(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)
Looks like Bungubox have been branching out to other product categories recently. While you probably know Bungubox for their inks first and their Sailor collaborations second, they also offer some pen cases to protect those treasures. And like everything Bungubox does, these cases stand out among the rest.
I have two products from the same color way on my desk. The first is a pen roll that holds several pens in dedicated pockets, and the second is a single mini pen sleeve. They're both made of cotton and feature a colorful, fun fabric that makes me feel happy when I look at it.
I'm not sure of the exact name of this colorway — my Japanese language skills are non-existant. But, I can confirm that it looks ever better in real life than in the photos.
The pen roll has six separate slots to hold pens. The pocket on the end with the Bungubox tag is a lot wider than the rest. I can comfortably fit my AirPods Pro case into this pocket, and it also does great at holding cables and other similarly sized items. It's nice and roomy for those extra large pens in your collection, but I like that it can also hold things that are just a little bigger than pens if you need.
The pocket next to this large pocket is actually a little thinner (less wide) than the other four. I wonder if this is due to the extra wide pocket. Either way, it still fits standard sized fountain pens without a problem. My Pilot 823 or Custom 74 are snug fits, a Lamy AL Star is a very snug fit, and my Opus 88 Demonstrator is on the verge of too tight to comfortably get in and out of the pen roll.
There's adequate padding between the interior fabric and the exterior fabric. I have zero concerns with anything bad happening to my pens in this case during normal use. The fabric is so soft to the touch, and the amount of padding make this thing feel almost like a stuffed animal when it's rolled up. The interior fabric is a softer microfiber than the cotton exterior, and it should be very gentle on pen finishes of all kinds.
The case rolls up easily and uses a thick ribbon of the same cotton material to lash it shut. There's a small acrylic ring attached to the end of the lashing; the color coordination with the soft red is fantastic.
Wrapping the lashing around the case and then tucking the end of the lashing through once is enough to keep this thing secure. It's a really quick process once you teach your hands to do it after a few tries.
The mini pen sleeve is adorable! It uses the same cotton fabric on the exterior, but uses a different color of the softer microfiber fabric on the inside. The sleeve has some padding, but not nearly as much as the pen roll. The sleeve is almost completely sewn shut except for a two inch opening along one of the long sides. This little sleeve is perfect for anything the size of a Kaweco Sport.
As an added bonus, I can load up a Kaweco in this sleeve and then tuck the sleeve into the large pocket of the pen roll. My Kaweco doesn't need the extra protection, but it gives you an idea of how large that pocket is on the pen roll.
It's also worth noting that Bungubox also offer a standard length pen sleeve (with the same fabric options) that fits the majority of fountain pens.
I've actually taken to rolling up the case and attaching the small sleeve to the side of the pen roll with the lashing. You can barely tell it's there due to the matching fabric, and it's a quick and convenient way to carry 7 pens in a small, tidy package.
Bungubox has these cases available on their website. As of this writing, the pen roll converts to about $40 USD, and then mini sleeve goes for about $12 USD.
These are lovely little cases that I've really enjoyed using! They aren't tough ballistic nylon that can weather the elements, but they're so soft and easy to use. The fabric selections are lovely, and the functionality is exceptional. If you have a chance to check these out and are in the market for some new pen cases (let's be honest — we're always in the market for that), then these are a fantastic option.
(These products were purchased from Bungubox at normal retail price at the 2022 San Francisco Pen Show.)
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