Posts filed under Pen Case

Kokuyo Neo Critz Pencil Case 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.)

The Kokuyo Neo Critz is a cleverly designed nylon case great for taking a fistful of pens or pencils on the go. It works well in bags and converts to a pen cup, so you can perch it on your worktop of choice and have easy access to all of your tools.

The case is made of lightweight nylon fabric with a foam core that adds a bit of padding to protect the contents. The bottom half of the case has extra reinforcement so that it remains sturdy when acting as a pencil/pen cup. There is one main compartment that holds a good twelve to fifteen pens or pencils, and a smaller pocket that can hold an eraser, lead box, and sharpener. The case zips shut along the top and side. The zipper works from either end--so you can access the pens by just opening the top of the case if it is tucked in a bag. To fully open the case, unzip from the bottom. When zipped, it has a teardrop-shaped profile that is slim enough that it fits well along other items without being too bulky.

To convert it to a pen or pencil cup, unzip it from the bottom and fold back the softer upper half of the case. It's a clever, convenient design. I think it would work very well for colored pencils, journaling supplies, or for urban or nature sketchers who need their tools handy in a variety of locales. The thing I've actually found it to be most handy for is knitting and crochet supplies. The wee pocket is great for holding stitch markers and small notions, and the main compartment holds plenty of hooks and double-pointed needles. It's slim enough that it doesn't take up too much space on the table, but still gives you fast access to your tools.

All of Kokuyo's cases focus on efficient, convenient design. Their styles address a multitude of needs, but I think this one is the most promising for carrying a larger number of pens or pencils. It would even work well for fountain pens, with its easily-identifiable top and padded sides--but of course the pens would be touching, which might be a deal-breaker for some.

There are lots of fun colors to choose from, and they're a decent price. I have a feeling my eldest kiddo is after this, so I may have to grab another.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on May 11, 2017 by Sarah Read and filed under Kokuyo, Pen Case.

Lihit Lab Smart Fit A5 Notebook Cover 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.)

I find most of Lihit Lab's bags and cases to be well designed and practical. Except for the Actact Stand Pen Case, I've enjoyed all of their products that I've tried. And the Smart Fit A5 Notebook Cover is by far my new favorite.

It's made of sturdy Cordura polyester. It has three outside pockets: a pen holder that fits even bulkier pens (my Pilot Custom 823 fits perfectly with a little wiggle room); a front pocket with a Velcro flap that's large enough to hold most phones (or a good-sized stack of Field Notes); and behind that is a larger slot that can hold a medium notebook, stray papers, or a whole fistful of gel pens. Inside the front cover are two card slots and a larger slot that's perfect for a pocket notebook. These pockets are on a firm band of fabric that can be used as an additional notebook cover slot--so the case can actually hold two A5 notebooks. The back inside cover has another notebook cover slot, and a folder pocket that can hold papers or can be used as a memo pad holder. The cover closes with an elastic band that's attached to the inside front cover and stretches around the long edge of the back. There are two ribbon bookmarks--one white and one brown.

This thing has not been more than ten feet from me since the moment it arrived. It's more than my everyday carry, it's my every hour carry. My carry-from-room-to-room. Here's how I'm using it:

I have my main pen-o-the-day in the pen slot, my phone and a pocket notebook in the front pouch, and a handful of other pens in the larger pocket. This pocket also acts as a catch-all for papers I gather through the day. I have all my important cards in the card slots (it doesn't fit many cards, but it easily fits the essentials), and a pocket notebook in the larger slot. I'm not using the front notebook cover holder, because I have a large notebook in the back holder. It's about 1" thick, but it fits in the cover nicely. It's my planner/bullet journal/diary, so it gets used about ten times a day. The two ribbon markers are in my monthly and weekly trackers, and I use a separate marker for my daily page. In the back folder I have my BuJo stencils and my planner stickers.

This packet of essentials is like my external hard drive. Every inch of it is imbued with powerful usefulness. +10 to productivity.

Of course, it isn't perfect. There are a few things I'd change. One--the Velcro. I'm a knitter, so Velcro is my nemesis. I can't put this in a bag next to my yarn without risking tragedy. Two--the ribbon markers are a little puny. This could really do with more substantial markers. Three--the notebook it comes with is awful. It has flimsy, weak plastic rings that don't like to line up properly or close easily, and the paper quality is pretty terrible. Even my rollerball had some slight bleed-through, and fountain pens were a no-go. Thankfully, it's easy to switch out, and with the A5 size, you can replace it with some of the nicest notebooks in existence.

This case is going to stay in use till it's falling apart--or until something comes along that improves on its weaker features. I'm sure there are already such things out there in the world, but I haven't found too many at this accessible price point. If you're in the market for an A5 cover that can also tote some of your tools, I highly recommend this one.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on February 16, 2017 by Sarah Read and filed under Lihit Labs, Pen Case.

Lihit Lab Smart Fit Actact Stand Pen Case 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.)

You can always turn to Lihit Lab for stationery container innovation, and the Smart Fit Actact Stand Pen Case is definitely in keeping with that reputation. It's a tubular zip-top case made almost entirely of silicone. It's soft and pliable, but keeps its cylindrical shape. The base is reinforced, and it's designed to pop in like a button, lifting the pens above the zipper level, so that the case can also be used as a desktop pen holder. The design is fun and clever, and won an ISOT grand prize for functionality.

I think my favorite part of the case is actually the safety insert, which cautions against using the case as a pen launcher, and also suggests that you don't lean directly over your quiver of pens as you pop the bottom in. Of course, in the name of science, I tried breaking these rules so that I could fully report on the safety of the case. Leaning over the case as I popped the bottom didn't ever result in gouged eyes or even any facial contact with the pens whatsoever. I can see how it COULD happen, so definitely do not load this up with sharpened pencils and stare into it as you slam it onto the desk--but you also don't need to lean back or wear safety goggles or anything.

It works pretty well as a pen launcher. Holding the open case at about a 45-degree angle and popping the button in sent an unladen Staedtler Triplus Fineliner about three feet. Not bad for something that is actually supposed to hold all of your pens in one place. And by not bad, I mean not good, because it's supposed to hold all of your pens in one place.

As far as actually holding things, I think the case leaves a lot to be desired. It's slim, so it doesn't hold very many pens--especially if you're using pens with thicker grips or clips, like Zebra Sarasas or Pilot Juices. It's also too short to hold full-length pencils. And while the tubular design is nice in its simplicity, there is no interior compartment for accessories like erasers or leads.

The shape also makes it a bit awkward to carry in a bag. It doesn't collapse flat enough to slip into narrow pockets, so it either needs to take up space in the main compartment, or use the spot reserved for your water bottle. So I'm not wild about it for pen carry, and it doesn't hold enough to be storage. It does function well as a pen cup, but if I'm going to use something to just sit on my desk and hold pens, I'm more likely to pick a pretty mug.

I do like the fact that it's completely and easily washable. In fact, I'd recommend it for kids if it weren't for its ballistic capabilities.

So while I do think the design is clever and there is certainly an audience for a convertible case like this, it doesn't float my boat. But it could probably sink my battleship.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!

Posted on December 30, 2016 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Lihit Labs, Pen Case.