PLOTTER Grain Leather Pen Case Review

I picked up the PLOTTER Grain Leather Pen Case at the Chicago Pen Show earlier this Spring. Did you know they made pen cases? I didn’t, until I was standing in front of their table in May. So, what’s a person in my situation to do? Buy one, of course!

Yes, it was a spur of the moment decision. I mean, have you handled one of these yet? They are so soft. And the color I chose, this Natural leather, is not available on the website. FOMO much?

I’ve spent ample time with this case since then, primarily on my desk. That is a telling factor, because I don’t think this design is good enough for every day portable carry. Let me break it down.

First off, the positive: this case feels amazing. The leather is thin and soft, while providing enough protection. The finishing around the seams, pocket, zipper, and magnet are perfect. To no ones surprise, it is extremely well made.

Functionality is where this case falls off, and I have an opinion as to why. I use a lot of fountain pens, and this case is not designed for these larger pens. PLOTTER also does not sell any fountain pens, so given that, maybe it is perfectly designed for what they sell. If I was loading this case with two of their ballpoints and two of their mechanical pencils - with some extra leads and erasers in the pocket - maybe I would have had a better time with it.

The fact remains that I use a lot of different pens and pencils, and this case is not a good fit for most of them.

Watch those clips!

The pen slots are too narrow, and too close together. The flap to cover the pens is too short. Pen clips touch when you roll it closed. When closed, the pens sit on each other awkwardly, giving it that poorly wrapped burrito vibe. And this is before I attempt to put anything into the zip pocket, which only exacerbates the situation.

I want it to be good. For highly-specific setups, it can be. For more random use, especially with fountain pens, it is not good enough.

A proper setup, with narrower pens and clips turned inward. The zip pouch holds more than you think.

Will PLOTTER run out version two of this product? I kind of hope not, because I would like to see a complete rework, not an iteration of this one. I don’t think it can get there from here.

If you are interested in carrying your narrower pens and pencils (maybe it is my Spoke Design case?) then I do think you will enjoy it. Even at $85, it is more than fairly priced for what it is, and is available in three different color options - Brown, Gray, and Navy - to boot. Just be very sure it fits your needs before making the purchase.

(I purchased this product from PLOTTER at the 2023 Chicago Pen Show at a discount.)

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Plotter Mesh Case Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter. And check out her latest book, Out of Water, now available where books are sold!)

If you're following the stationery sensation that is Plotter, you probably already know that the temptations on their tables have gone beyond their elegant binders. Among their accessory offerings is the Plotter Mesh Case. They come in various sizes and colors, though the one I have is different from the ones that appear on the site. This one is in landscape orientation, with the opening on a long edge, and it is a pale pink color that is not currently listed online. According to the Plotter Instagram post, this was a limited edition for the Chicago Pen Show.

The cases are sized to fit the Plotter binders, but they're handy for lots of things. It should be noted that I couldn't fit a standard A5 notebook in the A5 mesh case, but the design of the case allows it to hold a lot more than you might think. I was able to fit a small novel, a few pocket notebooks, a handful of pens, and plenty more inside. It seems very flat and 2D when lying on the desk, but it has some secret ballooney power that expands to fit a whole bunch of items.

The case has a hinged opening that is spring-loaded, so it pulls open easily and self-closes when you let go. The closure is firm enough that nothing falls out when the case is held upside-down. It's actually very satisfying to open and close it. The only downside to the design is that you can't make it stay open if you want it to. If you're storing a bunch of markers in the case and you want a different color, you can't just reach in and grab another. You're going to need both hands to open the case every time.

The body of the case is separated into two compartments. The front is a mesh pocket that allows you to see what's inside at a glance. The back compartment is solid PU leather. Both appear to have about the same volume.

Overall, I think this is a nice product, and the prices listed on the Plotter site are very fair. The A5 case on the site is listed at $22. That's right in line with similar products you might find from other brands, though the construction of this one is nicer than many I've used.

The only issues I had were the slightly-too-small size (I would like to be able to fit an A5 notebook inside), the fact that there's no way to keep it from snapping shut, and the unpleasant odor that comes with some PU leather. This one was particularly stinky, even after I propped it open with a pen stand to let it air out for a few days. I have a pretty sensitive nose, so it may not bother others as much as it bothered me. And it didn't bother me enough to stop me from eyeing the other sizes and colors available.

(This product was purchased from Plotter at the Chicago Pen Show.)

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Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!

Plotter Pen Sleeve Giveaway

How deep am I into the Plotter ecosystem? Well, when I bought my Plotter Narrow at the 2022 San Francisco Pen Show, I crossed a price threshold that earned me a free leather pen sleeve with my purchase.

EARNED! 🤪💸

So yeah, I spent a lot, ok? The good part is that I picked out this pen sleeve for you, not me, even though it is the awesome Orange Shrink leather. Read the rules below, and get to entering!

(Note: I tweaked the entry login and additional requirement settings below, so please let me know if you have any issues. Note 2: I broke it, and had to fix it! You may need to re-enter.)

PLOTTER Pen Sleeve Giveaway