earlier, the price point is too high. Parker priced this pen at $320 MSRP, with the street price at a slightly less insane $250 or so. While you can typically get that price down even further with a coupon code, I can't help but think that the apparent the desire to aggressively price this pen as a "luxury special edition" entry in the Sonnet line resulted in a big missed opportunity for Parker. The designs of the various "Great Expectations" pens are very attractive and modern, but I can't say they justify paying the huge premium the company is asking.

If, like me, you still want to grab one of these special edition pens before they disappear, Ron at Pen Chalet has them priced at $256 (and you can use whatever great Pen Chalet coupon code or promotional discount Ron is running at any given time to reduce that further).

Guide to Multifunction Pens: Picking the Best Multi Pen for your Needs

January 7, 2017

Apart from fountain pens, I find myself using multifunction pens (or "multi pens") often. At work, I usually alternate between writing in pen and pencil, and on the pen side I regularly switch colors when I’m annotating documents and taking notes. When I’m at my desk at home, it’s easy to grab a pencil out of my pencil cup, or to simply reach for a different pen when I want to change colors, but if I’m sitting in a meeting at work or on an airplane, multi pens are the way to go. The universe of multi pens out there on the market, however, can be confusing and frustrating, and if you don’t do your research on the front end you can wind up with an unpleasant surprise when your refills run out and you realize replacements are unexpectedly expensive or difficult to find.

In this brief guide, which is intended to offer a little more information than your typical “top 5 pens” list, I’ll walk you through what I think are the five best multi pen options for most people, with an eye to quality, overall cost, and refill availability. My first two picks, the Lamy 2000 4-Color Ballpoint and the Sailor Imperial Black Multifunction Pen, might come as a surprise to people because they are more expensive pens than the others. However, they top my recommendations list because both are built to take a beating and accept the non-proprietary D1 refill, which comes in a wide variety of ink types and colors, some of which are very inexpensive. While D1 refills have their drawbacks - for one thing, gel versions can run out very quickly - pens that use the D1 “system” are more versatile, and you can usually find some sort of inexpensive D1 refill available at your local office supply store in a pinch.

The Sailor Imperial Black Multi Pen is just as good looking as its fountain pen sibling, with a matte finish.

For each of the pens I discuss, I link to a purchasing option and also to a full review of the pen in question. If I've personally done a review, I've used that. If not, I've tried to locate a good review by another blogger if one exists.

My Top Five Multi Pen Picks

Lamy 2000 4-Color Ballpoint. The multi pen version of Lamy’s iconic fountain pen isn’t just one of the best multi pens I own, it’s one of the best pens I own. It made my recent year-end list of best purchases from 2016, and I haven’t regretted spending the money to snag this pen. If I had to pick one drawback, it’s that there is no mechanical pencil option, which is a capability all the other multi pens on this list have. Despite this, the Lamy 2000’s looks, quality build, and use of the D1 refill keep it at the top. [My Review Here]
Sailor Imperial Black Multifunction Pen. Sailor’s latest “Imperial Black” pen was another pleasant surprise for me (though I don't know why because my experience with Sailor has generally been good). If you’re looking for a higher-end multi pen with excellent finishes, a blacked-out "stealth" color scheme, AND a dedicated mechanical pencil slot, this would be my recommendation. The pen also accepts D1 refills, and Sailor’s inexpensive “Chalana” .5mm ballpoint refills write well, even if they are somewhat difficult to find. Oddly, it seems that nobody has written a thorough review of this pen, which I'll have to remedy soon.
Uni Style Fit. I always thought I’d remain a Hi-Tec-C Coleto guy, but after spending some significant time with Uni’s Style Fit multi pen, I’m slowly becoming a convert. While the standard plastic Style Fit pen body doesn’t do much for me, the metal version is quite nice. The proprietary gel refills come in .28, .38, and .5mm sizes, are super smooth, and last an exceptionally long time for a multi pen refill. They also are relatively inexpensive and available in a wide range of colors. [Check out The Pen Addict's Review Here]
Uniball Jetstream. An excellent inexpensive option, especially if you are looking for a no-fuss hybrid ballpoint multi pen that has a mechanical pencil option. As I noted in my review last month, the Jetstream multi pen is larger than most of the others on this list, and also takes proprietary refills that are limited to black/blue/red/green colors. The mechanical pencil is available in both .5mm and .7mm sizes. [My Review Here]
Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto. The first multi pen I ever purchased, and the version of Pilot’s Hi-Tec-C pen that I use most often. If you’re a fan of the Hi-Tec-C or needle-tip pens in general, you should go with the Coleto. It’s relatively easy to find, and the refills come in a wide range of colors across .3mm, .4mm, and .5mm tip sizes. The .4mm is the sweet spot for me. The .3mm is a bit scratchy, and the .5mm runs out too quickly. Unfortunately, Pilot seems to have discontinued the Coleto Lumio (formerly my favorite pen body). [My Review Here]

Honorable Mention

BIC 4-Color Ballpoint. This childhood classic still rocks, and is sold in both a 1.0mm “medium” tip and a .7mm “fine” tip sizes. I have a bunch of these in lying around in strategic locations (i.e., in the kitchen, in the car, etc.). A great utility writing implement. [Review Here]

Zebra Sharbo X. The Sharbo X is a well-made pen that accepts the universal D1 refill and is available in many different color schemes. It also has a built-in mechanical pencil option. Compared to the Sailor Imperial Black and the Lamy 2000, however, the Sharbo X is too short and too narrow for me to use comfortably for longer periods of time. Plus the Sailor holds 3 colors + a mechanical pencil, while my Sharbo only has 3 slots. That said, this would be a great pen to keep in a planner or for someone with smaller hands. [My Review Here]

Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Multi pens in general aren’t as expensive as fountain pens (or even most high-end ballpoints or rollerballs). Up front, that is. As I mentioned earlier, to be happy with a multi pen system in the long run, you’ll want to keep an eye on refill cost and availability. A multi pen that uses the universal D1 refill will be the easiest and most economical for most people to deal with long-term, especially if you use longer-lasting ballpoint or hybrid ballpoint ink. D1 multi pens are also the most versatile, providing the option of writing with ballpoint, hybrid ballpoint, gel, and even highlighter ink. The only question remaining is whether or not you want a mechanical pencil option.

That said, if you’re a fine-point gel pen aficionado, and use nothing else, a D1 system will be extremely frustrating, given how fast D1 gel refills run out. You would be better served by going with either the Style Fit or the Coleto, which use larger-capacity proprietary refills. (Zebra also offers a Sarasa multi pen, which I’ve not tried and which has received mixed reviews.)

Neither the Uniball Jetstream nor the BIC 4-Color multi pens are primary carries for me, though I own both and use them regularly in situations where writing with a ballpoint is called for. They’re also priced low enough that I don’t feel guilty about only using them sporadically, whereas my more expensive Lamy 2000 and Sailor Imperial Black pens get used all the time.

Hopefully this overview was helpful. I enjoy using multi pens, and as always, I will try to update this guide as new options come to market.

Disclaimer: I purchased all of the pens that I tried for this feature with my own funds, for my own collection.

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.