Rustico Everyday Leather Pocket Journal

The Rustico Everyday Leather Pocket Journal is perfect for carrying in your backpack or messenger bag.  At 3.5" by 5.0", its size makes it the right choice for taking just about anywhere. 

The journals are handcrafted by the Rustico Leather Company and sold online through the Jenni Bick Bookbinding Company .
They come in two sizes, 3.5" x 3.5" and 3.5" x 5.0".  Made from top grain leather, the journals come in Bomber Jacket, Buckskin and Saddle color leather. The journals have 100 leaf pages of acid-free unlined paper.  It has a leather strap that wraps around the journal twice and then its end tucks under to secure the leather cover closed. 

I like the distressed brown leather cover called the "Bomber Jacket."  I actually have a Bomber Jacket that matches this journal to a "T".  However, my Bomber Jacket is constructed from a better quality leather.  And it does not mark up as easily as the journal does.  That said, I believe that over time,

the marks will add character to the journal's look.  The leather strip in the middle, is comparable to a belt around the journal body. 

When writing on the journal's paper, I used my Lamy Nexx M Fountain Pen, and the ink didnot bleed thru at all.  If you like rugged rustic leather bound journals, the Rustico Everyday Leather Pocket Journal presents a convincing case.
I highly recommend it.

Muji Aluminum Round Fountain Pen

Muji's Aluminum Round Fountain Pen is the sibling to Muji's Aluminum Round Pen.  Its width is wider at 1cm, but the height is the same at 13.5 cm.  The finish on its aluminum alloy barrel is a total matte finish which gives it very sound grip when writing, despite having a knurled grip section.

I actually like the thicker body, a it feels more substantial when holding to write.  The nib is of the fine variety, and inks a nice thin line on paper.  The black ink is a very rich color, quite impressionable.  Muji's website lists the ink cartridges as out of stock, so buying them is with some uncertainty.  Not previously a big user of fountain pens, I find writing with this one quite a pleasurable experience.  This pen compliments its sibling in that regard as well.

It also maintains a minimalistic, clean, utilitarian appeal, equal to the aluminum round pen.  However, when doing a side by side comparison of pen meeting paper, I find Muji's aluminum fountain pen the top performer of the two.  This is a writing implement I could really get used to calling on for a wide variety of writing tasks,  As such, I highly recommend the Muji Aluminum Round Fountain Pen.

Pilot Hi-Tec - C - Coleto Smart 4 Color Gel Ink Multi - Pen

This is the Pilot Hi - Tec - C  Coleto in a metallic gray body.  I wanted to review this member of the Hi - Tec- C family of pens based on its multi functionality.  Also, I wanted to look at the 0.4 mm ink cartridge's performance.
Now, I'm sure this pen has been reviewed quite a bit, so hopefully I can share with you some of my highlights that prove to present  different aspects of this pen, if you will. 
I ordered the pen from Jetpens.com which I am really impressed with the rapid delivery time they strive to maintain.  I received the pen in three days.  That's amazing!  They definitely have a repeat customer here!

Let me start by saying, I really love writing with this pen.  I find the needle point, combined with gel ink a real enjoyment to use.  I ordered the 0.4 mm ink cartridges for my pen.  They are not at all scratchy on paper, and the ink dries very fast.  I also think using the Hi-Tec - C Coleto has improved my penmanship.  I mean honestly, I don't want to stop writing with this pen. Along with the metallic gray pen body,  I ordered black, blue - black, brown, and 0.5 mm pencil component as my ink color choices.

Later on, I will order additional color ink cartridges to try out.  The one which really grabbed my attention was the brown.  Not having experienced writing with brown ink before, I found it a pleasant change.  This color is a definite keeper.  The blue - black ink has quite the business appeal to it, and makes that sort of business-like statement on paper.  And of course, black is black, but this has quite a rich black hue on paper, I must say.  The 0.5 mm pencil component also delivered a nice rich colored lead line, not washed out like some lead holders.

The pen body is constructed of a light weight plastic material.  However, it does not feel cheap at all.  And more importantly, it does not creep when writing.  The metallic gray color has a definite business appeal to it.  This is a pen I feel comfortable using in my work environment as it writes well and looks fantastic, all in one.
There are no complaints about the Hi - Tec -C Coleto.  It delivers a pleasing writing experience, and I highly recommend it. 

ACME Multi-Functional Pen 4FP Daytona

When I first saw ACME's four function 4FP Daytona Multi Pen, what intrigued me was its artistic appointments and sleek design.  Like its name, Daytona, it reminded me of an aerodynamically built yellow race car.  After using it for a while, my conclusion is that it is both a beautiful work of art and a well crafted writing implement.

Touted as the "world's thinnest 4 function pen," Daytona is a member of ACME's larger family of four function Multi Pens.  All are works of art unto themselves, but the Daytona grabbed my attention the most. 

Background
ACME Studio was founded by Adrian Olabuenaga and his wife Lesley Bailey in 1985.  During this time, they introduced a collection of jewelry in the Los Angeles area.  In 1997, ACME released its first collection of fine writing tools.  Always on the cutting edge of design, ACME's writing tools revolutionized a new concept in the pen industry.  Having collaborated with hundreds of top designers over the years, ACME has secured a place in both the pen industry as well as the design industry. 

Description
The ACME 4FP Daytona is constructed from a light weight aluminum alloy.  It is then hand painted with fine lacquer paint.  The pen is 14 cm long and 5/16'' in diameter. Quite slender I must say.  It comes packaged in a distinctive slender metal case with a black ACME sleeve.  I really like the contrast between the bright yellow and the matte gray paint that covers the top and bottom ends of the barrel.  From bumper to bumper, one might say.

In the middle of the pen body there lies a four function labeled chrome ring.  Its job is to synchroniously work in conjunction with the pen's inner gravity mechanism for shifting from one function to the next.  It works flawlessly.  Simply engage a function by holding the pen horizontally and look at the function needed, press the knock down cap and your there!  These four functions include: an orange highlighter, 0.7 mm lead holder, white PDA Stylus, and D-1 mini black ink cartridge.  Additionally, the pen cap holds a white rubber eraser.

It is at its center that Daytona 4FP is disassembled by unscrewing its bottom half.  This reveals its four function cartridges.  At first glance, I found it amazing how such a slim pen body could house all four implements.  But examining each cartridge reveals how slim and toothpick like each really is.  For the ink cartridge, that means purchasing five at a time.

Performance
This pen is simply a joy to use.  What a solid performer it is!  It glides quite smoothly, inking a nice thin line on paper.  The Daytona really feels comfortable when writing.  I was concerned about the pen's creeping potential, but that has not proved to be a problem.  The highlighter has a strong orange color on paper.  When you want to place emphasis in a narrative, use it, its quite effective.
The stylus works like a charm with my PDA, but does not work on any other touch screens.  The lead holder is of the 0.7 mm variety.  I really prefer multi pens with this size lead.  It never breaks during the writing experience.

The ACME 4FP Daytona Multi Pen is a solid performer as well as an amazing work of art.  I highly recommend it.