What's the Best Everyday Stationery Bag? My Own Considerations and 5 Options for Pen Show Season

We’re gearing up for pen show and trade show season, and I’ve been fielding regular questions about bag and case options in advance of Stationery Fest in NYC, the D.C. Pen Show the following week, and the San Francisco Pen Show later that month. In between, I may also be attending NY Now and Shoppe Object, two large to-the-trade stationery shows in New York City. So let’s just say that “stationery carry” is on my mind. Here I’m going to walk through a handful of considerations when choosing a show bag (or just a stationery bag in general), and then I’ll discuss a few of my go-to options. This list is not intended to be exclusive, but rather to offer some ideas based around models I use regularly.

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I rarely overstuff a bag like this anymore, but with a well-designed option like the Rickshaw Banzai Bag, you certainly can!

Key Considerations for a Stationery Bag

1. Smaller Backpacks, Please. When you’re at a show, don’t be that person who carries the giant 40L backpack that slams into people, knocks over items on tables, and blocks peoples view. Just don’t. Some shows are actually imposing bag size limits. If you need a backpack, choose a smaller “day pack” size option that fits flat against your back. Even for everyday carry, you probably need a smaller bag than you think. When I have a bag that’s too big, stuff tends to shift and collect at the bottom and things get dinged up.

2. Choose a Bag Tailored to What You Actually Carry or Plan to Buy at a Show. If you’re going to a show mainly to buy a few pens or have pens ground, you can fit a LOT of pens into a very small bag, and you can even get away with carrying a small portfolio-style pen case or clutch. Tote bags are great if you’re shopping for lightweight items like washi tapes and other accessories. I’ve done pen shows with nothing but a Rickshaw Sinclair and it was super liberating to ditch the backpack or messenger bag. Buying paper or larger items requires more planning and extra capacity.

3. Comfort is Key. If you’re planning to carry heavy stuff (i.e., lots of paper), or if you’ll be out all day and need to carry snacks and a water bottle, choose a bag with a supportive strap. I cannot emphasize enough how heavy paper can get - try lugging it all over Tokyo in warm weather - and an ergonomic backpack was key to keeping the trip enjoyable.

4. Organization and Protection. I personally prefer bags with multiple compartments and pockets, to keep my notebooks separate from my water bottle, pen cases, and everything else. It also helps me stay organized since I carry so many different types of things with me at any given time. For shows, I would emphasize protection - if you’re buying pads of paper or soft notebooks, a bag with a laptop slot or a padded interior will keep them from getting dinged up in transit if you aren’t staying at the show venue and can’t run them up to your room or out to your car.

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I’ve really reduced my carry over the years, and have largely moved on from an “I must take everything” approach.

My 5 Favorite Stationery Bags and Cases for Pen and Stationery Shows

1. Rickshaw Banzai Bag. Designed for pen people, this compact messenger/sling bag is unobtrusive and holds a surprising amount given its compact size. I like to carry this as part of a modular system with multiple Rickshaw cases including the Sinclair and Fillmore pen cases (discussed further below). For an even slimmer system that operates off this same concept, the Lochby Field Sling is designed to carry a notebook, a pen case, and maybe some extras.

2. Tom Bihn Synapse. I have the Synapse 25L but you can also opt for the smaller Synapse 19. I took the larger version to Japan, since it doubled as both a day bag and my primary carry-on. I love this bag because (1) it has at least 5 externally accessible zippered pockets and compartments, and (2) it doesn’t have a clamshell zipper, meaning that there’s no risk of the bag coming completely unzipped and all your stuff falling out. This bag can be cinched down to a compact size, but it can also hold a ton of stuff if you need it to.

3. Rickshaw Sinclair Model-R and/or Fillmore. These pen cases will hold 3-6 pens and a small notebook, and will fit inside the Banzai bag or any other bag or backpack. They are great for modular packing, but as mentioned above can also be carried on a stand-alone basis as a clutch. When I’m working from a coffee shop or going to pen club, more often than not I’m taking just a notebook or planner and my Fillmore. (The cloud design shown here is our own shop exclusive, which is hand-drawn by Nick Dominguez and available in multiple Rickshaw formats!)

4. Lochby Venture Pouch and/or Venture Pouch Mini. Similar to the Rickshaw cases, yet also completely different, the Lochby Venture Pouch is a double-sided pen pouch/bag that functions as a slotted pen case on one side and a standard stationery pouch on the reverse. (For a full demonstration of how this works, check out this YouTube video I did years ago.) The Lochby Field Sling also features a removable strap and can be carried clutch-style if you need slightly more capacity, or alternatively you can use a strap like that on the Field Sling and turn your Venture Pouch into a compact sling bag.

5. Any Tote Bag. As long as you don’t let them get too heavy, I LOVE tote bags for shows. I’ll typically stash a roll-up tote somewhere - either under the table or in my main bag - and break it out if I get carried away with my purchases. Tote bags are also great at stationery fests, where the emphasis is more on smaller, more lightweight items like stickers, washi tape, and less-precious pens and pencils. I will do a plug for the Rickshaw Musette, which features a longer strap and was designed for these events in that you can easily convert to a cross body bag for added security in crowded ballrooms.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by online purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

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A top-down look at the Rickshaw Musette Tote, which is long enough to hold a full pad of paper. This can be worn over the shoulder, cross-body, or carried as a tote bag.

TGS 12th Anniversary: What's in Your Pen Case These Days?

“How has your everyday carry evolved over time?” Someone asked me this the other day, and it’s a good question to reflect on as I celebrate TGS’s 12th Anniversary. I’ve never really put that much thought into a specific “kit” outside of planning for trips - I typically ink up a combination of fountain pens based on what I feel like using for the next several weeks along with a handful of workhorse pens chosen based on my current projects and work schedule. However, I do think you can tell a lot about preferences with a simple “bag dump,” or here, a “pen case dump.” Today I plan to look through my “currently inked” lineup, with some added commentary on how my preferences have changed over time.

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From left: Pilot Custom 912 fountain pen, Laurett’s Ebonite Ballpoint, Ohto CR02, Pilot Custom 912, Lamy 2000, and Lamy Swift Rollerball. At bottom: Zebra Mildliners and Pilot Juice Up.

Pen Case No. 1: Rickshaw Fillmore 3+3

The first thing you’ll notice is that this six-slot pen case can actually hold a lot more than six pens. Like many people new to the hobby, when I started out I was strictly in the “one pen, one slot” category, but about five years in I stopped caring if the pens touched and/or developed minor scratches and dings. Nearly all of the pens I write with regularly are permanent companions that will not be sold or kept as investment pieces/collectibles. I let them develop their own scars. Sometimes this means I have more than one pen in a single slot, or I’ll carry multiple pens in the front pocket.

As an aside, I love the Rickshaw Fillmore for its ability to unzip all the way around and serve as a pen tray as well as a traditional pen case. In addition to the pen slots, one side contains a forward pocket that can hold a notebook, sticky notes, index cards, or more pens. Here’s what I’ve got in there right now:

1. Lamy Swift Capless Rollerball. One of the most underappreciated workorse pens, the Lamy Swift rollerball has a genuinely good capless refill, plus a retractable clip that recedes into the barrel when the tip is extended to prevent you from accidentally ruining your shirt pocket, bag, or pen case. The Lamy Swift is one of those subtly good pens that you will use without thinking about it - I find it in my hand all the time.

2. Laurett’s Waka Ebonite Ballpoint. Sometimes you can’t use a fountain pen, but you want to use a visually interesting pen that features a material like ebonite. As a regular ballpoint user, I was thrilled to discover these ebonite ballpoints from Japanese maker Laurett’s, which specializes in ultra fine knurling in applications from pens to automotive parts. Here, the knurling (i.e. ridges) on the ebonite barrel adds texture that gives the pen a nice grip.

3. Ohto CR02 Rollerball. For an everyday classic capped rollerball, it’s hard to do better than the Ohto CR02, and if the pen’s not your thing, the fine-tip refill is excellent. I always keep one of these pens with me for when I need a dark black ink, and it’s also a great pen to lend to someone to use in a meeting.

4. Pilot Custom 912 with PO (Posting) Nib. The most significant change that I’ve made in my fountain pen use over the years is to focus on nibs more than the pens themselves. I’ve accordingly found myself drawn to pens like Pilot’s Custom 912, which features multiple 14k nib options that include many specialty grinds. The PO (Posting) nib is an ultra-extra fine nib that I love for planning and annotation. Currently inked with Bungubox Dandyism.

5. Pilot Custom 912 with WA (Waverly) Nib. My latest discovery is Pilot’s WA (Waverly) nib, which features a slightly upturned tip designed to write smoothly from multiple angles. Reminiscent of those vintage Sheaffer “Touchdown” nibs from the 1960s and 1970s, the Waverly nib make an excellent everyday writer and I’ve had this one inked up through multiple fill cycles. I currently have it inked up with an orange multi-shading Sailor Ink Studio ink, though I don’t have the exact number since it came from a sample I pulled from a friend.

6. Lamy 2000 (Standard Black Makrolon - Fine Nib). Yes, there will always be at least one inked-up Lamy 2000 in my pen case. I’ve made no secret over the years that I love everything about the design of this pen, and the nib style fits my handwriting well. Inked up with a special ink that you all will hear about very soon. :)

7. In The Pocket: 2 Zebra Mildliners and a Pilot Juice Up (Examples). I generally have a handful of highlighters and colorful gel pens in the Fillmore’s center pocket, again for planning and annotation. The specific brand/color/model rotates out fairly regularly, and honestly depends mostly on what’s sitting at my desk when I pack my pen case in the morning. This week it’s been two Zebra Mildliner dual-tip highlighters and a Pilot Juice Up with the excellent .4mm Synergy Tip.

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Pen Case No. 2: Nagasawa Kip Leather Five-Pen Zippered Case

I take my Fillmore nearly everywhere I go, but I keep another five-pen case packed with pens that I use mainly for journaling and more introspective writing sessions. Sometimes this case will go with me in my bag, other times it lives at my desk at home, depending on where I’m doing my writing. These pens are a mix of practical workhorses for longer writing sessions and “fun nib and ink combinations”. If you think this case is heavy on Pilot, you would be correct.

1. Pilot Custom Heritage 92. My clear demonstrator of choice at the moment. A cross between the Pilot Custom 74 and the Custom 912, the Custom Heritage 92 is one of Pilot’s only piston-filler offerings, and in my opinion it’s one of the smoothest pistons out there. When I re-ink this one, I may choose a brighter ink to showcase the transparency and excellent finish, but for now it’s inked up with Taccia Kuniyoshi Uguisu-Cha, a dark tea-green. For those who will ask, yes, I wish I had kept my transparent orange Custom Heritage 92 with a Fine Medium.

2. Pilot Custom 74 Lavender Fog with SFM (Soft Fine Medium) Nib. Pilot’s fine medium nibs are usually available only in Japan, so when they brought the soft version to the U.S. market with this year’s North American exclusive release, I was all-in. This one is inked with KWZ Brown-Pink, and if you’re interested in a soft nib, please read the review above before buying one and trying to “flex” it.

3. Pilot Custom 743 with FA (Falcon) Nib. I wanted to grab one of the North American Exclusive Verdigris Custom 743s before they went out of stock, and I opted for a fun FA nib that sort-of-flexes-but-not-really. If you’re looking for vintage-style flex, you will find the FA too stiff, but if you’re instead looking for a nib that adds line variation to your cursive and is capable of showcasing shimmer, shading, and sheen, the FA Nib on the 743 can be a lot of fun for more creative journaling and handwriting practice. This one is inked with yet another Sailor Ink Studio ink that I received as a friend sample and lost the number. It’s a nice legible yellow green.

4. Pilot Custom 823 with Medium Mark Bacas Blade Nib. My journaling workhorse, the Custom 823 is a candidate for my upcoming international trip due to the vacuum filling system that utilizes a shutoff valve to prevent ink leaks on an airplane. This pen started life as a medium nib but was modified by Mark Bacas to a blade grind (an early variation on a Kodachi/Naginata). Inked with standard Pilot Namiki Black, a reliable standard ink for when you want to write without distraction.

5. Bonecrusher 7 Studios Fountain Pen with Matthew Chen Fine Stub. This pen may be my favorite purchase from this year’s initial round of pen shows. I usually post my pens, but the shape and length of this one gives it almost perfect balance. Matthew ground the nib for me to a slightly oblique stub nib, which is also inked with Bungubox Dandyism and is almost empty since I’ve used this pen for several extended journaling sessions.

The pen case shown here is a simple five-pen zippered case acquired from Nagasawa at the 2026 California Pen Show. Nagasaw Kip Leather features a rare combination of softness and durability - despite how supple this leather case is, it’s survived multiple trips in my bag without scuffs or scratches.

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I may only travel with two pens going (as opposed to coming home). These two are prime candidates.

Guess What? I’m Going to Japan Later This Month!

Lisa and I talked about this upcoming trip a little bit in the latest On The Paper Trail Episode (and it will be a bigger topic of discussion next week), but I am actively thinking about my stationery carry for a two-week international trip where the sole purpose of the trip is…well, stationery. As I mentioned in Episode 8, I plan on “splurging” on some pens while I’m over there, so my outbound carry will be light: maybe one or two pens to use on the plane and a LOT of extra case capacity to bring stuff home. Stay tuned!

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. You can also come visit us at our physical stationery store in Nashville, Tennessee.

Ask TGS: "Emergency Pens" and Paper Sizes A4 vs. Legal

The questions keep coming! It turns out that I really enjoy writing these posts because they’re directly responsive to things that readers want to know. I’ve also received a lot of feedback that you all find the Q&A format helpful, so I’m going to continue to prioritize this type of writing and make this part of the regular rotation.

Question 1: Do You Carry an “Emergency Pen” That Is On Your Person At All Time?

I found this question interesting because (1) it’s somewhat offbeat/unusual and (2) I’ve curiously been asked about this topic several times in the past few months. First of all, by “emergency pen,” I believe people are referring to a very small compact pen that you keep on your person as a “last-resort” writing instrument for when you absolutely need something to sign a document, make an urgent note, etc. It doesn’t need to be comfortable to use for longer writing sessions. The key attributes here are portability, reliability - especially if it sits unused for a longer period of time - and unobtrusiveness. It’s almost always going to be some sort of ballpoint.

My current “anywhere and everywhere” choice: the Craighill Caro Pen.

To answer this question directly: yes. For many years I carried a “Wallet Pen”, which was basically a modified D1 refill with a clip attached to it, designed to sit in the middle of a bifold wallet. I lost track of this pen long ago (it’s probably still around here somewhere), but because I’ve moved on from larger wallets to slimmer card sleeves, it would no longer meet my needs. Currently, I have two options that I usually carry as a contingency. I keep a Craighill “Caro” pen attached to my keychain, and I’ve been incredibly impressed with this simple tool that was originally recommended to me by a reader. Like the Wallet Pen, the Caro takes a D1 refill and clips to your keychain using a dock attachment that functions as a cap. The cap uses a garter spring to ensure a secure fit - I’ve been carrying this pen for four or five months now, mostly in my pocket, and I’ve not had it come loose once. After the Caro, I would probably rely on the D1 refill in my Victorinox Swiss Army knife as a true “last resort” option.

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Craighill Caro Pen + Refill

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Craighill Caro Pen + Victorinox "Pen"

Question 2: Will US Legal-Size Writing Pads Fit An A4 Portfolio?

One of the more vexing paper sizes for those of us who love stationery products - especially imported bags and cases - is the U.S. Legal Pad. It’s a “size” typically unique to the U.S., but there’s no uniformity - throughout my career as a practicing attorney, I’ve seen products marketed as “legal pads” that measure any where from 8.5” x 11.75” to 8.5” x 14”. While the extremely long 14” version is not nearly as common as it used to be (even in the legal profession), you still have to be careful because legal pads will not fit A4 or Letter-sized portfolios once you go past 12” in length. For example:

Show here is an 8.5” x 11.75” Roaring Springs Legal Pad in an A4 Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter notebook cover. This fits quite well, but there’s no room left for a longer pad.

The pad shown in the picture above is an 8.5” x 11.75” Roaring Springs Legal Pad, which is roughly the same size as a traditional 8.3” x 11.7” A4 writing pad. This particular “legal pad” should fit most A4 portfolios and padholders, but again, pay attention to your specific dimensions when you are ordering. For additional information on how different paper sizes compare, you can check out this rough “guide” to paper sizing from a few years ago.

Ask TGS in Person: Visit us at the California Pen Show This Weekend!

Tomorrow morning I’m leaving bright and early for the 2024 California Pen Show, where I will be holding a discussion/class/seminar on “Stationery for Everyday Writing,” and I hope to keep most of the focus on questions such as the ones addressed here, as well as in other recent “Ask TGS” Posts on topics such as how to avoid staining your pens, how to get the best writing experience with specialized inks (like shimmer inks), and the best paper for written correspondence (personal or professional). I hope to see you there!

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges from the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Checking in at Year-End: My Five Most-Used Non-Pen Stationery Items

I’ve been doing a lot of “checking in and thinning out” lately, with the goal of reducing both physical and mental clutter by keeping tidier workspaces and focusing on having close at hand those specific items that I use the most. The reason for this is twofold: (1) Towards the end of the year, I always take stock and try to figure out what might be eliminated, replaced, or improved; and (2) It’s been a busy holiday season - possibly the busiest I’ve ever had - and I’ve needed whatever edge I can to make it through the past several weeks, even if that’s just a few extra seconds in the morning of not having to sort through a jumble of junk on my desk. For this morning’s post, I asked myself: What are the five stationery items - other than pen/pencil and paper - that I touch every day?

1. My 30-Minute Hourglass. The first thing I interact with after I wake up. Every morning I try to read for 30 minutes and then write in my journal for 30 minutes. Two flips of the hourglass. Later in the day, when I’m doing periods of focused work, I try to maintain 30 uninterrupted minutes of effort between short breaks. While I currently only have one hourglass in rotation, I will likely add another to avoid tempting fate by repeatedly moving the hourglass across the room from my desk to my reading chair over hardwood floors with three (yes, three) dogs underfoot. For more ways on how to use analogue timing devices - of which I’m a big proponent - check out this post.

2. A Cutting Tool. Whether it’s breaking down boxes and packaging, cutting tape, snipping loose threads, or opening mail, a good pair of scissors or a small penknife is essential. Personally, I have four items I use regularly: My Allex fluorine-coated desk scissors that I’ve owned for years and which we now carry in the shop, a pair of discontinued Write Notepads Pocket Scissors, smaller Allex “Mini Scissors” that fit into a stationery pouch, and a pocketknife (rotating brands, depending on whether I’m at a desk or in the warehouse that day).

3. A Bookmark. My accumulation of bookmarks is somewhat embarrassing, second only to pens (and maybe notebooks), but I have a wide range of paper, metal, leather, and even cloth bookmarks that I use regularly, ranging from cheap bookstore and promotional freebies to quality, slightly overengineered metal ones. For some reason I hate dog-earing pages in books. I’d much rather use a bookmark while I’m actively reading, with sticky notes and Book Darts marking those passages I want to flag for long-term reference and/or archiving in my commonplace system.

4. My Classroom Friendly (Carl Angel-5) Pencil Sharpener. When I read, I annotate and take notes in pencil. At home, this relatively inexpensive hand-cranker remains my long-point sharpener of choice. The blades leave as sharp a point as ever, five+ years into its lifespan.

5. Toyooka Craft Pen Trays. I have two Toyooka Craft six-pen trays. One on my personal desk at home, and one at work. Both sit next to my keyboard and hold the pens/pencils that I’m working with at any given time. Typically, this will include 2-3 fountain pens, a ballpoint, a rollerball, and a mechanical pencil. Once I have this rotation set for the day, I don’t go rooting around in my bag or pen case for something “new” and instead just focus on the work at hand.

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If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that you can’t use “all the things” all of the time - at least not if you want to get anything done during the day because you’re spending all of your time and effort picking out your tools. Set your core workhorse lineup and run with it. Periodically evaluate and make changes. If you like to rotate stuff, do it regularly (or at least semi-regularly, just not on a whim). And if you don’t use something, pass it along!

The Gentleman Stationer is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. We don’t just write about and sell pens! Lately we’ve been expanding more into non-pen (but still stationery-related) content and goods. You can read more about our “stationery philosophy” here.

Personal Collections: The Three Most Worn Stationery Items in Regular Rotation

I’ve been doing some pruning and sorting lately, as I often decide towards the end of the year what stationery items and other “gear” I will keep in rotation, and what I plan to move on from. Given the nature of what I do, I cycle through stuff often, and the items that truly get “used” to the point where they show signs of significant wear are few and far between. That said, three particular items jumped out at me, and none of them are fountain pens.

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1. Traveler’s Company Brass Ballpoint, San Francisco Pen Show 2022 Limited Edition in Olive Green. I pre-ordered this pen at the same show where I purchased the Plotter Mini-5, and once it arrived a few months later, I clipped it directly to the pen slot in the Plotter and it’s been in my pocket ever since. The “bullet pencil” has never really caught on with me, mainly due to having to carry a hand sharpener, but this pocket ballpoint uses the same convenient format with an excellent needle-tip refill. I do wish that Traveler’s made the color versions part of their regular lineup, but the standard brass develops a warm patina with age.

2. Lamy 2000 Ballpoint, “W. Germany” Edition. Ok, so this one may be cheating a bit, as it had some history on it when I bought it, but my early 1980s-era Lamy 2000 ballpoint pen showcases what the black Makrolon Lamy 2000 can look like after decades of regular use. The grooves are more or less worn completely smooth, lending the pen a shinier appearance, but the knock still functions with a solid click and this one remains a workhorse. For those looking for a sharp gift for a non-fountain pen user - particularly someone who might work in a stuffy office and therefore prefers something fun yet understated - the standard pens and mechanical pencils in the Lamy 2000 line are excellent options and will last a very long time.

3. Plotter Mini-5 Binder/Wallet. Believe it or not, this used to be grey leather. Compare the photo shown at the top with the photo below, taken immediately after I purchased it. All of the grey leather products I’ve owned over the years transition to a greyish brown, which may or may not be your preference but I enjoy the patina. This Plotter Mini has gone in my pocket nearly every day, and in addition to serving as my emergency notebook, I use the card holder for my work access pass and a couple of credit cards.

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What’s your most “well-loved” stationery item? I’m interested to hear different stories, as everyone’s daily users vary depending on individual needs and preferences.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. This post does not contain third-party affiliate links or paid advertising.