Thursday Drops: Introducing the Lochby Field Journal Mini, New Notebooks from Anecdote Goods, and More!

Now that we’re into the second half of January, we’re starting to see new arrivals show up on our doorstep as warehouses restart shipping. The first big new product release of 2025 is the Lochby Field Journal Mini, designed to hold up to four pocket notebooks in the “standard” 3.5” x 5.5” size. (This includes Field Notes and the Lochby Tomoe River 68gsm paper notebooks.) We also received a general restock of our other Lochby products, which include the popular full-size Field Journal, the Quattro Pen Case, and the Venture Pouch.

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We also want to welcome Anecdote Goods, a Los Angeles-based notebook company that makes sturdy notebooks covered in either buckram cloth or vegan leather. We’ve tried to find some new brands that represent a balance of performance and value, and these perform quite well for a $20-and-under price point. Finally, we have a fresh shipment of everyday ballpoints, including Pilot S20s, Pilot Birdies, and Uni Jetstream 4+1 Multi Pens in colors old and new. (Perhaps to pair with your new Anecdote?)

Our brick and mortar shop is open again this week for regular hours Thursday through Saturday, and otherwise by appointment. For directions and specific hours keep an eye on this page, which will also reflect any changes each week due to inclement weather, travel, etc.

1. Lochby Field Journal Mini. One of the main requests at pen shows last year was a Lochby Field Journal sized to fit the Lochby Tomoe River Pocket Notebooks. Well, that day has come! Available in the same three colors as the rest of the Lochby lineup, the smaller Field Journal has a four-cord setup that allows you to loop in four different pocket notebooks.

2. Lochby Pocket Notebooks. These 3.5” x 5.5” pocket notebooks feature 68g Tomoe River Paper in either dot, lined, or plain format, and are back in stock just in time for the Mini Lochby Field Journal.

3. Anecdote Goods Hardcover Journals. A common request that I’ve had in the shop is for a solid everyday notebook that represents a balance of quality and value. These hardcover notebooks from Anecdote feature a buckram cloth cover with a pleasant texture, and either dotted or lined paper that handles most ink fairly well, though especially wet inks and fountain pens broader than medium might see some show-through.

4. Anecdote Goods Softcover Journals. These inexpensive softcover journals feature 192 pages of lined paper and a vegan leather cover with an elastic closure. Note that this paper is lighter weight than in the hardcover journal and should probably be limited to non-fountain pens.

5. Profolio Notebooks. These softcover fountain pen friendly notebooks feature multi-lined paper similar to Nakabayashi Logical Prime/Logical Air and Clairefontaine Seyes-Ruled, though in a warm cream tone.

6. Lochby Quattro Four-Pen Case. One of our most popular accessories, the Quattro features four pen slots, which are offset to allow for a slimmer form factor as well as additional protection for your pens.

7. Lochby Venture Pouch. The reversible Lochby Venture Pouch combines a standard pen/pencil/stationery pouch with a pen case, using a cool reversible design. Check out this YouTube video to see how it works.

8. Pilot S20 Ballpoint Pens. The Pilot S20 ballpoint has become one of my favorite new everyday workhorses. The refill is the Dr. Grip-style “Cocoon”, which features Pilot Acro-ink in a .7mm fine tip and is available for purchase separately. Check out our Workhorse Pens write-up from yesterday.

9. Uni Jetstream 4+1 Multi Pens. Now including a new beige color! These favorite 4-colors-plus-mechanical-pencil multi pens come in muted pastels plus a comfortable bamboo grip. (Oh, and we have more of the Karimoku collaborations as well, which include a section made from repurposed furniture wood.)

10. Anterique Brass Ballpoints. The classic click pen, kicked up a notch. These feature the exceptionally good Anterique Mach-Ball refill and a brass barrel which gives the front of the pen a nice balance. They also patina well over time.

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Workhorse Pens: Pilot S20 Ballpoint

The T.G.S. “Workhorse Pen” series is where I park all of my recommendations for those pens that I personally rely on to get work done. While this series started out as exclusively focused on fountain pens, as my interests have become more eclectic over the years, I’ve expanded the series to cover other categories - namely low-viscosity ballpoint pens.

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While the low-viscosity ballpoint pen received its own writeup as a category, I wanted to take a moment to highlight an exceptionally good take on the product: the Pilot S20 ballpoint pen. The S20 has been around for a while, in both ballpoint and mechanical pencil format, though like many of Pilot’s best products, distribution has been largely limited to Japan. Featuring Pilot’s “Acro-ink” (the Acroball refill in a Dr. Grip-style cartridge), the S20 stands out due to its unique shape and feel in addition to the excellent writing experience.

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Four different low-viscosity ballpoint pens (well, almost) that I use regularly. From left: Pilot S20, Uni Jetstream 4+1, Anterique Mach Ball in Clear Green, and the Caran d’Ache Infinite 888, which is not technically a low-viscosity ballpoint but has an exceptionally good refill. .

I won’t belabor the benefits of low-viscosity ballpoint ink, because they aren’t necessarily specific to the S20 and I’ve already written about them fairly extensively. To briefly recap, low-viscosity ballpoints are sometimes referred to as “hybrid gel” pens, meaning that they feature smoother ink flow than your typical oil-based ballpoint, while maintaining the faster dry times and increased permanence. The downside? Color selection. I’ve not seen many hybrid ballpoint pens come in colors other than black or blue (and sometimes red and green), as opposed to gel pens, which these days are available in pretty much any color you can think of.

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The combination of the gently shaped section and the tactile wood used in the Pilot S20 make for one of the most “usable” pens I’ve experienced. It’s honestly the first pen in a while that just makes me want to pick it up.

Why do I love the Pilot S20 so much? For starters, both the top and bottom halves of the pen feature a concave hourglass shape, which allows it to rest comfortably in my hand. While “feel”, “balance”, and “comfort” are highly subjective, in that they often depend on variables like hand size and writing pressure, I personally consider this one near perfect. The wood barrel gives the pen a tactile feel, making it one of those pens that’s a pleasure to pick up simply because it feels elegant - almost extravagant - despite only costing $25.

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The Dr. Grip “Cocoon” refill.

As for Pilot’s “Acro-ink”, to me this refill feels more gel-like than the Uni Jetstream or the Anterique Mach-ball refills, which have a more tactile feel akin to a pencil. Part of this might be that the S20 comes in a .7mm tip size, but I’ve always felt that Pilot Acroball pens lay down a darker, wetter line than their counterparts. This pen is a very smooth writer, so much that I’ve recently started using it for journaling - something I can’t say about other ballpoints in my rotation.

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Takeaways and Where to Buy

Since I got my hands on the S20 last year, I’ve not taken it out of my personal rotation. The red and black version sits in my Plotter A5 pen loop, and has become an everyday planner pen for me. The brown and black version lives on my writing desk at home. While the Dr. Grip is marketed as Pilot’s “ergonomic” everyday pen, I tend to find it slightly too large. The S20 better fits my own hand and writing style, while keeping the same excellent refill.

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For writing samples, I used standard Target-brand copy paper, since that is how many people have to use their ballpoints at work, school, and otherwise out in the world. Of the three shown here, I think the Pilot Acroball ink is the darkest, followed by the Anterique Mach Ball, and then the Jetstream. All are very good and I use them interchangeably.

As of this week, we have the Pilot S20 ballpoints back in stock in our shop. We sold through our initial shipment around Christmas, but have plenty once again. A few of you have asked about the mechanical pencil version, and the .5mm is on the way as soon as our supplier has it back in stock. (.3mm will depend on interest, so let us know!) The S20 ballpoint is priced at $25 and comes in two colors: Red/Black and Brown/Black. Additional refills are also available. I’ve checked, and these are indeed the same cartridges that fit the Dr. Grip pens sold here in the states, though these are .7mm “Fine” refills whereas most U.S. Dr. Grip pens are sold with the 1.0mm “Medium”. Personally, I prefer the fine, and will likely try to swap one into my Dr. Grip Full Black to see if it gets more use.

Thank you for reading! The Gentleman Stationer is supported by the T.G.S. Curated Shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program. If you’d like to visit our in-person location, you can view directions and up-to-date hours here.

New Arrivals: Ballpoints and Multi Pens to Kickstart Your New Year's Productivity

I had a bit of a surprise Monday morning, when an unexpected delivery from Japan arrived. (Somehow I must’ve missed the shipment notification.) Included in this first big delivery of the New Year was a restock of the excellent Uni Jetstream 4+1 Multi Pens in three colors, Sage, Blue Grey, and the new “Beige”, as well as the orange and blue Karimoku collaboration finishes.

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Fans of muted earth-tones like beige and sage will love the Uni Jetstream 4+1 “Bamboo” series.

We also received more of the exceptionally good Pilot S20 ballpoints, which I’ve enjoyed so much I’m working up a “Workhorse Pen” post highlighting what I consider one of the best low-viscosity ballpoints out there. Featuring Pilot’s “Acro-ink” in a Dr. Grip-style refill, this .7mm ballpoint writes a smooth, dark line, and features a contoured wood barrel that will appeal to many pencil fans as well as ballpoint enthusiasts. Finally, we’ve received the ballpoint version of the Mini 5-friendly Pilot Birdie, so you can complete the trifecta set (pictured at top).

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I’m trying very hard to get the matching mechanical pencils, which apparently can be difficult to source.

Come visit us in person! Public hours are Thursday and Friday from 1-6pm, Saturday from 10-6pm, and otherwise by appointment. We look forward to seeing you this week!

Sunday Reading for January 19, 2025

1. Top 10 Sections (via Figboot on Pens). Now this is an interesting idea for a video! I agree with many of the choices highlighted here.

2. What Makes a Good Ink Bottle? (via UK Fountain Pens). Of the various factors discussed here, stability (i.e., it won’t tip over) and filling convenience (specifically, the mouth of the bottle is wide enough to fill most pens) are the two that I most value.

3. Diamine x Sugar Turtle Studio, Slowpoke Series 1 (via Pen Addict - Kimberly). Lovers of sheen shouldn’t miss these inks. I love that they come in a set of three.

4. Big Idea Design Base Line Bolt Action Review (via Writing at Large). The universal refill pen folks are at it again, with another versatile design. Bolt-action mechanisms have never been my favorite, but many appreciate them as fidget toys.

5. Marvy LePen Flex Pens (via Well-Appointed Desk). Flexible brush-tip pens have been a new discovery for me this year. The classic “LePen” series of fineliners and brush pens features some great uncommon colors.

6. 2024: Some of My Fountain Pen Highlights (via Fountain Pen Blog). I love the mix of acquisitions here!

7. Nahvalur Original Plus Lavender Tetra Fountain Pen Review (via A Fleeting Ripple). It happens that sometimes you get a bad nib. I always advise people to try to send it back to exchange the pen if it won’t write properly out of the box.

8. OMAS Arco Bronze Paragon Fountain Pen Review (via Blake’s Broadcast). A throwback from 1990 - the original Arco celluloid from the original OMAS!

9. Index Cards Again? (via Stationery Pizza). I too am finding myself reconsidering how index cards might work for me everyday, especially since I’ve found some good ones.

10. Waterman Charleston Fountain Pen Review (via Blake’s Broadcast). I have a rather large Waterman collection, but have yet to add a Charleston.

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In Case You Missed It…

This week I looked at two of my current ink favorites: Taccia Sabimidori and Teranishi Gentle Green. I decided to write about these inks together because I find the colors complementary - similar yet distinct. I also published a new “Ask TGS” post on journaling, which discusses how I journal and a bit about the role it plays in my life.

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The Kaweco Perkeo has been a surprise hit. Read our recent review of this pen here.

This Week in the T.G.S. Curated Shop: Don’t Miss a Planner Sale!

It’s definitely not too late to start your journaling resolution for the year! Use the coupon code “25PLANNER” at checkout to take an extra 10% off all planners (including planner system refills). We’re also fully restocked on the popular Caran d’Ache 888 Infinite ballpoint pens, and recently received a shipment of new Pilot Vanishing points that included both the black and blue “Carbonesque” finishes. Finally, we had some new arrivals from Japan, including additional Pilot S20 ballpoints, Pilot Birdie Ballpoints, and more Uni Jetstream 4+1 Multi Pens in the Bamboo and Karimoku finishes.

Our brick-and-mortar shop will be open again this coming week during normal hours. Come by and see us!

Pilot

Uni

Kaweco

TWSBI

Check Out T.G.S. Patreon for Breaking news and first access/Special pricing on exclusives and Sample Sales

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Ask TGS: Do You Journal? And If So, How?

The “Ask TGS” series collects frequently asked questions submitted to the website, and answers those that I feel would be most helpful to the readership at large. You can check out an archive of sorts here, which is periodically updated.

Today’s “Ask TGS” question involves journaling, and it’s one that I frequently get from readers who think they would benefit from a regular journaling practice, and don’t necessarily know where to begin. So do I journal? The simple answer is, “Yes,” but probably not in the idealized way that many people think about Capital J “Journaling”: an hours-long, deep, introspective writing session that involves your finest notebook, your fanciest fountain pen, and the perfect ink. Framing journaling in this way can even be counterproductive, because it keeps some from ever getting started.

I Journal To Get Stuff Out of My Head So That I Can Focus and Think Clearly

90% of my “journaling” takes place during a 20-30 minute stream-of-consciousness writing session, in which I simply jot down in a notebook everything that’s going through my head at the time. Sometimes this takes the form of coherent thoughts, but not necessarily. Sometimes it’s lists of things I have to do that I’m worried I will forget if I don’t write it out. Sometimes it’s random stuff drawn haphazardly across a blank page, with items circled and lines connecting thoughts. Other times it’s true nonsense. This is a variation on the popular “morning pages” technique, though I’ve never read the Julia Cameron book that popularized it, and how I journal is simply something I personally came up with over the years and which I feel helps me settle my mind. Typically I journal in the morning, while I’m having my first cup of coffee, but if I’ve had a particularly chaotic day, I’ll sometimes add a second session before I leave the office or before I go to bed, just to assure myself that I’m not forgetting anything.

The other 10% of my journaling practice is more introspective, and more traditional in the sense that at least once a week I’ll sit down and try to work through a problem or issue at greater length. These are your classic long-form writing sessions, and last as long as it takes for me to resolve something or get to a point where I can’t go any further for the time being. Again, this writing doesn’t take on a specific format, I hardly ever use prompts, and sometimes I won’t even do these sessions in a proper notebook since I may want to shred or destroy the pages after I’m finished.

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I don’t need to buy any more journals.

5 Tips For a Journaling Practice That I’ve Found Valuable

Over the years, these five thoughts have helped me keep things in perspective, especially as journaling has become trendier and I’m seeing it more prominently featured on the social media algorithms. The common theme running through all of these tips is “just get started and do what feels helpful/natural to you.” Journaling is not about following rules or impressing anyone else - it’s supposed to be personal.

1. Journaling Doesn’t Require a Specific Technique or Format. Just get started writing. Don’t ever feel that you “don’t really journal because you don’t do ______.” There’s no set format or rules that you have to follow, and your journal doesn’t have to look pretty. (Honestly, you don’t even have to “keep” a journal. If you want to write out all your innermost thoughts on a legal pad to get them out of your head and then shred or burn it so that you can be sure nobody will ever see it, do that! I do it all the time.)

2. Use Whatever Materials You have On Hand. While many people who write regularly do gravitate to a favorite brand of notebook, you can journal with anything. All you really need are a pen or pencil and a piece of paper. One of my own personal resolutions this year is to use up as much of my current notebook stockpile as I can rather than committing to a specific system for my journaling.

3. Less Fancy Materials Are Less Distracting. For the past week I’ve been journaling with a wood pencil and a ballpoint pen. Yes, they’re nice pencils and the pen is the excellent Pilot S20, but I’ve found that when I really need to focus on what I’m writing, I want the tools to disappear and prefer non-fountain pens. If I do use a fountain pen, I use plain blue or black ink.

4. For Me, More Frequent Journaling Is More Helpful, But I Definitely Skip Days. Like meditation or physical exercise, I find that I get more benefit from a journaling practice if I do at least a little something every day, but stuff happens and sometimes you definitely benefit from a day off. Heck, I’ll miss entire weeks on occasion. Don’t worry about it. Just pick up the pen/pencil and get back at it.

5. You Don’t Have To Post Your Journals on Social Media. Obviously you can do whatever you want, but if your goal is to journal for personal growth/mental health, make your journal truly personal. Avoid the temptation to make it look pretty for Instagram or YouTube. Not only will it help you to focus on the actual practice of journaling, but you’ll also avoid comparing yourself to professional social media accounts that often do little more than make you feel bad that your journal doesn’t look as nice as a professionally designed product. I’ve actually had multiple conversations with people who stopped journaling or never took the practice up in the first place because “It’s never going to look as good as [X-Influencer].” That’s not what it’s about.

If you feel stuck and want ideas on journaling techniques/including prompts, there are some excellent websites out there that go deep on journaling techniques. Two that I’ve found helpful are Writing at Large and Comfortable Shoes Studio, which I occasionally link to in my Sunday Reading links. Both have extensive journaling guides and resources and discuss many different types of journaling practices.

Thank you for reading! The Gentleman Stationer is supported by the T.G.S. Curated Shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program. If you’d like to visit our in-person location, you can view directions and up-to-date hours here.