Midori Traveler's Notebook Lightweight Paper Refill Review

I love to see pens in action, and Instagram has a great community of fountain pen addicts, posting awesome pictures of their prized pens. With good pens comes good paper, and it appears that the stationary community on Instagram is just as strong. Although I can appreciate a nice notebook, my tastes are relatively simple. I replenished my supply of Muji blank notebooks during my last trip to Japan and have had little reason to consider anything else. These notebooks are high quality, great for fountain pens, and ridiculously inexpensive. Muji notebooks have been my gotos for some time, but my journey down the Instagram rabbit hole yielded some interesting finds. I noticed countless Hobonichis and Field Notes notebooks, but these just aren't for me. The Hobonichi planner is beautiful, but my appointments have to live in Outlook, and I take notes in spurts. Sometimes it's a waste for me have one page for each day, and other times it simply isn't enough. I started to notice that a weird-looking leather-bound notebook was popping up over and over again. There are thousands of images with the tag #Midori. Intriguing... What is this mysterious thing?

I love fountain pens because they have character and stick around like a firm friend. Notebooks yield zero emotional attachment for me. They will inevitably be filled and filed, probably never to be read again. The idea of a notebook that ages and matures, yet can be changed and customized is alluring. The Midori Traveler's Notebook is essentially a flap of leather that comes with a rubber band and a few bits of string. The full-sized versions go for $60 on reputable stationary sites; however, Amazon currently offers them for $36. Refills and customization options are seemingly endless, which is the notebook's major selling point. Notebook refills are typically 64 pages, which is great from someone who feels anxiety when given a several-hundred-page notebook. I was prepared to pull the trigger, but decided that it would be wiser to spend $8 on a refill first, to decide if I liked the paper size and quality. $36 is a lot to spend on a notebook that might not work for me.

After a bit of reading, I settled on the Midori Traveler's Notebook Refill #13 Lightweight Blank Paper (now that's a mouthful). The kraft paper covered notebook comes with 128 pages of the legendary Tomoe River paper, which I'd heard about on the Pen Addict Podcast. This refill seemed like the best bang for the buck, considering that it had double the pages of the standard refill.

The notebook arrived, awkwardly smashed in my mailbox, with zero concern for the delicate Tomoe River paper that I had agonized over. Despite initial concern, the notebook was in pristine shape.

The Midori Traveler's Notebook paper is about an inch wider than a Field Notes notebook, and three or four inches taller. Although the refills aren't as wide as the Muji notebooks that I typically use, they sit comfortably within the the range of both portability and usability. But what about the paper quality?

The Tomoe River paper is tissue-paper thin but amazingly sturdy. My black Noodler's Bulletproof ink lays down crisply on the page, with no feathering. Dry time is longer than normal paper, but not long enough to be a deal breaker. While there is enough ghosting to prevent use of the back of the page, there isn't any bleed through. It's worth noting that I tested the paper with a fine Kaweco nib, so I'm unsure of how the paper performs with a broader nib. This paper is clearly designed for fountain pens. I do wish that the notebook cover would lay flat, but I'm hoping that this will improve after a breaking-in period.

I'm very pleased with the quality of the Midori #013 refill. I do prefer grid or dot grid paper, but the Tomoe River paper is so thin that it would be easy to pick up a grid guide to place underneath it. I played with the paper a bit and felt that it was the right size for me, so I pulled the trigger on the full-sized Midori Traveler's Notebook. I just wasn't expecting to like the paper this much! Considering the price and performance, I think that this refill will be the star of my notebook-to-be.


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Kaweco Skyline Sport Fountain Pen Review

Kaweco fountain pens have been on the market for more than 100 years, and the company has stayed true to the classic design of its earlier models. I've heard a lot about that AL Sport and Sport models, but it wasn't until I stumbled upon a few pictures of the mint version of the Kaweco Skyline Sport fountain pen that I knew I had to have one.

My giant man hands could easily crush the Kaweco Skyline Sport.

My giant man hands could easily crush the Kaweco Skyline Sport.

The subtle mint color of this Kaweco Skyline Sport reminds me of classic cars from the 50's and 60's. This pen looks like it was plucked from history, and the look is reinforced by the crisp chrome Kaweco body logo and circular cap logo.

It's hard to capture in a photo, but the mint color of the Kaweco is subtle.

It's hard to capture in a photo, but the mint color of the Kaweco is subtle.

The Kaweco Sport lines consist of various pens and pencils that are designed to fit in the pocket. I knew that the fountain pen would be small, but I wasn't prepared for just how tiny it is.

Mint Kaweco Skyline Sport compared to the Lamy Safari.

Mint Kaweco Skyline Sport compared to the Lamy Safari.

The Kaweco Skyline Sport is meant to be posted, for all but those with the tiniest of mouse hands. The pen cap is threaded, which ensures that the pen will stay securely capped and leak free while jingling around in a pocket or bag. The pen posts securely, without twisting or moving, thanks to the grip provided by the notched end of the pen body.

Although the pen is tiny, it nestles comfortably in the web between my thumb and index finger when posted. It's worth reiterating that I have massive hands, so I was surprised by just how comfortable the pen is, given its size. The pen grip is on the thin side, and I do notice some hand fatigue after long writing sessions.

The Mint Kaweco Skyline Sport is the first non-Lamy pen that I've owned, and the intricate designs etched in the nib blow the Lamy Safari nibs right out of the water.

I went with the fine nib version of the Kaweco, and it is on par with the Lamy nibs, in terms of line thickness and flow. The nib is a silky smooth writer, even more so than the fine Lamy nibs. I'm using Noodler's Bulletproof ink with my Kaweco, and I love the contrast between the black ink and the mint pen body.

This version of the Kaweco Skyline Sport comes with a Blue International Short Cartridge, but I picked up a squeeze converter as well, sold separately. I've seen a few complaints about how difficult the converter is to fill, but I haven't had any issues with filling it to capacity. It does take a few squeezes and taps to work out the air, but I am pleased with its performance.

The Mint Kaweco Skyline Sport fountain pen is an excellent pocket fountain pen, but it's also an excellent fountain pen period. It fits easily into my pocket, without fear of leaks. I find myself using this pen as my daily writer due to its looks and solid performance. At less than $30 for pen and converter, this pen is an instabuy. For those looking for a heavier alternative, Kaweco also makes a metal version of the pen, the AL Sport. While I have my eyes on the stonewash edition of the AL line, the Skyline Sport is easily my best looking and performing fountain pen so far. This pint-sized pen packs a punch.


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Casual Sunday: Midori Edition - September 20, 2015

It's rabbit hole week here at A Better Desk, and this week's theme is the Midori Traveler's Notebook. I stumbled upon this notebook while browsing Instagram and loved the customization options. I've tried Field Notes as my main notebook, but they are just too small. I also want something that travels with me and isn't just filed or discarded once it's full. It seems that the Midori is just the solution for both. Mine arrives on Tuesday!


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Lamy Vista Fountain Pen Review

I picked up a Lamy Vista while attending a conference in Japan. For those who aren't familiar, the Lamy Vista is basically a sexier demonstrator (see through) version of the Lamy Safari. The Safari is one of the most popular starter fountain pens, along with the Pilot Metropolitan. I'm not sure what I was thinking when I purchased a German pen in a country that produces the Metropolitan; however, I just couldn't turn down this sleek looking demonstrator's cat calls from the pen rack. Lamy pens just look more interesting to me, even if the Pilot Metropolitan is universally considered to be an excellent starter fountain pen. I had a rough start with Lamy, but I just couldn't pass up the Vista.

The Lamy Vista is a stunner, with a clear plastic body that shows off all of the pen's inner workings. Although the body is completely plastic, the pen is made well and feels sturdy in hand. The clip is a monster and is so strong that it leaves indentations when clipped to my daily carry Field Notes notebook. The Vista is built to be used and abused. The pen takes on the personality of the ink inside, so it's a great pen to use with colorful inks. The pen takes the standard Lamy cartridge or an ink converter, but the red on the Lamy Z24 converter would ruin the look of the pen. I recommend the Z26 version which uses black plastic instead of red. Goulet Pens has a great writeup about the usage of converters with the Vista. I'm a fountain pen novice, so I appreciate the ability to see how the pen works, and I'm surprised that the Vista isn't mentioned more often in the "best pens for beginners" lists floating around the internet.

Blue is beautiful with the Lamy Vista

Blue is beautiful with the Lamy Vista

The Vista's body does show fingerprints, which is to be expected from clear plastic. It may not be the best choice for the OCD fountain pen fans out there, but it shouldn't be a problem for most. I've also noticed several scratches and scuffs, which are easily visible to the naked eye. The Lamy barrel logo is shiny and metallic, although I was disappointed by how easily the logo cracked and scratched. Small blemishes aside, the Vista feels great in the hand. I can use the pen comfortably all day, either posted or unposted. The cap clicks into place when capping, but there's no click when posting, so be careful not to jam the cap onto the end of the pen.

Lamy Safari and Vista pens are known for their unique molded triangular grip. This grip may be a challenge for those who use a non-traditional grip when writing, but I absolutely love it! My fingers slide easily into place, thanks to the flat sides of the grip, and I find that this grip makes the pen feel much smaller than it actually is. I love small pens, so this is exactly the feel that I am looking for. My terrible handwriting is partially due to poor grip, and the molded grip forces me to hold the pen correctly. This has been helpful in my efforts to improve handwriting skills.

I was hesitant to give Lamy another go after my terrible experience with the Safari, but I was pleasantly surprised by the Vista. The pen is a workhorse and works well for hours at a time without skips, clogs, or leaks. This pairs well with the grip to help produce painfully long pen reviews with zero fatigue or annoyance to the writer! I purchased a fine nibbed version, which is buttery smooth on everything from Rhodia pads to Field Notes. The Lamy fine nibs aren't exactly "fine", so I recommend picking up the extra fine version, if you're looking for a really slim line. The fine nib works well for me, although I think that I may have been better off with an EF nib.

I have to admit that this is my first pen review, but I'm in love with the Lamy Vista. It was difficult to choose between a Lamy and the Pilot Metropolitan, but the unique look and excellent grip pushed me over the edge. I would love to try a Metropolitan to compare, but there's no doubt that the Lamy Vista is a well-performing affordable pen that's deserving of becoming your first fountain pen.


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Casual Sunday - September 13, 2015


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