(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 her latest book, The Atropine Tree, is now available!)
There are few things I love as much as pens and notebooks, but one of those things is bags. Especially bags that you can carry with other bags. Especially especially bags in bags that hold pens and notebooks. The Lihit Lab Smart Fit ACTACT Bag in Bag is the nesting doll of awesome. There are even pockets inside of pockets!
This A5 sized bag is made from nylon canvas and is available in a variety of colors. The main zipper compartment is water-resistant. The zipper has thin cord pulls with plastic tabs. The zipper is smooth, though it does struggle going around the corner when the bag is very full. It opens along the top edge and one side of the bag, to make it easy to fill.
Inside the main compartment is a fuzzy slip pocket that's perfect for a small tablet up to 8". It's perfect for my Kindle, even in its case. Outside of that slip pocket is the main compartment that easily holds an A5 notebook--even a chunky one, like my hardcover Hobonichi Cousin, also inside its cover.
On the outside of the bag are even more pockets! These don't close, so they're less secure, but still very useful. On the back side is one slip pocket that goes the full length of the bag. On the front, there is a low mesh pocket that goes all the way across the bag, and behind that mesh pocket is one slip pocket that's half the width the bag, another slip pocket that slightly more narrow, and a pen pocket. That's seven organizational compartments!
All those pockets are a great way to organize your gear inside a larger bag that might not have enough internal organization. It can also be carried solo. There are attachment points for a purse strap on this bag, so you can carry it without putting it inside any other bags. It's also perfect for carrying it around the office to meetings, or keeping in the car with a few essentials. It would make a perfect flight bag on a long airplane trip. Basically it's good for everything. I mean, when don't you need a zillion pockets?
This bag sells for $21.50 at JetPens, which is a very fair price. The strap does have to be purchased separately, and costs $13, though any strap that hooks onto an o-ring will work with this bag. An A4 size is also available for just a few dollars more, and that one could fit a 13" laptop.
Overall, this is well-priced, useful, practical, and a great way to maximize the number of pens and notebooks you carry every day. Pens in pockets in pockets in bags in bags! Living the dream.
(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
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