Notebook Review: Rollo London Hardy A5

March 21, 2018

Rollo London was launched by Alex Fagan, the former Creative Director of Beauchamps of London, a luxury accessories brand. While there are dozens of Moleskine-clones out there, attempting to capitalize on what feels like a recent stationery renaissance, Rollo's notebook is a refreshing new entry that’s very different from anything I’ve reviewed lately. If you enjoyed the Field Notes “Ambition” edition from a few years back, with their old-school gilt edges and throwback aesthetic, you’ll want to check these out.

Here are the specs: The Rollo notebook contains 96 pages of 70 GSM Cream Paper, perforated and narrow-ruled, and features a faux scotch grain cover that feels very nice in the hand and not at all plasticky. Branding on the notebook is minimal, with “Rollo” subtly embossed on the back and a small gold stud/jewel in the shape of a dog embedded into the front of the cover. The latter is a nice touch, and adds charm to the notebook. This particular notebook is the “Hardy A5” in Hunter Green, with gilt edges on the pages.

A profile shot of how thin this notebook is, reminiscent of the Quo Vadis Habana. I found the whole package - including the belly band - nicely put together.

The paper has a nice texture, reminiscent of Baron Fig though not as thick. Performance-wise, it probably will work fine for the vast majority of users. I had no issues at all with fine and extra-fine fountain pen nibs using standard Montblanc and Lamy inks, but started to see spots of bleedthrough and some feathering with a wet medium and a wider-tip rollerball. I was actually pleasantly surprised with how well this paper handled ink, given that it’s fairly thin and absorbent. Also, the narrow ruling (which is a plus for me) will force you to write small in this notebook, so fine nibs and ultra-fine gel pens will be your best bet anyway. I appreciate that Rollo incorporated both perforated pages and a pre-printed index at the front. Both of these things are very practical additions (especially the perforations), and I wish more companies would follow suit.

What this doesn’t feel like is a mass-produced notebook designed to be churned out and sold by the dozen at the sub-$20 price point. On their blog, Rollo indicates that their “focus has been to bridge the gap between an affordable everyday journal and a high end collectors piece which you will treasure for a lifetime.” The Rollo notebook actually does feel like a luxury item, and, while you will pay a bit more for one of these notebooks, it’s closer to Smythson in feel while staying near Leuchtturm in price.

Fans of gilded edges (such as on the Field Notes Ambition edition) will love this notebook.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I always enjoy reviewing new notebooks as they come to market (despite the fact that I have a more than lifetime supply myself), and the Rollo did not disappoint. To me, the big selling points here are the perforated pages, index, and narrow-ruled lines

You can purchase Rollo Notebooks directly from the Rollo London website. There are both hardback and softback versions available, in A4, A5, and A6 sizes. Rollo also sells a variety of desk accessories such as desk mats, mouse pads, and coasters.

In terms of pricing, these notebooks are a bit on the expensive side, which I would expect given the attention to design and detail. The “Hardy A5” notebook pictured here, in Hunter Green with gilt edges, will run you £25.50, while the notebook sans-gilt runs £22. While that might be a little out of my typical price range for daily carry, this notebook would make an excellent journal, and an especially nice-looking gift. Embossing and personalization are available for an extra charge.

Disclaimer: This notebook was sent to me by Rollo London free of charge, for review purposes. Many thanks to Alex at Rollo for making this review possible. This post contains affiliate links.

Great Pen Stores: Visit to New Orleans and Papier Plume (2018 Update).

March 17, 2018

Whenever I'm in New Orleans, I make time to walk down Royal Street in the French Quarter and visit Papier Plume, one of my favorite pen shops. On this trip, the store was quite busy, though everyone was kind enough to take some time to talk and make me feel welcome! They even sent me home with some samples of upcoming inks (which I had to promise not to reveal until I get the all-clear later this spring). Stay tuned!

One thing I love about Papier Plume, in addition to their excellent house-made inks, is that they stock many European pen brands that are difficult to find anywhere else in the United States, including Cleo Skribent, Faivet, and Faggionato. More on the Faggionato pens to come, since I picked up this gorgeous Petrarque fountain pen in Translucent Blue Tortoise Cellulose Acetate.

Faggionato fountain pens from France. The four pens on the right are made from cellulose acetate, a celluloid variant. I purchased the Translucent Blue Tortoise pen on the right.

Many thanks to Renso and everyone in the store for their hospitality, and I look forward to seeing the Papier Plume team at pen shows this year. If you're at the Arkansas Pen Show this weekend, visit their table, and l hear that they'll be attending the Atlanta and Chicago pen shows as well!

You can check out my haul from last year's visit to Papier Plume here.

Disclaimer: Any pens featured in this post were purchased with my own funds, for my own use.

Laban-Expression-Fountain-Pen-Oyster-Yellow

Pen Review: Laban Expression Pocket Fountain Pen

March 14, 2018

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Lamy 2000 along with another great daily workhorse, the Seiko SNZF17J1 "Sea Urchin".

My Workhorse Pens: Lamy 2000

March 10, 2018

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.)

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.

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

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.

Paperhaters Need Not Apply: The Papermate Inkjoy Gel

March 7, 2018

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Takeaways and Where to Buy

So why is the Lamy 2000 such a great workhorse?

Where To Buy

Further Reading

Takeaways and Where to Buy

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