Giveaway Time! Don't Miss Your Chance to Win a Baron Fig Brass Squire!

Baron Fig recently expanded their regular lineup of Squire rollerball pens to include stainless steel, copper, and brass models, and they were kind enough to provide me with a brass squire, which I’m giving away to my readers! I previously received another brass squire as part of the “Lock and Key” limited edition set, and these pens develop quite a patina over time. As with my last giveaway, I’m using the Gleam App, so enter using Instagram or Twitter. Please see the Gleam widget for all terms and conditions, and the Baron Fig website for additional information about the Squire. Giveaway ends Sunday, March 31 at 11:59pm ET. Many thanks to Baron Fig for making this giveaway possible!

Baron Fig Brass Squire Giveaway

Disclaimer: I’m not making any conscious effort to collect your e-mail addresses or social media handles, but the Gleam App may automatically record certain information when you decide to participate in the giveaway. See the Gleam Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions for details.

Catching up with Baron Fig: New Squires, a Confidant Partnership, and Leather Goods

In terms of companies that make some of my favorite products for everyday use, both at home and at work, you need not look much further than Baron Fig. From its origins as a Kickstarter notebook project, the company has evolved from being simply the makers of the Confidant notebook to a full-blown lifestyle brand, though the focus remains on stationery. Today I’ll take a look at a few of the Baron Fig products I’ve added to my daily kit over the past year or so.

Pictured from left: Squire Rollerball in “Sheath” Pen single pen sleeve; “Lock” Brass limited edition Squire (check out that patina!) and my getting-worn-in slim bifold wallet. All of these products are sitting on top of a Mastermind desk pad.

Squire Rollerball Pen. Baron Fig’s Squire is my preferred iteration of the retractable rollerball - I like the teardrop shape, they’ve kept the design clean, and now there’s even a compatible Uniball Jetstream Refill that you can use to turn your rollerball into a fine-tip hybrid gel/ballpoint. Over the past year, Baron Fig also has backed away from a quarterly “limited edition” release schedule in favor of a wider range of standard colors and materials. The most recent release has been a Squire in brass, which is one of my favorites and which I’ve had the pleasure of using as part of the “Lock and Key” limited edition set that was released about a year ago. Today, my brass pen sports a gorgeous patina. I’m glad to see brass join stainless steel and copper as part of the regular Squire lineup.  

Confidant Notebooks. The Confidant lineup also has expanded over the past couple of years, with both new sizes and new colors now available as part of the regular line. The limited or special edition Confidants that were being released on a quarterly basis have apparently been replaced by special-purpose notebooks designed in partnership with various writers and designers. These include the new Clear Habit Journal (designed to accompany the book Atomic Habits by James Clear), the Wander Dream Journal, and the Show & Tell Notebook (designed in conjunction with Dribbble design showcase). Of these three, the Clear Habit Journal is probably the only one that might find its way into my regular rotation - and I have one on the way to review - but I love that Baron Fig has branched out and released these other products. I know several people who have enjoyed using the Wander Dream journal, and the Show & Tell will appeal to those who like to combine lined pages for writing with blank pages for sketching, doodling, or diagramming.

Workspace Accessories. In 2018 the Mastermind Desk Pad remained my most used stationery item. I probably churned through a dozen of these things, far outpacing my use of anything else in my kit. Though the Mastermind is not intended for writing on both sides of the page, the paper quality holds up with fountain pens, especially with respect to feathering and dry time. One of the things I love about Baron Fig paper is that it’s slightly absorbent, so it dries relatively quickly and doesn’t get all over your hands and wrists if, like me, you keep a Mastermind notepad underneath your keyboard. It also comes available in an “Mini” size, and Baron Fig subsequently released a narrow “Weeks” version to help you plan.

Bags and Leather Goods. Last but not least, I’ve found Baron Fig’s leather goods surprisingly impressive in both their looks and durability, especially at the price point. I’ve periodically posted that I’m carrying one of their slim bifold wallets in Charcoal, which is actually a very light gray that ages into an almost khaki color. I’m very hard on wallets, and this one has held up well. Other Baron Fig leather goods in my regular repertoire include the leather “Sheath” pen case for the Squire, as well as the “Guardian” notebook covers.  

You can say I’m a fan of the Squire…

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Baron Fig is one of those brands that I’ve enjoyed getting to watch grow over the past few years. One thing I appreciate is that despite their rapid growth and introduction of new product lines, I’ve not had significant quality control issues, even as they’ve managed to keep their pricing reasonable. The stuff just “works,” and allows you to get down to doing your work, whatever that may be, with a minimum of fuss.

You can purchase any of the products featured in this post through the Baron Fig website, and they’re even starting to expand into retail streams. Our sponsor Vanness Pens currently carries a range of Baron Fig products, including the Confidant and Vanguard notebooks.

Disclaimer: This post contains links to paid sponsors and affiliates. Baron Fig provided me with certain of the products pictured in this review free of charge for review purposes, though others (like the gray squire pen and the Mastermind desk pads) were purchased with my own funds for my own personal use.

Comparison: Baron Fig Squire vs. Retro 51 Tornado

The Baron Fig Squire and the Retro 51 Tornado are two of the most popular - if not the most popular - liquid ink rollerball pens on the market. Both are well-made products from smaller, "boutique" manufacturers. Both pens also regularly make their way onto recommendation lists, and are among a handful of pens that I recommend to those approaching me about a "nice non-fountain pen for work" or a gift for someone graduating or starting their first job. You can't go wrong with either pen: they are both excellent, but still different. In this post I'll highlight some of the pros and cons of each, and talk about which pen I personally prefer and why. 

Retro 51 Tornado: Pros and Cons

The first pen from the left is the Retro 51 Tornado Joey Feldman Artist Series from Vanness Pens. The next two from left are the Bioworkz Artist Series set, also from Vanness, though both have long been out of stock. Check the secondary market if you're interested in either design.  

• Availability. If you like the look of Retro 51 pens, a key advantage is that almost any specialized pen retailer sells them, and there are dozens of different colors, designs, and special editions to choose from, including store editions specific to a given location. If you have a local pen store, you likely will be able to walk in and pick up a Retro 51 quite easily. 
• Refill. The Retro 51 also uses the excellent .7mm Schmidt P8127 ceramic capless rollerball refill, which is the gold standard in terms of availability and reliability. You can also swap in the Schmidt Easyflow 9000, another Parker-style gel refill, or the finer-tip Schmidt P8126 rollerball. 
• Fun Designs. Many people partial to Retro 51 love the pens for their special and limited editions, as well as their outright crazy designs and themes. Designs range from the understated Tornado Classic to the more intricate Metalsmith series, or all the way to the new KISS-themed pens. The Retro 51 that I use the most, however, is this vintage-style desk pen that I reviewed a while back. 
• Clip. If you prefer a pen with a clip, or clipless pens flat-out don't work for you, you'll want to go with the Retro 51 Tornado. The Baron Fig Squire only comes clipless.
• Price. The classic Retro 51 lacquer Tornado sells for as little as $25, and even the special edition rollerball pens rarely exceed $55 or so. You can get a great pen at a reasonable price.
• Cons. I personally find the Retro 51 less comfortable to use due to the fact that the pen tapers towards the front, as opposed to the Baron Fig Squire, which has a thicker grip section and tapers towards the back. Also, because I have a tendency to rotate my ballpoints and rollerballs as I write, the clip on the Retro 51 sometimes digs into the webbing of my hand between my thumb and index finger. The clipless Squire doesn't have that issue. 

My Joey Feldman Retro 51 in hand. Note the "V" shape to the Retro 51, which differs from the Baron Fig Squire, pictured below. 

Baron Fig Squire: Pros and Cons

• Ergonomics and Balance. What makes the Baron Fig Squire such a great pen to me is the shape. Though some may find the pen a bit boring and overly minimalist, the teardrop pen body sits perfectly in my hand, and the fact that the pen tapers towards the back makes it comfortable to write with for long periods of time. The matte aluminum finish of the standard editions makes for a nice grip. I don't mind the lack of a clip - I typically carry the Squire in a Baron Fig leather pen sleeve, tucked into a pen case or the inside of one of my notebook covers. 
• Understated Special Editions. For their special and limited edition Squires, Baron Fig has thus far chosen to stick with solid colors and small, understated engravings, even for what could be considered their most "out there" editions, like the green "Experiment" and the orange "Mysterium". The "Precious Metal" Squires in brass and stainless steel (still available!) also turned out really well, and the pen's ergonomics counteract the added weight of the materials. 
• Price. The Squire starts at a higher price point than the Tornado, with the basic pen priced at $55, standard special editions priced at $60, and the "Precious Metals" rollerballs priced at $85. That said, these pens still don't break the bank. 
• Cons. There aren't many for me personally, and I've gone so far as to say that the Squire is pretty close to my perfect non-fountain pen. Some might be put off by the lack of a clip, and I understand how that could be a deal breaker depending on how you use your pens. Also, the Squire may roll off a slanted work surface, though given how the pen is weighted it tends to roll much less than many clipless pens. 

The Baron Fig Squire "Mysterium" edition in-hand. Note the subtle "teardrop" shape as the pen tapers toward the front. 

My good friend Thomas thought it would be helpful to have a side-by-side comparison, so I added a photo of the Mysterium edition Squire compared against the Joey Feldman Tornado.  Many thanks for the recommendation! 

Conclusions and Where to Buy

For my own daily writing needs, I use the Baron Fig Squire as my rollerball of choice. The teardrop shape and overall balance of the pen just works better for my hand, and I like that the default refill is the Schmidt P8126 .6mm. Finally, I simply like the look of the Squire better than the Tornado, as some of Retro 51's designs can be a bit busy for my taste. While Baron Fig has released a bunch of special and limited editions over the years, and recently introduced different color pens into their standard lineup, most of their pens are relatively understated and forego a lot of the somewhat crazy patterns for which Retro 51 is known (and loved by many).  

The Fig Wine Baron Fig Squire - my personal favorite of the standard edition Squires. 

In terms of where to buy these pens, as I mentioned above, the Retro 51 Tornado is a relatively easy pen to find at most pen retailers. Pen Chalet carries the entire range, including most of the annual special editions, and has even partnered with Retro 51 on their own "in-house" edition, a sci-fi take on the myth of Jason and the Argonauts which is well worth a look. Vanness Pens also stocks Retro 51, and has partnered with the Company on a series of "Artists Series" pens, including the pens pictured in this review. The most recent "Artist Series" pens have sold out, but keep your eyes peeled as new ones are always right around the corner. Finally, to give you an even better idea of some of the unique design partnerships out there, check out the Anderson Pens "Chicago" edition, as well as Mike Dudek's "The System" space-themed pen.  

The Squire can be purchased directly from Baron Fig, via their website. Currently, the standard Squire is available in four colors: Fig Wine, Rose Quartz, Blue Slate, and Silver. At the time of this review, two limited editions are also available: the Stainless Steel "Precious Metals" and "Mysterium" orange. The latter two likely won't last forever, so if they interest you, pick them up now. Though I haven't used one, Baron Fig recently released a Squire "Click" ballpoint, which is a bit slimmer than the standard Squire and has garnered good reviews to date. 

Disclaimer: This post contains links to paid sponsors and affiliates. The pens pictured here are a combination of pens purchased with my own funds, pens for which I received a discount in exchange for a review, and pens sent to me for review purposes free of charge.  

Leather Goods from Baron Fig: The Guardian and The Sheath

Baron Fig has recently supplemented their accessories lineup to include a whole slew of new colors. While I’ve written much about Baron Fig’s pens, notebooks, and paper, I’ve never reviewed any of their leather products. Here, I’ll take a quick look at two that I recently received.

“Guardian” Confidant Cover

The Guardian is a high-quality leather cover for Baron Fig’s flagship product, the Confidant notebook. Available in two sizes, “Flagship” and “Plus”, the cover adds some protection to the Confidant’s cloth cover, which will come in handy if, like me, you tend to use your notebooks over a longer period of time and need the covers to hold up. If you’re a planner person, and you’ve chosen to go with the Baron Fig Confidant Planner for 2018, I’d definitely recommend investing in a leather cover to ensure that your planner survives the full 12 months. A smaller Guardian is also available for the pocket-sized Vanguard softcover notebook, which seems as though it could double as a wallet.

Pictured here is a Baron Fig Confidant (Dot Grid) in the "Plus" size. (Squire and Sheath for scale.) 

I appreciate that the Guardian doesn’t add much bulk to your notebook. Initially, the cover is a tight fit, and for the first week or so the front cover of the notebook may not lay completely flat when the notebook is closed. Eventually, the leather stretches out a bit, and it’s no longer an issue. The Confidant still lays flat when the notebook is open.

There is no branding on the front of the Guardian cover. The only Baron Fig branding is an imprint on the back inside flap, which makes for a very clean design.

“Sheath” Pen Sleeve

One of the more practical accessories that Baron Fig offers is the “Sheath” pen sleeve, tailor-made to fit the Squire. I advise against carrying liquid ink rollerball pens in your pocket or loose in a bag - if the tip of the pen accidentally makes contact with fabric, it can ruin your clothes. A close-fitting leather pen sleeve not only protects the pen, but protects you from your pen! (Or from yourself, whichever it may be.)

I do wish Baron Fig had omitted the “sword” motif from the front of the Sheath, and left the Guardian as a more minimal leather sleeve. While I can live with it, and I understand that their brand is based on adding a bit of whimsy to the otherwise staid stationery industry, I can’t help but feel that the imprint cheapens the look of the product a bit.

The Sheath features the Squire's "sword" logo on one side, and a Baron Fig imprint on the other. 

The Sheath is a straightforward product. You slide the Squire (here, the Brass "Key" edition) into one end of the leather sleeve/pouch. It's a tight fit, so no worries about the pen sliding out. 

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Overall, I’m impressed with the build quality of Baron Fig’s leather goods, all of which are made in the USA. My favorite aspect, however, is the range of available color choices. Rather than your ordinary brown, black, and natural leather options, Baron Fig decided to go with something completely different, offering both the Guardian and the Sheath in Fig Wine (a burgundy-ish red), Charcoal (pictured here on the Sheath), Blue Slate (self-explanatory), Yellowgold (pictured here on the Guardian), Rose Quartz (the recently released pink option), and Light Brown (the conservative “tan” option). I know, for someone who talks so much about “work appropriate” products that won’t turn heads at the office, who would’ve thought that I would opt for the bright yellow leather notebook cover?

You can order the Guardian Confidant cover and the Sheath pen sleeve directly from Baron Fig, via their website. The Guardian starts at $79 for the standard A5-ish “Flagship” version, and $109 for the larger “Plus” version. The Guardian Vanguard is $45. The Sheath pen sleeve costs $24. While these prices aren’t cheap, they’re well within the range of reasonableness for leather goods of this quality.

Disclaimer: Baron Fig sent me the Guardian Confidant cover for review purposes, free of charge. I purchased the Squire Pen Sheath with my own funds, for my own use.

My 2018 Notebook Setup, Plus a Planner Giveaway!

I forwent a Hobonichi Techo for 2018, after three years on the wagon. Why? Both to give myself the opportunity to try something different, but also to pare things back. I had at least seven different notebooks going at once last year, and it not only became mentally exhausting to keep track of what each of these notebooks was for (not to mention where they were located at any given time), but this "system" was extremely bulk to carry around. Since the Hobonichi was the one that received the least amount of practical use, and to be honest was starting to feel more like a daily chore than anything else, it was one of the items that went on the chopping block. 

So what does my setup for 2018 look like? I've narrowed it down to four notebooks that I use on a regular basis. I do use pocket notebooks as well, but primarily for things like quick idea capture, shopping lists, or a scratch pad. 

• Daily Carry for "Day Job" Projects. To track work projects I use a combination of a digital calendar and a loosely defined "bullet journal" that currently lives in a Midori MD A5 notebook. The Midori is a great size, but I'm not a huge fan of the standard paper in this notebook, which is fairly slick. I'm thinking of trying the Midori Cotton paper, or moving this notebook to a Nanami Paper Crossfield. This notebook has been traveling with me every day in a zippered A5 Work Folio by Bellroy.  
• Daily Carry for "Personal/Side Gig" Projects. A Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter set up as a three-subject notebook using smaller A5 softcover notebooks from Baron Fig and Nock Co. OK, while technically it's not a "single notebook," it's as close as I'm going to get. The Roterfaden gives me a way to keep track of all of my side projects in one place.
• Personal Journal. I've been using the Nanami Paper Cafe Note as a substitute for the Hobonichi, and it's both a nice size and a welcome change to be able to write/journal without (in my opinion) the unnecessary pressure of dated pages. I'm sure some people won't agree with me on this, but there are days when (1) nothing happens worth journaling about; or (2) you're just too exhausted or busy. I HATE ending up with blank dated pages, and I'm too OCD to restrain myself from going back and filling them in. The B6 size on the Cafe Note is insanely convenient in its portability, and the Gfeller natural leather covers sold by Nanami Paper are beautiful. 
• Brainstorming Notebook. My Baron Fig Confidant, inside my One Star Leather Cover. This book typically sits at my desk for morning pages/brainstorming sessions, and any ideas that merit further development will eventually find their way into one of these other notebooks. I could also see the Baron Fig switching places with the Midori as a "Day Job" project planning notebook at some point.  

So far, this system has worked nicely for me, and I've stuck with it for two months without a hitch. (I actually started in early December 2017.) However, I also have a couple of paper planners that people have given me, that I won't use in this current system and I can now pass along to you readers in a giveaway! I need to get these out the door before any more time elapses in 2018. The prizes are: 

• Karst 2018 Stone Paper Planner. This stone paper planner from Karst surprised me. Having heard not-so-great things about stone paper products in the past, mainly due to their inability to play well with liquid inks, my expectations were low, but this Karst version actually handled the two fountain pen inks I tested (Skrip Red and Robert Oster Maroon 1789) with a Tomoe River-like dry time. Ballpoints, gel pens, and even a liquid ink Pilot V5 also worked. This sturdy hardcover planner is set up in a weekly format with four days to a page. Due to the waterproof and tear-resistant properties of stone paper, it may be a good option for those who tend to be very hard on a paper planner. I'm looking forward to trying one of their hardcover notebooks.
• Slice Planner. You may recall that I reviewed the Slice Planner last year, which was developed as a hybrid digital-analog planning system that pairs a notebook with an app on your phone. The folks who developed the Slice Planner recently sent me a copy of their updated notebook, with upgraded paper and what feels like a more durable cover. As I mentioned in my previous review, I enjoyed my time with the Slice Planner, and if you can make Chronodex-style planning / time-tracking work for you, it should merit your consideration.

Giveaway Rules / Terms and Conditions

To enter, simply leave a comment on this post. Giveaway closes at 11:59 pm CT on Saturday, January 27, when I will assign a number to all comments and randomly select two winners using a site like random.org. I will post the names of the winners here in next week's Sunday Reading post. Many thanks to both Karst Stone Paper and the team at Slice Planner for providing these two notebooks for review and giveaway. Note that each of these planners may have some small amount of writing on a blank page at the back, which I used to test the paper. Please see the links above for information regarding value, etc. of the respective prizes. 

Disclaimer: This post contains links to paid sponsors and affiliates. The Bellroy Work Folio, Karst Stone Paper Planner, Slice Planner, and One Star Leather Notebook Cover all were provided to me free of charge for review purposes. The Roterfaden and Cafe Note were purchased with my own funds for my own use.