(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)
One of the most recent pen pouches to come across my desk is the Hinemo Wide Open pen pouch from Lihit Lab. It's a fairly standard take on the classic zippered pen pouch, but opts for a zip that goes across the case in a diagonal line. I've always preferred these types of zipper pouches because they store flat, open wide, and store a lot of stuff inside. In that regard, the Hinemo Wide Open is no slouch.
According to the JetPens marketing copy, this case is made with hanpu cotton canvas from Fiju Kinume, "a company dedicated to preserving the craftsmanship of this traditional Japanese fabric." I'll definitely be reading up on what makes this fabric unique, but I can tell you that it feels incredibly strong and rugged, while also being smooth to the touch and gentle on pens.
The case measures 7.5 inches long, 3.75 inches wide, and just over half an inch thick when empty. It's a great size for a pen and pencil pouch and can hold as few as three or four pens comfortably, but can also tolerate up to 16 or 20 pens depending on their size. Obviously, this is a pouch where everything inside is jostling against everything else, so not the best solution for pens that you want to keep in pristine order. Aside from that, it's astonishing how much this little case can hold — including full-size woodcase pencils.
The diagonal opening allows the pouch to open a little wider and make its contents more accessible. It's a great design touch. The end of the zip goes beyond the edge of the case, making it easier to grab onto when zipping it shut, but also adding a little extra space when opening up the pouch. When the extra portion of zipper isn't needed, it tucks around the back side of the case and snaps into place for transportation. It's a tidy solution for an otherwise troublesome little tag of fabric and metal that would get hung on all sorts of things in a bag.
Despite the otherwise excellent craftsmanship and design of this pouch, the only thing I haven't enjoyed using is the zip. It looks nice with the antiqued brass finish, but it's just too clunky to use. The large teeth are difficult to zip and unzip — they feel like they don't want to cooperate most of the times, and it's quite common to get stuck. Zipping the case or unzipping it definitely takes two hands, and sometimes it takes a couple of back and forth tries to get it fully open or closed. It's a minor complaint, but one that I think they could have avoided with a slightly higher quality zipper component.
The branding on this pouch is minimal. There's a small faux-leather tag that protrudes from the top seam that simply says "HINEMO" in stamped letters. The interior of the case has a small tag that lets you know the fabric came from Fuji Kinbai, but it's tucked away out of sight under the zipper interior.
The red canvas fabric featured here is a fantastic color. It's happy and bright, but also makes it easy to lose track of. The cream fabric and antiqued zipper add to the aesthetic. The stitching and seams are all well-done, and I've been really happy with the overall build of the pouch (aside from that pesky zipper). If the bright red isn't your first choice, there are plenty of other color options that range from black, beige, yellow, and navy. At $12.50, they're also a really good value. For a medium-sized pen/pencil pouch made from good canvas, this is a great deal. I'd be happy to pay a little extra for a better zipper, but it's still a decent deal as-is.
(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
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