Palomino Blackwing Pencil Pouch Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

As I dive deeper and deeper into the pencil world, it doesn’t take long to realize that not all pen/pencil cases are long enough to accommodate a standard size wood-case pencil. They’re just longer than your average writing utensil, and that means you have to purchase a case that is made for these instruments in mind.

It should come as no surprise that Palomino has their own case for just this purpose. The Pencil Pouch from Blackwing is a black waxed-canvas pencil case that features a low-key branding and big, brass zipper to keep everything secure. On the outside, it looks great and, due to the waxed canvas, should hold up for quite a long period of use.

Pencil pouches are fairly simple — they are usually a rectangle with enough space inside for a dozen or two dozen pencils, and close with a zipper of some kind. The Blackwing version is no different, but stays in line with the branding of their notebooks and pencils — it’s minimal and unassuming. I think it looks great, but it’s not perfect.

The brass zipper on top of the case looks fantastic. It has a rugged, aged look that compliments the black canvas. It also has a small leather pull attached to the zip pull to make it easier to operate. On one side of the zipper, there’s also a small leather tab affixed in the seam of the pouch that provides a nice gripping point when unzipping the pouch. Palomino definitely thought through the design and use of this case, and it shows. While the zipper looks great, it uses a relatively large zip size that can be someone difficult to open and close. It tends to get caught midway through the zip, and that can be frustrating. The last thing you want is a struggle with trying to close the pencil pouch that results in some of the tips of your pencils getting damaged or broken.

Apart from the zipper, there’s the feel of the waxed canvas when it’s still new. It has a waxy feel on the outside and the inside of the pouch, and this residue can stick to your fingers. I really dislike this, but it’s happened to me with almost every other new waxed canvas bag that I’ve had. Fortunately, this residue wears off over a brief period, but the protective elements of the wax coating remain. If you can live through a short period of waxy residue on your fingers and pencils, you’ll be fine with this case. The other downside of waxed canvas is that it loves to pick up lint, hair, etc. This drives me nuts because I detest lint, so keep that in mind if you also suffer from this idiosyncrasy.

In the pictures in this review, I’m using a dozen pencils. You can see in the pictures that the pouch looks about half-full, and that’s accurate according to the specs on JetPens. This case should comfortably fit 24 pencils. If you leave a few out, there’s also plenty of room for a sharpener and an eraser.

On the quality side, the case seems very well made, although a little messy on the inside. The outside of the case looks very clean and well-made. The stitches are consistent and I haven’t seen any stray threads coming off the case with use. If you turn the pouch inside out to inspect the interior stitches, they seem a bit messier and might potentially unravel a bit over a long period of time. Still, since they’re on the inside of the pouch, they’re very well protected. I imagine this is normal for any stitched goods that are made in high volume, as I assume these Blackwing pouches are.

The Palomino Blackwing Pencil Pouch will set you back around $35, which seems a fair price for the materials used. I’ve been happy with it aside from the minor complaints I noted above, and I’d happily recommend this case if you like the aesthetic and price-point.

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

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Nomadic PF-15 2-Story Pen Case: A Review

(Susan M. Pigott is a fountain pen collector, pen and paperholic, photographer, and professor. You can find more from Susan on her blog Scribalishess.)

The Nomadic PF-15 2-Story Pen Case is a padded, zippered pen and art supply case. The outside of the case is made of nylon and polyester with a woven, heather-like look.

The case has two zippers for easy opening and closing.

Inside the top flap is a webbed pocket that is perfect for a small ruler, flat scissors, or pens and pencils.

The main compartment consists of two parts. The first “story” can hold several pens plus there’s a pop-up pocket for an eraser or small pencil sharpener. You can also press the pocket flat to accommodate larger objects like scissors.

The second “story” is a flap with three elastic pen/pencil holders. This allows you to put certain pens or pencils on top for easy access.

Overall, I like the design of this case. The bottom compartment can hold ten or more pens (ballpoint, rollerball, gel, or highlighters), and the top flap sets apart three pens or pencils for easy access. The mesh pocket in the top is perfect for flat items like a ruler, though you could certainly put more pens there.

However, I’m not so fond of the pop-up pocket. It is useful to hold an eraser or a small pencil sharpener, but it doesn’t really lie flat when it’s not in use, so it just seems to get in the way.

I wish the top flap held at least four pens (there’s plenty of room for one more slot). I also think that the flap should be longer so that it completely protects the pens or pencils from the supplies underneath. Because the flap is short, any pens in the slots will knock against the pens/pencils underneath, which could lead to scratches. It would also be helpful if the flap was detachable so you could have easier access to the pens in the bottom compartment. As it is, you have to hold the flap out of the way to access the pens in the bottom compartment.

I do not recommend this case for fountain pens. The elastic loops in the pen flap are fairly tight and will accommodate only the slimmest fountain pens. More importantly, because the flap is short, your pens will hang over by about an inch or so, leaving them exposed to any pens or supplies underneath.

For regular pens, pencils, and art supplies, this pen case will work well. It is small enough to fit in purses and backpacks, and the nylon/polyester exterior should stand up to all sorts of abuse.

You can purchase the Nomadic PF-15 2-Story Pen Case from Jet Pens in either black or navy blue for $19.00.

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

Frara Road Pen Roll Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

Once you start collecting a few pens, it doesn't take long to realize that you also need a convenient to store and transport multiple pens at a time. Luckily, there are many such options available to stationery nerds today. These options can vary as far as design and materials, but most are made of nylon fabric, plastic, metal, or leather. And, the Frara Road Pen Roll happens to be in the leather variety.

Frara Road is a small company based in Cape Town, South Africa that specializes in unique stationery goods. From James and Jesse, the owners, their mission is simple:

We set out upon Frara Road™ with a simple goal to make lasting products that are beautiful to look at and most importantly, practical to use. To make nothing that is unnecessary and to make things that we personally want. Their shop is small, but focused. It's nice to see a small business that is selling a few goods they really believe in as opposed to a shop selling lots of different things that they may not personally vouch for. In the case of Frara Road, the stuff they sale are curated by the owners.

Back to the Pen Roll — it's gorgeous. Made from full-grain upholstery leather, it has a luxurious, soft feel and tantalizing smell. The leather is a medium brown color, and ages quite well with use. It's bound to pick up a few nicks and scuffs, but that makes leather goods look better with age. Inside the case, there's more leather that forms the pen slots, but it also features a flap that folds down over the pens to protect them each other when the case is rolled up. The back side of the leather is unfinished, which gives it a super soft, carpet-like feel. I definitely don't worry about my pens when they're in this case — they are well-protected.

The Pen Roll has six pen sleeves, which are separated with stitching. In fact, there's a lot of stitching on this case, and it's well-done. I haven't noticed any stray threads or sloppy lines. After several months of use, it's held up really well. But, I'd expect as much from leather goods!

Due to the soft interior leather, pens slide in and out of the sleeves with ease. It can sometime take some fidgeting to get the clip over the edge of the leather, but it's a minor thing that you'll experience with most pen cases, sleeves, etc. Once the pens are in the sleeve, they don't budge. Even if your pen doesn't have a clip, it is held securely in the sleeve. And, once you fold down the inner flap and roll up the case, they're not going anywhere.

Like most pen rolls, it can take some practice to find the best way to roll up the case efficiently and securing the straps. In the case of cloth pen rolls, the process is easier, but it takes more effort to secure the string or straps to ensure the case doesn't come loose and open in your bag. With the Frara Road Pen Roll, you have to pay more attention when rolling the case shut due to the thickness and stiffness of the leather. While the stiffness does go away after some regular use, it's still a thick material. Once the leather breaks in, it becomes incredibly easy to roll the case up. The leather falls into a groove and tends to retrace its own steps when it's time to pack up. That's one of the delightful thing about leather goods. They're unique and take on a life of their own with time.

After the case is rolled up, there's a single strap that secures it. The strap wraps around the case, feeds through a small slot, doubles back, and stays tight without any need for knots or extra tucking. I was skeptical that it would be this easy, but it works really well. Feed the strap through the top of the hole, pull it back under itself, give it a tug to tighten it down, and you're set. The friction of the leather is enough to keep this roll secure, no matter how long or short the journey. When you arrive and it's time to get out the goods, a simple tug in the reverse direction will loose the strap and allow you to quickly open the case. This is truly the first closure system that I've enjoyed in a pen roll or pen wrap style case. It's great!

Obviously, there are other cases available that hold the same number of pens, have more features, cost less, etc. When it comes down to it, this is a well-made leather stationery accessory. You already know if you're keen on leather goods. If you're one of those people, there's a good chance you'll love this case. If you're not, lucky you! There are so many other choices out there. To me, this case is worth it alone based on aesthetics, but it's also a great functional case.

When first using the case, one downside in my mind was how bulky and large it is once rolled up. But, after comparing it with a fully loaded Brasstown, I was surprised to find that it was a very similar size. It's a bit fatter, but not as tall length-wise. Also, being made of leather, it's pliable when you pack it in a bag. It might look a bit chubby in some ways, but it's still very space efficient and easy to pack.

Overall, the Frara Road Pen Roll is a great intersection of beauty and functionality. For storing and transporting up to six pens or pencils, this is a top-notch option if you prefer leather over nylon or plastic. At $75, it's a bit pricey when compared with other cases, but (again) it's made from leather and looks fantastic.

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

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