Posts filed under Pen Case

Shibui Olive Green 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.)

Storing and carrying pens and other writing instruments is one of the delightful side avenues of the stationery hobby that I enjoy almost as much as the pens and pencils. Storing and organizing different pens based on functionality, job, or mood provides endless fun and variation, and it's nice to have the right tool for the unique situations that come up.

The Shibui 3 Pen Case in Olive Green is a smart-looking leather case for carrying three pens in style. In terms of pen cases, this one falls into a specific category for me. First off, it zips closed to provide full coverage and prevent anything from falling out. And, It only holds three pens, and I like that constraint sometimes. When I only need three pens, and I want them to be secure, this is a go-to case.

The outside of this case is really pleasing. The full grain leather is soft and durable, and the YKK zippers are smooth and robust. I have no doubts that the pens I keep in this pouch will fall out or get damaged along the way.

The full grain leather adds some rigidity and structure to this case, which is really good for carrying and protecting your pens, but it also means that it doesn't lay flat when open. This isn't a big deal, but might annoy some.

The exterior dimensions are also great for stowing it just about anywhere. It's not too big to throw into any bag or internal pocket, but it also holds three pens with plenty of room to spare. The overall dimensions when the case is closed come out to 6.3in. x 3.15in. x 1in. (160mm x 80mm x 25mm).

The inside of the case is really simple. The left side has a single slash pocket that runs from top to bottom, so that's about 6 x 2 inches to work with. You can't fit a 3x5 notecard, so I haven't really found a good use for this pocket. You could use it to store small pieces of paper (like receipts), but no notebooks. If you have something the size of a business card, that will easily fit.

The right side of the case is where the pen storage magic happens. Shibui's trademarked Pull-Tag system allows you to securely store pens of various sizes and easily adjust the tightness for each pen slot. The leather strap that runs horizontally is really soft and pliable, which makes it easy to adjust while also protecting your pens from scratches when they're fastened in. This system stored my largest and smallest pens side by side, and there wasn't a chance they'd fall out. That said, the friction-fit is easy to overcome when you actually want to insert or remove a pen. It's such a simple but ingenious system.

The Shibui 3 Pen case is $50, which is a great value for the organization, protection, and style this case provides. It protects and stores your pens, but also has a unique and pleasing aesthetic that will age beautifully as the leather breaks in. If Olive Green isn't your thing, there are a handful of other leather colors available as well.

(This product was purchased from Goldspot at a discount.)

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Posted on March 1, 2023 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Shibui, Pen Case.

Bungubox Enshu Cotton Pen Roll and Sleeve Review

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

Looks like Bungubox have been branching out to other product categories recently. While you probably know Bungubox for their inks first and their Sailor collaborations second, they also offer some pen cases to protect those treasures. And like everything Bungubox does, these cases stand out among the rest.

I have two products from the same color way on my desk. The first is a pen roll that holds several pens in dedicated pockets, and the second is a single mini pen sleeve. They're both made of cotton and feature a colorful, fun fabric that makes me feel happy when I look at it.

I'm not sure of the exact name of this colorway — my Japanese language skills are non-existant. But, I can confirm that it looks ever better in real life than in the photos.

The pen roll has six separate slots to hold pens. The pocket on the end with the Bungubox tag is a lot wider than the rest. I can comfortably fit my AirPods Pro case into this pocket, and it also does great at holding cables and other similarly sized items. It's nice and roomy for those extra large pens in your collection, but I like that it can also hold things that are just a little bigger than pens if you need.

The pocket next to this large pocket is actually a little thinner (less wide) than the other four. I wonder if this is due to the extra wide pocket. Either way, it still fits standard sized fountain pens without a problem. My Pilot 823 or Custom 74 are snug fits, a Lamy AL Star is a very snug fit, and my Opus 88 Demonstrator is on the verge of too tight to comfortably get in and out of the pen roll.

There's adequate padding between the interior fabric and the exterior fabric. I have zero concerns with anything bad happening to my pens in this case during normal use. The fabric is so soft to the touch, and the amount of padding make this thing feel almost like a stuffed animal when it's rolled up. The interior fabric is a softer microfiber than the cotton exterior, and it should be very gentle on pen finishes of all kinds.

The case rolls up easily and uses a thick ribbon of the same cotton material to lash it shut. There's a small acrylic ring attached to the end of the lashing; the color coordination with the soft red is fantastic.

Wrapping the lashing around the case and then tucking the end of the lashing through once is enough to keep this thing secure. It's a really quick process once you teach your hands to do it after a few tries.

The mini pen sleeve is adorable! It uses the same cotton fabric on the exterior, but uses a different color of the softer microfiber fabric on the inside. The sleeve has some padding, but not nearly as much as the pen roll. The sleeve is almost completely sewn shut except for a two inch opening along one of the long sides. This little sleeve is perfect for anything the size of a Kaweco Sport.

As an added bonus, I can load up a Kaweco in this sleeve and then tuck the sleeve into the large pocket of the pen roll. My Kaweco doesn't need the extra protection, but it gives you an idea of how large that pocket is on the pen roll.

It's also worth noting that Bungubox also offer a standard length pen sleeve (with the same fabric options) that fits the majority of fountain pens.

I've actually taken to rolling up the case and attaching the small sleeve to the side of the pen roll with the lashing. You can barely tell it's there due to the matching fabric, and it's a quick and convenient way to carry 7 pens in a small, tidy package.

Bungubox has these cases available on their website. As of this writing, the pen roll converts to about $40 USD, and then mini sleeve goes for about $12 USD.

These are lovely little cases that I've really enjoyed using! They aren't tough ballistic nylon that can weather the elements, but they're so soft and easy to use. The fabric selections are lovely, and the functionality is exceptional. If you have a chance to check these out and are in the market for some new pen cases (let's be honest — we're always in the market for that), then these are a fantastic option.

(These products were purchased from Bungubox at normal retail price at the 2022 San Francisco Pen Show.)

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Posted on October 26, 2022 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Bungubox, Pen Case.

Doughnut 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!)

The Doughnut Pen Case is a simple concept perfectly executed. Overall it's a very plain case--just a long fabric box with a zip closure--no bells or whistles. Sometimes that's exactly what you need.

The case is made out of a 400D nylon that is water-resistant and has a lovely shine to it. This one is a nice charcoal and olive green, though there are teals and mustards available as well. It has a metal zip tab with plastic zipper teeth, and a knotted paracord pull attached. The inside is lined with a more lightweight nylon fabric, and all the seams are enclosed in bias tape, so there are no cut edges or threads dangling inside. There is one brand tag on the front of the case.

The simple silhouette of this case disguises a surprising capacity. While it's too short to hold some lengthy pencils, it can hold a ton of pens. Not literally a ton, but a whopping 37 gel pens fit into this baby. I probably could have fit a few more, but this was as many as it could hold while still feeling relaxed while zipping it up. It didn't feel stuffed.

The water-resistant material makes this perfect for carrying painting supplies like water brushes or anything that might get a little leaky. It will contain the mess to the case, which is washable, and protect the other items in your bag.

As a simple zip pouch, it has thousands of potential uses beyond the stationery sphere. It would be perfect for crochet or knitting notions, for camping utensils, as a small packing cube. It could even fit a mini travel umbrella, a kid's leaky sippy cup ... All sorts of things.

It's not inexpensive for a zip pouch, coming in at $19.50 at JetPens. It's about what you'd pay for a similar pouch from Tom Bihn or Topo Designs, which are arguably a tier above this one in construction and materials. But this pouch is easily just one step down from those elites, whereas most pen pouches are leagues behind. I'd say it's very slightly overpriced, but not unfairly expensive.

My kids usually end up claiming all the pen cases I review, but this one I'm keeping. In fact, it's going straight into my suitcase for my upcoming trip. I think it's the perfect size to contain my travel blanket, or maybe it will hold my stash of granola bars, or my makeup, or... Gotta love a simple zip pouch.

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

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