Delfonics Rollbahn Horizontal Spiral Notebook Review

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

I love it when notebook makers try out different formats for niche purposes, and that's exactly what we have here with the Delfonics Rollbahn Horizontal spiral notebook. It's similar in size to an A6 reporter's notebook, but it's intended to be used horizontally underneath or next to a laptop, mouse, keyboard, or other tools. The extra horizontal width makes it ideal for writing out notes, but does the short vertical space become too cramped for heavy use?

Let's start by measuring this notebook and looking at the specifications. It's rather small at just 6.7 inches (16.9 cm) by 4.3 inches (10.9 cm) overall, and the usable sheet sizes are actually 5.8 inches (14.7 cm) by 4.1 inches (10.5 cm). While the notebook is a little larger overall, the sheet sizes are almost exactly A6, which is what you find in small planners like the Hobonichi Techo. It's a usable size that provides a bit more real estate than the typical pocket notebook, but it also doesn't take up much space on the desk. On top of that, the spiral binding means you can fold it over on itself so that it doesn't take up twice the space when open.

Inside, there are 60 sheets of cream paper with a 5mm grid pattern and no other markings or templates. Each sheet is perforated at the top for easy and clean removal, and there's also a few (5) transparent pockets in the back of the notebook that hold a torn out sheet of paper perfectly. The front and back covers are sturdy and minimally decorated. The back cover is a thick cardstock that has a tiny Delfonics logo imprinted at the bottom of the long side, and the front features some Rollbahn branding. Holding everything together is a color-matching elastic band that has an ideal amount of tension to keep the book closed while still be easy to operate.

The paper is really nice to use, though I'm not sure what they mean when they say the paper is "wood-free" in the marketing materials. If it's not some kind of wood-based pulp, what is it? Some other fiber? It definitely doesn't feel like stone paper. Either way, it's really smooth and handles ink incredibly well. It performs similarly to other 80gsm notebooks I have, so I'd guess it's somewhere in that ballpark. Ink dries quickly, there's hardly any show through on the back side, and there wasn't any feathering on most inks — I only saw feathering with one fountain pen ink, but it wasn't terrible by any means. I'd say this is very fountain pen friendly, and also does splendidly with any other pen or pencil.

Back to the form factor, which is the main reason I think this product exists. There are several other notebooks that aim to fill the space beneath your keyboard, but they're quite a bit wider and offer a lot more writing space at the expense of desk real estate. But what if you don't want the notebook under your keyboard, but to the side instead? That's where I think this format shines. It's wide enough to provide a lot of space for jotting down notes and sketches, but doesn't require much desk space at all. In fact, it works great as a makeshift wrist wrest under your mouse or pointing device.

There clearly isn't enough space for this to take over a bigger notebook, but it just fits so well into small spaces. I'm not a huge fan of the cream colored paper, but I've been reaching for this notebook often even still just because I like the size and format. The small grid is exactly what I'm used to, and I find there's plenty of space for me on a page with my relatively small writing style.

At $14, it does come at a premium compared to other notebooks. The robust spiral binding, hard covers, and elastic closure are the bonus parts here that contribute to the higher price tag, as other small notebooks are just barebones notebooks with a sewn binding. The Delfonics Rollbahn Horizontal spiral notebook definitely feels like a well-made and well-designed product, so I think the price is fair for what you get. If these specs stand out to you, then you'll know if it will serve you well over a more basic notebook. And if you want to pick one up, there are several color options to choose from! I love the dark blue I have, but that turquoise is really calling my name.

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

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Delfonics x Pentel Sharp P205 Mechanical Pencil Review

Long-time stationery fans are certainly familiar with the Pentel Sharp series of mechanical pencils. On the market for over 50 years, they are a classic workhorse mechanical pencil, used by students, artists, professionals, and general stationery lovers like myself.

Why do I like this pencil so much? It is lightweight, with a narrow plastic barrel that tapers towards the metal nose cone. The entire feel and shape of this pencil is designed to disappear into your hand and provide exceptional control and sight lines from the tip. With this design, it became one of the most popular technical pencils ever made.

Over the past decade or two, Pentel has leaned into special editions for the Sharp series, mainly in the Japanese market. I’ve been able to add a few to my collection, and am always on the lookout for more. An orange barrel had always eluded me - unless I wanted to go the eBay route - until I spied this Delfonics x Pentel Sharp at Vanness Pens.

The product color is listed as red, but it is clearly a reddish orange in my book - even leaning more to the orange side of the spectrum. I purchased my favorite 0.5 mm lead size for those fine, fine lines, but it is also available in an 0.9 mm.

While the barrel color made the purchasing decision easy for me, I was curious about them working with Delfonics for this pencil. Pentel has dabbled in collaborations, most notably with Craft Design Technology, who has taken many of Pentel’s classic designs and reimagined them into a premium brand. This more direct collaboration with Delfonics surprised me in its simple styling, and is not something I recall seeing much of from the brand.

It wouldn’t shock me if these types of “Brand X Pentel” collaborations were more widely available in Japan. Delfonics, a Japanese brand themselves, is mostly known for their paper goods and stationery accessories, so collaborating with a big big brand on a popular product - even if that collaboration is a simple barrel stamping - is a good match for both.

For my money, Pentel has the best mechanical pencil lineup on the market. There are single pencils, like the Rotring 600 or Uni-ball Kuru Toga, that may be better, but as a full collection from top to bottom, no one does it better than Pentel. They are consistently high quality, fairly priced, and feature my favorite stock graphite in the Pentel Super Hi-Polymer. Even the eraser is top-notch.

The Pentel Sharp is an all-time stationery great. The only downside I can list is that the barrel may be too small and light for larger hands. Even the price is right, at under $6 for standard editions, and around $8 for limited and special editions, and collaborations like this one.

I’ll always have a soft spot in my heart for the classic black P205, or the pale blue of the P207. But these bright colors - I’ve added more since acquiring this one - are the ones I want living on my desk.

(Vanness Pens provided this product at a discount to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Pentel Sharp Rave!!!

Delfonics Legend Hexagonal Twist Ballpoint Review

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

It's been quite a while since I'm thrown a pocket ballpoint pen into the rotation, and the Delfonics Lengend Hexagonal twist ballpoint pen was just what I needed to change up the pace a bit.

At a mere 3.9 inches, it's easy to pocket or stow away in a bag or sleeve. It also features a smooth twist mechanism for extending/retracting the refill tip, but the small size doesn't really impact usability. It's certainly not a pen I'd take with me to write a midterm essay in class, but it's great for quick notes and signing receipts. At under 4 inches, it's right on the edge of tolerable for my hands. I don't think I have large or small hands — somewhere in between. I don't like writing with the Kaweco Sport uncapped, but this Delfonics pen is more comfortable for my writing style. That being said, it's awesome to have a Kaweco Sport with an option to extend the overall length with the cap. But, the Delfonics is just one piece and there's no cap to lose.

The exterior of the pen reminds me of a really short Caran d'Ache 849 ballpoint pen. The hexagonal shape is iconic for the Caran d'Ache, and I think the Delfonics walks the line in terms of copy vs. hat tip with their design. It's obvious that the nose section is a different piece, which is a major deviation from the 849, so that's good. Other than the body shape, that's really where the comparisons end for the Delfonics Legend.

There's a small pocket clip on the pen that reminds me of the shape that Fisher includes on their Bullet Space Pen. It's a strong clip and works well, but the placement really bothers me. It doesn't get in the way when I'm writing — it's just the aesthetic. It's positioned in the middle of the pen, and that just really bothers me. I understand how it needs to be this way to allow the twist mechanism to work properly, but that doesn't help me like it any better. I'm considered removing it several times, but I'm worried that I'll scratch the exterior of the pen.

Speaking of the exterior, it's a fantastic color of unique material that is both hard and soft at the same time. It has a fairly soft touch, but it's certainly completely solid. I'm assuming it's some kind of adhesive covering over a metal body, and I really like how it feels and the color of the blue they chose. Unfortunately, it appears to chip and scratch incredibly easy. I haven't abused this pen by any means — it's only been in my pocket by itself or in a bag pocket by itself. I'm not sure how the chips happen, but I can assure you it wasn't due to any kind of accident, drop, or scratch from my own use. This doesn't bode well for how the finish will hold up over time with more strenuous use.

Moving on to the innards of this pen, the tiny refill is a mixed bag. It always starts a bit rough and takes a few lines to "wake up," but it's really smooth and dark once it's writing properly. For a ballpoint, this slow start isn't alarming at all, but just something to note if you plan on grabbing this pen to jot down quick notes. It requires a few scratches to get the ink flowing. I really like the line that this refill makes. It's a bold 0.8mm black ink with crisp edges and great flow. The refill can definitely be replaced, but that comes with its own caveat. I haven't been able to find this refill for sale online. I've found a couple of retailers that have a product page, but the product isn't in stock. The refill looks like a standard Parker refill that's been cut really short. At just 2.3 inches or 6 cm, it's definitely unique. I checked all of the refill guides and the product catalogs for a few major refill manufacturers, but didn't have any luck finding it. That being said, I'm not sure this pen has much to offer outside of the life of the included refill.

At $10, the Delfonics Legend Hexagonal Twist pen is certainly affordable at first glance, but the unavailability of the refill does make me pause and consider different pens that have more refill options. The Fisher Space Pen has many, many options to consider, but the Fisher refill is anything but smooth and bold. The Lamy Pico is just a tad larger, but the initial purchase of the pen and the small refills are pricey compared to this one. It's tough — the ink formula in this refill is great, and it would be an easy pen to recommend if the refill were readily available.

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

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Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!