Top Five Pens for Planner Use

August 24, 2022

Since I’m getting ready to leave for the San Francisco Pen Show, and a large part of that show is devoted to planner/Japanese techo notebook systems, I’m loading up nearly all of my notebook covers with different papers, refills, and accessories to have available for both after-hours show-and-tell as well as several classes I’ll be taking. I’ve also been working on better organizing my various notebooks and planners to ensure that everything I’ve decided to keep following my “great summer purge” gets used for a specific purpose. When you’re playing with this many notebooks, it’s hard to avoid thinking about pens - namely, what’s the best “planner pen” or pen to keep alongside your primary everyday notebook system or system techo? Here, I talk about five select pens that are excellent for this type of use, with the selections driven primarily by size, versatility, and the ability to let me write small in compact spaces.

Five Planner Pens — The pens discussed here, clockwise from left: Lamy 2000 4-Color Ballpoint, TWSBI Swipe Fountain Pen, Traveler’s Company Brass Ballpoint (standard version), Pilot Capless Decimo, Pilot Hi-Tec-C-Coleto Lumio, and the CW+T Pen Type-C (in front).

Fountain Pen Recommendation: Pilot Decimo. For “planner purposes,” and for most writing in general, I remain a fan of the Pilot Decimo over the larger standard Vanishing Point. Not only is the Decimo easier to slip into pen loops in notebooks and planners, but I find the slimmer body more comfortable to write with and easier to manage with one of Pilot’s excellent EF or F nibs. In addition to compact size, one other attribute I look for in a “planner” fountain pen is a high-capacity cartridge, so that I can carry a few with me when traveling and not have to worry about constantly refilling in a hotel, on an airplane, or even at the office. Of course, if you prefer a slightly larger pen, the standard Vanishing Point is excellent and uses the same Pilot proprietary cartridges, but it may be too wide to fit in certain pen loops.
Fountain Pen Recommendation: TWSBI Swipe. Since it’s release, the Swipe has continued to surprise me with how much I enjoy this pen. I keep my Prussian Blue Swipe with an EF nib tucked into one of my “go” notebooks at all time. While TWSBI made it’s name with piston fillers, the Swipe added cartridge/converter capability to the lineup, and TWSBI also offers a high-capacity ink cartridge though some might find the color selection basic. The Swipe is currently available in four distinct colors (all currently available in the T.G.S. Curated Shop), and I understand that more are on the way as the company continues to expand this segment.
Ballpoint/Gel Recommendation: Lamy 2000 4-Color Ballpoint/Multi-Pen. Personally, I feel strongly that every stationery enthusiast - and particularly those who use their pens and notebooks for work, research, school, and other “productivity-related” functions - have at least one mutifunction pen in their collection. I enjoy the Lamy 2000 version due to its refill versatility (it accepts D1 refills) and streamlined look. I recently revisited my original review of this pen, and as you can see, it’s received a lot of use over the years.
“Writing Small” Recommendation: Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto. Ok, many people don’t like to recommend the standard Hi-Tec-C gel pen since the full-size refill can be extremely temperamental if you get a bad one. That said, I’ve had good luck with the Coleto multi-pen refills (Pilot also offers a Coleto mechanical pencil insert), which are available in tip sizes ranging from .3mm to .5mm. The .4mm version is my personal preference as it strikes a good balance of smoothness and precision. If the ability to change colors on the fly isn’t important to you, CW+T makes a flat “bookmark” pen (the Pen Type-C) that accepts single Coleto refills.
General Form-Factor Recommendation: Traveler’s Company Brass Pens/Pencils. Since they’re designed to complement the Traveler’s Notebook lineup, it’s only natural that the compact and durable Traveler’s Brass pens (and pencil) would make their way onto this list. Borrowing from the vintage “bullet pencil” format, Traveler’s Company makes pencil, ballpoint, fountain pen, and rollerball versions, with the ballpoint being my personal favorite due to its excellent needle-tip refill and fast-drying ink. (Editor’s Note: If you’re at the San Francisco Pen Show this weekend, stop by the Traveler’s Company booth to customize your own limited edition Brass Ballpoint in two show-exclusive colors!)

All the Notebook Systems. — Assuming I don’t hit the bag weight limit (and/or can get my carry-on closed), all of these are coming to San Francisco with me this week.

Pen Recommendations Looking Forward

I’m considering revamping my “Best Pens” list to include new categories organized around different use cases. For years I’ve had the list organized by price point and/or product category, which tends to focus more on the process of acquisition rather than what one does with the pen once it’s purchased. Lately, most of the questions I get seek recommendations on a pen for a specific use case, not in a particular price bracket. Stay tuned as I work through a few more of these questions and perhaps look for a revised/expanded general resource in the future.

This post does not contain links to paid sponsors or affiliates, though a few of the pens on this list may be stocked in some form in the T.G.S. Curated Shop. The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Practical Planning: How I Use Planners

August 13, 2022

Somewhat surprisingly, two of the products that received the most interest at this year’s D.C. Pen Show were the two undated planners we had at the table: The Write Notepads Weekly Planner, and the Planner Desk Pads from WMS & Co. I learned two things this weekend about interest in planners: People LOVE having the option of an undated style, and there are many, many people who would love to use a paper planner but are somewhat intimidated by “Planner Instagram” and the ornate bullet-journal style planners that dominate online. Well, I’m here to tell you that doesn’t need to be the case!

Two undated planner options: Write Notepads (top) and WMS & Co. (bottom).

My Planners Are Objectively Ugly, and I’m Fine With That.

Personally, I stick to a practical approach to planning that focuses on task management. First, I don’t keep a paper calendar to manage appointments or deadlines, at least for work stuff. (It’s much easier to use an electronic calendar when you have to coordinate with multiple teams and other people need the ability to see your schedule and make changes to common events.) I do, however, use the Write and WMS & Co. “weekly layout” pages to generally sketch out my week, typically in a list or bullet-style format that allows me to think through what I want to accomplish on each day. This is 30,000-foot level planning stuff that I do on Sunday afternoon and quickly revisit each morning - I very rarely go back to these “planners” after the week is over, and since the WMS & Co. is a tear-off pad, I usually just shred the calendar page after I’m done. If there are notes I make to myself that I want to retain, I’ll transfer them to another notebook or my laptop.

The Keyboard-sized WMS & Co. Planner fits perfectly underneath my Macbook Air (as well as my full-size keyboard that I use at work). I also like the narrow ruling - I write small.

I keep another “Bullet Journal”-style notebook that is more “work journal” than “planner”, which currently lives in my blue Standard Traveler’s Notebook containing a cut-down Stalogy 1/2-year and a homemade Tomoe River refill. In the Stalogy (which has lasted for just under a year and will likely need to be replaced next month), I have the notebook tabbed by numbered month using these inexpensive Midori numbered labels, with the first page of each month containing a Midori MD Diary sticker, followed by a “monthly task list” page. [Note: Obviously, I can’t show you an actual page of this journal in use because I would literally have to redact EVERYTHING and it wouldn’t be useful at all.]

While I don’t track deadlines and appointments on paper, I still find it helpful to have one of these planner stickers at the front of each monthly “section” in order to visualize the month and block off dates when I am out of the office, traveling, or needing to focus exclusively on certain things.

I use the “Monthly Tasks” page to track, in list format, projects and open items that come up as the month goes on. It’s a running list, and one of the reasons I enjoy the Traveler’s-style layout is that the long, narrow page is conducive to this type of task-tracking and list making. Even though I have dozens of action items that come up in any given month, I can use the Stalogy’s narrow ruling to keep this section to a couple of pages.

Here’s where I depart from standard bullet journaling technique. After the “Monthly Tasks” Section, I have pages of “daily entries,” but I don’t start a new page for every day. I will write the day, record what it is that I worked on and any notes I need to make for myself relating to follow-up, and once that day is over, I’ll skip a couple of lines and write a header for the next day. This method works for me because (1) it doesn’t waste paper; and (2) I often have days where I will work on two or three things, and I don’t need to make a full page of notes to record what I’ve been doing. The purpose of this journal isn’t to serve as a general purpose repository of information - I have separate binders and project-specific notebooks for that - but rather to serve as a record of how I spent my time.

Midori MD Numbered Tabs — These Midori page tabs are infinitely useful. There are options other than “numbered”, and we also carry metal versions and Maruman labels as well.

Other Things I Keep In My Notebook

The second refill, after the Stalogy, is used solely as a scratch pad (i.e., infrequent rough calculations, notes from impromptu phone calls, jotted phone numbers, etc.). This notebook is typically thrown away after it’s full - I often find that what’s written in there makes no sense to me even a week later.

At the front, I have two pockets on the inside cover to hold loose papers and cards, a PVC zippered pouch that holds miscellaneous stamps and flags/labels, and my Traveler’s Sticky Notes. I use the back flap of the PVC pouch refill to hold some index cards, and I usually keep a ballpoint or other “write anywhere” pen in a Traveler’s Notebook Pen Loop.

Fountain pen friendly sticky notes are few and far between. These Traveler’s Company versions are great.

You never know when you might need index cards!

Takeaways and Final Thoughts

To be sure, there is nothing ornate or pretty about my “Planner”, though I personally find a notebook that’s been used as intended to be oddly satisfying, and for that reason I have shelves full of them that I’ve finished that I can’t bear to throw away. I’m torn over whether or not anyone will be interested in a post like this, but given the feedback from the table in D.C., I thought I would go ahead and test it out. What do you think? Do you want to see similar content? Maybe more practical posts on pen-and-paper notetaking?

The Gentleman Stationer is supported exclusively by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. This post does not contain links to paid third-party sponsors or affiliates.

My Prussian Blue TWSBI Swipe nestled in my Traveler’s Notebook Pen Loop.

Deals & Drops: Planner Season Has Kicked Off! Shop Planners and the Best "Planner Pens"

October 14, 2021

It looks like we are FINALLY in for some cool weather this weekend, as opposed to the mid-to-high 80s we’ve been experiencing here in Tennessee. You know what the arrival of Fall means? It’s time to purchase your 2022 planner, or if you’re a bullet journaler or fan of undated notebooks, to start thinking about what your setup will look like. We stock a range of options in the T.G.S. Curated Shop.

A bouquet of Mark’style Needle-tip ballpoints in various colors and sizes.

Another topic I want to talk about briefly is planner pens. A frustration of mine, however minor, with respect to fountain pens is that most don’t fit a standard notebook or planner pen loop, which are typically sized to fit ballpoints and rollerballs. We’ve intentionally stocked pens that are compatible with most planner loops due to their slimmer diameter, and I discuss a few options below. Happy Shopping!

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands we carry. By shopping with us, you are supporting original content, pen reviews, pen show events, etc. from The Gentleman Stationer. If you would like to support us even further, please consider checking out the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more!

Traveler’s Notebook 2022 Planners and Diaries. Traveler’s Company recently released their 2022 Planner/Diary inserts in both Standard and Passport Size. Layouts include Monthly (single books), and Weekly (typically a two-book set). Undated planners are also available for those who enjoy maximum flexibility. Also, for those who want to go ahead and jump-start their planning during the last three months of the year, “July Start 2021 Planners” are on clearance at 50% off.
Midori MD 2022 Diary Stickers. Use these ink-friendly diary stickers to turn the notebook of your choice into a traditional planner. These are incredibly useful for those (like me) who use a hybrid-bullet journal method of planning and task tracking, yet still want SOME structure that allows them to see a monthly overview. Available in small and medium sizes.
Midori MD Codex 1 Day 1 Page. For those who love flexible planning with the option to have a single page per day of fountain pen friendly Midori MD paper, consider the Codex, which also comes with stickers to help you organize your notebook into sections. The Codex features a threaded binding that allows the notebook to lie completely flat. Codex covers are also available to protect your notebook for the full year.
Midori MD A5 Journal (Dot Grid and Blank with Frames). Midori makes a series of slimmer notebooks that are set up “journal-style” (with a subtle page header for the date), if you find the Codex potentially too bulky. These are compatible with the full range of A5 Midori Covers, including the natural undyed goat leather.
Stalogy 365-Day and Half-Year Notebooks. While many people use Stalogy notebooks for standard writing, they have subtle notations in the header and margins that allow you to use the notebook for full-year or half-year planning and scheduling.
Field Notes Undated 56-Week Planners. Looking for a flexible, durable alternative to a larger planner or bullet journal? Field Notes has you covered with their spiral-bound take on a pocket-sized planner.
Traveler’s Company Ballpoint Pen or Fountain Pen. My favorite “planner pen” of all time is probably the Traveler’s Company Ballpoint, with it’s needle-tip hybrid-gel refill. It’s a smooth writer that’s compact enough to fit in the Traveler’s Company pen loop (and most other planner pen loops). If you’re a die-hard fountain pen user, that’s an option as well.
TWSBI Swipe Fountain Pen. TWSBI’s new Swipe fountain pen is a slimmer fountain pen that I’ve frequently used as in my planner. Also fits the Traveler’s Notebook pen loop.
Caran d’Ache 849 Fountain Pen. This slimmer-format fountain pen is perfect for those notebook pen loops sized to accommodate a typical ballpoint or rollerball. It’s also an excellent inexpensive fountain pen option that comes in a range of cool colors, which you can match with pens and pencils from the rest of the 849 lineup.
Mark’Style Needle-tip Ballpoint Pen. Finally, a personal favorite that I’m doing my best to actively promote. These woodcase ballpoints feel like a pencil but write with a needle-tip Ohto black ballpoint refill.

The Caran d’Ache 849 fountain pen shown in Traveler’s Notebook Pen Loop.

And let’s not forget the T.G.S. x Sunderland mk1 collaboration - still a few in stock! The mk1 makes an excellent planner pen due to its slim size and compatibility with finer-tip Pilot G2 and Pilot Juice refills.

Last but not least, the Caran d’Ache Infinite collection make for excellent planner pens. Available in a ballpoint and a mechanical pencil.

Traveler's Notebook 2022 Diaries Are Now Available!

October 11, 2021

Traveler’s Notebook 2022 Dated Diaries/Planners have now arrived in the shop! This year I ordered five different formats: Standard Size Monthly, Weekly Vertical, and Weekly + Memo, as well as Passport Size Monthly and Weekly layouts. We’ve also gone ahead and reduced the remaining limited stock of 2021 second-half planners to 50% off - you can still get 3 months worth of planning out of these to tide you over until the 2022 version kicks in!

We are also fully stocked on Traveler’s Notebook covers in all colors, as well as standard refills and accessories, including undated planners for those who prefer less structure.

The Gentleman Stationer is an authorized reseller of all Traveler’s Notebook products.

Stálogy Paper: My Thoughts, Two Months In

September 22, 2021

You can’t really evaluate a new paper until you’ve used it regularly for a couple of months, and since July I’ve been putting a Stálogy notebook through the wringer as my daily work notebook. I’ve never used this paper before, and I can see this brand easily forming a part of my daily rotation going forward. If I had to sum up Stálogy in a single sentence, it would characterize it as extremely thin, versatile Japanese paper that makes a great daily driver or work notebook, especially if you value quick dry times. That said, if you’re looking for thin paper to showcase pooled ink like Tomoe River, this may not be the notebook for you. While Stálogy doesn’t feather, and the ink looks great on the white paper with the grey ruling, you may see limited pinpoint bleed through with wider nibs and/or wetter inks, as thin, absorbent paper has its limitations.

(You may recall that I wrote a piece back in July discussing how you can customize notebooks by cutting them down to size, and that’s exactly what I did here. Stálogy notebooks don’t come in “Traveler’s Size,” - I made this one myself so a half-year version would fit in my Standard Traveler’s Notebook.)

Stálogy covers come in a range of colors other than black, including yellow. light blue, and red versions.

Style and Build Quality

I love the Stálogy aesthetic. The flexible leatherette cover feels sturdy without adding unnecessary bulk to the notebook, which would only detract from the key selling point of paper this thin. I’ve been carrying this notebook in my briefcase or car on a daily basis for two months (albeit in a Traveler’s Notebook cover), and so far the binding has held up well.

The Stalogy pages feature grey rulings with a header allowing you to label the month, day, and date.

The other thing I am truly enjoying is Stálogy’s light grey, 4mm grid ruling. Those who find bold rulings obtrusive, but who are still looking for more structure than a blank notebook offers, should give the Stálogy system a try. The grey lines essentially disappear under your writing, and 4mm is a great size for those of us who write small.

Every two lines are subtly numbered along the left-hand margin of each page, providing a 24 Hour layout for scheduling and logging.

Layout and Performance

In addition to the minimalist, almost industrial “leather book” aesthetic, people love Stálogy for the subtle date/time layout in the header and margin, allowing you to use this notebook for notetaking or journaling, or as a planner. The left-hand margin is subtly numbered 1 through 24, for a full 24-hour layout if you want to use your notebook as a planner or log book. Across the top, you can select the month, day, and date, which is always useful, no matter what your use case might be.

A handful of writing samples on Stálogy paper. As you can see, the ink looks great on the white paper with grey ruling, and I had absolutely no feathering even with some very wet pens.

Which brings us to the big question: what about the paper? It’s quite good. That said, paper is all about trade-offs. Those who love really thin paper know that in order for a thin paper to handle a lot of ink without feathering or bleed-through, you typically have to coat the paper and accept a longer dry time. Stálogy takes a different approach. This paper is more absorbent than something like Tomoe River, so you have a (much) shorter dry time. (Several friends who are lefties LOVE Stálogy for this very reason.) The paper also has a nice texture that lends a pleasant, tactile feel as you write. The trade-off might be some slight, pinpoint bleed-through with wet inks and wider nibs, though most fountain pens still work very well. While I absolutely did not experience anything that would keep me from using this notebook as a daily driver, I am overly cautious in labeling something as “fountain pen friendly” because that’s become a loaded term that has different meanings for different people.

The reverse side of the same page. You see some slight “pinpoint” bleeds on especially wet writing samples (i.e., stubs and ebonite feeds with wet ink), but nothing that prevents me from using this paper all day, every day. For how I use paper, the quick dry time is absolutely worth the trade-off in a work notebook.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

With future availability of Tomoe River Paper in question, the focus has turned to other options for extremely thin paper that allows notebook makers to pack a high page count into a compact size. While it’s not absolutely “ink proof” like Tomoe River, Stálogy paper is a very good alternative, especially for those of us who need a thin notebook and value more absorbent paper with better dry times. Personally, I’ve been using Stálogy every day for the past couple of months and love both the paper feel and quick dry performance.

My favorite color? The light blue (though the yellow really pops).

Stálogy notebooks are available in a range of sizes, including A5, A6, and B5, in both “365 Days”/“Year” (368 Page) or “180 Days”/”Half-Year” (192 Page) versions (also referred to as “year” and “half-year”). Currently, the T.G.S. Curated Shop stocks the A5 notebooks in both 365 and 180 Days, with the grid ruling. Dot grid is also available, which I hope to stock soon. In addition to the classic black cover, Stalogy has released brighter pastel versions, such as the light blue shown here, as well as periodic special editions. Half-Year notebooks are priced at $20, and 365-Day versions at $28.

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands sold, including Stálogy. For more information on paper recommendations, I would check out this post on “Fountain Pen Friendly Paper” and how I categorize different brands.