Posts filed under Pen Case

Sun-Star Delde Smand 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. And check out her latest book, Out of Water, now available where books are sold!)

If you watch the Pen Addict Twitch stream, you've likely seen people shouting SMAND! at random intervals. The clever Sun-Star Delde Stand Pen Case has quickly become a fan favorite--almost an obsession. Can a pen case be a cult classic? Looking at it, I could not figure out why everyone was obsessed with it, so Brad sent me one to try. And it's fine. I mean, it's a good case, and a good design, but my favorite thing about it is the name. Smand!

It's made out of polyester canvas with a smooth lining. It has a plastic double-zip zipper, a unique wedge shape, and a magnetic front flap with a rubberized interior that folds down to act as a device stand. The dimensions of the stand and case are based around common smartphone sizes, with the implication being that your smartphone is now one of your school supplies. And that's certainly true, these days. The case was designed by middle and high schoolers, and their digital-analog hybrid life is definitely reflected in it. So it's not entirely surprising if it doesn't quite meet the needs of my ancient mummy self.

What I like about it: Great colors available. I like the structured construction that helps protect the contents. The stand feature works well for devices as long as the case is filled and weighted down (otherwise it tips). The wedge shape fits nicely in bags. I like the name SMAND.

What I don't care for: It doesn't hold very much--just a handful of pens, and even less if you also put a phone in there. If your phone also has a case on it, then maybe only very few pens. It's a bit tippy as a stand unless you keep the case part full. If they had made it just a few millimeters taller, it could fit some scissors or a pocket notebook, but as it is, it's too small.

Brad has cleverly been using his as a pen rest, as the rubberized stand platform is perfect for preventing pens from rolling away on the desk. I think that's a great way to use this case, and I would definitely do that if I didn't have small children and cats who would be too tempted by such treasures left out in the open. Since I have a middle-schooler, and we have just acquired his school supplies, I did a test run to see if this case would work for his needs, and it did not fit even a third of what he's expected to carry with him in his backpack. So I do think it makes a better desk stand than a transport case. It's called a Smand, after all, and not a Smace.

I think this would be a great tool for artists who need to prop up a reference picture, or knitters who want to keep their digital pattern visible and their notions handy. My Smand is likely destined for my knitting bag, and it won't be the only pen case in there. At $17 on JetPens, it's a great deal on a decent case. And decent as it is, I still don't get why everyone is so shouty about it (except that it's just fun to say....SMAND!).

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

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Posted on August 12, 2021 by Sarah Read and filed under Sun-Star, Pen Case, SMAND.

Shibui A5 Life Organizer Review

It's weird to say something like this, but I love everything about the Shibui A5 Life Organizer except the design. The things I dislike about it might not bother you, in which case (pun intended) you might really enjoy this product.

For one, it is extremely well constructed. The stitching is strong and even. There are sturdy, metal YKK zippers--one for the main compartment that has a metal pull, and two interior ones with leather pulls. The whole case is made from a suede-textured genuine leather (this one is called Desert Tan). The finish of the leather takes on the character of its environment, absorbing hand oils, etc. The suede finish means it will show stains and damp fingerprints very clearly, which I like but it might drive you nuts. There's a brass snap closure inside, and a pull-to-adjust pen loop that can accommodate a wide range of pen widths. The outside is very minimal looking, and the inside has the Shibui logo embossed on the left side.

Inside, on the left, there is a small, fabric-lined zipper compartment, four fabric-lined card slots, one long vertical leather-lined zipper pouch, and a folder pocket behind that. At the center is the adjustable pen loop. On the right side there is a card slot, a snap-closure loop, and a large folder pocket for a notebook cover.

These inclusions are fairly standard for an organizer cover. I've tried out at least four other A5 cases that have similar features in the past few years. The issue I have with this case is the configuration of these features.

For one, the pen loop is placed so that any pen you put there will be aligned with the metal zipper teeth and slider. That's likely to damage the finish of any pen you place there. That may not be an issue at all if you're just carrying a disposable pen or a metal pen that's made to take a beating, but if you're inclined to carry fine pens, this is an easy deal breaker.

The other design issue I have with this cover is the snap loop closure on the inside back cover. I have a serious Princess and the Pea situation going on with that snap. Placing it behind where the notebook is supposed to sit creates a huge lump in the middle of the page. And if I were to actually use that loop to hold cords as it's intended, it would be even more lumpy. Of course, not everyone uses this space for notebooks. Some use that pocket for devices. And if you're using it for a planner where you're just jotting down quick entries, maybe that lump isn't so intrusive. But for longer writing, it's not very nice.

Overall, this is not a bad product, and it's competitively priced at around $70, which is much less than many genuine leather A5 cases cost. And for the average person, who is not as fussy about their pens as we are in this community, and who isn't as likely, perhaps, to sit and write for an hour or two in their notebook, this could be a wonderful addition to their stationery setup. It really doesn't work for me, though, and I wouldn't recommend it to a general audience in the pen community. There are people who would love it, though, and they'd have good reasons, too.

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

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Posted on July 1, 2021 by Sarah Read and filed under Shibui, Pen Case.

Shibui 3-Pen Case Review

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

There's certainly no shortage of supplies when it comes to pen cases, and that's not a bad thing in my book. The more options, the better. And as long as manufacturers and designers are coming up with their own unique, creative offerings, it's a great situation for sellers and buyers alike. The latest pen case to come across my desk is one from Shibui — a 3-Pen Case made from a lovely leather that zips up to keep your pens safe.

If you're interested in keeping your pens secure and making sure they don't touch, this is a great case option. There are three slots inside the case that can be adjusted to fit pens of different diameters. It's a clever leather design that makes it fairly easy to adjust, but very difficult for the loops to come loose on their own. In my experience, I've had no issues with the loops becoming loose with regular use.

The ability to secure your pens inside the case is one thing, but what about protecting what's inside from the outside world? Well, the Shibui has you covered there as well. The case closes completely using a YKK zipper, and there's very little chance of anything getting in or out while it's zipped up. The zipper mechanism is very smooth and feels well-made, which is to be expected from YKK.

The case opens easily, but it doesn't lay flat when open. The leather is just a bit too stiff to manage this, but I'm not sure it's even necessary. By the way, the leather used in this case is great quality. It's full-grain, so you know it will last quite a while and will also develop a spectacular patina over time and with use. The stitching that hold the panels and zippers together is well-done, and I don't have any concerns with anything coming undone over time.

The inside of the case also has a small flap pocket on the front side, but I haven't found a use for this yet. It would hold business cards, but that's not a common use case for me — just something to give you a concept of how small the flap really is. If it could hold standard 3x5 index cards, I'd be thrilled, but the don't fit without being bent quite a bit. On the upside, the size of the size of the closed and zipped case is fantastic for throwing into a bag, and it also manages to fit most organizational pockets with ease.

I've been really impressed with the materials and build quality of the Shibui 3-Pen Case. The unique adjustment loops are great for making sure every pen is snug when being transported, and I can see this lasting a really long time. At around $45 USD, it's also a pretty good value considering the quality and materials. Definitely something to check out if this design interests you!

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

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