Zequenz Classic 360 Notebook Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

The Zequenz Classic 360 journal is one of those rare notebooks that's affordable, easy to find, and really well made. If you go through notebooks fairly quickly, want a range of sizes to choose from, and require good paper, then the Classic 360 is a great option.

The Zequenz Classic 360 notebooks come in a variety of sizes, from pocket (3.5" x 5.5") all the way to large (7.5" x 9.8") in grid, blank, or lined paper. Depending on the size you get, the sheet count is between 120 and 200, which is quite a lot. The model I'm using is called medium (5" x 7"), and I think it's a great size. At 200 sheets, it's a bit thick, but still manages to be roughly the same thickness as a Baron Fig Confidant. At 70gsm, the paper isn't going to win any awards with the fountain pen crowd, but it does handle fountain pen inks fairly well. In my use, some inks feather a tad, but it's not that bad. Also, almost all inks show through on the opposite page, save gel and ballpoint inks. So, if you plan on using these notebooks with a fountain pen or rollerball, you can effectively cut the page count in half since the back sides of pages aren't totally usable.

Despite the thinness of the paper, it's really smooth and enjoyable to use. Even though water-based inks show through, it's a delight to use. Leuchtturm1917 notebooks are similar in price and handle fountain pens and rollerballs with almost not show-through, but you also get about half the number of pages (~249 vs. 400) in the Zequenz notebook. It's a great value for the quality of paper inside, and you can also rest assured that the paper is acid free.

The Zequenz notebooks come in black or red and feature a polyurethane "leather-like" cover that looks and feels very nice. It's very pliable, and Zequenz touts that you can roll the book up. I'm not sure why you'd ever want to do this, but it is indeed possible.

The binding is unique on the Zequenz 360 notebooks in that it is curved. The pages are bound with a strong glue in a slightly curved fashion to improve the strength and usability of the notebook. In practice, this notebook feels well-made and sturdy. Even after bending it back and forth, throwing it in bags, holding it up for long periods, rolling it into a baton of sorts and throwing it back on the desk, it retains its shape and looks no worse for wear. Zequenz have done a great job on the binding for these books.

Unlike most of the competitors in this market, the Zequenz 360 notebooks do not have a fabric bookmark tail for marking your place. However, they do come outfitted with a handy magnetic bookmark so you can easily pick up where you left off. The magnet bookmark is a nice touch and is really easy to use. It's just strong enough to latch onto a single page, but it loses its grip when you put more than ~20 pages between its jaws. Overall, a great tool for the notebook.

Writing in the notebook is a great experience. The paper is smooth with a tiny amount of feedback, and the ruling is very light. Due to the thickness of the notebook, it can be a bit uncomfortable writing on something that's almost an inch tall, but this is true of any thick notebook as you get to the bottom of a page.

Unlike the competitors, the Zequenz notebooks do not feature any front pages for noting your name, email, phone number, etc., and there are no pockets included in the front or back covers. There also isn't an elastic closure band to keep the notebook shut, but I haven't had any problems with this book staying shut on its own.

Overall, the Zequenz Classic 360 notebook is a great value, and one that I've enjoyed carrying around using over the past few weeks. At 200 sheets, it's bound to stick with me for quite a while before it's time for a new one. Based on how it's held up to abuse so far, I have no worries that it will be in great shape when that 400th page is filled up.

(Papier Plume provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on August 2, 2017 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Zequenz, Notebook Reviews.

Bellroy Pencil Case Review

I am a fan of Bellroy’s design style and aesthetic. They made their name in the slim wallet market, and over the years branched out into phone and tablet cases, plus related accessories. The Bellroy Pencil Case falls into the latter category, as more and more of us carry a mix of analog and digital tools with us on a daily basis.

The outside of the case is a thick grey canvas which should age well and withstand plenty of wear and tear. The inside is partially coated with I’m not sure what exactly, but it feels like a thin layer of plastic/rubber. Assumedly this is for added structure, durability, and it probably makes the material easier to clean too.

The structure of the case comes into play with the ability to fold the top edges of the case out to form an open tray. This works well if you are planning on staying in one place for a while and need to get in and out of the case frequently.

Each end of the case features sewn in pull loops that are integrated into the case design. Technically, they did a great job integrating the loops. Aesthetically, they look fantastic. Functionally, well, let’s call that a mixed bag.

On the exterior of the case, the loops are perfect. They allow for extra spots to grab and pick up, or hold and pull the zipper open and closed. I imagine they would allow you to clip this case on the inside or outside of a bag, although I haven’t specifically tested that. The loops are certainly strong enough to withstand it.

But, there is a but. From end to end, the case is 9-1/2” long. Since the loops are integrated and take up inside space, they limit the interior opening of the case to around 7”. An unsharpened Blackwing is 8”. You see where I am going with this.

*Unsharpened Blackwing sitting atop the interior pen loop structure*

That’s not to say you can’t fit one, but it takes work. Even after the first sharpen, you have to angle it into the bottom of the case, under the loops, from top left to bottom right, or vice versa. Alternately, you can float them above the loops at the top of the case right under the zipper. This is something you will have to consider with all long pencils.

I agree that is a very specific use case, and an awfully fine nit to pick, but that is the first thing I wanted to know about this case. Otherwise, I think it is excellent. It you are loading it up with gel pens, art markers, erasers, and smaller accessories, I think you will be happy with it, if not thrilled. It is a fun, functional, well-made case that I will get good use out of.

(Bellroy provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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