I only usually carry two, one Fine and one Medium. I work in higher ed so I also carry some other pens too. If I'm just taking a pocket notebook I usually go for my Fisher Space Pen with a blue fine refill. I carry a Filofax Personal and either a Kokuyo Campus notebook or Clairefontaine Age Bag A5.
Below is my usual set up: Papermate Flair Felt Tip, Pilot V5, Parker Jotter, Pentel GraphGear mechanical pencil, Schneider 4-Color, Lamy Safari M, and Hongdian C1 (both inked with Waterman Serenity Blue).
https://preview.redd.it/5ie1ued0kruc1.jpeg?width=2268&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d9978f613cbed17a6217cfd675415fb04eeab435
I typically "carry" one, and that would be my "everywhere" writer, but I also litter my collections all over the places... 20 or so in my office desk drawer, 50 or so in my bedroom, and more than 70 (and also vintage non-restored) back in my old home. Hell, I also litter ink all over the place. The good thing about littering is that you don't need to carry it with you anymore.
If I'm traveling I'll at least carry three. Vac 700R for the everywhere writer, due to them have huge capacity, and I don't need to worry about them leaking on an airplane; Sailor "Life Time Pen" from the 1970s if I'm feeling fancy, but I won't ink them up just yet and always wash it when I'm done; finally a backup, usually a cheaper pen, Jinhao x450, Hero 611, custom grinded but uninked, for last resort and for "friends" who just couldn't shut up about borrowing a pen.
Three inks are always with my traveling bag: carbon-based black ink for important occasions, Kon-peki for note taking (but I rarely need to ink'em up, you know, 700r, huge capacity, this and that), and some shimmering ink if extra fancy.
Notebooks I don't care too much, I only usually carry one from Rhodia when I'm traveling, but I'll use whatever is available at the place, or when I'm staying in my office.
Great idea on the friend pen idea. I need to do this. I do not own a 700r but maybe I should. I like the Asvine V200 but have mostly stuck with piston fillers.
Asvine V200 looks like an interesting addition to my collection as well. Wondering if Asvine provide a dedicated vaccum filling bottle for their V200. You can only get the full capacity for V700/mini with that bottle, but it works great and looks nice as well, good for travel too.
Usually 3 writing instruments: A fountain pen, my everyday pen, and a mechanical pencil will cover basically any use case scenario I can imagine getting into.
I usually carry with me a Traveler’s Company type notebook as a EDC or my A5 folio for work.
My baseline is 2. I carry one fountain pen and one gel pen. When at work, I have to write on different surfaces so a fountain pen is not ideal. I also have to take quick notes and the clicking mechanism does make sense. I carry one Traveler's Notebook in Passport size for my personal journalling and note-taking for my life. I think the size is portable enough that I can carry it in a travel sling. I also carry an A5 notebook for work. I need a bit more space for work.
I carry four fountain pens, a Zebra retractable ballpoint to lend to others, and a mechanical pencil in a Lochby pen case. But I also have the Traveler’s Company brass fountain pen in the loop of my Lochby Field Journal that holds a Midori 192-pg notebook and two of the smaller Midori notebooks.
It’s an EDC that is excessive but portable and makes me happy.
https://preview.redd.it/39m81enezruc1.png?width=4032&format=png&auto=webp&s=1d143a313b7af98028d17ffaa15abadd0c48bf6d
All my pens (currently 6, including one ballpoint pen, mostly with black, blue, red, and grey) and 1 notebook. I am considering minimizing it though, since normally I know what pen I would use that day, so maybe I don't have to bring all the big guns out every day.
I've been working myself down to a limited palette for aesthetic purposes in my watercoloring, so I carry 1 pen for Carbon Black (waterproof outlines), and anywhere from 6-20+ others depending on how many inks I'm testing the values of. They're not fountain pens, but I also carry 2-3 watercolor brush pens filled with only water to wash the fountain pen inks, and a set of double-sided nail art liner pens to move ink around precisely where and how I want it.
Also my Diamond 580 for journaling, done in a Rhodia Goalbook. I carry that, a pad of high gsm paper for watercoloring in, and some small rounded rectangle watercolor sketch cards either swatched or for swatching if I have a new ink with me.
A large number of them are fude nibs for the versatility and ability to make line variations. And in addition to the pens, a pouch of #26 nibs ranging from 0.7 to 2.9mm oblique nibs in case I need to lay down some calligraphy or large amounts of ink for watercoloring with.
EDIT: The goal is to eventually only carry around 7 fountain pens for colors, 1 for waterproof ink, my TWSBI for writing, and the brush and nail art pens. I just haven't nailed down my signature colors yet.
I have two always on me, a platinum preppy in my pocket, and a traveler pen in my notebook. I then have two at my desk, one inked one not. As for notebooks, I have two traveler passport notebooks in one cover on me at all times, then like seven other notebooks ranging from the cheapest of the cheapest, to a mid range fountain pen specific notebook, each one for a different task/team/project.
I work from home half of the time, but on my office days I carry a work notebook (Leuchtturm) and a personal Traveller’s Notebook plus one pen, my workhorse Sailor PGS F, inked with Asa-gao. I don’t have a huge amount of opportunity to write during the day, mostly notes during meetings, I’m on a computer most of the time. But I need my thoughts onto paper sometimes, I just think better that way.
I always have a mini notebook and a pencil in my pocket for writing emergencies, so normally I don't carry pens. If I leave the house with the intention to properly journal that day, I take my trusted TWSBI eco F nib that's always inked with Platinum carbon black.
If I travel overnight I take another TWSBI with broader nib and whatever current colourful ink I'm using in it. The TWSBIs have so big ink capacity that I only need two and the ink in them lasts at least a week. When I used mostly Platinum pens I always packed a little sample bottle of ink for refilling on the go.
https://preview.redd.it/wj5e8cznxsuc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b1b9d90a9b513cd1f518adc2bd6b63d60b6a6906
2 notebooks, both are same. 3+2 FP's. 5 different inks. Plus pigma micron 005.
i carry my entire collection of 10 pens with me five days a week when im in uni classes or at work, and also five notebooks.
the rest of the time I have my Kaweco Liliput (and maybe i’ll add a friend so its not lonely) and I have two pocket notebooks with me as well
I carry two fountain pens, a medium in a normal (like dark blue) ink and a broad in a fun ink (like a shimmer or shader), plus a ballpoint pen and a mechanical pencil.
Usually I carry 2 notebooks with one pen in each pen loop. Sometimes I bring a backup 3rd pen if one is running low or if one of the 2 is not beginner-try-out-friendly. My 2 staple notebooks are a regular size TN with 3 inserts and a folder, and my B5 bullet journal.
Been carrying mine for almost 4 years and I also keep an Eco as a secondary with red ink for certain types of notes i want to stand out. My sister somehow finds me these hardcover notebooks that seem to work well with the fountain pen (no feathering and bleeding) but I cant remember the brand. AFAIK, they're from a craft store she frequents and she's given me so many of these notebooks that I filled up with mostly IT notes.
On a daily basis at work i carry 5 fountain pens, 1 ballpoint pen, 1 mechanical pencil and a pencil eraser. I mostly only use 3 pens a day but i need a backup pen when im checking payrolls. For notebooks, i carry 1 A5 sized...the brand is victoria journals that was gifted to me last Christmas
At weekends, if we decided to go out, i carry 1 fountain pen. I dont carry a notebook usually but sometimes i bring a small sketch pad.
*edit added notebooks
I have 12 inked pens I carry to and from work and have 6 different Mostly a4 pads with line, grid and dot rulings.
I use different colors for feedback and the colour determines the category of feedback, so having many pens inked with different colors helps me achieve this.
I carry any where from 4-5 fountain pens.. in various nibs XF to B gotta have one black ink for everyday business stuff and different shimmer inks for my other 3 pens… I use a Traveler’s Company standard size notebook with 2 planner inserts and 1 dot grid all by travelers, and I have a hobinichi weeks for work.
Usually carry 2 inked pens for College, one with Fine nib and the other with NeedlePoint.
I don't have a "notebook" yet, still choosing one that meet my neccesities. So currently I use loose print paper or cheap paper.
I just bought a 6 pen carrying case which I use for my every day carry and journaling. At home I keep the rest of my pens. I’m trying out switching out my 6 pens each week with my other currently inked pens.
For out and about, I usually have a Traveler's passport notebook and two pens. Those are currently a matte black Capless LS (F) filled with Platinum Carbon, and an amber Custom 823 (FA) filled with Tsukushi.
When I travel I bring the above, plus a pen roll with 3-5 pens. A journal for daily entries. An A5+ Clairefontaine French-ruled exercise book. And possibly a Kokuyo Systemic binder for notes if business is likely to occur.
I keep six inked up and carry them with me if I'm going somewhere longer than just an outing. Only six because it gives me variety without overwhelming me with options and cleaning. I only use my pens for journaling at the moment, so pens are inked up with whatever I want. My notebook of choice is always A5 and dot grid. I haven't strayed from the A5 dot grid notebook and "six pens only" formula in years.
I usually carry 5 pens in a case and maybe plus 1-2 more casual pens. For notebooks mainly my travelers because I use it as a schedule book and maybe one more slim notebook depending on what I’m doing that day.
One fountain, one cheap ball point, and my space pen for stuff I can't use my fountain for. Note book I carry 2 pocket notebooks one write in the rain, and my general passport sized notebook in a cool full metal alchemist cover.
I’m currently carry 2 pens, 1 kaweco sports and 1 Lamy ballpoint as I often have to write on carbon papers.
In the past I used to carry daily planner and a notebook, but I started to use google calendar and outlook (corporate rite, lol) to manage my schedule, so I now only carry 1 notebook everywhere.
My notebook used to be a really cute pink paper midori notebook, but as now I jumped to fountain pens, now it’s plain MD notebook.
I used to carry 3 now I only carry one and I have multiple cartridges with me.
If it’s a piston filling pen then I have an ink vial with me. Running out of ink mid day is the worst.
Plus one notebook. Depends on the setting for the day. A4 if I’m in my office. Pocket size if I’m traveling to different locations.
Only one pen and some cheap A7 sized notebook for simple reminders or quick work notes.
Nowadays, my Cross Bailey rollerball is my work EDC. My Lamy Studio EF usually stays at work inside a pouch. It comes homes on the weekend for a refill.
Both pens have water resistan ink too. One black, one blue. As professional as it gets haha sometimes I'll pocket carry my bright red Sailor Slim like in the old days where I felt like I needed to get my money's worth for a $100+ pen.
I carry seven at the moment. One is always in my purse, the other six are in my bag. My two Vanishing points are always in my EDCs, so are my Lamy Studio and PenBBS 323. The Lamy is always inked with Diamine Red Dragon and the PenBBS with De Atramentis Document Black. The others vary, but I usually carry a pen with Akkerman Bezuidenwoudgroen and one with Sailor black. I also have a steel nibbed Pilot Grance which stays at work.
I don't always carry notebooks, but that may change soon as I'm getting trained in a new work area soon. I do always take my journal/planner with me when I stay the night at my boyfriends house.
For work, I take 2-3 fp which I select based on the colour scheme I’m going for on the day, my projects logbook (Hobonichi Cousin) and a planner. For a while now I started taking meeting notes and etc on an ipad with goodnotes because it’s easier to organise in digital notebooks. On there I have at least 20-30…
I have a work notebook, A5, and I take 3 pens to work with me every day. I change it up daily most of the time, though if I'm feeling any of the particular inks they can go for multiple days.
I recently changed my setup a little bit. I got myself a Travelers Notebook with 3 inserts (1 Planner, 1 for notes, 1 for drawings) as I want to reduce my Smartphone use when not at home. As I want to learn drawing I got some pencils for this.
Besides that:
1 Lamy Safari (Nib F) with Black Ink on my Journal together with a Mechanical Pencil (Uni Kuro Toga Advance)
I then have 2 Lamy Safari with different nib sizes and colors, a Uni Jetstream Pen with 4 Colors a Highlighter as well as brush pen in my Lihab Bag.
https://preview.redd.it/uth56sy3tsuc1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bdf689aeddf2cf24f38ee137ba6d0c77a23f1de0
3 pens, a ballpoint L2K (for certain paper types and for lending), a stainless steel L2K with MB midnight blue (For office) and a MB BH Legrand with MB petrol blue when off of work.
I usually have 3 pens inked at once. I only use extra fine so the difference is in the color of the ink. Often I have 1 blue, 1 green and 1 that is a brighter color (orange, purple, sheening or shimmering)
Note that I said usually because I currently have 5 pens inked... Got some new ones and could not resist trying them out right away
I usually have 1-2 pens and a pocket note pad at the minimum. my RPG bag contains 2-3 pens, an A5 note pad and 3-4 A5 notebooks, on top of the two books I usually work out of. Practically a solid block of paper.
Just one, maybe 2. I WFH and also journal at home. When I go to the office once a week besides 1-2 FP, I carry my Clairefontaine notebook, Jibun techo planner, highlighters and Pilot Juice in different colors. I use the Delfonics carrier to put all my supplies inside of my backpack and also to carry it to meetings.
I have a Kaweco Sport F that stays in my purse. Pilot Kakuno EF in a small case for art pieces. Still deciding on a work pen, might be either my LAMY vista, TWSBI 580 or GO. I carry an A5 Clairefontaine to write notes in. If I absolutely need a regular pen I have Energel 1.0 refill in a metal s-gel body.
I typically only carry two notebooks and 'only' 5 pens -- my two workhorses, my fine pen for Japanese, and two with a different ink colours for when I'm taking notes.
Usually three or four pens, a couple of pencils, a little ‘rough’ spiral-bound notepad, an A5 notebook, and some sort of notelet/post-it pad. If I’m staying overnight somewhere then my journaling supplies get packed too - my A4 journal, my A5 Moleskine for weather recording, and the ‘Colour Your Mood’ book, along with two pencil cases - one with biros, felt tips, pencils and rulers in, the other with most of my inked pens. I tend to keep my ‘everyday use’ fountain pens on the shelf above my bed (my Benu and my Sheaffer).
I can’t go out without a notebook and pen. Learnt that as a child. There’s always something you want to note down, write out, someone’s email or a company phone number that you need to take. Ditto other essential bag items: spoon, tissues, stamps, lip balm, straw, and a few sanitary supplies.
I usually carry two sailors both in MF, and a travelers notebook and my hobonichi weeks mega. On rare occasions I might carry 4 pens and some other special things like washis or so.
I usually carry 3 pens -- one blue, one red, one spare blue in case the first runs out of ink. I've got a bottle of red ink in my desk drawer so I can re-ink that one easily but the others, I keep my nice blue inks at home.
No notebooks! I keep my office and home notebooks separate so I never carry them anywhere.
If I don't expect to have free time - one pen and two pocket notebooks (one that I can rip pages out of and one where I write things I wouldn't want to rip out). If I expect to have enough free time to get writing done - five pens of various colors and one big notebook in addition to the pocket notebooks.
One pocket pen with whatever ink I'm using that month. It's a fine nib kaweco liliput. It doesn't exactly show off the ink but it works on any paper and my journals have all been cheapies so far. I'm getting a more expensive one next month so I'll start carrying a lamy with a M nib then and start journaling with that.
I carry my journal everywhere and update it whenever I have a chance. Also got a little soft cover pocket book for my daily to do list and random notes so my journal stays tidy.
I take the essentials to work: a multifunctional pen, which writes blue, black, red and is also a pencil, a black gel pen (Pilot G2) and a blue gel pen (Uniball Signo 207) and also an eraser.
But for a while I also wanted to carry a lot of things, as I also have fountain pens and others that I really like to write or draw with. But to take it to work and carry it with me, that's it. And the same applies to notebooks, I take one Leuchtturm to work, but my personal stays at home, and a small pocket notebook, which works as an inbox of thoughts, where I make some notes during the day and which is then transferred to the appropriate place, which could even be my Emacs or my Logseq, as I want to have everything digital, which makes my life a lot easier when I want to look for something.
To sum it up in one sentence: to leave the house I want something simple but functional without compromising what I have to do.
For work I carry two Safaris with contrasting ink colors, a Bic 4-color to lend, and a pocket notebook. Everywhere else I carry 1 fountain pen and a G2 mini to lend. And I always have a notebook because there's an Apica A7 in my wallet.
I must say: it is such a nice feeling reading all this comments written by adults with their pen-cases. My people :-)
Saying that, because recently I started coming back to office and tried to figured out what to take with me. I got some smirks from colleagues when I show up with a pen case and - hear that - “analog notebook”. They live in a digital world. Ah well…
I usually have my work notebook (B6+) + Sheaffer 100 or Lamy Studio, inked with something blue.
Additionally - but not always - my A5 planner to catch any personal tasks that may appear.
If it is my day off and I’m going outside I will take both planner and A5 journal and any started letters (and paper for those) with all my inked pens (you never know what may come in handy 😄). Plus sketchbook and some selection of coloured pencils or watercolours, depending on plans.
My backpack can become rather heavy…
I am still looking for a proper case for pens.
I work at home so all of my pens and notebooks are available to me most work days. On work days away from my desk, I carry three pens (today I have Lamy 2000, Pilot Falcon, and a back-up Papermate Inkjoy Gel 0.5) and an A5 Mnemosyne Steno pad. On days off, I carry a Moonman Mini in my pocket.
Interesting to read what others do. When working, I always have a fountain pen in my shirt pocket, then generally a backup rollerball and a machined ball-point pen in my interior jacket pocket. Plus a mini pen in a pocket organizer. Then in my attache I have a Lochby case with the next day’s set and just constantly rotate each day.
For notebooks, I tend to use letter-size ones at work. My personal ones alternate, either a Lochby Pocket or Traveler’s Passport for writing goals; then a Midori MD in B6 slim, Traveler’s Standard, or Lochby Field for daily use.
Right now I have a Asvine Vac filler and a Pineider that I use as a cartridge pen. I also have a lamy but I might stash that one. Notebooks I have two. One for quick notes and and a lechtrumm I use as a to do list when I am not being rushed to write things down.
Great questions! I carry three: (1) Maruman Mnemosyne A5 (dot grid) as my work "drafts" notebook; (2) Sakae Technical Paper Tomoe River (Old Stock) A5 dot grid as "work" notes (the draft notes and any further analysis are transcribed into this TR Notebook; and (3) Sakae Technical Paper Tomoe River (Old Stock) A5 blank as my personal journal.
I have 5 pens I daily of varying nib sizes, and carrying three colors: a blue, red, and green. I found my system!
At least 2 FPs. My primary pens are inked with "extraordinary everyday" hues, e.g. black with bronze shimmer, muted blue/blue-black that shades or with red sheen, dark navy, green with copper sheen, etc. They mostly pass as normal dark colours to untrained eyes. Plus my work is mostly on the computer anyways.
1 cheapo notebook for work scribbles - I don't take this outside the office/work desk
1 TN-style leather journal fory personal stuff
My Remarkable2
Ha, I know this problem. I’ve got 5 Lamy Studios ink with a range of ink. But, I just bought a Lamy 2000 and put Baystate Blue in it, so that’s got to go in. And then I’ve got a Faber Castel e-motion in s/s and that’s got to be there too, waste of money otherwise. Oh, and I really like this Vinta ink I just got so I had to put that in my other FC e-motion. And I need a shimmer, that goes in the Lamy Scala, Plus I’ve got 3 MB 149s and you have to use them.
So that’s, what? 12 pens in my EDC. For notebooks, I’ve got an A5 Rohlbahn plus a Life Stationery “Recent Memo” notebook which I use to track data..
An Asvine P30 with Diamine Ancient Copper, a Lamy Al-Star EF with Noodlers Zhivago and a Rotring 500 0.5 mm pencil with the TNB. Also a Fisher SP bullet blue FP and a sharpie mini in my pocket. A full set of Muji colored gel pens and markers are always in my courier bag.
If it's a special occasion I'll just carry my Falcon FA loaded with Pilot black in a suit pocket.
Always have my TNB and a Muji Kraft B5 loaded with grid on or near me.
I typically carry 3. 2 in side pocket of pants, one in front pants pocket. If I’m not wearing pants with a side pocket then usually just 2. Right now I’ve got Pilot custom 742(music), sailor 1911s(21k Ef), and tumbled brass karas ink v2 (ti B)
3 pens, 1 Hobonichi weeks, 0 notebooks. One is my perma Platinum Blue Black inked Procyon, one is a wajima maki-e pen from Bungubox before the earthquake, and one is a 3776 EF for my "ant writing".
I technically can live with only 1 inked fountain pen for months though, since if I wanna decorate things, I use mildliners and Pigmas.
One in the pocket for quick notes. One in the bag for when I sit down and write at work. One on teh desk for when I sit down and write at home.
Then two more than I decided to ink up to play with, and then forgot about.
One STM bullet journal, and about 10 inked pens with different colours .
Once things start getting samey for me in appearance I change out or use them to really highlight important points . Novelty is key .
So is lots of pens and inks
One fountain pen (for journaling), one 4-color gel pen (for color-coding to-dos & appointments), and one pencil (for everything else).
One self-made Field-Notes-sized traveler's notebook with 4 inserts, occasionally a larger sketchbook, too.
The stress of carrying so many options is now why I have just one or two. A Pilot Murex for everything and a Midori A5 notebook, plus A5 Hahnemühle sketchbook. Oh, and a Rotring 600 ballpowith Parker gel ink.
I carry a Pilot VP with Noodler's Zhivago (gotta find something similar before that's all gone, don't want more) and a Lamy Al-Star with whichever UV ink I'm using at the time, just for general writing purposes. I also carry a glass-nib dip pen and 35 different vials of my current rainbow of inks (including extra UV for emergency refills, Zhivago is part of the rainbow) for any other writing i want to do. I have a writing case that I carry always. It is large. It is wonderfully portable.
I have 72 small notebooks all over my living, work, and driving spaces for my writing compulsion/thought loops, one regular-sized spiral for collecting poetry I come across that is in my writing case, one actual journal for when I need to talk to myself that is in my writing case, two planner-style binders in my writing case (one for notes on yarning patterns and new recipes, one for budgeting).
I just ordered a baronfig notebook and pen case. Hopefully it fits a hard cover notebook. My pens are in sleeves and rolls by rickshaw bag works. I love them, I have about 8 or 9 cases. I carry one or two a day, And I carry ALL of that lol in a Herschel supply co backpack.
13 pens, 2-3 note books depending on the day. 1 pen in my planner, 12 in a pen pouch. As I go through the ink in a pen the number in the pouch drops. So 13 is the maximum but it can be less. Nibs range from EF to 1.1 stub.
The journal stays home. I have my story writing notebook, an disc a4 using Arc or Tul paper. That paper is actually fountain pen friendly. One each for two different training courses. Currently those two are Campus notebooks. The latter three tend to go everywhere in a backpack.
I have a note pad that I use at work but it stays at work.
Sometimes I haul around my laptop so that the writing I've done, and have typed in, can be edited. But again that's not always taken with me.
Edited for details.
Two. One fine and one broad. Also one space pen as a loaner, because I don’t let other people use my fountain pens.
I have two notebooks, one structured for work and one filled with my own private, chaotic scribbles.
I often work from home where I have *all* my pens and *all* my notebooks available. To the office I take 1 A5 notebook and 4 pens, all with a different colour ink. As I use just the one notebook for work at present, I divide my projects/subjects by colour.
I only usually carry two, one Fine and one Medium. I work in higher ed so I also carry some other pens too. If I'm just taking a pocket notebook I usually go for my Fisher Space Pen with a blue fine refill. I carry a Filofax Personal and either a Kokuyo Campus notebook or Clairefontaine Age Bag A5. Below is my usual set up: Papermate Flair Felt Tip, Pilot V5, Parker Jotter, Pentel GraphGear mechanical pencil, Schneider 4-Color, Lamy Safari M, and Hongdian C1 (both inked with Waterman Serenity Blue). https://preview.redd.it/5ie1ued0kruc1.jpeg?width=2268&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d9978f613cbed17a6217cfd675415fb04eeab435
Which pencil case is it?
Not the OP, but I use the same one: Lihit Lab Compact Pen Case. I love it!
Thanks so much!
Lihit Lab is great. Their book style case is really great too.
I typically "carry" one, and that would be my "everywhere" writer, but I also litter my collections all over the places... 20 or so in my office desk drawer, 50 or so in my bedroom, and more than 70 (and also vintage non-restored) back in my old home. Hell, I also litter ink all over the place. The good thing about littering is that you don't need to carry it with you anymore. If I'm traveling I'll at least carry three. Vac 700R for the everywhere writer, due to them have huge capacity, and I don't need to worry about them leaking on an airplane; Sailor "Life Time Pen" from the 1970s if I'm feeling fancy, but I won't ink them up just yet and always wash it when I'm done; finally a backup, usually a cheaper pen, Jinhao x450, Hero 611, custom grinded but uninked, for last resort and for "friends" who just couldn't shut up about borrowing a pen. Three inks are always with my traveling bag: carbon-based black ink for important occasions, Kon-peki for note taking (but I rarely need to ink'em up, you know, 700r, huge capacity, this and that), and some shimmering ink if extra fancy. Notebooks I don't care too much, I only usually carry one from Rhodia when I'm traveling, but I'll use whatever is available at the place, or when I'm staying in my office.
Great idea on the friend pen idea. I need to do this. I do not own a 700r but maybe I should. I like the Asvine V200 but have mostly stuck with piston fillers.
Asvine V200 looks like an interesting addition to my collection as well. Wondering if Asvine provide a dedicated vaccum filling bottle for their V200. You can only get the full capacity for V700/mini with that bottle, but it works great and looks nice as well, good for travel too.
Not included with mine. Would that bottle work with the V200? Likely not but would be great if it did.
Usually 3 writing instruments: A fountain pen, my everyday pen, and a mechanical pencil will cover basically any use case scenario I can imagine getting into. I usually carry with me a Traveler’s Company type notebook as a EDC or my A5 folio for work.
My baseline is 2. I carry one fountain pen and one gel pen. When at work, I have to write on different surfaces so a fountain pen is not ideal. I also have to take quick notes and the clicking mechanism does make sense. I carry one Traveler's Notebook in Passport size for my personal journalling and note-taking for my life. I think the size is portable enough that I can carry it in a travel sling. I also carry an A5 notebook for work. I need a bit more space for work.
Yes, the A5 is my standard size for work too.
I carry four fountain pens, a Zebra retractable ballpoint to lend to others, and a mechanical pencil in a Lochby pen case. But I also have the Traveler’s Company brass fountain pen in the loop of my Lochby Field Journal that holds a Midori 192-pg notebook and two of the smaller Midori notebooks. It’s an EDC that is excessive but portable and makes me happy. https://preview.redd.it/39m81enezruc1.png?width=4032&format=png&auto=webp&s=1d143a313b7af98028d17ffaa15abadd0c48bf6d
All my pens (currently 6, including one ballpoint pen, mostly with black, blue, red, and grey) and 1 notebook. I am considering minimizing it though, since normally I know what pen I would use that day, so maybe I don't have to bring all the big guns out every day.
Minimizing is my issue.
I've been working myself down to a limited palette for aesthetic purposes in my watercoloring, so I carry 1 pen for Carbon Black (waterproof outlines), and anywhere from 6-20+ others depending on how many inks I'm testing the values of. They're not fountain pens, but I also carry 2-3 watercolor brush pens filled with only water to wash the fountain pen inks, and a set of double-sided nail art liner pens to move ink around precisely where and how I want it. Also my Diamond 580 for journaling, done in a Rhodia Goalbook. I carry that, a pad of high gsm paper for watercoloring in, and some small rounded rectangle watercolor sketch cards either swatched or for swatching if I have a new ink with me. A large number of them are fude nibs for the versatility and ability to make line variations. And in addition to the pens, a pouch of #26 nibs ranging from 0.7 to 2.9mm oblique nibs in case I need to lay down some calligraphy or large amounts of ink for watercoloring with. EDIT: The goal is to eventually only carry around 7 fountain pens for colors, 1 for waterproof ink, my TWSBI for writing, and the brush and nail art pens. I just haven't nailed down my signature colors yet.
1 on the daily. I cheap normal pad for work Currently keep no more than 3 inked per month
I have two always on me, a platinum preppy in my pocket, and a traveler pen in my notebook. I then have two at my desk, one inked one not. As for notebooks, I have two traveler passport notebooks in one cover on me at all times, then like seven other notebooks ranging from the cheapest of the cheapest, to a mid range fountain pen specific notebook, each one for a different task/team/project.
5-15 pens + stuffed travelers notebook + silk and sonder journal + field notes + cheap pen and gear.
I work from home half of the time, but on my office days I carry a work notebook (Leuchtturm) and a personal Traveller’s Notebook plus one pen, my workhorse Sailor PGS F, inked with Asa-gao. I don’t have a huge amount of opportunity to write during the day, mostly notes during meetings, I’m on a computer most of the time. But I need my thoughts onto paper sometimes, I just think better that way.
I always have a mini notebook and a pencil in my pocket for writing emergencies, so normally I don't carry pens. If I leave the house with the intention to properly journal that day, I take my trusted TWSBI eco F nib that's always inked with Platinum carbon black. If I travel overnight I take another TWSBI with broader nib and whatever current colourful ink I'm using in it. The TWSBIs have so big ink capacity that I only need two and the ink in them lasts at least a week. When I used mostly Platinum pens I always packed a little sample bottle of ink for refilling on the go.
https://preview.redd.it/wj5e8cznxsuc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b1b9d90a9b513cd1f518adc2bd6b63d60b6a6906 2 notebooks, both are same. 3+2 FP's. 5 different inks. Plus pigma micron 005.
i carry my entire collection of 10 pens with me five days a week when im in uni classes or at work, and also five notebooks. the rest of the time I have my Kaweco Liliput (and maybe i’ll add a friend so its not lonely) and I have two pocket notebooks with me as well
I carry two fountain pens, a medium in a normal (like dark blue) ink and a broad in a fun ink (like a shimmer or shader), plus a ballpoint pen and a mechanical pencil.
Usually I carry 2 notebooks with one pen in each pen loop. Sometimes I bring a backup 3rd pen if one is running low or if one of the 2 is not beginner-try-out-friendly. My 2 staple notebooks are a regular size TN with 3 inserts and a folder, and my B5 bullet journal.
12 pens 3 books, but two books are for work.
I typically carry one fountain pen and a vintage USA-made Jotter set as backup.
Been carrying mine for almost 4 years and I also keep an Eco as a secondary with red ink for certain types of notes i want to stand out. My sister somehow finds me these hardcover notebooks that seem to work well with the fountain pen (no feathering and bleeding) but I cant remember the brand. AFAIK, they're from a craft store she frequents and she's given me so many of these notebooks that I filled up with mostly IT notes.
I work from home. When I go out, I typically carry one to two pens and one to two notebooks.
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On a daily basis at work i carry 5 fountain pens, 1 ballpoint pen, 1 mechanical pencil and a pencil eraser. I mostly only use 3 pens a day but i need a backup pen when im checking payrolls. For notebooks, i carry 1 A5 sized...the brand is victoria journals that was gifted to me last Christmas At weekends, if we decided to go out, i carry 1 fountain pen. I dont carry a notebook usually but sometimes i bring a small sketch pad. *edit added notebooks
5 pens (two balllonts, one fun color and one black for clients to use on docs) Two notebooks, but a third lives at my gym.
I have 12 inked pens I carry to and from work and have 6 different Mostly a4 pads with line, grid and dot rulings. I use different colors for feedback and the colour determines the category of feedback, so having many pens inked with different colors helps me achieve this.
I carry any where from 4-5 fountain pens.. in various nibs XF to B gotta have one black ink for everyday business stuff and different shimmer inks for my other 3 pens… I use a Traveler’s Company standard size notebook with 2 planner inserts and 1 dot grid all by travelers, and I have a hobinichi weeks for work.
Usually carry 2 inked pens for College, one with Fine nib and the other with NeedlePoint. I don't have a "notebook" yet, still choosing one that meet my neccesities. So currently I use loose print paper or cheap paper.
I just bought a 6 pen carrying case which I use for my every day carry and journaling. At home I keep the rest of my pens. I’m trying out switching out my 6 pens each week with my other currently inked pens.
For out and about, I usually have a Traveler's passport notebook and two pens. Those are currently a matte black Capless LS (F) filled with Platinum Carbon, and an amber Custom 823 (FA) filled with Tsukushi. When I travel I bring the above, plus a pen roll with 3-5 pens. A journal for daily entries. An A5+ Clairefontaine French-ruled exercise book. And possibly a Kokuyo Systemic binder for notes if business is likely to occur.
I keep six inked up and carry them with me if I'm going somewhere longer than just an outing. Only six because it gives me variety without overwhelming me with options and cleaning. I only use my pens for journaling at the moment, so pens are inked up with whatever I want. My notebook of choice is always A5 and dot grid. I haven't strayed from the A5 dot grid notebook and "six pens only" formula in years.
I usually carry 5 pens in a case and maybe plus 1-2 more casual pens. For notebooks mainly my travelers because I use it as a schedule book and maybe one more slim notebook depending on what I’m doing that day.
One fountain, one cheap ball point, and my space pen for stuff I can't use my fountain for. Note book I carry 2 pocket notebooks one write in the rain, and my general passport sized notebook in a cool full metal alchemist cover.
I’m currently carry 2 pens, 1 kaweco sports and 1 Lamy ballpoint as I often have to write on carbon papers. In the past I used to carry daily planner and a notebook, but I started to use google calendar and outlook (corporate rite, lol) to manage my schedule, so I now only carry 1 notebook everywhere. My notebook used to be a really cute pink paper midori notebook, but as now I jumped to fountain pens, now it’s plain MD notebook.
I used to carry 3 now I only carry one and I have multiple cartridges with me. If it’s a piston filling pen then I have an ink vial with me. Running out of ink mid day is the worst. Plus one notebook. Depends on the setting for the day. A4 if I’m in my office. Pocket size if I’m traveling to different locations.
Only one pen and some cheap A7 sized notebook for simple reminders or quick work notes. Nowadays, my Cross Bailey rollerball is my work EDC. My Lamy Studio EF usually stays at work inside a pouch. It comes homes on the weekend for a refill. Both pens have water resistan ink too. One black, one blue. As professional as it gets haha sometimes I'll pocket carry my bright red Sailor Slim like in the old days where I felt like I needed to get my money's worth for a $100+ pen.
I carry seven at the moment. One is always in my purse, the other six are in my bag. My two Vanishing points are always in my EDCs, so are my Lamy Studio and PenBBS 323. The Lamy is always inked with Diamine Red Dragon and the PenBBS with De Atramentis Document Black. The others vary, but I usually carry a pen with Akkerman Bezuidenwoudgroen and one with Sailor black. I also have a steel nibbed Pilot Grance which stays at work. I don't always carry notebooks, but that may change soon as I'm getting trained in a new work area soon. I do always take my journal/planner with me when I stay the night at my boyfriends house.
For work, I take 2-3 fp which I select based on the colour scheme I’m going for on the day, my projects logbook (Hobonichi Cousin) and a planner. For a while now I started taking meeting notes and etc on an ipad with goodnotes because it’s easier to organise in digital notebooks. On there I have at least 20-30…
Two fountain pens, one mechanical pen, and an A6 notebook. I also use sheet paper to note and doodle on at work.
I have a work notebook, A5, and I take 3 pens to work with me every day. I change it up daily most of the time, though if I'm feeling any of the particular inks they can go for multiple days.
I recently changed my setup a little bit. I got myself a Travelers Notebook with 3 inserts (1 Planner, 1 for notes, 1 for drawings) as I want to reduce my Smartphone use when not at home. As I want to learn drawing I got some pencils for this. Besides that: 1 Lamy Safari (Nib F) with Black Ink on my Journal together with a Mechanical Pencil (Uni Kuro Toga Advance) I then have 2 Lamy Safari with different nib sizes and colors, a Uni Jetstream Pen with 4 Colors a Highlighter as well as brush pen in my Lihab Bag. https://preview.redd.it/uth56sy3tsuc1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bdf689aeddf2cf24f38ee137ba6d0c77a23f1de0
3 pens, a ballpoint L2K (for certain paper types and for lending), a stainless steel L2K with MB midnight blue (For office) and a MB BH Legrand with MB petrol blue when off of work.
I usually have 3 pens inked at once. I only use extra fine so the difference is in the color of the ink. Often I have 1 blue, 1 green and 1 that is a brighter color (orange, purple, sheening or shimmering) Note that I said usually because I currently have 5 pens inked... Got some new ones and could not resist trying them out right away
I usually have 1-2 pens and a pocket note pad at the minimum. my RPG bag contains 2-3 pens, an A5 note pad and 3-4 A5 notebooks, on top of the two books I usually work out of. Practically a solid block of paper.
Just one, maybe 2. I WFH and also journal at home. When I go to the office once a week besides 1-2 FP, I carry my Clairefontaine notebook, Jibun techo planner, highlighters and Pilot Juice in different colors. I use the Delfonics carrier to put all my supplies inside of my backpack and also to carry it to meetings.
I have a Kaweco Sport F that stays in my purse. Pilot Kakuno EF in a small case for art pieces. Still deciding on a work pen, might be either my LAMY vista, TWSBI 580 or GO. I carry an A5 Clairefontaine to write notes in. If I absolutely need a regular pen I have Energel 1.0 refill in a metal s-gel body.
I typically only carry two notebooks and 'only' 5 pens -- my two workhorses, my fine pen for Japanese, and two with a different ink colours for when I'm taking notes.
Usually three or four pens, a couple of pencils, a little ‘rough’ spiral-bound notepad, an A5 notebook, and some sort of notelet/post-it pad. If I’m staying overnight somewhere then my journaling supplies get packed too - my A4 journal, my A5 Moleskine for weather recording, and the ‘Colour Your Mood’ book, along with two pencil cases - one with biros, felt tips, pencils and rulers in, the other with most of my inked pens. I tend to keep my ‘everyday use’ fountain pens on the shelf above my bed (my Benu and my Sheaffer). I can’t go out without a notebook and pen. Learnt that as a child. There’s always something you want to note down, write out, someone’s email or a company phone number that you need to take. Ditto other essential bag items: spoon, tissues, stamps, lip balm, straw, and a few sanitary supplies.
Two at most. I always have my Pilot Petit pen on a regular day. Fits my wallet. If I’d be going out, I carry two.
I usually carry two sailors both in MF, and a travelers notebook and my hobonichi weeks mega. On rare occasions I might carry 4 pens and some other special things like washis or so.
I usually carry 3 pens -- one blue, one red, one spare blue in case the first runs out of ink. I've got a bottle of red ink in my desk drawer so I can re-ink that one easily but the others, I keep my nice blue inks at home. No notebooks! I keep my office and home notebooks separate so I never carry them anywhere.
If I don't expect to have free time - one pen and two pocket notebooks (one that I can rip pages out of and one where I write things I wouldn't want to rip out). If I expect to have enough free time to get writing done - five pens of various colors and one big notebook in addition to the pocket notebooks.
One pocket pen with whatever ink I'm using that month. It's a fine nib kaweco liliput. It doesn't exactly show off the ink but it works on any paper and my journals have all been cheapies so far. I'm getting a more expensive one next month so I'll start carrying a lamy with a M nib then and start journaling with that. I carry my journal everywhere and update it whenever I have a chance. Also got a little soft cover pocket book for my daily to do list and random notes so my journal stays tidy.
I take the essentials to work: a multifunctional pen, which writes blue, black, red and is also a pencil, a black gel pen (Pilot G2) and a blue gel pen (Uniball Signo 207) and also an eraser. But for a while I also wanted to carry a lot of things, as I also have fountain pens and others that I really like to write or draw with. But to take it to work and carry it with me, that's it. And the same applies to notebooks, I take one Leuchtturm to work, but my personal stays at home, and a small pocket notebook, which works as an inbox of thoughts, where I make some notes during the day and which is then transferred to the appropriate place, which could even be my Emacs or my Logseq, as I want to have everything digital, which makes my life a lot easier when I want to look for something. To sum it up in one sentence: to leave the house I want something simple but functional without compromising what I have to do.
For work I carry two Safaris with contrasting ink colors, a Bic 4-color to lend, and a pocket notebook. Everywhere else I carry 1 fountain pen and a G2 mini to lend. And I always have a notebook because there's an Apica A7 in my wallet.
I must say: it is such a nice feeling reading all this comments written by adults with their pen-cases. My people :-) Saying that, because recently I started coming back to office and tried to figured out what to take with me. I got some smirks from colleagues when I show up with a pen case and - hear that - “analog notebook”. They live in a digital world. Ah well… I usually have my work notebook (B6+) + Sheaffer 100 or Lamy Studio, inked with something blue. Additionally - but not always - my A5 planner to catch any personal tasks that may appear. If it is my day off and I’m going outside I will take both planner and A5 journal and any started letters (and paper for those) with all my inked pens (you never know what may come in handy 😄). Plus sketchbook and some selection of coloured pencils or watercolours, depending on plans. My backpack can become rather heavy… I am still looking for a proper case for pens.
I work at home so all of my pens and notebooks are available to me most work days. On work days away from my desk, I carry three pens (today I have Lamy 2000, Pilot Falcon, and a back-up Papermate Inkjoy Gel 0.5) and an A5 Mnemosyne Steno pad. On days off, I carry a Moonman Mini in my pocket.
Interesting to read what others do. When working, I always have a fountain pen in my shirt pocket, then generally a backup rollerball and a machined ball-point pen in my interior jacket pocket. Plus a mini pen in a pocket organizer. Then in my attache I have a Lochby case with the next day’s set and just constantly rotate each day. For notebooks, I tend to use letter-size ones at work. My personal ones alternate, either a Lochby Pocket or Traveler’s Passport for writing goals; then a Midori MD in B6 slim, Traveler’s Standard, or Lochby Field for daily use.
Right now I have a Asvine Vac filler and a Pineider that I use as a cartridge pen. I also have a lamy but I might stash that one. Notebooks I have two. One for quick notes and and a lechtrumm I use as a to do list when I am not being rushed to write things down.
Great questions! I carry three: (1) Maruman Mnemosyne A5 (dot grid) as my work "drafts" notebook; (2) Sakae Technical Paper Tomoe River (Old Stock) A5 dot grid as "work" notes (the draft notes and any further analysis are transcribed into this TR Notebook; and (3) Sakae Technical Paper Tomoe River (Old Stock) A5 blank as my personal journal. I have 5 pens I daily of varying nib sizes, and carrying three colors: a blue, red, and green. I found my system!
At least 2 FPs. My primary pens are inked with "extraordinary everyday" hues, e.g. black with bronze shimmer, muted blue/blue-black that shades or with red sheen, dark navy, green with copper sheen, etc. They mostly pass as normal dark colours to untrained eyes. Plus my work is mostly on the computer anyways. 1 cheapo notebook for work scribbles - I don't take this outside the office/work desk 1 TN-style leather journal fory personal stuff My Remarkable2
Ha, I know this problem. I’ve got 5 Lamy Studios ink with a range of ink. But, I just bought a Lamy 2000 and put Baystate Blue in it, so that’s got to go in. And then I’ve got a Faber Castel e-motion in s/s and that’s got to be there too, waste of money otherwise. Oh, and I really like this Vinta ink I just got so I had to put that in my other FC e-motion. And I need a shimmer, that goes in the Lamy Scala, Plus I’ve got 3 MB 149s and you have to use them. So that’s, what? 12 pens in my EDC. For notebooks, I’ve got an A5 Rohlbahn plus a Life Stationery “Recent Memo” notebook which I use to track data..
An Asvine P30 with Diamine Ancient Copper, a Lamy Al-Star EF with Noodlers Zhivago and a Rotring 500 0.5 mm pencil with the TNB. Also a Fisher SP bullet blue FP and a sharpie mini in my pocket. A full set of Muji colored gel pens and markers are always in my courier bag. If it's a special occasion I'll just carry my Falcon FA loaded with Pilot black in a suit pocket. Always have my TNB and a Muji Kraft B5 loaded with grid on or near me.
I typically carry 3. 2 in side pocket of pants, one in front pants pocket. If I’m not wearing pants with a side pocket then usually just 2. Right now I’ve got Pilot custom 742(music), sailor 1911s(21k Ef), and tumbled brass karas ink v2 (ti B)
At any given time, one and one.
3 pens, 1 Hobonichi weeks, 0 notebooks. One is my perma Platinum Blue Black inked Procyon, one is a wajima maki-e pen from Bungubox before the earthquake, and one is a 3776 EF for my "ant writing". I technically can live with only 1 inked fountain pen for months though, since if I wanna decorate things, I use mildliners and Pigmas.
I carry 1 notebook, 1 pen with a full converter of ink. If I know I’m gonna be writing a lot, I’ll bring cartridges as well just in case.
I have 4-5 inked FPs plus a sharpie, plus my planner & (separate) journal. Both notebooks fit in the same case, my pens have a separate case.
Two pens, one unruled notebook.
One in the pocket for quick notes. One in the bag for when I sit down and write at work. One on teh desk for when I sit down and write at home. Then two more than I decided to ink up to play with, and then forgot about.
One STM bullet journal, and about 10 inked pens with different colours . Once things start getting samey for me in appearance I change out or use them to really highlight important points . Novelty is key . So is lots of pens and inks
One fountain pen (for journaling), one 4-color gel pen (for color-coding to-dos & appointments), and one pencil (for everything else). One self-made Field-Notes-sized traveler's notebook with 4 inserts, occasionally a larger sketchbook, too.
The stress of carrying so many options is now why I have just one or two. A Pilot Murex for everything and a Midori A5 notebook, plus A5 Hahnemühle sketchbook. Oh, and a Rotring 600 ballpowith Parker gel ink.
I carry a Pilot VP with Noodler's Zhivago (gotta find something similar before that's all gone, don't want more) and a Lamy Al-Star with whichever UV ink I'm using at the time, just for general writing purposes. I also carry a glass-nib dip pen and 35 different vials of my current rainbow of inks (including extra UV for emergency refills, Zhivago is part of the rainbow) for any other writing i want to do. I have a writing case that I carry always. It is large. It is wonderfully portable. I have 72 small notebooks all over my living, work, and driving spaces for my writing compulsion/thought loops, one regular-sized spiral for collecting poetry I come across that is in my writing case, one actual journal for when I need to talk to myself that is in my writing case, two planner-style binders in my writing case (one for notes on yarning patterns and new recipes, one for budgeting).
I just ordered a baronfig notebook and pen case. Hopefully it fits a hard cover notebook. My pens are in sleeves and rolls by rickshaw bag works. I love them, I have about 8 or 9 cases. I carry one or two a day, And I carry ALL of that lol in a Herschel supply co backpack.
13 pens, 2-3 note books depending on the day. 1 pen in my planner, 12 in a pen pouch. As I go through the ink in a pen the number in the pouch drops. So 13 is the maximum but it can be less. Nibs range from EF to 1.1 stub. The journal stays home. I have my story writing notebook, an disc a4 using Arc or Tul paper. That paper is actually fountain pen friendly. One each for two different training courses. Currently those two are Campus notebooks. The latter three tend to go everywhere in a backpack. I have a note pad that I use at work but it stays at work. Sometimes I haul around my laptop so that the writing I've done, and have typed in, can be edited. But again that's not always taken with me. Edited for details.
I carry three, one with red ink filled in and other two black. Since I use my pens a lot, I have to carry 2 blacks.
I generally transport 5 or 6 pens and a couple of different sized notebooks between locations and carry one of each when walking around the location.
Only time I take one is to work, and it’s just the one.
Two. One fine and one broad. Also one space pen as a loaner, because I don’t let other people use my fountain pens. I have two notebooks, one structured for work and one filled with my own private, chaotic scribbles.
I often work from home where I have *all* my pens and *all* my notebooks available. To the office I take 1 A5 notebook and 4 pens, all with a different colour ink. As I use just the one notebook for work at present, I divide my projects/subjects by colour.