Pen Review: Laban Expression Pocket Fountain Pen

Here’s something different for you! Our sponsor Goldspot was kind enough to send over a pen from Laban, a brand that I’ve never tried before. The model featured here is the Expression, which has to be one of the smallest pens I’ve ever used. We’re talking Kaweco Lilliput small.

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Size comparison, from left: Laban Expression, Lamy 2000, and the TWSBI Mini AL (Gold). 

Unless you have TINY hands, the Expression is going to fall squarely in the “pocket pen” category.  Design-wise, there’s a passing resemblance to the vintage “purse pens” made by Esterbrook during the first half of the 20th century, though this one may be even smaller. Most people won’t be using this pen to write a novel, only quick jots in your pocket notebook or planner.

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That said, for its size the pen sits well in the hand, and the metal section and blind cap do a nice job of balancing it out. I can only use this pen posted, otherwise it’s simply too short.

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The stainless steel nib looks like a JoWo or a Bock - I can’t tell which - but it has a nice custom engraving on it and it writes very well, with moderately wet ink flow. Given the size of this pen, it’s definitely cartridge-only, unless you can find a mini converter somewhere that fits.  

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The nib writes like a true medium. 

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Laban is a brand that has been around for some time, and maintains a strong pen-show presence, but doesn’t necessarily receive a lot of attention. That puzzles me, since this little pen is very well-built, and provides an enjoyable writing experience. I’m definitely going to check out a pen from their larger “Mento” line in the future, since I really like some of the materials that they use. 

You can purchase the Laban Expression from Goldspot Pens, currently priced at $55. The pen is available in a wide array of colors, from the “Yellow Oyster” (pictured here) to the “Black Pearl”, in both fountain pen and ballpoint versions.  

Disclaimer: This product was sent to me free of charge, for review purposes, by our Sponsor Goldspot Pens. Thanks to Tom and the team at Goldspot for making this review possible. This post contains affiliate links. 

My Workhorse Pens: Lamy 2000

Few pens jump more quickly to mind when I think of a "daily workhorse" than the Lamy 2000. Its no-nonsense construction and straightforward, distraction-free design allows you to forget the pen and just get stuff done. Though I prefer the fountain pen, Lamy manufactures a full range of writing instruments in the "2000 line," which at the moment includes a rollerball, a ballpoint, a mechanical pencil, and a "4 Color" multipen. I won't rehash the storied history of this pen, since I've previously reviewed it. This post is more of a personal reflection on why I find this particular pen so pleasant to work with on a daily basis, and why it's remained a key part of my pen case for nearly ten years. (I've also linked to my previous reviews of the various Lamy 2000 models at the bottom of the page.)

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No excessive detail here: brushed stainless steel and makrolon (fiberglass) construction, with the branding as minimal as you can get. 

So why is the Lamy 2000 such a great workhorse? 

In short, because it ticks all of the boxes: understated design, light weight and good balance, the ability to post, a good nib that's not too wet, and a large ink capacity.  As you'll see, I consider this pen to have a lot of "pros", with very few "cons". (Though as with all pen reviewing, that's a matter of personal opinion.) 

Pros: 

• The pen disappears in the hand. Especially the Makrolon version, which is extremely light, and the threadless section and barrel make it more or less foolproof to write with this pen for extended sessions, whether it be journaling, drafting documents, or notetaking. The look of the pen won't distract you from the task at hand. 

  • The pen disappears in meetings. The Lamy 2000 and the Pilot Vanishing Point are two go-to fountain pens for those meetings where I don't want to be the focus of attention. Most people will assume that a hooded nib fountain pen is a rollerball or a ballpoint. 

• The pen posts well and is practical to use on the go. I've been pretty vocal about how I prefer pens that post, mainly because I often have to work in non-desk situations where I don't have a place to set the cap. The Lamy 2000's cap posts securely and deeply, and the pen also has good ink capacity, especially if you use the extra-fine or fine nib option. Practically speaking, I've found very little difference between Lamy fine and extra fine nibs.  On the 2000, the medium nib runs fairly broad, and the broad nib tends to be a stubbish firehose, so if you're purchasing this pen to use on cheaper paper, go finer. 

• The pen is widely available (and easily replaced). Yes, I've lost a Lamy 2000, or, rather, I've had one stolen out of a hotel room. It stung my wallet a bit, but not as bad as, say, losing a Pelikan M800, MB 146, or even a Sailor Pro Gear. Because of how frequently I use the Lamy 2000 (near daily, or at least weekly), and given the context in which I use the pen (meetings, conferences, seminars, hotels, etc.) I've just accepted that it's likely I'll lose at least one or two of them over the years. For that reason, I typically keep more than one in my stockpile, and will pick them up if I see them on sale. 

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The Lamy 2000,  posted, is the perfect length for me. 

Cons: 

I'm probably biased in terms of how much I love this pen, but I don't see many cons to the Lamy 2000 if what you're looking for is a true "workhorse" that you're going to use for daily writing over a long period of time. Some people find the grip on the Lamy 2000 slippery, and others dislike the nib. Though Lamy's quality control on the nibs has been spotty over the years, I've never had a serious issue, and reports of major problems have been less frequent recently. That said, one of the reasons why I recommend people price-shop the Lamy 2000 is to leave yourself room in the budget to get the nib tuned if necessary. Honestly, if you plan to use any pen as a daily writing tool, It's worth the relatively small investment to get the nib tuned to your particular writing style, preferably at a pen show where the nib technician can watch you write and adjust the nib in person. 

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I find the 14k nib on the Lamy 2000 to be a pleasant writer, with a touch of bounce. 

Where To Buy

One odd thing I've noticed about the Lamy 2000 is that they tend to hold their value relatively well for how common they are. You don't see them priced at that much of a discount at pen shows or in the aftermarket.

[UPDATE] As of April 2023, The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of Lamy Pens, so we are pleased to be able to offer this pen to you directly as part of our effort to become self-sustaining. We no longer rely on paid advertising or third-party affiliate programs, and enjoy having full responsibility over our readers’ experience with the pens we recommend, instead of relying on third parties to deliver quality service.  

Further Reading

The "Workhorse Pens" series isn't intended to offer a full review of the various pens I write about. Rather, it's intended to showcase a select number of pens that I use regularly, mainly in my day job as an attorney, and discuss why these pens meet my everyday needs. I previously wrote about the Montblanc 146 for this series. 

If you're interested in reading further on the Lamy 2000, please check out my prior review of the fountain pen, as well as my write-ups of the Lamy 2000 ballpoint and the 4-Color Ballpoint multipen. I still need to add a rollerball and a mechanical pencil to my collection! 

Paperhaters Need Not Apply: The Papermate Inkjoy Gel

Papermate's had it rough the past couple of decades. Among stationery enthusiasts and office supply aficionados, it's seen rival Bic achieve near mythic status while Papermate's offerings mostly remained the stuff of the bargain shelf. While the classic Flair felt-tip pens and the Write Bros. stick ballpoints have their fans, it wasn't until the release of the Inkjoy gel pen a couple of years ago that Papermate started to work its way back into the conversation. 

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Unfortunately the .5mm "fine" tip inkjoy comes in fewer colors than the .7mm version. (Not all available colors are pictured here.)

The Inkjoy's claimed selling points are bright colors and quick dry time. Both deliver, for the most part. These gel pens are among the most vibrant I've used, and you can purchase multi-packs with over a dozen different colors. Since I primarily use my gel pens on cheaper, more absorbent copy paper at work, dry time has never been a big issue for me, but I can verify that the Inkjoy dries quickly, within seconds. I've not found it "instantaneous," as some marketing seems to claim, but it's very good.

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The pink, purple, and green Inkjoy gel pens really pop. 

The gel Inkjoy is available in two tip sizes: .7mm and .5mm. The .5mm works just fine, but I'd love to see Papermate introduce a .38mm version. They recently introduced the Flair felt tip pen in an "ultra fine" tip size, so I'm hopeful. 

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I'd prefer a metal clip. The plastic clip reminds me of those disposable Bic mechanical pencils that I used to use in school where it was a given that the clip would break off within a week. 

To me, the most surprising aspects of this pen were the comfort and generally strong build quality. The knock has some nice action to it, extending and retracting with a firm click, and the soft barrel is extremely comfortable. Though I've not really put this theory to the test, it seems like the inkjoy should be more durable than some of the clear plastic gel pens that seem to crack/break long before you actually finish the refill.  The plastic clip, however, is a bit of a disappointment. 

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The Inkjoy has good length and is nicely balanced. It's a comfortable pen to use for longer writing/notetaking sessions, and there's a lot of grip area. 

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The inkjoy represents another good gel pen option, especially if you like colors other than black, blue, and red. Papermate pens are widely stocked in office supply stores, big box stores, grocery stores, drug stores, you name it. I almost always purchase mass-market gel pens like these via Amazon. The .5mm "fine" tip pens come in an 8-pack, while you can get a 13-pack of the .7mm "medium" tip pens.

Note: Papermate also sells a ballpoint version of the Inkjoy. It's a completely different pen that has not garnered great reviews, but I recently went ahead and bought a pack "for science," so stay tuned. If you're out shopping the local office supply store looking for the gel version, be aware! 

Also, check out this cool timeline over on the Papermate website, showing some of their flagship product lines dating back to the 1940s. I'd forgotten that many of these pens and pencils even existed! 

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

Notebook Review: Mindstone Notebooks

Mindstone is a new notebook company based in Vienna, Austria, which currently sells a line consisting of a handful of hardbound journals. The Company reached out a couple months ago and offered to send me one for review. Since I liked the look of the notebook, and saw that it used Swedish paper, which typically works well with fountain pens, I happily accepted. 

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There is little to no branding on the outside of the Mindstone Notebook, save for an imprint on the back cover. Very understated. 

Like many new stationery companies, Mindstone has embraced the "minimalistic and modern" aesthetic. The notebooks themselves are relatively understated, with either navy blue canvas or textured vinyl covers. The inside covers feature a pop of modern design, which I personally could do without but that's a matter of preference. 

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I chose the navy/royal blue notebook with the red elastic ribbon closure. The color combination looks outstanding, and if Mindstone introduced a lined or dot grid version I could definitely see myself using this. Mindstone also makes a sketchbook version, which Jenny over at the Finer Point reviewed. My one critique on the build quality is that I wish the elastic was a bit tighter. I suspect this one will stretch out over time and lose its effectiveness. As expected, the Swedish paper handled fountain pen ink well, with only the slightest hint of show through on the flip side.  

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Takeaways and Where to Buy

Mindstone makes a good notebook, but you have to like plain paper and it would be nice to see some variety. Overall, the build and paper quality remind me a lot of the Slice Planner. While the Mindstone notebook may have a bit of a hard time standing out from the crowd in terms of uniqueness of design, this is a good option and I look forward to seeing what they do in the future as the company grows.

You can purchase Mindstone notebooks directly from the Company's website. Pricing starts at around 18 Euros, which places these notebooks squarely in the $22 range, a fair price point. Shipping to the United States, however, showed as being another 17 Euros - equivalent to the cost of a single notebook - which is prohibitive unless you are placing a large order. Again, that cost may come down as Mindstone grows, but for now this may be a product that's better suited to those located in Europe. 

Disclaimer: Mindstone sent me this notebook for review purposes, free of charge. Many thanks to the team at Mindstone for making this review possible. 

Pen Show Season 2018: Entering the Prime Pen Show Months

Though the Philadelphia and Los Angeles Pen Shows are already in the books, the coming months - March, April, and May - are a busy time for pen enthusiasts. Upcoming shows include:

• Baltimore-Washington International Pen Show (March 2-March 4, 2018). This weekend I will be attending the BWI show at its new location on the inner harbor. Hit me up if you'll be there, and I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible. This will be my third trip to Baltimore, and you can check out last year's recap here. 
• Arkansas Pen Show (March 16-18, 2018). Sponsored by Vanness Pens, Shawn Newton, and Pen World Magazine, this smaller show offers the chance to visit the Vanness Pens store in person. 
• Atlanta Pen Show (April 13-15, 2018). My "local show," since it's only a 3.5 hour drive from my house. I typically attend every year, even if only for a day. It's also the site of the live Pen Addict Podcast, which you can support here. 
• Long Island Pen Show (April 21-22, 2018). Held on-campus at Hofstra University, the Long Island Pen Show tends to be a smaller, local event. This year, I've heard rumors that Japanese retailer Bung Box may be attending? 
• Chicago Pen Show (May 3-May 6, 2018). The Chicago Pen Show has been around for a while, but has grown rapidly over the past few years. What a great excuse to visit Chicago and the new branch of Anderson Pens that will be open by that time!
• Triangle Pen Show (May 31-June 3, 2018). Now in its 15th year, the Triangle Pen Show is sponsored by Franklin-Christoph, Bexley Pens, and Anderson Pens, among others. 

Review content may be a bit thin since I'm traveling for the remainder of the week, but be on the lookout for pen show pics from Baltimore. There's so much good stuff coming out right now that I can't wait to hit the shows and see it in person. If you're on the fence, and within driving distance of a pen show, you should strongly consider attending. Though it may sound counterintuitive, attending shows and being able to see pens in person (especially vintage) as opposed to buying blind over the internet has probably saved me a lot of money over the years, even taking into account impulse purchases at shows. 

Those interested in attending a pen show might find my "Pen Show Primer" series helpful:

• Volume 1: Why Visit a Pen Show
• Volume 2: Getting Ready for a Pen Show
• Volume 3: Tips for Surviving the Pen Show 

Hopefully I'll see many of you at one of the shows this Spring!