The Test Behind the Review
The two covers I cut for the mid-year review were the LOCHBY Voyager and the LOCHBY Mini Field Journal. Both great covers. I was just finding that the wax canvas, and specifically these covers, were a little larger than I wanted to carry around.
The two that came out of the rotation. Both LOCHBY, both waxed canvas, both a size too big for how I actually carry.
I didn’t run a protocol
So I downsized the planner, which used to live in the Voyager. I still kept the Field Notes system, but I went from the 4-notebook system I shared in an earlier video down to 2: one general-purpose catch-all, and one that’s kind of a collection notebook, for stuff I want to keep long term. I keep those in the Paper Republic cover in olive, and it stays slim enough that I can still fit it in a pocket. It does feel a little bulky in there, but overall it makes for a great pocket carry.
The olive Paper Republic cover the 2-notebook system lives in.
I really don’t have one precise test I run. I just use the stuff the way I like to use it, and pay attention to what starts bugging me. Some people complain that a cover is bulky. Some don’t. It’s kind of a personal preference thing. I wouldn’t say there’s a specific test for it.
The controls that stuck
My two favorite pens right now are the Pilot Vanishing Point and, honestly, the pen that retracts with a click mechanism has been a game changer. I’ve wanted that pen for a while. I carry it with my planner, the MeePlus in personal size, and that thing goes with me everywhere. One of the biggest complaints about fountain pens is having to twist the cap off, then remember to put it back on or it dries out. Having something that just clicks is great for everyday use.
The Vanishing Point with the nib out. One click, no cap.
For gel pens, I really love the Zebra Sarasa. I’ve also been testing a Fisher Space Pen with pressurized ink, I’ll be carrying that on an upcoming trip. I’ve been enjoying how reliable that pen is in pretty much any condition: cold, warm, raining, it just writes.
The one thing I do on purpose is test fountain pens on paper that isn’t fountain-pen friendly, just to see what it can handle. Different inks, different nib sizes, they all behave differently. And even within the same paper manufacturer there’s enough variance that a pen can behave great in one notebook and not so great in the next one.
Why I’m telling you the unglamorous version
I started with the A5 Leuchtturm1917, like almost everyone does. I’ve been leaning a lot more into smaller notebooks and more compact pens since, and that just feels better, especially since I travel a lot and want tools that travel easier. What actually failed with the Leuchtturm was just the size. It felt too bulky and hard to carry around. Very protective, which was great, but I wanted something more compact.
I’m still looking for a pocket notebook that’s more fountain-pen friendly. I do enjoy Field Notes quite a bit though, just for how they look. At this point it’s more of a hobby, having a variety and being able to change them pretty quickly.
Honestly, I just enjoy the tactile nature of the stationery, and testing new things the day they show up. I’ve been recording these videos for almost a year now, which has been a lot of fun, and along the way I’ve picked up filmmaking and podcasting too. It started as something I did on the side, and it kept growing.
Working with brands is part of that too, getting to know what each one actually has to offer. I think some of the best brands I’ve talked to have a good story behind them.
So that’s the actual promise: I’ll tell you what I carried, what I dropped, and what the thing I dropped got right on its way out.
Some of the links above are affiliate links. They cost you nothing and they help pay for the testing.
If you’ve found a pocket notebook that really handles fountain pen ink, reply and tell me. That one’s still open on my desk.