(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Bluesky. And her latest book, The Atropine Tree, is now available!)
The eternal conundrum: I want a pen and notebook on me at all times, everywhere I go, BUT I am often without pockets. Or if I have pockets, they are tiny. I run into this problem the most at work, where I frequently need to write things down on the go, and I also need to carry a set of keys, a chapstick, my phone, etc.
I have, over the years, tried several solutions. Overburdened lanyards (heavy on the neck and jingly). Folios with pockets (too easy to set down somewhere and walk off), cardigans with pockets (the classic librarian accessory, but sometimes it's too hot). The best solution that I and a few other coworkers have found is to carry a small work purse. I've tried a few, from store-bought mini purses to hand-sewn zipper bags. They are functional. But this Rickshaw Sinclair with a Shoulder Strap is purpose-built to carry exactly what I need, and now it is a workplace essential.
First of all, the obvious: The Limited Edition Leigh Reyes fabric is divinely beautiful. It's artsy, writerly, and the splashes of rainbow colors will match whatever I'm wearing. The fabric comes in a variety of Rickshaw designs, and I suggest checking them all out, but this Sinclair shows just enough surface area to let the design show itself off.
The nylon canvas is durable and decently weatherproof. The edging and zipper are in black. The zipper is a hardy YKK double-sided zipper, so it can be opened from either side, which isn't really necessary for a bag of this size, but is still indulgently convenient. It has black paracord zipper pulls woven through the zipper tabs to minimize the jingle. The strap is a 1" black nylon webbing and it attaches with metal swivel hooks to paracord loops that are securely sewn into the bag's seam. The strap adjusts generously from a short over-the-shoulder length to a crossbody length. The crossbody length may be a bit short for taller or bigger bodies, but the loops make it easy to attach a strap of your choice to the bag.
The outside front of the bag has a slip pocket large enough for a pocket notebook or a phone. Inside the main zipper compartment, the bag is lined with Rickshaw's fabulous plush lining in bright blue. It's the perfect soft protection for your pens. There are three pen slots and one notebook slot inside the bag. My favorite setup is to put one gel pen, one pencil, and one fountain pen in the slots. A pocket notebook in the slip pocket inside. My phone in the center of the bag. And my keys in the outside slip pocket. A ballpoint pen and my lip gloss usually end up in the outside slip pocket as well. If I were to carry this as a regular purse, I'd put my wallet inside and my phone in the outside slip pocket, then clip my keys to the strap. Either way, it's a great setup for carrying just the essentials with you. Because we all know that "the essentials" include at least three pens.
Inside the bag, you'll also see a nod to the Sinclair's design origins. Nock Co! I miss the old Nock days, but I'm delighted their designs live on through Rickshaw.
Even if you are someone who has been blessed with an abundance of functional pockets in your daily life, this is still a great bag for carrying even more pens, and for keeping them a little safer than they would be in a pants pocket. Rickshaw's sturdy construction and soft lining are the Cadillac of pen transportation.
This Sinclair R with a strap sells for $75 at Vanness Pen Shop, which does feel a little high, considering it's just a few dollars less than the Rickshaw A5 Field Bag, but the Field Bag doesn't have the plush lining like the Sinclair R. Some of the other pouches have the plush lining, but no strap attachment. This one really has all of the best features combined into one utilitarian and beautiful package. I highly recommend it. And if the fabric isn't speaking to you, check out their other designs--or even design your own version on the Rickshaw website.
(Vanness Pens provided this product at a discount to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
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