PEN CASE REVIEW: LOCHBY TOOL ROLL

I'll let you in on a little secret: together with the Field Journal that I reviewed a couple months ago (HERE), the relatively 'new' brand Lochby (previously known as BOND Travel Gear) gets a perfect two for two score with the Lochby Tool Roll. The latter obviously being the topic of today's review.

Even though I previously admitted that the ruggedized EDC styling of Lochby's products isn't immediately my first pick, there's just too much to like about their products. Let me elaborate...

The Tool Roll starts on the outside with very similar styling as the Field Journal: brown waxed canvas, reinforced stitched edges, and a massive metal hook to keep it securely closed. On the inside, I'm happy to see the honeycomb-stitched, warm yellow ripstop fabric make its return. I really appreciate the color scheme and the way it's laid out on all Lochby products, keeping with an overall very work-appropriate look on the outside, but a bit more festive inside. BTW, Lochby also introduced a new colorway for its entire product line recently: a super-sleek black outside, with a strongly contrasting sand-colored interior - it looks amazing! 

Besides the attention to detail for aesthetics, Lochby's products are also excellently put-together, with neat stitching all around. The rugged fabrics give a durable impression. I've been using both the Tool Roll and Field Journal extensively for the past six months, and they both still look like new!

With a history in more EDC-minded products, it makes sense that Lochby named this product the Tool Roll. Even though the rebranding to Lochby is supposed to be more focused on writing accessories, the 'Tool' roll isn't just meant to carry around pens. The multi-purpose functionality reflects in the many different pockets and elastic loops on the inside. There's a lot of space to put a wide variety of pens, artist's supplies, tools, etc. 

Extra-wide elastic loops hold pens and other tools neatly in place

The four smaller elastic loops on the left are ideally sized for pens, three slightly wider slots are perfect for oversized and very wide pens (the Opus 88 Omar, for example). Only the two extra-wide slots in the middle aren't necessarily meant for pens (although, if you don't mind, two pens can cozy up in a single slot for sure). For a more EDC-minded kit, those middle slots fit a multitool without issues (In the images I used a smaller Leatherman Squirt, but it also comfortably fits a full-size Leatherman or Swiss army knife). One thing that doesn't fit is an unsharpened (or relatively new) Blackwing pencil It's nice to have a lot of options, but I'd like to see the option for a roll with 12 (or maybe 11, with three of the medium-sized loops like the ones on the far right in this case) slots, dedicated to carrying pens.

UPDATE: Apparently Lochby already thought of the changes I suggested... before I suggested them! If you go to the product page, you'll see that the Tool Roll now has the two wide slots replaced with four small loops, so it can fit 11 pens comfortably without having to put two pens in a single space! - Awesome!

But wait, there's more! Cleverly hidden behind the pen loops, are three wide pockets that run the entire height of the case. It's the perfect size for a pocket notebook, or even a smartphone or something else that's larger but relatively thin. One downside: there are three pockets so you could technically fit three notebooks, but that does make it borderline impossible to properly wrap the case closed without bending the notebooks too much (one or two notebooks works just fine though).

And lastly, to the left of the 'main compartment' there's also a zippered mesh pouch to store small paraphernalia (I put an eraser in it, but I'm sure you can think of more exciting ways to put it to good use!). It can even hold additional pens if you really want to get the most out of your case

The Tool roll measures 20 by 40 cm (8” x 16”) when opened up, and it comfortably takes pens or other 'tools' up to 16 or 17 cm in length (6.7"). That's plenty of room for even the largest pens. Rolled up, it's more or less a cylinder that measures 10 by 20 cm (3.93" x 7.78").

Together with the wide elastic loops, the protective flaps on top and bottom cover almost the entire pens, so they have little opportunity to bump into each other. The flaps can be folded over and tucked underneath so you can display your pens while the case is on a table or something. 

Sorry Blackwing, you'll have to go!

The case holds closed by the metal clasp, that can be attached to one of four loops. The clasp itself can also be tightened or loosened on its own strap, so together that gives plenty of adjustment to choose if you want to keep the case slim and compact, or packed to the brim. Filled with pens, it does bulk up considerably, like a well-stuffed burrito (yes, that's the analogue I'm going with).

Now, one remark I have with pen roll cases in general, is that they tend to be less padded (The Lochby Tool Roll isn't padded at all), and less protective than a hard case with individual slots. I'm not the kind of person to put super-expensive pens in this kind of case and throw it in my backpack. But... that's just me and my obsessive OCD of course, because you definitely could. 

While it may not be the most protective pen case option out there, it does offer decent protection at a more compact footprint (Compared to a Dreamtouch case from Visconti with a similar 12-pen capacity, this certainly offers an easier form factor to put in a bag or backpack). I do like the Tool Roll for a more casual everyday carry for work or travel, which of course brings us back full-circle to the concept this case was built for - EDC. I guess that's a sign of thoughtful design!

Thoughtful design or not, obviously price is an important decisive factor in making a purchase decision. If this was in the same price range as more 'premium' and protective leather case from Franklin-Christoph or Visconti, it wouldn't be much of a choice. BUT, the Lochby Tool Roll is only 39$, undercutting even the most affordable options from competing products that can hold a similar amount of pens! I must say, it's quite hard to beat at a price like that.

NOTE: This product was provided by Lochby, so I could write this review. I was in no way influenced in the making of this review, the opinions shared in this review are completely my own! This post does not contain affiliate links.

PEN CASE REVIEW: FRANKLIN-CHRISTOPH NEW PENVELOPE

Of all the hardshell-type pen cases I know, the Franklin-Christoph Penvelope (review) sits comfortably in my top recommendations, perhaps only to be surpassed by Visconti's Dreamtouch cases (review) to the number one spot. In any case - hah, pun. - the Penvelope is without a doubt a stylish and practical storage option for your pens, and it's offered at an attractive price point. But despite already having the excellent Penvelope - and an extensive range of storage options overall -, Franklin-Christoph recently introduced a second Penvelope-style case to their product lineup: the 'New Penvelope' (not quite the most original naming ever). So obviously I was very curious to give it a try and see what it's all about!

"Why fix what isn't broken?", one could argue, but the New Penvelope doesn't really feel like they just updated the original. Instead, it's a complete departure from the original, meant to serve a different audience based on what you're looking for in a pen case.

In terms of design, only the signature FC beveled edge on the front flap remains, the rest of the design was overhauled completely. The bottom and sides of the case are now completely closed up with a single strip of hard material. That's in contrast to the original Penvelope which has accordion-shaped (?) soft leather sides that allow the case to stretch out when (over-)filled to the brim. This design change makes the New Penvelope more robust - so in theory more protective for your pens - but it also takes away some of the practicality of having extra room to accommodate small notebooks, cleaning cloths, or even additional pens in front of the pen slots. No extra space to do that here.

Top to bottom: FC New Penvelope, Visconti Dreamtouch, FC Penvelope (original) (all 6-pen versions)

Top to bottom: FC New Penvelope, Visconti Dreamtouch, FC Penvelope (original) (all 6-pen versions)

Talking about space, the first thing that stood out is the New Penvelope's incredibly tiny footprint. The original Penvelope is quite a large case, much larger than an equivalent Visconti case, and I can see how that can be frustrating when you want to carry it around in a backpack or purse, or while traveling. The New Penvelope trims off almost an inch (about 2cm) in both height and width, while also being much slimmer. That puts it at an even more compact form factor than the - already quite compact - Visconti Dreamtouch pen cases.

New Penvelope left, original Penvelope right

On the inside, Franklin-Christoph opted for a removable slotted insert made of soft black cotton fabric (gone is the classy ribbed fabric of the 'old' Penvelope, unfortunately). I don't think making it a separate piece was the most space-efficient option, but they pulled it off anyway. The insert is sort of practical because partially sliding it out keeps the flap of the case opened and makes your pens easily accessible. The slots run all the way to the bottom of the insert, so removing the insert from the case won't display anything but the pens' finials, but at least they are well-protected.

One of the unique selling points of the New Penvelope is the addition of - besides the classic boot leather - a leatherless (vegan!) finish called 'Natural Wood Fiber' (NWF in short). It looks like leather (complete with the wrinkly, texture of real leather), it feels like leather (I think it's waxed, not sure though?), it even smells like leather... but it's actually wood-based cellulose made into a kind of fabric. The FC website states it's as durable as real leather, and having the case in hand it sure looks like it will easily stand the test of time. I quite like this material, especially in these muted colorways that FC offers. It's not as soft or cushioned to the touch as the original leather Penvelope though, but I suspect that also has to do with the stiffer and thinner materials used for the structure of the case.

The slots of the New Penvelope are visibly narrower than on the original design

L to R: Pilot Metropolitan (almost invisible), Esterbrook Estie, Leonardo Momento Zero Grande, Edison Beaumont, Lamy 2000, Lamy Safari

Inevitably, the size reduction does have an effect on the functionality of this case. I maybe wish they hadn't taken the space optimization exercise quite as far, because the small form factor physically dictates the maximum size of the pen you can fit inside. The rather stiff construction of the case doesn't budge too much, so I feel like pens up to 14.5cm (5.7") are about the tallest to fit comfortably. Not at all bad for such a compact case, and plenty for a large majority of pens. Though the FC website goes even further with a maximum of 15.3cm (6"). Optimistic, but indeed possible because the long tab of the closure allows for about a centimeter of additional headroom inside the front flap. You can see that even the 15cm long Leonardo Momento Zero Grande could still fit, but it's a bit too cramped for my taste, whereas it fits just fine in the original Penvelope.

Space is limited inside the case, so clips have to face sideways to get them to fit.

The main size limitation is not so much the length, but the maximum diameter of the individual slots. Here's where I don't agree with the FC website: they say it can take pens up to 0.75" (19mm) in diameter, but I just don't see that happening. The Leonardo Momento Zero Grande was again a good test subject (maximum diameter of 0.66" / 16.8mm). It worked, but it's already an extremely tight fit and difficult enough to get out again. I can't see how anything even wider would be possible without getting pens completely stuck inside the slots. For really oversized pens, this case is clearly not your best friend. 

The New Penvelope from Franklin-Christoph is a cool new offering in their extensive range of pen carry & storage options. The NWF material is really neat, it looks and feels almost like real leather. And I think the more compact form factor will appeal to a lot of people that want to slim down - literally - their daily carry. It's almost complementary to the original Penvelope, so I hope Franklin-Christoph will let both cases coexist side by side!

The New Penvelope is not without its faults though: The new closure system doesn't look quite as clean as the magnetic closure, the fabrics used for the pen insert feel a bit cheaper, and the overall finishing doesn't feel quite as premium and plush as the original  Penvelope (although that's just due to the thinner and stiffer overall construction I think). The compact form factor also means that this case is simply not ideal for larger pens, although it should still be plenty spacious to fit the majority of 'normal' pens.

In the end, it manages to redeem itself with an incredibly competitive price point though. The original Penvelope already offered excellent value for its 65$ price tag, but the new model sits even lower, at just 45$ (for the 6-pen variant). Of course, you can also go for the smaller or larger 3 and 12 (not 13!) form factors. But regardless of the size you choose, the New Penvelope is consistently more affordable than the original (even if you do choose the slightly more expensive boot leather finish!). That makes it an excellent storage option if you're on a budget, yet still want to keep your precious pens safe and easy to carry around.

This product was provided by Franklin-Christoph, so I could write this review. I was in no way influenced in the making of this review, the opinions shared in this review are completely my own! This post does not contain affiliate links.

TOM BARRINGTON RAY SKIN PEN POUCH REVIEW

By now you probably all know that I love my Visconti Dreamtouch leather pen case (my review of this case can be found here). It's a great case, but it's not the most carry-friendly thing. Even the two or three-pen versions still have a pretty wide, bulky profile, so you'll have to search elsewhere if you're looking for something sleek and compact. 

That elsewhere might be Tom Barrington's exotic leather 2 pen pouch. I've seen the brand name pop up a couple times in the last few years, and I was always intrigued by the unique leather they use. So thanks to them for getting in touch and hooking me up with one of their Ray skin (!) double pen pouches.

The case arrived nicely presented in a drawstring bag with a leather logo patch.

Ray skin leather isn't something you come across everyday. Yet it has been used for ages, with the most famous example being the handles of Japanese katana swords. It goes under the collective name 'chagreen', which means as much as rough leather. Ray skin gets its texture from the pearl-like calcified 'pores' (I don't know if that's the correct term) that make up the surface of ray skin. 

The effect this creates is slightly strange, but also very cool. And on top of that it feels great in the hand. Unlike normal leather that has a soft pliable feel, these pearls are quite hard. It's really weird and intriguing at the same time.

On the inside of the case, it's lined with black napa cowhide leather that protects the pens. The two layers are nicely stitched together around the edges, and a stitched line in the middle of the case creates the two pen slots. Construction and fit and finish are very good. I couldn't find any blemishes in the leather.

It's a fairly compact case (8.5x15.5cm or 3 1/4" x 6"), so you won't be able to fit oversized pens in it. On the website of Tom Barrington it states that it can hold pens up to 14.7cm (roughly 6in), but I found that a bit optimistic, perhaps if you don't mind the top of the pen sticking out of the case? I tried a couple pens that I had on hand, and I found pens like the Lamy 2000 or Pilot Capless to be a perfect fit. Pens up to somewhere in the range of 14cm (5.5in) tall and 1.4cm (0.5in) wide are about the maximum you can fit in there.

In the first couple of days of using the case, the leather was really stiff and it was quite difficult to get pens in and out of it. But it broke in rather quickly and became easier to use after just a couple of days. It's not the most supple case ever, which I assume is due to the double layer of leather (instead of just one layer on normal leather pouches). Pens still sit rather snug inside, so they won't fall out accidentally.

It's an expensive product, that really is my only gripe. At 80USD it's the same price as the Visconti Dreamtouch case for two pens, and you can get something like the Franklin-Christoph penvelope six for even less. The selling point for this case obviously is the exotic material, but it's up to you if that's worth paying the premium. Your choice will also depend on the amount of pens you usually carry with you. If you know your everyday carry will always be limited to two pens, this can definitely be a compact and stylish way to carry your pens around!

Note: This product was sent to me free of charge, by Tom Barrington, so I could write this review.  I was in no way influenced in the making of this review, the opinions shared in this review are completely my own! This post does not contain affilate links.