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Review: NockCo Sinclair Pen and Notebook Case

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The NockCo Sinclair has 3 pen slots and a spot for a notebook plus room between the two sides for additional storage. This case, like almost all Nock cases, has an outer shell of 1000D nylon with DWR coating and an interior of smooth nylon pack cloth. The interior pack cloth allows smooth extraction of pens and notebooks, yet they stay put once inside.

Though there are only 3 pen slots, unless you use large pens you can fit more than one pen into each slot. I’m able to comfortably stuff 3 pocket notebooks into the notebook slot and more into the central section. If I want to use it as an on the go art supply case I can hold a travel palette, water brushes and a few pens and pencils. My point is that such a compact pocket sized case it can hold a tremendous amount of stuff yet still fits into a back pocket.I picked out the coffee and amethyst colorway. It is a great looking color combo that is a nice riff on the more typically found chocolate with baby blue. The purple is light enough that you can find all your stuff inside with ease. The zipper is beefy and moves with ease. I found the pulls to be a little large and to interfere where I slid the case into a pocket. I replaced them with pulls made of narrow paracord and beads. These being flexible don’t force the case open when shoved into a pocket. The nylon stays put in the pockets of my jeans or khakis even when walking around.

I was skeptical that the Sinclair would replace my Fodderstack XL as a part of my practical carry, but it has. It let’s me keep my pencil, a red pen, my Alloy, and a couple of others combined with my notebook and assorted sundry items. If one needs to carry a little extra stuff than the Fodderstack XL allows, the Sinclair is the obvious next step.

Okay, let’s talk about the price of this thing- it’s $40 plus shipping and handling. Not cheap. But it’s insanely well made. Every stitch is where it  should be and thus far in my use it is super tough. Taking my Fodderstack XL as an example, the Sinclair is going to survive my use- in  my pockets and in my bag. While I might buy and discard 3 or 4 Yoobi pencil cases over the next few years, I’ll be using the same Sinclair that whole time. The Sinclair is an investment and one you’ll be using for years.

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Review: NockCo Gigante Folded Index Cards

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The Gigante cards measure 3.5×5.5 inches when folded and 5.5×7 inches when unfolded. The ruling is Nock’s dot dash in a very pale purple. The smooth paper is 80lb or 216gsm. It is heavier than most inexpensive index cards on the market.

I tested the cards with all my currently inked fountain pens, an assortment of gel ink, rollerball, ballpoint, and fiber tipped pens. None of them soaked or bled through. The fountain pen ink shows plenty of sheen and glimmer. All my pens felt great on the paper. The experience was much like using any really terrific paper.

The size is very useful. It is the exact same size as a pocket notebook. I immediately popped a few  into my Fodderstack XL, with a few standard sized index cards in the middle. I then added a handful to my Sinclair. I’ve found these useful for information that I know I don’t need to keep for ages and also info that I want to transfer to specific notebooks later. Honestly, I’ve been using them much in the manner that I have used larger post its in my pocket notebook- but they feel more substantial.

These are not cheap cards- $8USD for 25 folded cards. Their standard sized cards (3x5in) are 50 to a pack and $6. Though they aren’t cheap they do perform better than most index cards I’ve used, particularly with fountain pens. Depending on how you use your index cards. If you use them as scratch pads and scrap paper then these may not be a value for you. If however index cards are a major part of your practical carry along with fountain pens, you’ll find these invaluable. Continue reading →

Review: Nock Co Fodderstack XL

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I backed the Pen Addict Kickstarter this past spring and received a Nock Co Hightower in dark green and yellow. It was fabulous, but after a few days of testing it out, it simply didn’t suit my needs. I sold it and bought myself a Fodderstack XL, which is basically a cordura nylon sheath for a pocket notebook and a pen or two.

I bought mine in the midnight and blue jay color way, which is a deep navy blue outside and bright blue inside. The stitching is slightly lighter than the exterior canvas, which I quite like. Looks wise, this is a pretty simple concept, in line with the DDC Stuff Sheath, but nylon and vegan for people who care about that sort of thing. I’m not vegan but I was looking for a lighter weight alternative for my summer notebook carry. My One Star Leather goods cover is heavy and seems to cause excessive sweating in my rear pocket.FXL

The Fodderstack XL (FXL hereafter) fit my needs better than the Hightower. It fits into my back pocket, carries up to 2 notebooks and my Metal Shop CT Twist bullet pencil, and either a pen or other writing tool. Lately I’ve had a Field Notes BIC Clic in there. Currently, I’m using a Field Notes and a Nock Co Yellow flap notebook. Now that I’ve been using the FXL steadily for over a month, I can’t imagine my carry without it. In fact, I’m not sure I’ll go back to the leather cover at all. The FXL is smaller, lighter, and simply works for me. FXL

Now that I’ve professed my love for the FXL, let me tell you a couple of issues that my FXL exhibits. At least one of which is nit-picky and the others… Less so. First, my tag is stitched on slightly crooked. This annoys me but does not alter the functionality of the FXL. The bottom edges are not heat sealed. This meant that until I turned my FXL inside out and singed the edges with a lighter, little frayed bits of nylon kept finding their way out of the bottom.* This greatly annoyed me, it also lowers the longevity of the piece. If the bottom continued to fray, eventually it would tear out. *GNASHES TEETH* My final issue is that some of the stitching was both loose and poorly done. I used my sewing skills to pull a loose thread through, tie it off and then heat seal it. In fact I went over every end stitch and sealed it with a flame. Had I not done this my FXL may not have made it the month.FXL

I’m looking at these issues as aberrations because the Hightower did not have any of these flaws. Especially, not the stitching flaws. I think the basic design of the FXL leave the bottom seam open to fraying, and a wonderful solution would be to heat seal the edge after sewing the bottom. That would keep the bulk down, but stop the fray. Perhaps Nock Co should also look at upping their quality control. The loose stitching was apparent the moment I put a pencil into the case.FXL

Now keep in mind my FXL sees daily hard use. I walk relatively long distances with it in my back pocket. I keep it in my back pocket and sit on it. In fact I had a class and sat on it in a warm classroom in Cambridge, MA, for two long weekends. I use it to give my FN support while I write. I’m not gentle with it. I toss it around and generally give it hard use. As I said above. I know that in one quick grab I can have all my notebook and pencil needs taken care of and be out the door. Te FXL has helped me to simplify my carry and through it’s use I’m able to worry less about “Which notebook do I need to take?” Rather, I have 2- one for my general junk notes (Nock Co Flap) and one for my more formalized use (FN.)

Anyway, the FXL is part of my daily carry, and I think if you are trying to simplify yours, it can be that cover.

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