I came home with some fresh loot during my travels for Fountain Pen Day, including this awesome Esterbrook Fountain Pen Day 2Go Cup, made just for our holiday. They are a few left for purchase, and I have one to give away this week. Read the rules below and enter away!
Posts filed under Esterbrook
Esterbrook 2GO Pen Cup Review
(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter. And check out her latest book, Out of Water, now available where books are sold!)
I'm all over the place this month—in a different city every weekend, and all over the map in between, so my "desk" needs to be on the move with me. Transporting a pleasant variety of pens is an essential part of that portable office, which makes for the perfect opportunity to try out clever new pen case designs.
The new drawstring 2GO Pen Cup from Esterbrook has been my carry for the past week, and it has been wonderful in some ways, and falls a bit short in others.
First of all, to get the obvious out of the way, it's super cute. I love the cotton canvas fabric, the classic stenciling, and the color, which happens to perfectly match my planner cover and purse. It's sturdy and well-made, and feels like it will last a long time, even with regular use. In fact, the fabric feels like it will only get better with use, like a comfy pair of jeans. The leather drawstring gives it a rustic vibe, and the suede interior is very soft. The ribbed knit cuff at the top of the case brings a cosy feel to the leather and canvas.
The case is designed so that you can use it as one big open space, or use the included divider to keep pens separate inside. It's a bit fiddly getting the insert aligned correctly—it keeps wanting to fold on itself—but once the pens are in place, they help it keep its shape. The flexibility of it does allow it to cushion pens of various sizes, so I can put narrow pencils next to beefy fountain pens and the insert will adjust itself accordingly. It also lends the case some structure, so it can stand up like a pen cup, and the top fabric folds down so that the pens are easily visible and accessible.
As far as its shortcomings, the first is exactly that—it's a bit short, so it can't fit taller pencils, and even some pens may not be the best fit. Standard ballpoint or gel pen length works best. I also wasn't able to cinch the top cord shut all the way, due to the thickness of the fabric. So there's always an open gap at the top, wide enough for a pen to slip through if I were to tip it upside down. For me, that means it's not the right case for any of my more delicate pens. But most of my favorite pens are delicate ones, which means I either need to bring them in a second, separate case, or I need to just use a different case altogether, which is ultimately what I did.
Another issue is that this case retails for $59.95, which surprised me a bit. That seems quite high. Yes, the materials are very nice and the construction and design are well done, but oof. That's a very high-end price, and as much as I like it, I'm not sure I'd pay that much for it. I've paid that much for cases before, but there was usually a clear reason why it cost so much--like small-batch handmade pieces in exclusive materials.
While this case didn't work for my daily carry, it still makes a good case for keeping on the desk at home. And it would be a great choice for when I'm bringing a handful of gel pens or fineliners to a friend's house so we can decorate planners together. While it has a few negatives, overall I do think it's a nice case, and I'll enjoy using it.
(Brad purchased this case from Dromgoole’s at the 2023 Atlanta Pen Show.)
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Esterbrook JR Paradise Blue Breeze Fountain Pen Review
(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter. And check out her latest book, Out of Water, now available where books are sold!)
The Esterbrook JR, this petite, lovely pen is designed as a revival of the vintage Esterbrook J, the iconic pocket pen that is still widely popular today. The shape, style, and design of the piece definitely recalls its ancestor, but with a modern twist that will no doubt make this model popular with contemporary pen addicts.
This is a limited edition pen from Esterbrook, part of a seasonal line of tropical inspired colors. This Blue Breeze color is a bright turquoise acrylic with a yellow acrylic end cap "jewel" and gold-plated furniture. It has a gold-plated steel German Schmidt nib. It's also available in “Orange Sunset” and “Lemon Twist” colors, all bright and fun, as well as a few non-limited edition colors.
The nib did need a small bit of tuning out of the box. It's a juicy broad nib, but it dragged a little on horizontal lines. The tines appeared to be aligned, so I smoothed it with a bit of micro-mesh and now all is well. It writes with great ink flow that shows off the qualities of the ink used, and I have not experienced any drying out or hard starts. (Ink shown is Sailor Ink Studio 773.) It takes either a cartridge or converter, and comes with both.
The cap screws securely, the clip is firm but flexible, and the cap does post, though not deeply and you'd risk scratching the acrylic over time. The grip section is in the same blue acrylic and it has been shaped with a nice dip and flare for comfortable writing.
Though it is called a pocket pen, in size and shape it is very similar to a Sailor Pro Gear Slim or a Pelikan M200. Definitely a smaller pen, but not as small as what I'd consider a true pocket pen. It is quite slender, so some folks with larger hands may find it uncomfortable.
This edition can generally be found for about $140, which is a very fair price for its size and quality. I like it a lot and I'm already tempted by the forthcoming "Pumpkin Latte" edition. With the good price, small size, and fun colors, they remind me a bit of where Sailor Pro Gear Slims were six or so years ago, when they were both affordable and collectible. I could definitely see myself collecting a few editions of this charming wee pen.
(Kenro Industries provided this product at no charge 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!
