What am I looking for in a pen purchase these days? Montegrappa is always a choice, or how about a hand-engraved Kaweco? We discuss both brands this week, and then dig into the recent International Stationery of the Year announcements.
This episode of The Pen Addict is sponsored by:
Enigma Stationery: Unique items, top brands and hard-to-find imports. Get a free gift and free US shipping on orders of $50 or more.
(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!)
Your trinkets, gadgets, and doodads have a new ride. This new pouch, The Cube, from Esterbrook is a library of pockets, offering some top-tier organization in a design that looks both fun and classic.
First of all, look at that box. Esterbrook is always good with their packaging, and here, again, they have provided us with another box that's too good to throw away. More than one drawer in my house is organized with repurposed Esterbrook packaging. This one is definitely a keeper.
The butter yellow nylon of the case makes a fantastic impression on first sight. It's such a good color, and the styling is very retro. Maybe it's the windbreaker, track-suit fabric that's taking me back to the early 90s--but I'm happy to go there. The case is also available in blue and dark green, though all have the bright orange interior.
On the front of the pouch, there is a zipper pocket with a soft interior perfect for keeping glasses scratch-free. Behind that is a slip pocket (though the two pockets share volume, so if you put something fragile in one, you wouldn't want to use the other). Below it is a stretchy band that could serve as a handle, or a way to affix the pouch to another bag.
On the back, there are two voluminous pockets with elastic tops. One is nylon and one is mesh. They hold a surprising amount, and are the perfect size for a charger or earbud case.
The main part of the case opens like a clamshell with a smooth zipper. The inside right has divided pen trays for up to six sizeable pens. They are held in place by an elastic band that stretches across the width, threading through the walls of the soft tray.
There is a flap that divides the main compartment in two, and on the side of the flap facing the pens, there is a clear folder pocket perfect for stickers or a small notepad. On the other side of the flap there is a zipper mesh pocket for keeping any loose bits secured.
On the other side of the clamshell opening, there is a mesh pocket and a length of elastic across the width that is sewn into small segments.
The roomy interior also allows for a slim pocket or A6 notebook to be placed on either side of the central flap, or in some of the larger elastic pockets.
Every inch of this case is full of storage. A lot of it is cleverly laid out so that it can all be used, though some pockets interfere with the use of others.
There's so much versatility that it takes a little while to figure out how to use it. Is it a tech pouch? And EDC case? Just for pens and stationery? You could even use it as a makeup or toiletry case, or for other craft supplies. This is one of those cases that might end up in my knitting bag.
Will it fit?
I decided to see how much of my daily carry items I could fit inside it. The answer was, most of them! However... When fully packed out, it may not fit in your bag. It gets thick! If you're carrying a good backpack, you'll be fine, but it doesn't fit in an average purse, which makes its use as a daily carry pouch a bit un-useful, for me.
But that does not worry me, because it has a thousand uses other than as a daily carry pouch. It would be perfect as a pen show kit! Bring some pens to show off, leave some spaces empty to fill with new pens. Collect business cards and stickers. Gather paper swatches, and bring a testing notebook. Fill the elastics with ink sample vials. Everything you need in one cube!
Because of the endless possibilities, I've had a lot of fun unpacking and repacking it for different purposes.
One downside to the case is the price, which did shock me a bit when I saw it. The MSRP is $65, though you might find it for less. It's more than I'd expect to pay for a nylon case, but it does have a lot of construction and design to it. I don't think it's extremely overpriced, just a bit more than I was expecting. That being said, if I hadn't been sent one, I'd buy one. I might have to buy one, anyway, because my husband, who typically goes glassy-eyed whenever I start talking about anything pen-related, actually tried to claim this one.
The retro vibe and bright colors certainly won't be for everyone, but I think this is another great accessory from Esterbrook. I'd actually love to see these design elements and materials used in a full-sized bag. Like the Cube as a messenger briefcase, chock full of stationery organization? If you do that, Esterbrook, please call me.
(Disclaimer: Brad bought this case from Florida Fountain Pen at the 2025 Atlanta Pen Show.)
Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.
Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!
(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)
The Alchemy Inks Series from Endless Stationery is a fun collection of inks that all tell a story of how an alchemist was able to wield the power of each ink with the help of gods of legends. With Poseidon's Reef, we get a lovely teal ink with heaps of red/purple sheen and a bit of shading to mimic the look of shallow ocean water.
I'm personally powerless to resist adding a new blue, teal, or turquoise ink to my collection. At least with Poseidon's Reef, I get a nice dark teal ink that has a massive sheen flair that shows up on the page easily. The shade is a dark blue with a hint of green that turns it into a teal color. It's a pleasant color that somewhat reminds me of the ocean, but the slight bit of shading and hue variation adds more to that allusion. I'd like it if the ink had more shading variation, but the subtle effect is nice.
The characteristic that really surprised me with this ink is the sheen. There's an obvious and abundant red and purple sheen on this ink once it dries. Even in smaller nibs, the contrasting sheen shines through the dark teal background. It's a great effect, and one that really distinguishes this ink from other similar dark teal inks.
Something else that surprised me is the amount of time it takes this ink to dry. It's mostly dry by 15-20 seconds, where only some small areas still smudge with moderate pressure. In normal writing circumstances with a fine nib, I was able to write and immediate wipe my hand over the page without causing any smudges. The ink will still smear for left-handed writers, so we can't add it to the esteemed list of super-fast drying inks. Still, it dries fast enough to be worth mentioning.
Once you get past the color and sheen effects, there's one characteristic that I've noticed that I don't like. In certain circumstances, the ink tends to feather and bleed. It doesn't happen all the time, which makes me think it has something to do with the paper. Still, it happens about once per sentence and is noticeable.
Feathering aside, this is still a wonderful ink. The flow is smooth and steady, the color is deep and mysterious, and the intense sheen is a lot of fun. The bottle that Endless Stationery use for the Alchemy series is a fun design as well. The base of the bottle is convex, which causes the bottle to twirl around gently. I definitely wouldn't let it twirl with the lid off, but you also get a nice cork stand that keeps the bottle steady when you're filling your pens. It's a fun bottle design, but definitely not something that should influence anyone's decision to buy. The artwork on the box is also fun, with a detailed illustration of Poseidon next to a coral reef with a holographic effect on the box that shifts the colors.
Poseidon's Reef is $20 for a 45 ml bottle, but you can also pick up a small 4 ml sample vial to try out if you're not sure you want the whole bottle. There are a few other color options in this series, and I look forward to trying some others!
(Vanness Pens provided this product at a discount to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.
Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!
