Searching for the perfect Moleskine pen buddy
Published by on January 21st, 2007
We are both self-confessed Moleskine snobs. Not that we would frown on anyone not using such a deliciously pleasurable notebook, but the thought of using anything less ourselves is often too much to bear - one of our few indulgent luxuries in life.
The task that I have chosen to accept over the past few weeks, is to discover the ideal writing accompaniament to a standard Moleskine notebook. The problem with the majority of pens, and pencils, is their length as they are generally just a little too long to be discreetly tucked away in just any old pocket.
An excursion to Reading today resulted in what you see in the above image. The moleskine there is a standard size notebook (90mmx140mm, currently on Amazon UK for a rediculously low £3.60 each!). The pens from left to right:
- MUJI Aluminium Mini Pencil 0.5mm £2.50
- MUJI Aluminium Mini Pen 0.7mm £2.50 (refils, from MUJI are only 30p!)
- Zebra Telescopic Ball Point Pen £2.50 (including 2 refills) - no link for this but we found it at Staples.
- A basic disposable ball point pen as a size comparison
The MUJI items are extremely light weight, minimalist design, and the refills are dead cheap. The pen’s mechanism rattles a little when in use which is a little off-putting, but it writes just fine. The pencil takes standard mechanical-pencil refills and even has the expected small eraser under the cap.
The Zebra pen is small when retracted but extends out to a full-size ball point pen for writing. It feels solid and quite heavy - just like a good quality ball point pen. Its only negative is that it takes those very small, metal refills which look like they hold almost no ink at all. Perhaps the MUJI refills will fit as they appear at first glance to have greater ink capacity.
The jury is out as to which is better, that will take some time to use and abuse. For now, it is satisfying that there are some mini pens around which do not cost £10+ each just for the added convenience.
[tags]Moleskine, writing[/tags]
9 Responses to “Searching for the perfect Moleskine pen buddy”
January 21st, 2007 at 10:17 pm
The right pen can be a true pleasure, I don’t really have one at the moment. I still love my Waterman fountain pen that I have had for a while but it is not an ‘out-and-about’ pen.
Keeping a notepad and a pen with me is something I am bad at and something I need to correct.
January 21st, 2007 at 10:40 pm
My notepad is the most important of all. The experience of the Moleskine has helped me be more enthusiastic about keeping notes about pretty much everything where any old notebook just didn’t cut it.
January 22nd, 2007 at 11:53 pm
I bought a Moleskine just before the new year and started using it as a daily ‘To Do’ notebook on January first. There’s something about these neat little notebooks that really inspires creativity and productivity.
As for a pen, I use the “Fisher Space Pen” which is a small ballpoint that, when open, is the same size as a full pen. One of the reasons I choose the Space Pen was its resilience. I’ve always had a problem with pens bursting in my pockets but the Space Pen supposedly won’t.
Anyway, good luck with the search and enjoy your Moleskine.
January 24th, 2007 at 7:17 am
The Fisher Space Pen is ideal for use with the Moleskine. I’ve had two in the past year or so (kids keep nicking them), and while they’re small they aren’t the best writer, IMO.
I just use a regular sized pen with all my Moleskines, a Pilot G2. What makes it better than the Space Pen, even tho it isn’t small, is the way it writes on Moleskine pages. Very smooth with no smudging. Something that, as a left-hander, is an issue.
January 25th, 2007 at 9:37 pm
I have two favorite writing instruments–a fountain pen given to me by my daughter and any mechanical pencil with broad, dark lead. The MUJI pencil in the photo looks good, but 5mm is too light for me. I like my scribblings to look bold and important, even though it’s usually just a grocery list or bills to be paid
January 25th, 2007 at 9:49 pm
I like my pencils to be nice and fine. Comes from years ago when I was an illustrator with my chosen media: coloured pencil used on the point. Mechanicals mean I don’t have to continuously sharpen, which means fewer distration.
January 25th, 2007 at 10:36 pm
@Mark: I loathe Pilot G2s, for some reason they simply don’t write consistently right for me. I’ve heard a few people say the same thing, maybe it’s a writing style thing.
@Bill: I tried a SpacePen recently but find the nip point too fat for my liking, and the price is a turn-off too. Welcome to my blog, by the way!
My pen of choice for the moleskine, when size is irrelevant, is my Parker gold-nib fountain pen, bought about 6 months ago. Now that it is run in it’s smooth and expressive and a total pleasure to write with, particularly on the smooth Moleskine paper.
March 18th, 2007 at 10:55 pm
A nice alternative for you Moleskine folks.
I purchased a Zebra F-301 Compact but being used to the Precise V7 was not too impressed with the way it wrote. Not bad though.
The solution was to buy the Dr. Grip Center of Gravity refills. The diameter is too large for the F-301 chassis so reduced it with some sandpaper. Also had to make a small spacer due to the shorter lenght. Made this from a 1-1.5mm piece of the old F-301 cartridge.
The result is a nice looking/writing little pen. Also look for the Zebra Expandx which I have not been able to find yet. It takes the same refills.
March 20th, 2007 at 1:33 pm
OOh, that F-301 looks promising. But I’m with you on the need for more accurate nibs - that’s where the Muji’s work well for me.