(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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